"Training for Trainers- dealing with diversity in international youth work"

Aims & objectives

The objectives of the project were:
- To train youth workers to become trainers and provide them with the theory, skills and tools necessary to design, implement and evaluate effective training programmes themselves in order to generate optimum learning outcomes
and improved performance;
- To increase participants' understanding of the educational context (i.e. Non-Formal Education, Adult Learning) in which this training course is placed and have a clear understanding of different methods and styles of training and facilitation with their respective advantages and disadvantages;
- To create an appropriate learning environment, by reflecting about learning to learn, different learning styles and how to
address them in training;
- To develop and expand a network of trainers and facilitators, with the skills and motivation to contribute to the quality and sustainability of the youth programmes in Europe;
- To empower youth workers to run an international activity based on creative methods for intercultural dialogue and to get feedback on their approach;
- To give practical examples of how to work in an international team;
- To motivate participants to apply the acquired knowledge, skills and attitudes and thereby play an active role in society on a local, national and international level;
- To strengthen the collaboration between young people from European Union countries and partner countries;

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

The training course gathered 24 participants from 12 European countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Serbia, Macedonia, Portugal, Romania, Poland, Lithuania, Cyprus, Azerbaijan and Georgia).

Training methods used & main activities

The TC used the method of non-formal education in order to create an appropriate learning environment by focusing on learning by experience, discussions about the key competences of youth work and discovering training competences and methodology.
The course was designed as an open learning process based on participant experience and exchange. The training course followed the “non formal education approach” with a combination of different creative and interactive methods used by the international training team and designed upon the profile of participants.

Outcomes of the activity

Experienced youth workers acquired more practical as well as theoretical tools and skills to hold training courses to other youth workers themselves.
The training course contributed to the development of a pool of trainers of the
Youth for Exchange and Understanding (YEU) International.

Your tasks and responsibilities within the team

My responsibilities were:
- Prep team member and a full time trainer;
- Participating the prep team meeting in April 2010, in Kumanovo, Macedonia
- During the training course I have trained and/or co-facilitated content sessions and have facilitated daily evaluation/reflection group
- Participating daily team meetings
- Contributing to the report

I worked on this training for 8 days as a full time trainer.