TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Boroka Balint
Sustainable Mindset was a training course for youth workers and professionals working with young people, designed to foster a deep understanding of sustainability through a justice perspective. The program aimed to support participants in developing a holistic and systemic view of sustainability and empower them to challenge and transform systems of exploitation and inequality, advocating for the just use and distribution of resources. Held in Hollókő, Hungary, from May 24 to June 1, 2024, the training encouraged youth workers to adopt a critical environmental perspective and explore transformative methods and tools for advancing a just and sustainable collective life upon their return. Participants also practiced designing learning activities focused on sustainability and justice, utilizing various tools acquired to drive meaningful change in their communities.
An extremely diverse group with individuals coming from Greece, Romania, Hungary, Sweden and Norway but most participants had origins in countries like Bangladesh, Russia, Ghana, Kenya.
In the non-formal training program "Sustainable Mindset," several non-formal learning methods were utilized:
Mappings: Participants created visual maps, such as the world map but also concept and body maps, to organize and connect ideas related to sustainability, aiding in their understanding of complex concepts.
Creative Recycling: Participants engaged in activities that used recycled materials to create art or functional objects, illustrating principles of upcycling and waste reduction while encouraging hands-on creativity. Additiinally, processes were also design to reveal glibal issues and trigger discussions.
Personal and Group Reflections: Participants participated in reflection activities, including journaling and discussions, to share personal insights and experiences related to sustainability, the program itself and how they could integrate these practices into their lives.
Role Play
Participants acted out scenarios, which helped them understand different perspectives, practice problem-solving skills, and explore the effects of their decisions in a dynamic setting.
Enhanced Understanding of Sustainability: Participants developed a deep, holistic, and systemic view of sustainability from a justice perspective.
Empowerment to Challenge Inequality: Participants gained the ability to identify and address systems of exploitation and inequality, advocating for fair resource use and distribution.
Adoption of a Critical Environmental Perspective: Participants learned to critically analyze environmental issues and incorporate this perspective into their work.
Development of Transformative Methods: Participants acquired and practiced various methods and tools for promoting a just and sustainable collective life.
Design of Effective Learning Activities: Participants practiced designing learning activities focused on sustainability and justice, ready to implement them in their communities. They produced a training booklet. Increased Capacity for Community Impact: Participants were equipped to use the knowledge and tools from the training to drive meaningful change and advance sustainability and justice within their communities.
In the "Sustainable Mindset" training, my role in the trainers' team involved being a full-time trainer responsible for facilitating workshops, guiding discussions, and supporting participants in developing their understanding of sustainability and justice. I contributed to designing and implementing activities, such as creative recycling projects and role plays, and supported participants in applying transformative methods to their community work.