TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Anna Michael
The conference aimed to create a space for dialogue, exchange of knowledge, and active participation among young people, youth workers, stakeholders, and organisations working in the field of civic education and youth engagement. It sought to strengthen participants’ understanding of democratic participation, encourage critical reflection, and support the development of ideas and proposals that contribute to strengthening civic education.
The conference addressed the need for greater youth involvement in decision-making processes, the development of civic competences, and the creation of opportunities for young people to express their views and actively contribute to society. It responded to the need for inclusive spaces where diverse perspectives can be shared and where young people can feel empowered to use their voice.
The conference aligned with the goals of the organisations by promoting youth participation, social inclusion, democratic values, and non-formal learning approaches. It supported their mission to empower young people, strengthen civic awareness, and encourage active citizenship through dialogue, collaboration, and exchange of good practices.
The target group of the activity consisted mainly of young people living in Cyprus, including Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot youth, refugees, and European students residing in Cyprus. The participants represented diverse cultural, ethnic, and social backgrounds, creating a space for intercultural dialogue, exchange of perspectives, and mutual learning.
The activity involved participants primarily from Cyprus, with representation from different European nationalities through EU students and young people with migrant and refugee backgrounds living in the country. The diversity of the group contributed to discussions around civic education, participation, inclusion, identity, and active citizenship.
Facilitated group discussions and dialogue sessions that encouraged participants to exchange perspectives, reflect on civic education challenges, and explore different experiences of democratic participation.
Interactive workshops and experiential activities that supported learning through participation, reflection, and collaboration.
Small group work and co-creation exercises where participants developed ideas and recommendations related to youth participation and civic education.
Peer learning and intercultural exchange activities that enabled participants from diverse backgrounds, including Greek Cypriot, Turkish Cypriot, refugee, and EU student communities, to share experiences and perspectives.
Structured dialogue with decision-makers and stakeholders, creating opportunities for young people to express their views and engage in meaningful discussions about policies affecting them.
Reflection activities and collective evaluation, allowing participants to connect their experiences with broader concepts such as European values, democratic rights, inclusion, and active citizenship.
These methods supported the development of competences such as communication, critical thinking, collaboration, intercultural understanding, and active participation.
he activity achieved its aim of strengthening youth participation, civic awareness, and dialogue around the role of young people in democratic processes. Participants increased their understanding of civic education, European values, democratic rights, and the importance of active citizenship through interactive discussions, workshops, and collaborative activities.
A key outcome of the conference was the co-creation of policy recommendations by participants, reflecting young people’s perspectives, needs, and proposals for strengthening civic education and youth participation in Cyprus. These recommendations provided a concrete contribution to discussions with stakeholders and decision-makers and highlighted the importance of including young people’s voices in policy development.
The success of the activity was demonstrated through the active engagement of participants, the quality of discussions and exchanges, the diversity of perspectives shared, and the final development of collective recommendations. The involvement of young people from different communities and backgrounds also contributed to intercultural dialogue and a deeper understanding of inclusive democratic participation.
The outcomes of the conference were documented through the communication channels and publications of the organising organisation, including event reports, social media publications, and materials related to the policy recommendations developed during the event.
I worked as a full-time trainer within the trainers’ team and was actively involved in the design and delivery of the conference methodology. My role included contributing to the development of participatory learning approaches, designing youth wellbeing activities, and creating experiential exercises that supported reflection, engagement, and meaningful participation.
I contributed to preparing and facilitating sessions that encouraged dialogue, self-expression, collaboration, and connection among participants from diverse backgrounds. I supported the creation of a safe and inclusive learning environment where young people could explore issues related to civic education, democratic participation, personal wellbeing, and their role as active citizens.
Throughout the activity, I worked closely with the trainers’ team to adapt methods according to participants’ needs, facilitate discussions, encourage peer learning, and support the co-creation process that led to the development of policy recommendations.