TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Nika Bunziak
With this project we AIM to strengthen the capacities and network among youth organizations from Program and Partner countries in order to improve the youth participation’ and social inclusion’ abilities in volunteering cycle, using Gamification and Experiential learning.
The aim was achieved through concrete objectives:
- to equip youth workers with the knowledge and tools to effectively work with youth, including youth with fewer opportunities, through developing positive image of volunteering;
- to provide participating organizations with new tools to improve the quality of ESC projects, using experiential learning and gamification;
- to strengthen our International Experiential Learning Network with NGOs which are professionally using Experiential Learning as a NFE methodology;
- to encourage networking among NGOs from Program and Partner countries and create space for project building, especially in Erasmus+ context;
- to increase participants’ competences to disseminate learning achievements within youth NGOs and youth work on local, national and international level;
- to provide space for intercultural learning, getting to know local reality in host countries and broaden the world view of participating organizations;
- to build a strategy to include and involve young people with fewer opportunities in ESC;
- to create materials to support the quality preparation, support and mentoring of ESC volunteers (2 games and 1 Practical recommendations on using Experiential learning in Volunteering cycle);
- to foster quality improvements in youth work through international cooperation and volunteering.
Our contact making seminar gathered together 23 youth workers (2 participants per country + 2 Trainers + 1 Coordinator from Poland) from 10 different Program and Partner countries: Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Germany, Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Portugal, Turkey, Ukraine.
The selected participants were:
- youth worker involved, in the past, in volunteering activity in at least one stage of a project (planning, managing, coordinating, mentoring, training, etc);
- youth worker which is representing the organization and keeps communication with stakeholders;
- youth worker which is in charge or volunteer’s recruitment or management;
- youth workers ready to learn and take advantage of the experience, motivated and ready to share and interact with others;
- older than 18 years old.
Our contact making seminar consisted of 3 modules (each for 2 days):
1- Dedicated to the transition of volunteering programs form EVS to ESC and volunteering as sociocultural phenomen in general. We discovered, learned and reflected on volunteering realities in our countries. We promoted the new programs and European Strategies about volunteering (Erasmus+, ESC and National programs).
2 - Using of Experiential learning in the volunteer cycle. We discovered qualitative tools on volunteering management and empower organizations to use Experiential learning in work with different parts involved to volunteering management: volunteer, sending, hosting and coordinating organizations, mentor, other entities.
3 - is dedicated to Gamification as a method of including young people with fewer opportunities to volunteering. We facilitated the sharing best practices, innovative methods and tools, adaptable on different communities.
The methodology of the CMS was based on the fundamental principles of non-formal learning, also we used the basic skills of self-work, business modeling and psychology.
The project was a response to the needs of youth workers and their organisations as such; in order to improve their work and therefore improve the quality of the European projects.
We aimed to create 3 new tools (2 games and Practical Recommendation) and to write down in details new ideas for follow-up activities and future ESC projects on this topic.
Each participant brought a multiplying effect of their local societies– sending organization, youth with whom they are working, family, colleagues and local media. In this way, the project objectives were disseminated to the personal connections.
The main value lies in the fact that participants of the CMS received effective mechanisms and tools that can be used in various spheres of life, so they can help not only their colleagues who specialize in youth work, but also broader target groups. An important result is also the opportunity to include more young people with fewer opportunities to volunteering and youth work.
Full-time trainers' work on the co-trainer's position: preparation, implementation, follow up, evaluation. Sometimes coaching, facilitation and mentoring. Interaction with participants, senior trainer and project team. Adaptation of the Program, according to group dynamic and learning needs of the participants.
I confirm that Nika Bunziak was working as full time trainer, in the trainers team and was fully involved in the development and implementation of the training.