Transformations: from Potentials to Reality

Aims & objectives

The training aimed to strengthen youth workers’ competences in mindful team management, responding to the need for more conscious, effective and human-centred coordination in NGOs and youth projects. The course supported participants to:

improve self-awareness, emotional regulation and well-being as a basis for leadership;

develop communication, feedback and conflict-prevention skills for international teams;

practice team roles, decision-making and responsibility-sharing in non-formal education settings;

explore practical tools to foster motivation, trust, inclusion and collaboration in groups;

transfer learning into concrete action plans for their organisations and youth work practice.

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

The activity brought together 27 youth workers from 8 European countries: Italy, Romania, Sweden, Hungary, Greece, Poland, Turkey and Estonia. The group included youth workers, youth leaders and youth trainers active in NGOs and Erasmus+/ESC projects, and it also involved participants with fewer opportunities (economic, geographical and employment-related barriers).

Training methods used & main activities

The training was based on non-formal and experiential learning, combining mindful practices with hands-on teamwork labs. Methods included for example:

mindfulness-based openings/closings, body awareness and grounding practices;

team-building, trust exercises and cooperative challenges;

role plays and simulations on leadership styles, delegation and group dynamics;

reflective circles, learning journals and guided self-assessment;

communication tools (active listening, empathy, feedback practices);

small-group work, peer coaching and action-planning sessions for transfer to daily work.

Outcomes of the activity

The training resulted in stronger capacity of participants to manage teams with more clarity, empathy and sustainability. Key outcomes included:

increased confidence in facilitating teams and projects with mindful leadership tools;

practical strategies to improve internal communication, motivation and cooperation;

stronger awareness of well-being as a key factor in performance and healthy teamwork;

follow-up intentions and action plans to apply methods in local teams, volunteers groups and youth activities;

strengthened networking and future cooperation among organisations involved.

Your tasks and responsibilities within the team

I worked as a full-time trainer in the international team. My responsibilities included:

co-designing the learning flow and adapting sessions to participants’ needs;

facilitating core sessions on mindfulness, communication and group dynamics;

holding daily reflection spaces and supporting learning documentation;

supporting group processes (inclusion, conflict-prevention, energy management);

contributing to evaluation, participants’ follow-up planning and overall quality of the training.

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