TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Cova S
The project Independence of Youth Councils aims to explore and analyze the current capacity of youth councils to participate in the decision-making process, the support provided by the state, and the preservation of independence. For the past over 20 years desk research shows there is no significant and explicit study about the Independence of the youth councils and this is to feed directly into the improvement of the role of the youth representatives in the decision-making policies in the youth field. With this project we want to create concrete added value in that line. The outcomes will benefit all youth policy stakeholders by gaining a more up-to-date view of the current situation. We will make a more adequate organization for the improvement of the capacity of NYCs (and their member organizations also) to participate in the decision-making process concerning the life of young people and to stay independent.
The project aims to explore and analyze the current capacity of youth councils to participate in the decision-making process on both national and local levels, the support provided by the state, and how the relationship with the state affects independence.
The study visit aimed at the following specific objectives:
- Create a space for best practice exchange.
- Start drafting a Decalogue of Independence of Youth Councils.
- Exchange opinions with relevant stakeholders (representatives of the Spanish National Agency (INJUVE), Spanish Ministry of Childhood and Youth, Catalonian Youth Council, and Regional Youth Authorities).
Around 20 participants attended the study visit. Composition as follows:
- Board members of the Youth Councils of Spain, Bulgaria, Serbia, North Macedonia, Slovenia, Italy, Cyprus, Romania and Lithuania
- Board members of the YFJ
- Secretariat team members of the Youth Councils from Spain, Bulgaria, Serbia, North Macedonia, Slovenia, Italy, Cyprus, Romania and Lithuania
The main training methods used were:
- Digitalization of the best-practice exchange
- Gamification of the theoretical part of the program
- Creative methods and visual facilitation
- World Café
- Discussions in small and big groups
- Conversations with relevant stakeholders
The main outcome of the study visit was the first draft of the Decalogue about the Independence of Youth Councils.
Additionally, the participants exchanged and reported on several best practices related to financial and governance in Youth Councils.
Finally, the participants were able to draft the next steps of the projects and organize their action plan for the upcoming months.
I co-facilitated the study visit, serving as trainer and facilitator to the team. My main tasks were the following:
- Design the study visit sessions as per the requirements of the project.
- Create training materials before the study visit, and document on the training sessions, ensuring they can be replicated in future sessions if needed.
- Create a safe space for participants to express their opinions freely.
- Evaluate and adapt the sessions according to the participant's profile.
- Facilitate dialogue, discussions, and opinion exchange within the group.
- Facilitate dialogue, discussions, and opinion exchange between the group and the relevant stakeholders.
- Facilitate the creation of the Decalogue about the Independence of Youth Councils, using physical and digital assets.
- Facilitate the exchange of best practices through gamification, using digital tools.
- Report on the activities held during the study visit, including the harvesting of the conclusions after the opinion exchange with relevant stakeholders.
Cova was Trainer and Facilitator on our Ka2 project , she is also part of our PoT!
I can totally vouch that she is an excellent trainer and facilitator, she is a really responsible competent and active trainer with a lot of initiative and a lot of experience and good resources