TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Atanas Genkov
The mid-term evaluation allows volunteers to assess their experience so far and to reflect on the activities, role and support of the Host Organisation and on their own contribution. The mid-term evaluation is essential for risk prevention and crisis management and it thus facilitates conflict resolution — if necessary! In addition, volunteers share positive experiences and increase their motivation. The evaluation provides the opportunity to learn from everybody’s ‘EVS story’ and enables the volunteers to plan developments and/or further improvements in their service and to think about what they will do in the longer term, once their period of service is over. The evaluation should also raise awareness of the personal learning
process, linking it to the key competences of the Youthpass. Overall, the mid-term evaluation should offer a relaxed and informal atmosphere so the volunteers feel comfortable sharing experiences and saying whatever is important for
them.
The target groups are EVS volunteers from the following countries: Germany, France, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia, Ukraine, Turkey, Romania, Lithuania, Estonia, Denmark, Czech Republic and Slovakia.
All kind of methods in the NFE area were used. Mostly focusing on interactive methods - simulations, role-plays, games, quizzes, discussions, competitions, reflection sessions. A special tool that I implemented is the Forum-theatre.
By the end of the evaluation, each volunteer had:
- personally assessed the project so far and reflected on the scope of his/her activities;
- shared personal experiences (learning new skills and competences, being part of community life, living within a different culture, using the language);
- identified problems, difficulties, conflicts faced or about to be faced and consequently received satisfying support and clues on the ‘next steps’ to solve these problems;
- worked on developing / improving the activities he/she is involved in;
- received information and guidance on opportunities he/she could be involved in after the period of service;
- understood how to draft the Youthpass;
- received information about the Final Report to be produced.
The trainers team was composed by me and another trainer from the national pool of trainers - our tasks were divided equally, so I was developing and delivering about 50% of the training and assisting in the other 50%.