Training course "Sustainable tools"

Aims & objectives

This Training Course (TC) "Sustainable tools" aimed to provide youth leaders/workers with concrete tools and methods concerning issues of Sustainable Development (mainly focused on responsible consumption, biodiversity, fair trade and environmental ethics). The project resulted as a second phase of EuroMed Long Term TC - Protecting the Mediterranean Environment “Youth will make the difference” ( September 2009, Greece ).
The objectives of the TC were: to provide space for the participants to learn, share and develop different tools and methods concerning Sustainable Development issues, and how to apply them in the daily work with youngsters; to improve youth workers competences, knowledge, skills and attitudes about Sustainable Development; to empower youth workers to become multipliers of the outcomes of this project within their actions in their local communities; increase of intercultural dialog and solidarity trough creativity, innovation and partnership.

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

The TC was developed by 11 EuroMed countries - Bulgaria, Turkey, Portugal, Lithuania, Italy, Greece, Israel, Egypt, Tunisia, Lebanon and Jordan. The team was consisted of 2 trainers - Sashka Vitanova(F), Bulgaria and Deniz Olcek (F), Turkey, 2 outdoor activities experts as support stuff - Zhelyazko Mechkov(M), Evgeni monov(M), 1 PR support - Yanina Taneva (F), and 2 additional outdoor experts for the outdoor activities day - Alexandra Iotzova(F), Vanya Boneva(F). /OutwardBound Bulgaria outdoor activities experts/

Training methods used & main activities

The daily activities were based on experiential learning methodology - learning-by-doing and intercultural learning process stimulating creativity, active participation and initiative. There were used variety of active and interactive methods - games, workshops, role-plays, outdoor activities, ice-breakers, round-tables, etc., in order to cover all the aspects of the theme and participants’ needs. Examples: 1. Responsible consumption game - each participants gets an item as a picture ( jar, paper, plastic bag, etc.) and has three options to decide where to go - reduce, reuse, recycling, and to share with the other his/her decision; 2. Mirror exercise - in couple the participants has to repeat their movement till they get to synchronicity; 3. One day outdoor activities in the forest aimed to go deeper in Experiential learning methodoly finalized with proper theory and reflection. The group was divided in 3 small groups, with different routs and tasks, and level of difficulties - gathering info for the surrounding flora, fauna and collecting garbage. for each completed task to the participants were given piece of common structure. At the end the three group gather on one place ( meadow) and connected the pieces they got. It was the structure or a rack ( winter feeding place for herbivorous, wooden construction). After the outdoors lunch, all the group with the experts from the park build the construction successfully. 4. Half day visit of 10 youngsters 9-10 years old with they biology teacher from a town close bay, for which the participants had task to prepare activities.

Outcomes of the activity

The TC was chose from the Bulgarian NA to present the action 3.1 for the annual report to Brussels.
Strong and good network on national and international level.
Increasing the awareness of the nature as tool for youth activities; soon after the end of the TC the participants started place in action in their daily actions with youngsters the tools they acquired during the TC - Greece, Lebanon, Italy, Portugal etc.
Strong partnerships were built on, and more over a common EuroMed ground of Youth and Nature was established.
There are 3 project realized in practice and few other build on:
1. Study visit "Sharing visions, improving realities", October 2011, Portugal; Sashka Vitanova was support stuff and facilitator.
2. TC "Leaders for Sustainable development", May 2012, Israel. Sashka Vitanova was trainer
3. Chose the right profession, 2012, Lithuania
4. Ecological intelligence, Bulgaria, project rejected
5. Sustainable tools in Italy, project frozen
6. One nature, different faces, Egypt, project frozen

Your tasks and responsibilities within the team

I was responsible for the activities such as:
- team building and group dynamics
- reflection
- responsible consumption
- sustainable development
- tools presentations
- biodiversity
- youngsters' visit
- logistics
- preparation, materials, place, report

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