EVS Garden

Aims & objectives

The GOAL of the Training Course was to enhance the quality in EVS projects and development of key competences in Action 2, Youth in Action program, by using NFE tools and methods among main actors in EVS projects focusing on EU and EECA region.

The PRIORITIES for the training were identified as:

Priority 1: Support volunteer growth and learning process
Priority 2: Partnership Building

The content of the program was based on the objectives and priorities identified by the trainers and Czech National Agency as well as the needs and expectations of the selected participants. Accordingly, the main elements of the program were:
- Reflecting on own EVS experience
- Exchange of EVS experiences and realities
- How do people learn and main learning styles
- How to support learning of EVS volunteers
- EVS and key competences
- How to work with Youthpass
- Partnership building between EECA region and Programme Countries
- Personal space for participants reflection

Target group & international/intercultural composition of the group & team

Participants - mentors, EVS coordinators and ex-EVS volunteers from EU countries and EECA region (Eastern Europe and Caucasus) . 10 Countries - Armenia, Czech Republic, France,Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine

Training methods used & main activities

We used a metaphoric approach to the topic of learning process in EVS. EVS Garden is a beautiful place, where the main aim is learning together how to help the EVS volunteers to grow, how to support them in their growing, what is the quality fertilising and watering, when is the right timing for garden work, how to recognize the ripe fruit, how to pick them and how to use them later.
The program was based on the following methodological principles
 Aquire knowledge by getting inputs from trainers, resource people, peer-participants and oneself (internal insights)
 Develop skills and attitudes in workshops, practical exercises, activities and plenary discussions, during the programme (based on non-formal learning) and in breaks or free time (informal learning)
 Build the program on sharing experiences and expertise with trainers, resource people, and peer trainees.
 Give attention to learning processes: provide space for discussions, group feedback conversations and individual daily reflection

Outcomes of the activity

Online report of the Training you can find here:

Your tasks and responsibilities within the team

I was the part of the Trainers team (full time trainer) - preparation, running and evaluation of the training as well as prepearing final report

I worked on this training for 6 days as a full time trainer.