WORKING WITH QUEER YOUTH

Aims & objectives

This training course aimed at developing youth workers competences and insights into queer and LGBTIQ+ youth and community experiences, in order for them to create safer spaces for queer young people through empathy, community resources and supportive allyship.

Objectives:
- To understand better what role could youth workers play in the lives of queer young people.
- To empower youth workers to become strong allies for queer youth, through direct support and/or the ability to access external resources.
- To learn about the complexities of LGBTIQ+ and Queer experiences.
- To deconstruct personal biases regarding gender and sexual identities.
- To understand the challenges that young queers could face and how they shape their lives and communities.
- To look into our practices critically and asses how supportive they can be for queer youth
- To plan how to integrate more inclusive practices in our local context.

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

Criteria for participants:
- Above 18 years old.
- Ability to understand and communicate in English.
- Youth work practitioners, youth work volunteers, trainers, facilitators.
- Other educators interested in the topic (teachers, advisors, peer educators,...)
- This is not a training for queer youth workers specifically, it’s meant for anyone working with youth;
and interested in reflecting on how youth work practices can cater for queer youth needs.

Training methods used & main activities

Methodology and approach:

The course methodology in this training is based on experiential learning and non-formal education, aiming to create an atmosphere where participants can learn from each other (peer learning) and feel empowered to share their experiences, reflect and critically examine their practice. A specific focus will be given to the queer community organizing, resources, practices and their transferability to youth work.

Outcomes of the activity

At the end of the training, the participants were more able to:
- reflect on their own biases about queer identity.
Understand the challenges and complexities of LGBTIQ+ and Queer communities.
- reflect on the ally role among youth co-workers by using approaches and methods developed during the training.
- have knowledge about queer theory and how to use it as a tool to better combat the prejudice that queer people face.
- acknowledge the crucial role of youth workers in supporting queer young people and empathizing with them.
- know how to create more inclusive practices within their own local context.

Your tasks and responsibilities within the team

I worked as a full time trainer, designing the overall programme, choosing specific methods and adapting them to the needs of the group throughout the whole TC. working in collaboration with other two international trainers.

I worked on this training for 4 days as a full time trainer.