TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Bo Maria Daskalova
The course objectives were to: look at the role of youth work within a multidimensional approach to conflict transformation; stimulate debate about the opportunities for, and limits to, conflict transformation through youth work, human rights education and intercultural dialogue; examine key methodologies, learning principles and desired outcomes in peace education; to promote a process-oriented approach to conflict prevention, diversity, conflict transformation; to promote conflict transformation process on exploration, cooperation, synthesis and collaboration; to stimulate international youth networking and cooperation for piecebuilding and conflict prevention and transformation; to study on opportunities to help institutionalising a peaceful conflict culture and foster the structures and values of civil society in Europe and Mediterranean.
The International Youth Training Course brought 35 young people from Europe and Mediterranean to discuss the role of youth work in peace education, conflict prevention and conflict transformation for building diversity in unity.
The working methods were based on non-formal learning methodology seeking to stimulate self reflection on one`s own conflict assumptions and their cultural roots and to raise consciousness on the appropriateness and effectiveness of responses in other cultures. During the working sessions we explored and illustrated some of the significant contrasts in conflict styles and behaviours across various cultures. All educational methods were inclusive, participatory and culturally sensitive.
The European dimension of the project was based on the pan-European problems discussed and the common issues that young people and youth work are facing in peace work. Diversity was a stimulation for a dialogue and debate of our road to unity. As Hermann Hesse points out, "it is not our purpose to become each other; it is to recognize each other, to learn to see the other and honor him for what he is."
Full time trainer, responsible for delivery of modules on: management of diversity; peace building methods in youth work in Europe and the Mediterranean; conflict prevention and conflict transformation.