TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Sue Dudill
This was a training course for all those implementing youth work in different settings - in youth clubs, youth, social or community centres, schools or other institutions, who would like to exchange best practices, learn more about the recognition tools in the field of non-formal education and start cross-sectoral cooperation for future improvement of the youth work they do.
Aim:
Complying with the new Erasmus+ holistic approach the main aim of this training course is to raise awareness of the diversity of youth work across Europe, foster better recognition of non-formal education and cross-sectoral cooperation.
Objectives:
The training course aims at:
- mapping the reality of youth work in the participating countries;
- providing a safe space to examine the challenges of working with/for young people in different settings;
- exploring the existing recognition tools for NFE and their added value in youth work;
- offering the opportunity to share experience, ideas, tools and methods for better and improved youth work;
- inspiring more cross-sectoral and holistic approach in youth work;
- presenting the new opportunities of Erasmus+ programme;
My colleague, Tsvetina Zaharlieva, from Bulgaria was the other trainer who delivered this training course with me. We were supported by representatives of the Bulgarian National Agency throughout the week.
Target group: 22
- youth workers or youth leaders directly involved in youth work;
- social workers offering services to young people;
- teachers (at secondary/high schools or vocational schools) interested in cross-sectoral cooperation and adding value to their extracurricular activities for youth.
The countries represented were Bulgaria, Macedonia, Turkey, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain, Germany, Austria, Poland, Romania and Lithuania.
Through interactive training methods the participants:
- mapped the reality of youth work in the participating countries;
- examined the challenges of working with/for young people in different settings;
- discussed the competences developed in youth work and their added value for the youth worker’s personal and professional development;
- explored the existing recognition tools for NFE and their added value in youth work;
- shared experience, ideas, tools and methods for better and improved youth work;
- explored the opportunities of the Erasmus+ programme;
- were empowered so they could then enrich the learning experience of the the young people they work with in their own environment.
A cornucopia of NFE methods were used such as the Empathy Map, Stakeholder Solutions, Open Space and supported by theoretical input from the training team.
A non-formal evaluation took place using auditory, visual and kinaesthetic methods. The auditory feedback we received using the Dixit method was exemplary from each participant. The Domino method had everyone leaping to their feet to share common positive experiences from the week. We then gave the participants the opportunity to give written feedback using the Pizza method along with further chance for written comments in 3 specific categories, asking them what the outcomes had been for them. Indications were that the overarching aims and the objectives had been met. 8 Pizza categories were scored 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest. We scored between 98 and 100% in band 5 for all topics.
Along with my colleague, I began work on planning the training course in February 2015 during another international work experience in Macedonia. During the year we gradually developed the programme which was finally delivered in January 2016. Along with my role as trainer, I also supported the participants during informal moments outside of the training room. I recorded the entire training course photographically and uploaded them images to the group on Facebook where I have been contributing with links to useful information since my return to the UK.