TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Fabio Meazza
The training course “Skills for Success” was created with the aim to attract attention to the growing importance of social skills not only in the labour market but also for the personal success of individuals. With the realization of “Skills for Success”, we gave more visibility and value to youth work and we contributed to its recognition in our society. On the one hand, we offered new methods, tools and strategies to foster and improve the quality of the capacity-building activities organized by the youth associations. On the other hand, participants of “Skills for Success” had the chance to develop their own social skills by being involved in all the stages of the project and this resulted in significant improvements in their personal and professional life: stable relationships, self-confidence and increased opportunities etc. The program of activities was based on using non-formal methodologies that allowed participants to acquire knowledge in a friendly and effective way.
In summary, the objectives of “Skills for Success” have been:
- to promote the knowledge of youth workers in the field of social skills and their importance.
- to offer the participants the opportunity to explore, design and experience new methods and tools to foster social skills.
- to create tangible results such as guides and articles that can support other youth workers in their capacity-building activities.
- to add more value to youth work and promote its recognition.
- to facilitate the exchange of experiences and good practices and create a favourable environment for establishing new partnerships and initiatives.
- to promote the activities within the Erasmus+ Programme and the opportunities for youth mobility as opportunities to develop different social skills.
The group comprised 21 youth workers from 8 countries: Spain, Iceland, Serbia, Bulgaria, Italy, Poland, Turkey and Estonia.
Profile of the Participants we looked for:
- youth workers, trainers, facilitators, volunteers, school staff, youth.
- ready to take part and fully engage in the whole project.
- able to communicate in the English language.
- priority for participants with fewer opportunities.
In accordance with the objective of the Erasmus + program to increase the presence of youth with fewer opportunities in international mobility programs, we encouraged the selection of participants from disadvantaged social, economic, educational, cultural or geographic environments, including immigrants and refugees.
Selection procedure:
Candidates completed an application form to demonstrate both the skills they already have and their interest in participating in this course as part of their professional development process. In some cases, candidates have been contacted for an interview.
Partner organisations:
- ASSOCIACIÓ CULTURA CREATIVA (SPAIN)
- ÁLFUR (ICELAND)
- CAPADOCCIA YOUTH MOBILITY (TURKEY)
- ASSOCIAZIONE CULTURALE GIOVANI IDDOCCA (ITALY)
- PROGRESS CENTER (ESTONIA)
- UDRUZENJE CRVENO DRVO (SERBIA)
- SDRUZHENIE "NIE" (BULGARIA)
- REGIONALNE CENTRUM WOLONTARIATU (POLAND)
All the project activities were based on the use of non-formal methodologies that allowed the participants to acquire knowledge in a friendly and effective way. Participants took part in workshops, simulations, role-playing games, outdoor activities and other group activities such as discussions, improvisation and brainstorming sessions. They also had the opportunity and space to develop their own ideas, coached by the trainers, in order to create and run their own workshops that then have been included in the guide.
During the training course, there have been moments of personal reflection, working in small groups and sharing in plenary. Safe spaces have been created so that participants could share and exchange experiences and good practices that enhanced their more active participation in the course. Through the different activities, they have been involved in feeling protagonists and willing to participate actively in the activities, encouraging learning through experience, dialogue and exchange. The aim was to build knowledge among all the people and the generated group dynamics.
During the experience, the participants had the opportunity to:
- get to know, develop and improve their social skills.
- be more aware of the importance of social skills in youth work and at the same time how they could improve the employability of young people.
- enhance their own employability and have a more successful approach to the labour market.
- have more knowledge about the design thinking process.
- foster European values and improve knowledge about the Erasmus+ program and its opportunities.
The program has been successful and Associació Cultura Creativa managed to create a guide containing all the workshops that participants created during the dedicated sessions. The booklet has been shared with all the partner organisations involved in the project, with the possibility of sharing it with other youth workers interested in the results of the project.
I have been a full-time trainer in a team composed of 4 total people, delivering sessions about topics such as the design thinking process, how to design quality activities for youth, nonverbal communication, reflection in youth work and other relevant social skills. I have been also facilitating reflection and expectations sessions, energizers and get-to-know-each-other activities.