“Training of Trainers for Diversity and Inclusion of Minority Youth”

Aims & objectives

AIM:
Developing the competences of trainers active and experienced in youth work for diversity, particularly with minority youth groups, in view of strengthening their capacity to prepare and carry out European and national training activities based on intercultural learning and non-formal education practices.

OBJECTIVES:
▪ To develop participants’ competences in developing and running youth non-formal education training activities based on intercultural learning, human rights education and participation;
▪ To familiarise participants with the values, mission, structure and ways of working of the Council of Europe and in particular the Directorate of Youth and Sport;
▪ To develop and consolidate essential skills for trainers in non-formal education with multicultural youth groups and to raise awareness about quality criteria in their training activities;
▪ To share and learn from practices of youth work and training with minority youth for diversity and social inclusion;
▪ To identify and develop specific trainers competences related to work with minority youth and diversity;
▪ To inform participants about the potential of European youth programmes in youth work for diversity and inclusion;
▪ To develop the range of competences and diversity in the trainer’s pool of the Directorate of Youth and Sport.

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

GROUP:
The course was organised and planned for trainers who are:
▪ active within youth organisations and associations, in youth work activities and in other NGOs working with minority youth;
▪ experienced in working with minority young people and minority youth organisations on topics related to social inclusion;
▪ experienced with non-formal education training practices and motivated to consolidate these experiences in order to work as future trainers
▪ interested in developing strategies and ways to improve social cohesion and cultural diversity with young people
▪ willing to contribute to making diversity visible in European training activities
▪ motivated to share and to learn;
▪ ready and able to attend the full duration of the course;
▪ supported by their organisation or association;
▪ aged between 18 and 30 years (exceptions are possible);
▪ able to work in English or French.

Candidates personally related to minority groups and communities were strongly encouraged to apply.

TEAM:
5 trainers experienced in work and training with youth from a variety of minority backgrounds: Nadina Lyamouri-Bajja, Alexandra Raykova, Marius Jitea, Karina Chupina, Rui Gomes (course director, Head of the Education and Training Unit, Council of Europe Youth Department).

Training methods used & main activities

Open and self-motivational working environment was created that was striving towards bi-directional learning process; participatory approach was adopted that implied: involvement of guest lecturers and trainers, exploration of Equality, Diversity, Minorities, self-identity and belonging concepts; soft skills' building workshops (Intercultural Learning, Human Rights Education, conflict transformation etc.) and hard skills' building workshops (group dynamics, evaluation, programme design), thematic workshops (homophobia, disability, multiple discrimination), online preparation, self-assessments, ongoing evaluation through the programme, sharing examples of training work/experiences, involving participants through meta-reflection on the ToT programme.

Outcomes of the activity

- an increased understanding of the concerns of minority youth and how they impact the work of a trainer with minority groups in diversity and social inclusion
- a deepened participants’ theoretical knowledge and competences in dealing with the concepts and work practices fundamental to the training (Diversity, Equality, Social Inclusion, Human Rights Education)
- development of the essential training competencies in non-formal education
- development of the readiness attitudes towards the particular area of training youth from a variety of minority backgrounds
- identification and development of the specific competencies for the trainers working with minority youth
- as a result of the constant learning environment with a particular focus on learning with/about “minorities”, coming to the realisation of what it means to be a trainer in diversity, and implications of training work in this field
- particular consideration of the methods and methodologies that can used in a diversity training, with a focus on the role of the trainer
- part of the participants entered the Council of Europe Youth Department Pool of Trainers which contributed to extending the range of competencies in the Trainer’s Pool
- the training course itself was seen as a successful model of future possible ToT for young trainers working with youth from minority backgrounds

Your tasks and responsibilities within the team

Designing training sessions, conducting and running the ToT elements such as Facilitation, Human Rights Education, training work with mixed ability groups; working with the groups of participants (reflection and meta-reflection), taking care of the accessibility of the programme and chosen methods, conducting the ongoing and post-evaluation with the team of trainers.

I worked on this training for 10 days days as a full time trainer.