TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Richárd Kiss
The Mind Matters training aimed to equip youth workers and aspiring youth workers with the tools, knowledge, and skills to support young people's mental health. It addressed key needs such as raising awareness about young people's common mental health challenges, reducing stigma, and fostering safe, supportive spaces for open dialogue.
The training aligned with the goals of the participating organizations by promoting inclusion, emotional resilience, and effective communication among young people. It emphasized non-formal educational approaches to address challenges like anxiety, stress, and burnout while enhancing participants' ability to foster mental health in their communities.
The training group included youth workers and motivated young people from various European countries, fostering a rich intercultural exchange. Participating countries included Hungary, Lithuania, Spain, Bulgaria, Germany, Estonia, Cyprus, Croatia, Latvia.
The program used diverse non-formal learning methods tailored to mental health and youth work:
* Introspective workshops on stress management, anxiety and active listening.
* Creative tools with elements of fairy-tale therapy and art therapy.
* Role-playing and case study analysis for practicing conflict resolution and support strategies.
* Reflection activities such as personal journals, group debriefings and feedback circles.
These methods encouraged experiential learning, self-awareness and practical application of concepts.
The training achieved significant outcomes, including:
* Enhanced understanding of mental health challenges like stress, anxiety and stigma related to mental health challenges.
* Development of practical skills such as active listening, stress management techniques, conflict resolution and crisis management.
* Creation of a shared resource toolkit for addressing mental health in youth work.
* Strengthened collaboration and support networks among participants, ensuring long-term impact on their communities.
As the lead trainer, I was responsible for designing the programme, facilitating sessions and evaluating the outcomes. My tasks included creating a safe, brave and engaging learning environment, delivering workshops, and providing personalized support to participants, if needed. I also ensured that the training's goals were met by adapting methods to group dynamics and addressing emerging needs during the program.