TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Nunzio Soricaro
General objective
The training course aimed to develop young people’s skills and competences in order to inspire them to start a social business overcoming youth unemployment and, in turn, social and economic exclusion.
Specific objectives
• To introduce and make participants familiar with the concept of social entrepreneurship
• To develop soft skills and to acquire competences in the field of creativity and entrepreneurship
• To experience new non-formal methods and tools to empower youth in becoming future entrepreneurs
• To provide participants with the opportunity to exchange experiences and expertise in the field of social entrepreneurship
• To share resources and provide information about Erasmus+ funding opportunities (entrepreneurship, education, and learning, partnerships, job shadowing) useful for business creation
• To foster active participation, leadership, cooperation, sense of entrepreneurship and ability to take initiatives and risks
The training was specifically addressed to interested, motivated and/or experienced youth workers who are able to apply the knowledge and skills gained during the training in their organizations and who are ready to cooperate with the business sector.
The training involved participants from 5 different countries (France, Italy, Spain, Greece and Romania)
Based on experiential learning and learning-by-doing methodology, all theoretical inputs were discussed and conclusions made jointly in order to achieve participants’ full understanding of the contents. All sessions were interactive, demand participants’ active participation and consist of group work activities. The training, next to a few plenary moments, has mostly alternated working in small groups and individual mentoring. Among specific methods, the training accounted for: multiple intelligences, design thinking, business model and lean canvas, sociocracy as a new approach for cooperation and decision-making process, elevator pitch, hold up etc. All the activities have been supported by graphic facilitation in order to make participants’ learning process more effective and visible.
• Participants developed their critical thinking, leadership, sense of initiative and cooperation in a multicultural environment
• Participants acquired skills and competencies to start a social business
• Participants were able to create and lead activities, projects and training for young people, including those with fewer opportunities, on social entrepreneurship (multiplier effect)
• Participants were able to promote social entrepreneurship among local partners and NGOs in order to help them to become sustainable as well as to involve a bigger number of young people into social entrepreneurship
I have conceived the training and I was also in charge of drafting the project application. I was also in charge of the coordination of the pool of trainers composed of two other trainers from Italy and France. The pool of trainers was responsible for drafting the modules and choosing the appropriate methods to meet the objectives.