TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Kamil Oleszkiewicz
The 5-day On-Arrival Training was designed to support and empower young volunteers at the beginning of their European Solidarity Corps journey. Its main goal was to help them make the most of their volunteering experience by providing essential knowledge about the programme and their role as volunteers.
The training addressed key needs, including adapting to living in Poland, managing culture shock, and navigating a new environment. It also included practical information, group integration, and space to reflect on expectations, responsibilities, and personal goals. Participants explored what it means to be a volunteer, created action plans, and developed their own “bucket lists” for the duration of their volunteering..
The activity strongly aligned with the NA's goals by helping volunteers become more confident, informed, and engaged, ultimately contributing to higher-quality, more impactful volunteering experiences.
The group consisted of 20 participants — young people involved in European Solidarity Corps projects, coming from different European countries.
The training followed a non-formal learning approach, focusing on active participation and experiential learning. Participants engaged in a mix of dynamic formats, including interactive tasks, scenario-based activities, collaborative work, creative tools, and guided reflection, all designed to encourage learning through experience and exchange.
Participants had the opportunity to connect with one another, learn about each other's backgrounds, and exchange experiences from their volunteering journeys so far. The training created space to explore their rights and responsibilities within the European Solidarity Corps while openly addressing any doubts, concerns, or questions about their service.
Throughout the process, participants reflected on potential challenges and developed their communication and problem-solving skills. They also explored how cultural differences shape everyday interactions and influence their volunteering experience. Finally, they were supported in reflecting on their learning process and in creating their own personal learning plans for the duration of their service.
I worked as one of the trainers responsible for delivering the full programme. My role included adapting the content to participants’ needs, interests, and learning styles to ensure the training objectives were met.
I co-facilitated all sessions and supported the overall learning process. This also involved providing individual consultations to participants, helping them reflect on their experiences and supporting them in addressing potential challenges during their volunteering service.