TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Kristina Zimaj
Background of the activity:
As part of the training and evaluation cycle within ESC, both SALTO SEE and NA SI organize different support activities for coordinators or more broadly staff involved in the support of the ESC volunteering projects on a yearly basis.
This year, we will organize this activity on a broader international level and with this enable the networking among organizations from Slovenia and 5 countries of the Western Balkans.
Purpose of the activity:
The purpose of the activity is to form and/or strengthen quality and lasting partnerships between organizations from Slovenia and the Western Balkans with the aim of improving the quality and number of volunteering projects.
In addition, we aim to increase knowledge and attractiveness for volunteering in these countries and develop balanced partnership relations based on mutual respect and cooperation.
The meeting will be an opportunity to discuss challenges and opportunities and to share practices among participants.
Objectives of the activity:
1. Formation and strengthening of partnerships between organizations from Slovenia and 5 countries of the Western Balkans;
2. Improving the quality of volunteering projects;
3. Building balanced partner relationships;
4. Understanding the reality in the participating countries as one of the important factors in building partnerships;
5. To deepen knowledge in the implementation of volunteering projects and to increase the attractiveness of ESC volunteering among country participants;
The target group included organizations from SI and WB that have a Quality Label (host/support/lead organizations) and their coordinators/staff
actively involved in the ESC projects, who meet the following conditions:
● They carry out ongoing volunteering projects within the ESC program or
● are preparing to start a project;
● They want to improve the quality of their volunteering projects;
● They want to form and/or strengthen partnerships.
The activity was prepared and implemented the team of six; Vanja Metelko, Project officer for ESC and TEC at Movit; Andrej Troha, Programme
officer SALTO SEE RC, Petra Jazbec, trainer at Movit, Henk Persyn, trainer at SALTO SEE; Kristina Zimaj, junior trainer of SALTO SEE; and
Mirjana Dragojević, representative from the Udruženje Svetlost, the ESC Contact Point in Serbia.
The program was designed using a formal educational methodology tailored to the aims of the activities and the needs of the participants, as
outlined in their application forms. The daily program included simulation activities, group discussions, presentations, exchanges of
best practices, and direct consultations with NA representatives and SALTO SEE.
- Participants established new connections and potential partnerships across the region.
- Several organizations expressed interest in future collaboration, citing the meeting as a key networking opportunity.
- Informal and structured exchanges allowed participants to explore complementary interests in ESC projects.
The training offered practical tools, methods, and successful examples that participants can apply to enhance their project quality.
The “ESC in action” simulation and shared organizational strategies encouraged reflective thinking and concrete planning for improvement.
The balance between theory and practice supported participants in identifying quality standards and innovations for ESC implementation.
The diversity and equal participation of organizations from both Slovenia and the Western Balkans fostered a sense of mutual respect.
Interactive and inclusive methods encouraged open dialogue and peer learning, key components in forming balanced partnerships.
Participants valued the safe and supportive environment, which allowed for honest conversations and deeper connection-building.
Many participants, especially newcomers, gained valuable insights into the practical challenges and institutional realities of other countries.
Open discussions and personal stories enriched understanding of how volunteering operates regionally.
Several noted that this contextual awareness is essential to designing effective, realistic, and inclusive ESC projects.
- co-create the programme of activities together with the organising team including a full description of the topic, objectives, methodologies and the expected outcomes of each session;
- participate in the online and residential preparations meeting and other shorter follow up preparation meetings agreed by the activity team;
- finalise the tasks (detailed methodology, task division) related to the programme development and implementation independently in between the preparation meetings;
- implement the programme of activities of the Joint TEC meeting between Movit and SALTO SEE in 2024, from 15-18 October 2024, including a final evaluation of the activity with the participants;
- prepare the final report of the acitivity in cooperation with the co-facilitators, in line with the structure defined by the team for this activity.
Kristina was included here as a junior trainer and she did a good job, especially during the activity on the spot and then preparing the final report.