“Training for Developing Youth Policy Capacities” (TrainYouth)

Aims & objectives

​The project “Training for Developing Youth Policy Capacities” (TrainYouth), aimed at creating a network of Youth-Focused Local Authorities that will promote EU’s agenda on Youth Policy, promote youth-focused activities, promote youth participation and engagement. Policy makers and Youth Workers from the participating Local Authorities were trained on EU’s Youth Strategy, on EU funded Youth Projects, on Youth mobility activities, on young entrepreneurship, on the contest of the European Youth Capital and on other Youth-related resources. In addition Policy Makers and Youth Workers were trained to develop Transferable Skills so that they become better in delivering their work.
The TRAINYOUTH training course equipped policy makers that are working for the Youth sector and youth workers in general with capacities to engage youth into society and avert radicalization that is a major threat for Europe's fundamental values.
The main issue that was addressed in this project was the lack of knowledge and capacities for policy makers and youth workers in Youth issues. It is frequent that an elected policy maker or a youth worker have not gone through training or are not aware of youth issues before being assigned the "youth worker role". Through this project there was thorough training on all aspects of Youth Policy, funding for youth activities, youth engagement etc. so that trainees will be able to improve their youth work and youth policy making.
The project’s objectives were:
• To create a network of Youth-Focused Local Authorities.
• To promote EU’s Youth Strategy.
• To train policy makers and youth workers, on Youth issues and funding opportunities for youth related activities etc.
• To promote a culture of participation and engagement amongst youths in the participating local authorities.

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

10 Youth Workers from each country (Greece and Cyprus)

Participants profile:
• Youth workers over 18 years old, either policy makers or staff of the local authorities (could be also youth workers working for youth or cultural associations within the administrative areas of the local authorities KOINOFELIS EPICHEIRISI IPIRESION NEAPOLIS-SYKEON – ΚΕΥΝΣ and UNION OF CYPRUS COMMUNITIES).
• have the chance to multiply the outcomes of the youth mobility and promote youth policy making
• has at least a basic knowledge of English,
willingness to work in an international team
special note will be given to marginalized youngsters and those of having migrant background

Training methods used & main activities

The working methods were composed of:
- energizers and ice-breaking activities
- group-building games
- working and focus groups
- oral presentations
- simulation games
- open space technology and world caffè networking method

Outcomes of the activity

The project Training for Developing Youth Policy Capacities (TrainYouth) was funded by Erasmus + K1 Youth Workers Mobility and aimed at creating a Local Authorities network that focuses on Youth and will promote the European Union's Youth Agenda , Actions for Youth and the taking of relevant political decisions.

20 youth workers and policy makers from Greece and Cyprus came to Thessaloniki from 26 / 3-1 / 4/17 and were trained on the EU Youth Strategy, subsidized European programs, youth mobility through programs, youth entrepreneurship, the European Youth Capital Competition and, more generally, European youth issues. In addition, they would be trained to acquire Transferable Skills to better perform their work.

TrainYouth's training program has equipped policy makers and youth workers to empower young people to participate in society and to avoid the risk of marginalization, which is a major threat to the EU's Fundamental Principles.

Website: https://trainyouth.weebly.com/
Public report:https://trainyouth.weebly.com/public-report.html

Your tasks and responsibilities within the team

I was responsible for the overall design of the training activity and programme and I was a full time trainer. I was also responsible for the following sessions as lead trainer:

•Extreme challenge interview" (Expectations, motivations, contributions and concerns of participants)
•Why we need TrainYouth?: presentation of countries
•Test your current TrainYouth performance
EU's Youth Policy, Youth Organisations
•Basics of coaching: Coaching models and approaches
•What is coaching for me?
•Coaching Skills and Tools for career development and personal growth

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