TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Anastasia Tasoula
What did the training activity aim to achieve?
The Compass of Life aimed to:
1. Empower young participants to become leaders of social change in their communities.
2. Foster personal development by nurturing qualities such as:
❥ Leadership
❥ Teamwork
❥ Resilience
❥ Empathy
❥ Responsibility
3. Encourage participants to develop an understanding of sustainability and nature appreciation through outdoor and experiential education.
4. Inspire participants to realize their potential and empower them to make positive contributions to society.
5. Enhance mental health awareness and emotional intelligence through structured activities and reflections.
Which needs did the training addressed?
1. Leadership and Social Change: The program addressed the need for young people to take active roles in their communities by developing leadership and teamwork skills.
2. Inclusivity and Accessibility:
❥ Targeted disabled participants and participants coming from diverse background, ensuring they could fully participate and grow.
❥ Adapted methodologies to meet diverse needs, fostering inclusivity.
3. Mental and Emotional Well-being: The training focused on emotional self-awareness, stress management, and resilience in challenging scenarios.
4. Cultural Integration and Awareness: It addressed the need to bridge cultural divides by fostering collaboration and understanding between participants from different countries.
5. Environmental Sustainability:
❥ Emphasized respect for nature and sustainable practices.
❥ Encouraged eco-friendly behavior and awareness through outdoor education.
When it comes to the organizations involved:
1. Be Visible Be YOU:
❥ Focused on empowering youth to take leadership roles and make a positive societal impact while they give their expertise to inclusion, accessibility and mental health prioritization.
❥ Aligned with the organization's commitment to inclusivity, accessibility, and mental health awareness.
❥ Strengthened its mission to use non-formal education and outdoor activities as tools for personal and community growth.
Partner Organizations (Madrid Outdoor Education, Windmill Tree Foundation, Giovani Iddocca):
❥ Integrated their expertise in outdoor education, mental health, and leadership development to create a holistic program that is inclusive!
❥ Advanced shared values of inclusivity, sustainability, and community impact.
❥ Fostered collaboration and expanded the volunteer network among the partners.
The training activity was meticulously designed to align with the overarching goals of fostering leadership, inclusivity, mental well-being, and sustainable practices, creating a meaningful impact on participants and the wider community.
The training activity targeted young people aged 17-30 from diverse fields and fewer opportunity backgrounds, including participants with disabilities, health issues, economic and social obstacles, and migrant or rural backgrounds. A total of 24 participants from Greece, Spain, Poland, and Italy took part, representing a mix of genders and experiences, all eager to engage in outdoor activities focused on leadership, active participation, and personal development. This international collaboration fostered inclusivity, cultural diversity, and mutual learning, aligning with the criteria for an international training but also giving extra value by the accessibility provided.
The training utilized non-formal learning methods to foster experiential and participatory learning. Examples include:
1. Outdoor Education and Experiential Learning: Participants engaged in accessible hiking and nature-based activities designed to place them in controlled scenarios with apparent risks, stimulating emotions and fostering real-life learning. Kolb’s Experiential Learning Cycle was central, emphasizing reflection and practical application.
2. Interactive Reflection Sessions: Daily and group reflections used tools like Dixit card games, De Bono’s Six Thinking Hats, and guided nature-based questions to promote self-awareness, emotional management, and teamwork.
3. Inclusive Activities: Customized learning materials, on-the-spot translations, and tailored physical challenges, such as accessible hiking routes, ensured inclusivity for participants with disabilities or fewer opportunities.
4. Creative and Empathetic Techniques: Participants maintained personal reflection notebooks to document learning, emotions, and ideas, fostering introspection and self-expression. Workshops combined arts and empathetic methodologies to enhance collaboration and engagement.
The training activity achieved its goal of empowering young participants to become leaders of social change, fostering personal and professional development through non-formal and experiential learning.
Key achievements included:
❥ Leadership Development: Participants gained practical skills in teamwork, resilience, decision-making, and conflict management.
❥ Inclusivity and Accessibility: The program adapted activities to accommodate diverse needs, enabling full participation from individuals with disabilities and fewer opportunities.
❥ Environmental Awareness: By integrating sustainability practices, such as eco-friendly diets and reusable materials, participants developed a strong appreciation for nature and sustainable living.
❥ Life-Changing Impact: Several participants reported profound changes, including shifts in career aspirations and increased confidence to pursue personal goals.
❥ Social Change and Community Engagement: Participants created workshops in their communities, engaging over 2000 people and promoting the Erasmus+ program, mental health awareness, and leadership values.
How Can You Tell the Training Was a Success?
1. Participant Feedback:
❥ Daily reflections and final evaluations highlighted the transformative personal and professional growth of participants.
❥ Unexpected achievements, such as disabled participants leading activities and career changes among participants, underscored the program's impact.
2. Dissemination Impact:
❥ Positive social media engagement (likes, shares, and comments) and participant testimonials confirmed wide-reaching influence.
3. Long-term Outcomes: Participants designed local workshops, demonstrating their ability to apply the skills and values learned during the training.
4. Social Media Campaigns: Posts and videos shared on partner platforms and participant profiles highlighted key moments and outcomes.
5. Erasmus+ Project Results Platform: The training results are being uploaded to this platform for broader dissemination.
As a full-time trainer for this activity, I was deeply involved in every stage of the training, from preparation to follow-up. My responsibilities included designing and facilitating non-formal education activities based on psychology and inclusive techniques that aligned with the program's goals of leadership development, inclusivity, and sustainability. I created and delivered workshops using experiential learning methods such as Kolb’s Learning Cycle, reflection tools, and tailored, inclusive practices to ensure that all participants, including those with disabilities or fewer opportunities, could fully engage and benefit.
I also provided continuous support to participants, monitoring their learning processes through daily evaluations, individual check-ins, and group reflections. I fostered an empowering and supportive environment, encouraging active participation and personal growth. My facilitation role extended to sessions on leadership, emotional resilience, and sustainability, and I guided intercultural exchanges to promote collaboration and understanding among participants from diverse backgrounds.
Additionally, I coordinated and oversaw reflective practices, documented learning outcomes, and played an active role in evaluating the program’s success. I also ensured effective follow-up by supporting participants in disseminating their learnings through workshops in their local communities. My role as a full-time trainer was integral to the success of the activity and its alignment with the goals of non-formal education.