On-Arrival Training sessions

Aims & objectives

This event is part of the European Solidarity Corps training cycle that all volunteers need to go through when starting their activity in Romania.

The objectives of this training:
1. Understanding the roles of every stakeholder involved in volunteering (Volunteer, hosting and sending organizations, mentor, national agency) including the rights and responsibilities in relation with its implementation
2. Understanding the role and philosophy of the ESC program ;
3. Identifying the intercultural aspects present in ESC and how it will impact the volunteers learning experience, including the specific aspects or Romanian context (history, geography, myths, civil society, social life, behaviors, mentalities, etc);
4. Understanding their personal motivation and learning objectives connected to the activities to be performed during the volunteering activity.

Target group & international/intercultural composition of the group & team

More than 100 volunteers from EU and Neighboring Countries.
The trainers team consists normally of two members of the Romanian NA Trainers Pool.

Training methods used & main activities

A mix of interactive methods and activities based on nonformal learning was used such as: animation including name games and energisers, carousel discussions, pair and group work, walk and talk, project gallery, role playing, facilitated reflection (based on cards and images) and self-reflection etc.

There was also used graphic facilitation and provided many visuals for the topics.

The topics appoached: EVS project presentation, Erasmus+ and EVS, team building, group dynamics, rights and obligations of the EVS stakeholders, inssurance, conflict management and resolution, mentorship, intercultural learning, Romanian culture etc.)

Outcomes of the activity

The main outcome was represented by better preparing the volunteers both for their EVS experience and understanding their learning and personal development opportunities as well as their rights and obligations.

The training received very positive feedback in the evaluation forms.

Your tasks and responsibilities within the team

Preparing, planning and carrying out the sessions, facilitating discussions, taking care of the reflection and debrief moments, editing the final reports processing the evaluation forms and in co-training with colleagues from the National Pool of Trainers

I worked on this training for 5 days as a full time trainer.