Training activity title Student-Led Charity Project: Youth Engagement for Social Inclusion

Aims & objectives

The training activity aimed to empower university students and young volunteers with basic competences in youth work, community engagement, and non-formal education through the design and implementation of a small-scale charity initiative.
The main objectives were:
To increase participants’ awareness of social inclusion and local community needs;
To develop teamwork, communication, and leadership skills among young people;
To introduce participants to non-formal learning methods used in youth work;
To support students in planning and delivering a charity-oriented youth activity.
The training responded to the needs of the students’ association to strengthen its volunteer base and improve the quality of youth-led community actions aligned with the organisation’s social responsibility goals.

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

The activity involved a group of 18 participants, mainly local university students, together with 4 international students participating in Erasmus+ mobility programmes from Spain, Italy, and France.
The trainers’ team consisted of 2 youth workers, including myself, working in an international and intercultural context.

Training methods used & main activities

The training was based on non-formal education principles and included:
Interactive workshops and group discussions;
Ice-breakers and team-building activities;
World Café sessions on social issues and community needs;
Practical group work for designing a charity mini-project;
Reflection groups and daily evaluation sessions;
Experiential learning through planning and implementing a real charity action.
All methods encouraged active participation, peer learning, and reflection.

Outcomes of the activity

As a result of the training:
Participants successfully designed and implemented a small charity event supporting a local social cause;
Young people gained increased confidence in initiating and managing youth-led activities;
The students’ association strengthened its internal cooperation and volunteer engagement;
Participants reported improved understanding of non-formal education and youth work principles.
The activity was evaluated positively through daily feedback sessions and a final group evaluation.

Your tasks and responsibilities within the team

I worked as a full-time trainer throughout the activity. My responsibilities included:
Designing the training programme together with the trainers’ team;
Facilitating workshops and group processes;
Supporting participants in developing their charity project ideas;
Coordinating group dynamics and ensuring a safe learning environment;
Leading reflection and evaluation sessions;
Mentoring participants during the implementation of the charity activity.
I was actively involved in all stages of the training, from preparation to final evaluation.

I worked on this training for 3 days days as a full time trainer.