TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Karen Pong
This seminar aimed to deepen the understanding of societies shaped by migration and the
role Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps can play in it. The objectives were to:
=> Explore what it means to recognise societies as shaped by migration and the role youth work plays in it.
=> Create a space for peer-learning opportunities on how to do youth work within the Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps programmes and at the same time including young people with experience with migration.
=> Understand the accessibility of Erasmus+ and Erasmus Solidarity Corps for young people facing barriers within a society shaped by migration.
=> Co-create a concrete outcome to make the knowledge in the seminar transferable to the
field of youth in general.
26 participants from 14 countries (Austria, Belgium - FL, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece,
Iceland, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland, Bosnia and Herzegovina)
We were happy to welcome people with experience, expertise or a strong desire to learn more about topics of the seminar: societies shaped by migration and implementing projects in the framework of the EU Youth Programmes Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps.
They mainly identified themselves as belonging to one or more of the following groups:
Youth workers: persons working with youngsters on a regularly basis in an organisation or an informal group (paid or volunteer positions).
Activists, change makers and multipliers that are connected to youth work and especially those working in the field of migration. We especially invited youth workers and multipliers to apply that identify themselves as having a migration background. This could mean for example, but is not limited to, that
you have a lived experience of not being born in the country you now live in (moving with your family, for work, for studies, for love), experienced forced migration (refugees, asylum seekers,...), or your parents or grandparents left their country of origin.
The team was synchronised, organised and well-oriented. It composed of a coordinator from the funding organisation (Belgium, Jint/Salto Inclusion), 2 members from the local institution hosting the projects who took care of logistics (Austria, OEAD), NA Officers ((partner-organisations) from Iceland, Estonia and Switzerland), 2 rapporteurs (UK, France) and of course my fellow freelancer trainer from Germany.
The training team developed this approach for working sensitively with a mixed participant
group:
=> Holding space for participants and inviting the sharing of professional and personal experiences about the topic.
=> We used non-formal methods as well as empowering language.
=> We went through a learning journey together, where you will have a main role.
=> The seminar connected to the local realities in Vienna through Study Visits to local organisations, and using the local reality for inspiration as part of the programme thinking.
=> We invited participants to contribute to the seminar in the run-up to it through a padlet (online activity).
The Communication Support Tool was used, which can be transferable in other projects and activities, as a way for different voices to be heard and respected in a group process.
Participants in the seminar mainly reflected on barriers - how barriers make them feel, barriers in relation to youth work and young people, barriers in societies shaped by migration.
For many participants, emotions are at the heart of reactions to barriers. There are a lot of difficult emotions in relation to barriers, a lot of anger, frustration, disempowerment, feeing insulted, sad or alone. It feels quite explosive, with some kind of energy coming from those emotions - either inwardly inside the person, or outward towards others.
We grouped some of the barriers that came up from the discussions:
=> Personal barriers, which are identified within yourself, something that holds you back. These include elements such as language, knowledge (understanding how something works), lack of initiative or motivation. It can also be something emotional or psychological.
=> Barriers from others. Stereotypes and discrimination by others, or others putting pressure
on you, a lack of understanding, competition and a lack of empathy or solidarity.
=> Structural barriers. These include things such as resources and how they are distributed; cultural, that things are done differently; age; family; parents; a polarised society. socio-economic background.
=> Systems as barriers. Elements such as government, laws, regulations, educational system, patriarchy, or no representation within structures.
Aside from this, another important outcome concerns my personal take-away from this activity, Post-CIVID-19, It was a real relief and sincere joy to be able to work as a trainer in a familiar and typical setting...offline! The participants were ideal, fun, engaging and interesting! This gave me hope that despite the reality of pandemics, my work as a trainer is still relevant and useful for young people.
My tasks were very specific. I was trainer/facilitator, this was respected. I attended the prep-meeting and also took part in all virtual team meetings. I worked With my co-trainer and the rest of the team to duly draft session outlines ahead of the seminar. I was also present for the preparation prior to the start of the seminar, including team meeting, setting up and finalising session outlines.