TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Aleksandr Post
The overall aim of the "YW Ambassadors" training course was to highlight the significance of volunteering as a productive pathway for skills development, personal progress, and employment. It sought to make voluntary work more effective and visible at national and European levels, addressing the frequent lack of proper recognition for skills gained through volunteering. The project aimed to foster democratic participation, social responsibility, and active citizenship, particularly by providing positive examples and encouraging participation from diverse backgrounds.
Specific objectives for the participating youth workers were to:
- Conceptualize different approaches to volunteering within their work contexts.
- Foster individual and organizational capabilities in planning, implementing, mentoring, and evaluating local, national, and international volunteering projects.
- Develop organizational solutions for the inclusion of young people in volunteering schemes.
- Strengthen organizational strategies and procedures for managing volunteering initiatives.
The project addressed several needs: the lack of formal recognition for skills gained through volunteering; the need to improve the management and effectiveness of volunteering projects; the low visibility of positive volunteering examples; the underrepresentation of disadvantaged youth in volunteering; and the need to equip youth workers with skills (including digital) to promote core societal values (diversity, tolerance, human rights) and prevent radicalization among hard-to-reach youth. The need was identified through partner discussions based on practical experience and the observed potential of volunteering.
This project strongly aligned with the participating organizations' goals, as they all work with youth and utilize volunteering. It provided their youth workers with enhanced skills to manage volunteering projects more effectively, improve volunteer support and learning, increase inclusion, and raise the visibility of their work. This directly supported their missions related to youth development, active citizenship, intercultural learning, non-formal education, and promoting European values.
The target group for the training course consisted of 28 participants (involved as project coordinators, mentors, or volunteer coordinators). Participants were aged 18 and above (no upper limit). The desired profile included a disposition for mutual intercultural learning, a basic understanding of volunteering concepts in the EU, experience working with volunteers (local or international), good knowledge of the national volunteering context, decent English proficiency, and the ability to fully participate and transfer learning. Personal volunteering experience was considered an asset.
The training course involved participants and organizations from 6 countries: Belgium (Applicant), Latvia (Host Country for the activity), Lithuania, Spain, Italy, and Portugal (Partners).
The training course was based on non-formal education principles and participatory approaches, designed to be flexible and participant-centered. A variety of methods were used, including:
- Icebreakers, energizers, and team-building games.
- Project-based and problem-based learning.
- Lectures/presentations (used minimally).
- Discussions (small group, round-table, plenary).
- Collaborative learning in group work.
- Q&A sessions.
- Demonstrations and sharing examples of good practice.
- Case studies on volunteering challenges.
- Simulations and role-playing.
- Living library, forum theatre.
- Intercultural evenings.
- Creative tasks.
- Practical sessions (hands-on practice).
- Peer-to-peer knowledge sharing.
- Daily evaluations ("Reflection time").
The methodology focused on active participation, practical applicability, and leveraging participants' own experiences. Interactive simulations and participant-led sessions were planned. Youthpass was used for competence reflection.
The training aimed for participants (youth workers) to be able to:
- Conceptualize volunteering as a tool for youth empowerment.
- Motivate, manage, and coach local/international volunteers.
- Set learning objectives and monitor outcomes with volunteers.
- Develop strategies for the inclusion of young volunteers.
- Successfully promote volunteering and active participation locally.
- Develop checklists and procedures for volunteering projects.
- Improve communication skills (English).
- Enhance cultural awareness and expression regarding volunteering.
- Strengthen critical thinking, cultural sensitivity, learning-to-learn competence, and dissemination skills. The project anticipated improvements in organizational capacity for managing volunteer projects, increased inclusion, and the development of several follow-up projects (local and international, including ESC). It also aimed to build a stronger network among participating organizations.
Success was evaluated through:
- Daily reflection and evaluation sessions in groups, providing feedback to the team.
- Regular team meetings to discuss progress and adapt the program.
- A final evaluation session with participant reflections and a printed questionnaire covering learning outcomes, partnerships, follow-up plans, and satisfaction.
- Observation by the trainer team during the course.
- Use of the official Erasmus+ feedback tool (Mobility Tool+) for participant reports.
- A 2-month post-activity follow-up to assess the implementation of follow-up projects and sustained partnerships.
- Use of Youthpass for self-assessment and documentation of learning.
- Designing and delivering sessions on topics such as European Citizenship, volunteering concepts and management, community needs analysis, project cycle management, volunteer learning/monitoring, and funding opportunities.
- Employing a range of non-formal education methods.
- Facilitating group work, discussions, simulations, and reflection activities.
- Supporting participants in developing practical tools (like checklists) and follow-up project ideas.
- Contributing your expertise in volunteering, youth work, NFE, or related fields.
- Participating in daily team meetings and contributing to the overall quality management of the training.
- Assisting participants with the Youthpass process.