TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Boroka Balint
This training program was created in order to support youth workers to gain a new environmental attitude and to learn new methods and tools on how one can make the first steps towards a more sustainable lifestyle both
personally and professionally. They practiced how they can promote the idea of sustainability through
media and how to use different media tools in their work with youngsters.
The training course has hosted international participants coming from states mostly inside the European Union.
Mappings: Participants created visual maps, such as mind maps or concept maps, to organize and connect ideas related to sustainability, aiding in their understanding of complex concepts.
Creative Recycling: Participants engaged in activities that used recycled materials to create art or functional objects, illustrating principles of upcycling and waste reduction while encouraging hands-on creativity and deabte on the issues related to sustainability.
Personal and Group Reflections: Participants had been offered reflection activities, including journaling and discussions, to share personal insights and experiences related to sustainability, how they could integrate these practices into their lives, as well as on the program itself.
Role Play: Participants acted out scenarios involving sustainability challenges or solutions, which helped them understand different perspectives, practice problem-solving skills, and explore the effects of their decisions in a dynamic setting.
Participants gained a comprehensive, systemic understanding of sustainability through a justice-focused lens.
They were empowered to recognize and challenge systems of exploitation and inequality, advocating for equitable resource use and distribution.
Participants developed a critical environmental perspective, enabling them to analyze environmental issues and integrate this approach into their work.
They learned and applied transformative methods and tools to foster a more just and sustainable collective life.
Participants honed their ability to design educational activities centered on sustainability and justice, ready to implement in their communities.
They enhanced their capacity to communicate effectively about sustainability issues by utilizing tools like storytelling, visual mapping, and group facilitation techniques to foster engagement and promote meaningful discussions.
They strengthened their ability to create community impact by applying the tools and knowledge gained to promote sustainability and justice.
As a co-trainer in the training, my responsibilities included:
Delivering interactive workshops and activities, ensuring participants engaged deeply with sustainability and justice topics through hands-on, non-formal learning methods
Playing an active role in designing the training structure, contributing to the selection and adaptation of tools such as creative recycling, body mapping, and role-playing to suit the learning goals
Supporting participants throughout the training by providing guidance, clarifying concepts, and assisting them in applying sustainability principles in practical and meaningful ways
Leading individual and group reflection sessions, encouraging participants to process their learning experiences, share personal insights, and explore how they could apply sustainability practices in their daily work
Coordinating and facilitating key activities, such as role-play and creative recycling exercises, ensuring they aligned with the training’s objectives and fostered active learning
Collaborating closely with the training team to maintain a cohesive and supportive learning environment, promoting effective communication among participants on sustainability issues
Contributing to the evaluation process by gathering participant feedback, reflecting on the outcomes, and helping assess the effectiveness of the training in achieving its goals