TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Johannes Koehn
In addressing the need of youth empowerment and leadership within and beyond the framework of the organization AIESEC, we looked at ways to pursue the following mission:
"The empowerment of young people and awakening of their leadership potential, such that they will have an active and positive impact on society and contribute to peace and the fulfillment of humankind's potential."
Therefore, the National Leadership Development Seminar (NaLDS) aimed at the following:
# Delegates explore their values, passions and talents, their personal understanding of leadership, and the connection of these elements to their lives and their environment.
# Delegates are challenged to confront their current and future leadership both by themselves and others, within AIESEC or elsewhere.
# All participants of NaLDS 2013 have both benefited from and contributed to the success of a remarkable and unforgettable experience by:
-Establishing an intense network amongst each other.
-Ensuring a productive learning atmosphere at NaLDS which is based on action, discussion, reflection and respect.
-Continuing their personal development after NaLDS.
# Delegates are empowered to apply what they have learned on NaLDS and to transfer their new insights into their lives.
NaLDS hosted the environment for 120 young and motivated future leaders of our global organization, coming from 18 countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Estonia, Germany, Liberia, Nigeria, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Singapore and Sweden.
The entire conference was centered around the Art of Hosting (AoH). Thus, we installed 4 major techniques that hosting uses:
# Circle
# Open Space
# The World Café
# Appreciative Inquiry.
Additionally, we created living learning landscapes: visually, auditively and kinesthetically.
We used methods such as museum, vernissage, large and small group exercises, simulations, roleplays: and for one whole day, we even had outdoor activities centered around leadership.
We believe to having transformed many, if not all of the 120 young delegates from around the world, in terms of
- taking leadership initiatives in their local, regional or national AIESEC entities,
- taking leadership initiatives beyond AIESEC, in their circles of family, friends, community, business.
You can find statements of delegates sharing their achievements on http://nalds.de/site.
During the conference premeeting, I was responsible together with my core team (4 people) to co-create NaLDS, design and deliver a training on hosting, and facilitating the entire organizational team (14 people) and trainer team (20 people) in terms of teambuilding, visionbuilding, and session preparation.
During the conference, I trained and co-moderated the entire plenary on different sessions centered around leadership and personal development.