TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Aldo Perez
- To create a common understanding of what Safe Space means
- To create a common ground on the potential, responsibilities and the limits of a safe space as a concept, and of the members of a safe space team.
- To create possible strategies to tackle common challenges regarding safe space.
The target group were young people between 18 to 30 years old, who are members of a socialist or social democratic youth organization (and members of YES-Young European Socislists) in their respective countries. Further on, it focused on participants who would be willing to work in the creating of a safe space in the activities of their respectives organisations, but also for activities from YES, specially the Summer Camp.
The participants came from the following countries: Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Ireland and Belgium.
After a getting-to-know session, we kicked off with a Political barometer, with participants placing themselves across the room expressing either rejection, or agreement (or any degree inbetween) to statements related to safe space. After each statement we had a discussion on pros- and cons. Other methods used were participants taking the role of a participant during another activity (for example a summer camp), creating a situation in which they would disturb the safe space in various degrees. Other participants from the seminar would take the role of a member of the safe space team and would decide on how to deal with the issues. Roles were later switched. We finally reflected on the results. We also had a brainstorming session on all possible issues that could be a matter of safe space according to participants, we then decided together over each issue on whether it was part of a safe space policy or not and why.
Despite differences in understanding and values, we created a common framework for the creation of a safe space during a political activity. We also formulated clear guidelines on the tasks and limits of a safe space, with awareness of grey zones and the necessary sensitivity. At the end there were also suitable volunteers to continue working on this issue.
I was responsible for the creation of the training content, in compliance with the rules and regulations of the Young European Socialists regarding their an discrimination and their anti- sexual harassment policy. After the seminar, I was also asked to give an assessment of suitable candidates to continue their work as members of a safe space team within activities from YES.