TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Aleksandr Post
The main aim of the Training Course (TC) "Becoming the Best" was to contribute to and promote the employability of young people throughout Europe. It sought to equip youth workers, leaders, and educators with non-formal education methods and tools to help them promote self-awareness, self-respect, and self-esteem in young people, particularly those from rural areas or with limited opportunities. The project focused on improving the ability of youth to present themselves effectively, identify their skills, and acknowledge their unique qualities.
Specific objectives included:
- Taking an active part in the Europe 2020 strategy by promoting social inclusion.
- Encouraging the exchange of good practices related to meaningful youth projects.
- Encouraging international cooperation between organizations specializing in youth leader education.
- Proposing new tools and approaches for developing youth and youth leader education in Europe.
- Contributing to reducing school dropouts and raising youth employability.
- Increasing the capacity and competences of youth workers and educators regarding methods for working with youth on self-awareness, self-respect, self-esteem, self-branding, future ambitions, and foresight.
The project addressed the identified need related to the poor presentation ability of young people when facing employers, authorities, or even peers. It also aimed to tackle the significant issue of youth unemployment in Europe, exacerbated by economic crises, by empowering youth workers to better support young people in planning their careers and making informed choices.
The project fit the needs of the participating organizations as they all work with youth facing labour market challenges. The TC provided their youth workers with practical methods and competences directly applicable to enhancing youth employability. The partnership structure, involving organizations from countries with varying levels of youth opportunities, allowed for a valuable exchange of knowledge, experiences, and good practices.
The target group for this Training Course consisted of 22 youth workers, youth leaders, educators, and individuals working directly with young unemployed people or job seekers, particularly those from rural areas or with limited opportunities. Participants were required to be aged 20 or older. The selection emphasized motivation, interest in youth employability, readiness to learn and implement non-formal methods, ability to attend the full duration, and proficiency in English. Having previous experience working with youth in employability education was preferred.
The training course involved participants from 7 countries: Poland (Applicant/Host), Latvia, Greece, The Republic of North Macedonia, Spain, Turkey, and Italy.
The TC was based on non-formal education methodologies, incorporating principles like cooperative learning, experiential learning, shared responsibility, and self-directed learning. A wide variety of methods were used, including:
- Icebreakers and team-building games (e.g., "Crazy Job Interview").
- Workshops (e.g., public speaking, CV/cover letter writing, art workshop, creating video resumes).
- Simulations and role-plays (e.g., "Stereotypes among us").
- Guided debates (e.g., "Golden Fish" on youth unemployment).
- Group work, peer feedback, and round table discussions (e.g., on Personal Branding).
- Practical outdoor/city activities (e.g., "Discover the City", searching for possibilities on the street).
- Presentations (e.g., on organizations, countries, employment agencies on social networks).
- Creative methods (e.g., making videos, art workshop, improvisation theatre tools).
- SALTO-YOUTH tools (e.g., Associations, Expectation Tree, SWOT Analysis, Our Europe, Steps to Erasmus+ Voyage, The Olive Tree, Starburst of empowerment, Goal Drilling).
- Daily evaluation and reflection methods (e.g., "Comfy Group", "Competence Flower" for Youthpass).
The programme was designed to be highly interactive, with trainers leading participants to contribute their own knowledge, skills, and attitudes. Reflection on the learning process was a key component, integrated through daily activities and the Youthpass self-assessment.
The TC aimed for participants (youth workers/educators) to achieve the following learning outcomes:
- Knowledge: Understanding of the Europe 2020 strategy, Erasmus+ programme, various NFE methods, self-promotion techniques for the job market, how to write effective CVs/Cover Letters, handle interviews, use social media and EU tools (e.g., EURES) for job searching, the role of self-entrepreneurship, and employer evaluation processes.
- Skills: Ability to use NFE methods with youth (individually/groups) on topics like teamwork, communication, leadership, decision-making, problem-solving; creating and adapting NFE methods; public speaking; communicating in English; enhancing youth's personal/professional skills; expressing and arguing opinions; integrating gained tools into local youth work.
- Attitudes: Understanding the possibilities of NFE; awareness of different self-promoting methods; awareness of the importance of self-development and self-creation.
- Competences: Development of key competences including Learning to learn, Social and civic competences, and Sense of initiative and entrepreneurship, recognized via Youthpass.
Success was assessed through ongoing daily evaluation ("Comfy Group") allowing for participant feedback and program adaptation, and a final project evaluation session. The systematic use of Youthpass self-assessment ("Competence Flower") throughout the week also served to monitor and document individual learning progress.
- Designing, co-designing, and delivering the NFE educational programme for the 8-day Training Course, targeting youth workers and educators. Your role involved implementing sessions covering presentation skills, body language, self-marketing, self-confidence, job interviews, CV/cover letter writing, social media for job search, etc., as outlined in the daily agenda.
- Leading participants through various non-formal education methods, ensuring an interactive and experiential learning process. This included using SALTO tools, facilitating workshops, simulations, role-plays, debates, and practical exercises.
- Guiding participants' learning process, facilitating discussions, providing constructive feedback, and helping participants connect learning to their youth work practice.
- Introducing the Youthpass framework and guiding participants through daily self-reflection activities (e.g., using the "Competence Flower") to help them identify and document the 8 Key Competences developed during the TC.