Training for the ESC Volunteers Szymanka 2024

Aims & objectives

The event serves as a fantastic opportunity for volunteers to bond with their mentors and coordinators while getting to know the rich culture of the Pomeranian region and exploring the beautiful landscapes of Kaszubia.

It's not just about spending time together in a relaxed atmosphere — this is a chance to learn from one another and plan our shared goals for the coming months. For many volunteers, this marks the start of their journey in Gdynia, where we help them focus on personal growth and learning. Those attending for the first time have the unique opportunity to hear stories from volunteers who have been here longer, gaining valuable insights into their experiences. For others, this second training allows them to reflect on their experiences, evaluating the challenges they’ve faced and the progress they’ve made.

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

Twice a year, we invite our foreign volunteers hosted in Gdynia, their mentors, and coordinators for weekend training outside the city. A joint trip is an opportunity to get to know each other better, broaden your knowledge and learn more about our cultures.

We held an amazing training session for 22 volunteers, their mentors, and the coordinator from our hosting organization, representing 9 different countries! This bi-annual event, organized by the Centre for Youth Cooperation and Mobility (Centrum Współpracy Młodzieży), is a key moment for the European Solidarity Corps community in Gdynia.

Training methods used & main activities

Discussions, self and group reflections, peer to peer learning, simulations, public speaking, learning by doing, work in groups, presentations, digital tools, visualitations, work in pairs, role play, etc.

Outcomes of the activity

We’ve exchanged stories about our cultures, discussed what drives us to volunteer in Poland, and focused on our well-being.

Teambuiliding and integration

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUuvS4Lgoc4&t=95s

Your tasks and responsibilities within the team

Our trainers's team prepared a training program, which was led by 4 trainers from our organization.
My role was to run needs assessment, monitoring and evaluation of the programme and the training in general.

I prepared training sessions and about:
- intercultural education
-teambuilding session
- energizers and icebreakers
-follow up session
- evaluation
- evening integration activities
- EU Youth Strategy and Youth Goals,

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