TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Marie Heimburg
People from different areas of Germany who have experienced the Erasmus+ programme previously came together in this training course to get information about the Europeers network, to gain skills and knowledge about running their own events, promoting Erasmus+ and ESC whilst meeting new people and cultures in the process. The training is a strong networking activity for young Europeans to share their experiences and get empowered to stay active in their local communities. The sessions are designed to equip them with tools and skills to tackle first own challenges when promoting the program and implementing own activities.
The team consisted of two senior Trainers from Germany: Marie Heimburg and Sarah Maria Herold. Which were supported by two junior Trainers from Germany: Hannah Schütt and Leon Brülke.
Since it was a national training course (German speaking) the pax were from different regions of Germany sharing the experience of having participated in a ESC or other exchange opportunity within Erasmus+.
In order to connect the group and make them feel comfortable throughout the training activity a diverse set of non-formal methods were used. There was a daily focus topic that guided the used methodology through the course:
Arriving:
The first day was under the goal of connecting the group and breaking the ice. The pax played games like Mission Impossible, a mapping and line-up, as well getting to know games like the fruit basket and a team evening playing Guess my Passion
Resources:
Day 2 set the focus on sharing the pax international experiences as well as starting to become aware of their own potential. In order to share their experiences story telling tools like the Museum of Experiences were used. Followed by a sharing of best practice examples by the junior trainers as experienced Europeers. The pax got information about the network and were given time to brainstorm first own activities and pitch them to the group, as a live action was planned for the following day.
Challenges:
After some more input from Eurodesk about the network and its opportunities the pax implemented their first activity in town and in a school to gain experience in how to reach their peers best. This real life experience and activity was followed up by a reflection and sharing session.
Empowerment:
They were given tools to overcome obstacles which we found in a brainstorming remembering the group of their resources and potential. The trainer team together with the pax brainstormed problems and hot topics that the Europeers might encounter when in action. While being in smaller groups the pax had to think of ways how to overcome these obstacles. A skill sharing in form of an exercise where the pax had to focus on their own strengths and those of others and where they had to communicate them closed the overcoming obstacles session. The evening closed with a party that was organised by the pax with a pub-quiz and several dances as well as games.
Future Actions:
The training closed with a planning session for future activities, where the pax had to reflect and plan an activity in their local communities. A networking exercise and the final reflection of the learning journey were the last points on the agenda before handing out the youthpass certificates.
The outcomes of this training course are covering the following skills and topics:
- presentation and public speaking
- community mapping
- event organisation and management
- project management and public relations
- international networking and partnership building
- exchange on national realities and best practices
I was one of the two senior trainers responsible for planning and implementing the training as well as supervising and supporting the junior trainers.
As I am enjoying visual facilitation I used this course specifically to train my skills and focused on designing the whiteboards and posters.