TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Maria Larisa Giangkambozidou
Through this project we tried to get young people understand the difference between hard skills they learn at school, university etc and the soft skills which are not necessarily taught in a specific framework and format but are considered as experiential learning. They started to highlight and recognise behavioral and emotional patterns, acknowledging and accepting these figures, exploring alternative ways for more efficient behavior and lastly, ‘’not just behave differently but be different’’ (Kolb’s theory of Learning Styles). They developed and broaden their frames of reference which can offer them a wider and free perspective to act and to be.
OBJECTIVES:
-To foster mutual understanding of soft skills and their role in employability of young people.
-To give knowledge regarding soft skills and their characteristics.
-To give opportunity to participants to practically experience soft skills development and understand their relevance in the working environment.
-To improve the international competences of participants by working in an international context and environment.
-To boost participant’s personalities with key competences that will help them to work more efficiently.
-To make them more familiar with transversal skills such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, leadership, time-management, Emotional Intelligence, Conflict Management,Critical thinking, Adaptability.
-To improve those cross-competences of participants and experience new methods which can be transferral to life.
-To give the chance to young people to experience a different way of learning, experiential learning where they will take initiatives.
Participants profile: 30 motivated young people who feel that their skills are inadequate regarding the labour market, whose goals and potentials need support and they want to establish a valuable and skilful personality and career. The participants, 5 per country (4 participants + 1 group leader), were:
● between 18-25 years old (the group leader should be between 18-35 years old);
● interested in personal development through non formal education;
● motivated to learn more about learning through experience;
● willing to broaden their perspective on their european citizenship;
● young people with limited access to educational courses and from rural areas;
● able to communicate in English at a moderate level (Participants with limited knowledge
are also welcome if they are willing to try to improve themselves before and during the activity dates)
The partner countries were: Greece, Slovakia, Italy, Portugal, Poland, Spain. The project was a Youth Exchange under KA1 of Erasmus+.
KA105-891128C5
The methods and the activities were all based on non formal learning. Participants were working in small groups or pairs and practicing skills of presentation, public speaking and teamwork. We had reflection session at the end of each day as well as evaluation with the leaders to check the progress of the exchange and adapt to the needs of the participants. We started with forming the group with team building activities and breaking the ice so the team will start working together in the various activities.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R582aqqTnTk
https://www.facebook.com/161766047223888/photos/a.173653409368485/5654625761271195/
Participants:
-Improved teamwork and group dynamic skills.
-Developed time and conflict management in case studies and progress solution-focused approach.
-Increased the level of knowledge in models of planning and organising.
-Explored different ways of learning, integrate in a new multidimensional environment.
-Learned about transversal skills.
-Are able to disagree and debate in a nonviolent way, approach effective thinking patterns .
-Boost their potentials of employability by implementing the soft skills learned in their working process.
-Learned to apply soft skills in a working environment and make their hard skills survive in the long run.
-Improved the ability to express self in foreign language and the skill to communicate their ideas.
-Developed self confidence, improve behavioral, cultural, technical, contextual skills through activities.
-Got to know more about the other cultures and expand their vision about European citizenship.
-Interacted and communicate with people from different backgrounds and build trust.
-Got out of their comfort zone by being part of a multicultural team, working and presenting ideas and getting inspiration for future creative ideas.
-Gained acquaintance of reflection methods and key competences referred to the Youthpass Certificate.
To write the project proposal
To design the learning path and reflection process of the team
Be responsible for the learning outcomes of the training course
Facilitate constructive dialogues and session in the framework of non formal education
To lead the sessions and activities
To write the report of the project
Maria is a great trainer, focused on group's needs and doing a really magnificent work!! We're are always happy to cooperate with her and to have her as trainer in our projects.