TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Ian Maloy
As usual, we placed a high importance upon the needs of the participants and at length got them to brainstorm many issues that were relevant to them:
Group-building, work-skills improvement (working with children and young people), reflection on learning aims and outcomes, learning about Youth Pass, trans/inter-cultural learning, European citizenship, communication skills, conflict management, motivation and expectations regarding EVS, learning.
The group came from all over Europe, from the west, centre and east. A key part of the group (about half of them) were from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, with the consequence that they played a strong role in discussions and their internal translations from German and English into Russian aided communication.
I led the seminar with a trainer colleague with US citizenship, supported with an orgateamer with German citizenship.
Presentation of projects via posters "if my EVS was a film".
Evaluation of motivation via presentation of 7 motivation types with evaluation of their opportunities and challenges.
Reflection on nature of learning via walk with various prompt questions.
Co-operation games.
Workshops on group roles and conflict types, workshops on values.
Theatre about cultural differences and personal needs.
Project planning (what they'll do during or after their time as volunteer).
Tour in Hamburg about colonialism.
They participants rated the seminar highly. They were more aware of how to deal with conflicts that can occur due to different expectations and cultural backgrounds, and felt empowed to do their own projects within their EVS.
Planning seminar themes together with participants.
Leading of workshops and tour.
Basic German language course.
Reflections on their satisfaction with their EVS.
Group-building and -process management.