TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Vladas Polevičius
The "SMART YOUth" training course, held from March 2–7, 2025, in Birštonas, Lithuania, was designed to respond to the growing need for digital transformation in the field of youth work. Its core aim was to empower youth workers with the knowledge, skills, and practical tools necessary to integrate digital technologies meaningfully and ethically into their daily work with young people. The training addressed several pressing challenges faced by youth professionals today, such as the rapid spread of misinformation, the increasing influence of social media on youth identity and behavior, and the need to guide young people in navigating complex digital environments safely and critically.
The activity also focused on building the participants’ critical thinking and media literacy competences—key skills for fostering resilience and discernment among youth in a digital age. In addition, online safety and digital ethics were integrated throughout the program to ensure that youth workers not only felt confident using digital tools, but also understood the responsibilities and risks that come with them.
This training aligned closely with the goals of the hosting and participating organizations, many of which are committed to innovation in youth work, the empowerment of youth through education, and the promotion of safe, inclusive, and forward-thinking youth environments. It supported their mission to create learning opportunities that are both relevant and responsive to current societal and technological trends.
As a full-time trainer and team leader in this training activity, my role was to co-design and facilitate the overall learning journey. I was responsible for leading interactive workshops on media literacy, critical thinking, and digital ethics, as well as guiding participants in translating these concepts into their specific work contexts. I also supported participants individually, helped coordinate logistics on-site, ensured group cohesion, and led reflection and evaluation sessions throughout the course. My focus was on creating an engaging, inclusive, and thought-provoking environment where youth workers could learn from both the content and from one another.
The training course "SMART YOUth" brought together a diverse and truly international group of participants, creating a rich environment for intercultural learning and exchange. The target group consisted of youth workers, educators, social workers, project coordinators, community leaders, and mentors actively engaged in the youth sector. All participants were involved in supporting young people through non-formal education, social projects, and community-based initiatives, with a strong interest in developing their digital competencies and fostering critical thinking and media literacy among youth.
The group was composed of participants from six different countries: Greece, Romania, Poland, Lithuania, Spain, and Italy. This international composition contributed to the dynamic and collaborative nature of the training, as participants brought diverse experiences, cultural perspectives, and practices from their local contexts. The presence of varied national backgrounds enriched the discussions, deepened mutual understanding, and allowed for cross-cultural comparisons on how digital tools and media influence youth work across different European realities.
The training team itself was also international, ensuring a balanced and inclusive approach to facilitation. Trainers were experienced professionals in digital youth work and non-formal education, capable of addressing the specific needs of an international audience and adapting methods to ensure accessibility and relevance for all participants.
The "SMART YOUth" training course was grounded entirely in non-formal learning methodologies, ensuring that participants were engaged as active contributors to their own learning processes. The methods used throughout the training were interactive, experiential, and learner-centered, fostering both individual reflection and group collaboration.
A key method used was experiential learning, where participants engaged in hands-on activities such as exploring digital tools, designing youth work scenarios, or applying media literacy strategies in simulated settings. For example, during sessions on media literacy, participants worked in small groups to analyze real social media posts and news articles, identifying bias, emotional manipulation, and misinformation techniques.
Case studies and role-playing were also central to the methodology. In one session, participants took on the roles of youth workers, young people, and digital content creators in order to explore ethical dilemmas related to online behavior and digital privacy. These simulations created a safe space to discuss complex issues such as data security, cyberbullying, and influencer culture.
We also used collaborative brainstorming and group discussions to facilitate peer learning. For instance, during the digital tools exploration session, participants shared and tested different platforms and apps they use in their youth work, exchanging feedback and ideas for implementation in their local contexts.
In addition, visual facilitation and creative expression were integrated to support different learning styles. Participants created visual mind maps to reflect on the influence of technology on youth and used creative presentation formats (such as short skits, digital posters, or storytelling) to share their learning outcomes.
Daily reflection circles and structured evaluation activities encouraged participants to process their experiences, give feedback, and identify personal and professional learning outcomes. The training intentionally created space for informal learning moments—through intercultural evenings and shared meals—which fostered team building and cross-cultural connection.
These non-formal learning methods made the training not only informative but also highly engaging, inclusive, and adaptable to the diverse learning needs of the group.
The "SMART YOUth" training course achieved its core aim of strengthening youth workers’ digital competencies, critical thinking skills, and media literacy through a well-structured program rooted in non-formal education. Participants not only deepened their understanding of digital tools and their applications in youth work, but also gained practical strategies to promote online safety, digital ethics, and critical media analysis among the young people they work with.
The success of the training was evident in several key ways. First, participants demonstrated increased confidence in using digital platforms for youth engagement and expressed motivation to implement new methods in their local contexts. This was reflected in the final reflection and evaluation sessions, where participants highlighted specific tools, methods, and concepts they planned to adapt and share within their organizations.
Second, the interactive nature of the sessions—including role plays, case studies, and collaborative tasks—encouraged active participation and peer learning. The diversity of the group and the space for intercultural dialogue enriched the overall experience, promoting not only competence-building but also mutual understanding and networking across countries.
Moreover, the training contributed to the strategic goals of participating organizations by equipping their staff with up-to-date skills that are increasingly essential in modern youth work. As a result, several participants planned to cascade the knowledge gained by organizing local workshops or integrating the approaches into their existing youth projects.
Documentation of the training, including daily summaries, photos, and testimonials, was published through the social media platforms of the coordinating organization as well as participating NGOs. Key highlights and participant reflections were shared on the Society and Enterprise Development Institute (SEDI) Facebook page and Instagram account. These platforms helped to disseminate the learning outcomes more broadly and allowed for continued engagement with the training content beyond the event itself.
The collaborative environment, practical learning, and clear impact on participants’ attitudes and skills confirmed the training’s success and long-term value in advancing digital and media education in youth work.
As a full-time trainer in the "SMART YOUth" training course, I was actively involved in all stages of the program—from preparation and implementation to evaluation. My responsibilities began well before the training itself, as I collaborated with the trainers’ team to co-design the educational flow, develop session outlines, and ensure that the training objectives were effectively translated into engaging and coherent non-formal learning activities.
During the training, I was responsible for planning and facilitating multiple core sessions, particularly those related to media literacy, critical thinking, and online safety in youth work. This included leading interactive workshops, moderating group discussions, and guiding participants through case studies, role-playing exercises, and brainstorming sessions. I also facilitated daily reflection activities to help participants internalize their learning and connect it with their professional practice.
Another key part of my role was to support participants individually—answering questions, providing feedback, and helping them adapt the training content to their local contexts. I also took part in organizing and co-hosting intercultural evenings, which contributed to creating an inclusive and collaborative learning atmosphere.
In addition, I was involved in logistical coordination on-site, maintaining the daily schedule, ensuring smooth transitions between sessions, and supporting the well-being and engagement of participants throughout the course.
Finally, I contributed to the documentation of the training, capturing best practices, collecting participant feedback, and helping to summarize outcomes for dissemination on social media and in follow-up materials. As a full-time trainer, I was deeply engaged in both the educational and practical dimensions of the activity, ensuring that the training delivered high-quality learning experiences aligned with its objectives.