Super Volunteer - Intercultural Voluntary Mission, Sicily

Aims & objectives

This training course aimed at:
− Promoting awareness of the influence that culture has on person’s behaviour and identity, especially in international voluntary activities.
− Developing knowledge and competence in key concepts of international voluntary activities: mentoring system in sending and hosting organizations and share good practices on this topic.
− Developing knowledge and competence in key concepts of intercultural learning and life long learning when working with young people.
− Pointing out the importance of international voluntarism and cultural issues in Youth in Action Programme.
− Developing tools, activities, strategies for improvement of youth work on local level focused on international voluntarism and cultural diversity.
− Promoting multiplying effect of youth workers in local participation.

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

22 Youth workers or Youth Leaders dealing with voluntarism and intercultural issues interested in using alternative approach in these fields coming from Italy, Latvia, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Sweden, Spain, Turkey and Poland.

Team of trainers:
Rodrigo Vilarinho, Portugal/Sweden
Saro Rossi, Italy
Panayotis Theodorou, Cyprus
Milena Lazic, Serbia

Training methods used & main activities

The training course followed non-formal educational methodology based on experiential learning using a participative and learner-centred approach with a special focus on alternative approaches towards voluntary work and intercultural learning. Unique feature of the training was practical focus on tools and exchange of tools among youth practitioners therefore participants were supported and guided in development, implementation and evaluation of their own tools for intercultural learning and dialogue and promotion of voluntarism at local and international level.

Outcomes of the activity

6 different international project ideas (mainly youth exchanges) were developed by participants during the training course.
At the same time 3 new educational tools for intercultural learning, sharing of voluntary experiences and for reinforcing visibility of voluntarism have been developed by participants during the training course. There was also the possibility to test those tools with young local volunteers from Italy.

Your tasks and responsibilities within the team

I had a role of a trainer, meaning that I was responsible for design, implementation and evaluation of the training program.

I worked on this training for I worked on this training for 7 days as a full time trainer. days as a full time trainer.