TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
http://trainers.salto-youth.net/VassilenaVarbanova/
Vassilena Varbanova
Being a trainer is more than a profession for me — it’s my passion and source of fulfillment. I love creating meaningful learning spaces, channeling group energy, and witnessing moments of insight and transformation.
Vassilena Varbanova has 6 references for past work as a trainer.
Contact details
Trainer connections
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Oksana Shamonova
Current occupation
Vice president of Znanie Association and Participatory trainer
Work experience
Since 2013, when I joined the Znanie Association, I have been developing my trainer profile within the field of youth work and non-formal education, taking part in international workshops, learning pilots, and long-term learning processes. In 2016, I co-created, designed, and delivered my first international youth exchange, which marked the start of my continuous engagement as a youth trainer.
Over the years, I have co-created, designed, and delivered 3 youth exchanges and 4 international trainings under the Erasmus+ programme, along with numerous national and international short- and long-term learning activities. I have also coordinated several European Solidarity Corps short-term volunteering projects and have extensive experience in volunteer coordination, as a co-initiator of Znanie’s intergenerational volunteer initiative, which was nominated multiple times for volunteerism awards. My main focus areas include employability, recognition of competences, financial literacy, non-violent communication, participation, and teamwork.
Recently, I have been working mainly with young people and youth workers, designing and facilitating learner-centered, participatory trainings. This includes workshops on active participation, conflict resolution, human rights, entrepreneurship, and well-being, as well as training activities supporting youth workers in using reflection, feedback, and digital tools in their practice. I regularly apply interactive methodologies such as experiential learning, role-play, case studies, and gamification.
In 2025, I became a co-founder of the NGO EGO Terra Junior, which focuses on empowering young people to explore their potential and develop competences for personal, social, and professional life. In the near future, I will continue to design and deliver inclusive youth work activities at local, national, and international level, with a strong focus on meaningful participation, volunteering, and learning through experience.
Available downloads:
Educational pathway
I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Non-Formal Education from Sofia University, which provided me with a solid theoretical basis in non-formal learning, youth work principles, facilitation, and group dynamics, supporting the intentional design of learning processes I facilitate.
As a participant, I have taken part in more than 5 youth exchanges and 10 training courses, including Train-the-Trainer programs funded by Erasmus+ and the Council of Europe, on topics such as employability, civic engagement, social entrepreneurship, non-violent communication, and Erasmus+ project management. These experiences were essential in developing my competences in learner-centered facilitation, reflection, and competence-based learning.
A key outcome of these experiences was a deep understanding of Youthpass and competence recognition, which I integrate into my training by helping participants reflect on, articulate, and document their learning outcomes. The combination of formal education and non-formal learning continues to shape my approach to quality youth work in line with SALTO and Erasmus+ standards.
Fields of training expertise
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Animation -
Bullying & Harassment -
Campaigning & Awareness Raising -
Change Management
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Citizenship Education -
Coaching & Mentoring
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Communication Skills
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Conflict Management & Mediation
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Creativity & Art
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Crisis Management
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Diversity & Anti-Racism
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Drama & Theatre
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Environment & Ecology
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Entrepreneurship (Social)
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Equal Opportunities
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Evaluation & Assessment
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Event Management
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Financial Management
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Fundraising
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Gender Awareness & Mainstreaming
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Global Education
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Group Dynamics & Motivation
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Health & Prevention
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Human Rights
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Intercultural Learning
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International Youth Work
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Labour Rights & Employment
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Leadership Development
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Lobbying & Advocacy
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New Information Technologies
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Open Space Technology
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Organizational Management
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Outdoor & Experiential Training
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Peace Education
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People Management & Cooperation
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Personal Development & Empowerment
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Project Management
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Public Relations & Marketing
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Public Speaking
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Recognition of NFLearning
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Social Inclusion & Exclusion
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Social Media
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Storytelling & Humour
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Time Management
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Training of Trainers
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Valorisation of Projects (DEOR)
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Volunteer Programmes
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Youth Exchanges
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Youth Information Work
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Youth Participation & Initiatives
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Youth Policy
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Youth Violence & Criminality
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Youth Worker Training
Knowledge about institutions and programmes
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Erasmus+ (KA1) Youth Exchanges
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Erasmus+ (KA1) Training & Networking
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Erasmus+ (KA2) Transnational Youth Initiatives
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Erasmus+ (KA2) Strategic Partnerships
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Erasmus+ (KA2) Capacity Building (other countries in the World)
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Erasmus+ (KA3) Youth Policy Meetings
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European Solidarity Corps Volunteering
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Erasmus+ (lifelong learning, non-youth)
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European Youth Centres (CoE)
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European Youth Foundation (CoE)
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Solidarity Fund for Youth Mobility (CoE)
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European Institutions
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Youth Partnership CoE-COM
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International Youth Structures
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Private Foundations
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United Nations
Working with specific target groups
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Families
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Gay, Lesbian, Bi & Transgender work
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Intercultural Teams
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Marginalized & Excluded Youth
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Men's Issues & Groups
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Minorities
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Women's Issues & Groups
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Young People in/from Conflict Areas
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Young People with a Mental Disability
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Young People with a Physical Disability
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Young People with a Sensory Disability
Experience with specific geographical regions
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Eastern Europe and Caucasus
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Euro-Mediterranean Co-operation
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European Cooperation
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Global Cooperation
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South East Europe
Trainer references
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EmpowerHer
Validated (2025-03-18)Reference person
Oksana Shamonova
(co-trainer)If you want to contact reference persons, you have to be signed in. -
Hate Speech Less
Validated (2025-03-18)Reference person
Oksana Shamonova
(co-trainer)If you want to contact reference persons, you have to be signed in. -
More competent, more confident
Validated (2025-03-18)Reference person
Valentina Georgieva
(organizer )If you want to contact reference persons, you have to be signed in. -
Youth and Career Opportunities
Validated (2026-01-03)Reference person
Petya Pavlova
(co-trainer)If you want to contact reference persons, you have to be signed in. -
TransformERS
Validated (2026-01-03)Reference person
Petya Pavlova
(co-trainer)If you want to contact reference persons, you have to be signed in. -
ETHIC
Validated (2026-01-03)Reference person
Petya Pavlova
(co-trainer)If you want to contact reference persons, you have to be signed in.
This profile was last modified on 2026-01-02