TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for ARGYRIS CHOULIAS
At the time when nationalistic conflicts rages across the societies, the racism and xenophobia threats Democracy, the European Community shakes under numerous political and financial pressures there comes the "RetroRespect". The international training course organised by System and G, gathered 26 international participants (from Greece, Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Germany, Latvia, Israel and Palestine) for 7 days (without travel dates) in Thessaloníki - Greece, so as to discuss some of the most pressing issues of the surrounding world.
Historical and present-day good practices of fighting racism, understanding of society key role but also arising minorities Rights as well as the way of dealing with all these formed by far the major backbone of the training content. By means of discussions, simulations, engaging in interactive group and pair work the participants were given the opportunity to reflect upon and subsequently understand themselves what civil society is and what its role in stimulating the present day protection of minorities and fighting discrimination is.
Equipped with new non formal education tools and methodologies provided by the experts and trainers in Human Rights and Youth in Action, the participants (youth workers with youth with fewer chances and minorities, youth leaders, decision makers) are now ready to use their new skills and start their own ventures in bringing the much needed positive change in their society through youth work.
"Retrorespect" was a training course with a very clear target group. Youth workers, non formal education trainers and youth policy decision makers who are working with young people with fewer opportunities were our participants. Not only that but also coming from communities where racism is raising and from "rival" countries. It was very challenging to work with Russian and Ukrainian youth workers exactly after the war in Crimea. It is always exciting to work with Palestinians and Israelis youth workers on strategies how to fight against antisemitism and any kind of racism.26 participants from Greece, Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Germany, Latvia, Israel and Palestine were the best group to work with.
Trainers were Argyris Choulias from Greece and Dr.Shmulik Lahar from Israel.
RetroRespect was implemented by a set of non formal education methods and the activities were with a spice of art.
The new tools we developed and used first time were:
-"Shoot the Diversity" photo activity.
- Self research by the use of cartoons or caricatures to express hatred.
-"Fight Club" debate.
Classic non formal methods were used as well:
-Loesje method
-Team building activities
-Compass games: agree/disagree zone, give the cure, make a step forward
-Energizers and Ice breaking games
-Inercultural night
-Movies
- Cultural visit (at Jewish museum of thessaloniki)
During 7 training days participants of RetroRespect managed to:
-develope knowledge and key competences on how to create and implement non formal education activities to fight racism,xenophobia and descrimination st everyday life;
-enhance ability to use art and culture as a tool against racism
-enhance the value of fun loving activities as a method to work with people fron very different cultural backrounds.
-acknowledge the importance that influence of culture has on person’s perception of reality, everyday behaviour and identity.
-learn how to use new approaches and activities of promoting intercultural learning.
-design an action plan to help our partners to adopt and implement the new methods back to their community.
-reflecte on the importance of respecting cultural diversity as a mean to fight racism.
-develop an informal network of youth workers fighting racism in the partner countries.
-design the draft of the training course Art to Act that approved by Greek NA and implemented next year in Greece.
Together with my colleague Dr. Shmulik Lahar we:
-Design the new tools we used during the activities
-Implement all the training activities of the project
-Evaluate the training program and design and follow the participants ecvaluation process.
-Facilitate every day the teflection groups and adjust the program according to the learning needs of participants.
I was also responsible to design and guarantee the quality of the youth pass process.