TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Trisha Wilkinson
The aims and objectives:
To explore the concept of empowerment as a learning process,
To explore both what the role of youth work and the role of the youth worker/youth leader is in the empowerment of young people,
To discover the value of the Erasmus+ youth programme as a tool for empowerment
To experience and exchange inspirational tools and methods which encourage empowerment that can be transferred to working reality
The training course was targeted to youth workers and youth leaders working directly with young people.
The profile of the participants that attended the training course was mixed in background and experience. There were participants directly working with young people, some university students that support other students in their school life, volunteer youth workers, language teachers and those just recently setting up a youth group. There was a clear split in the group in terms of experience of Erasmus+, for 9 of the participants this training course was their first experience of the programme, whilst the remainder of the group had many years of experience in Youth Exchanges and coordinating EVS. This proved to be a valuable element of the training course as there was a very positive atmosphere of learning and supporting each other within the group.
The use of non-formal education methods and activities (such as team challenges, brainstorming, reflection spaces, experiential learning, creativity based workshops and discussion), Power to You(th)! allowed participants to experience the feeling of empowerment, to take time to explore the meaning of empowerment and to gain an understanding of some learning theories that exist that helped participant to connect that empowerment is a learning process. Time was also given to identify how the Erasmus + programme activities can be used as a tool to support non-formal learning that encourages young people to take initiative and be empowered whilst also using the process of a dedicated reflection tool in Youthpass.
This training course provided the space for participants to practice tools and methods to support reflective learning and encouraging empowerment that they could replicate on their return home It was important that participants used this experience to explore how using non-formal learning activities can actively support young people to recognise the skills and knowledge that they can gain by being involved in non-formal education activities. It allowed for participants the possibility to discover meaningful roles and develop different tools in their work around youth projects. The course also provided space for participants to share their professional experiences and time was given using the open space method to ensure that all participants gained what they required in terms of their expectations prior to completing the training course.
My role was as trainer with two other co-trainers. I was responsible for contributing to the design , delivery and evaluation of the training course. I worked in partnership with trainers from Portugal and the Netherlands to deliver this training course. In addition we worked with Evelyne Bastien from Luxembourg who supported the logistical requirements for the implementation of the course