TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Rastislav Zaremba
The training activity, titled "Youth employment through development of soft skills," was an eight-day Erasmus+ training course for youth workers. Its primary aim was to increase the competencies of youth leaders and workers who worked with young people with fewer opportunities. It sought to provide various tools, specifically soft skills such as work management, communication, decision-making, negotiation, motivational, and teamwork skills, for the empowerment and employability of local youth. The project aimed to explore concepts of social inclusion, employment, and soft skills, and to share best practices among youth workers in inclusion and employability projects. It also intended to develop participants' competencies in concretely working on the long-term development of soft skills and empowering disadvantaged young people, thereby contributing to youth workers' social and professional growth by offering knowledge and practical tools for developing and transferring these skills to their target groups. The project directly met the needs of the applicant organization, STEP, and its partners by supporting their overall goal of creating an environment for young people's development and self-realization, and by addressing the challenges of youth unemployment, especially for those from less developed or disadvantaged backgrounds.
The training activity, titled "Youth employment through development of soft skills," was an eight-day Erasmus+ training course for youth workers. Its primary aim was to increase the competencies of youth leaders and workers who worked with young people with fewer opportunities. It sought to provide various tools, specifically soft skills such as work management, communication, decision-making, negotiation, motivational, and teamwork skills, for the empowerment and employability of local youth. The project aimed to explore concepts of social inclusion, employment, and soft skills, and to share best practices among youth workers in inclusion and employability projects. It also intended to develop participants' competencies in concretely working on the long-term development of soft skills and empowering disadvantaged young people, thereby contributing to youth workers' social and professional growth by offering knowledge and practical tools for developing and transferring these skills to their target groups. The project directly met the needs of the applicant organization, STEP, and its partners by supporting their overall goal of creating an environment for young people's development and self-realization, and by addressing the challenges of youth unemployment, especially for those from less developed or disadvantaged backgrounds.
The target group for this activity included youth workers, project managers, activists, and volunteers who were actively involved in the partner organizations, as well as disadvantaged young people themselves. Various surveys indicated that young people, particularly those from less developed backgrounds, specific ethnic groups, those with disabilities, or those facing learning difficulties, were prone to being outside employment, education, or training. The project specifically aimed to support youth facing challenges in the labor market, including ethnic minorities, people from poor or rural areas, those with low family income, individuals with low educational attainment, and people with disabilities. The partner organizations in this project worked with youth from these underserved backgrounds. Participants were selected to be activists who possessed a basic level of English and were motivated to develop soft skills and work with young people with fewer opportunities. The international activity involved participants from Slovakia, Poland, Greece, Turkey, and Romania.
The training activity implemented a non-formal learning methodology. The activities followed a logical sequence, starting with ice-breaking and team-building exercises to foster a constructive group atmosphere. Key themes like inclusion, youth unemployment, employability, and empowerment strategies were explored through discussions. The project dedicated significant time to exploring and developing soft skills. Participants had opportunities to share personal experiences and best practices from their respective countries. Specific examples of methods mentioned included simulations, case studies, role-plays, drama methods, and small and large group discussions. The learning process also involved practical tools and exercises to develop skills such as work management, communication, decision-making, negotiation, motivation, and teamwork.
The project aimed for significant impact on participants, partner organizations, and local communities. Participants were expected to improve their competencies at various levels, including organizing their own learning, communicating, planning, and teamwork. The training also sought to motivate participants to consider future local activities for their organizations. A "Participant Workshop" was designed to prepare a follow-up program for implementing activities with members or young people in their own organizations. Participants were expected to prepare and organize workshops for local communities on topics such as employment and soft skills, social inclusion, and social entrepreneurship, thereby multiplying the knowledge, skills, and attitudes gained. Success was to be measured by the increase in awareness about key topics like youth unemployment, employability, active citizenship, and the inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities. At regional and national levels, partners agreed to develop a training module to be shared on their social media and websites. In the long term, participants were encouraged to work on further Erasmus+ project ideas, thereby providing opportunities for other young people to get involved.
My role in the trainers' team was as a trainer for this project. The document highlighted my extensive experience in the youth work field since 2005, particularly in non-formal education since 2010. I had completed traineeships in community organizing and leadership development, possessed rich experience from various youth exchanges, training sessions, and seminars, and served as a project coordinator for more than 15 Youth in Action/Erasmus+ projects. Crucially, I was noted as a trainer in 7 Youth in Action/Erasmus+ projects, indicating my direct and active involvement in delivering the training content for this project.