Steps to Inclusion: Youth Leader Training

10th – 15th May 2011

Greystones, Co Wicklow, Ireland

Summary:

‘Steps to Inclusion’ is a training for volunteers intending to act as youthleaders on European Youth Exchanges with Young People with Fewer Opportunities. It is a collaboration between VSI Ireland, IVS Great Britain, SCI Italy, SCI Catalunya, SCI Region Nord, ZAVOD Voluntariat Slovenia, CVS Bulgaria, SCI Hellas and Utilapu Hungary.

Target Group:

Youth Leaders, Project Workers working with Young People with Fewer Opportunities. Volunteers from new communities and ethnic minority groups are particularly encouraged to apply.

For Participants From:

Ireland, UK, Italy, Spain, France, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Greece and Hungary.

Group Size:32

Venue place, country:Carraig Eden, Greystones, Co Wicklow, Ireland

Details:

This Training Course (TC) aims to equip volunteers with little or no experience of Youth Exchanges with the skills to fill the role of group leader on a European Youth Exchange with Young People with Fewer Opportunities. The TC will utilise non-formal and experiential learning methodologies to explore the a number of themes, while also allowing the participants to gain skills and tools for organising activities with young people on a European Youth Exchange, and understanding the needs of the target group.

The aims of the TC are;

  • To introduce the participants to the elements of a good YIA project – intercultural learning, non-formal learning, inclusion and participation of young people, and so on;
  • To equip the participants with the skills to run non formal learning activities which can be used to explore topics such as intercultural understanding, peace and conflict and the environment with young people with fewer opportunities;
  • To develop an understanding with the participants of the nature of working with young people with fewer opportunities;
  • To introduce and develop an understanding among the participants of group dynamics and the process of a Youth Exchange, and look at tools to assist the group through this process;
  • To develop the space for potential networking and future collaborations through the YIA framework;
  • To develop the participants understanding of the full project cycle in a youth exchange including preparation and follow-up;
  • To develop and share a framework for best practice for working with children and vulnerable adults in residential, international settings;

Costs:70% Travel Reimbursements for receipted costs, and no Participation Fee.

Working Language:English

Organisers Profile:

Voluntary Service International (VSI) is the Irish branch of Service Civil International (SCI), a worldwide movement that promotes peace and intercultural understanding through volunteering. The organisation sends and receives adult volunteers on short-medium and long-term projects around Europe, North America, Latin America, Africa and Asia, as well as running local inclusion projects such as the Dublin Local Group and the Teenage Programme.

The Teenage Programme runs volunteering and non-formal learning projects for young people with fewer opportunities, mainly young people in state care, young people with a history of homelessness, early school leavers, young asylum seekers and refugees and young people facing economic and social marginalisation in general. These activities are a combination of local, national and European residential projects taking place from 1 – 14 days, where the young people get to explore themes such as conflict, the environment, intercultural understanding and identity through a combination of practical volunteering and non-formal development education and peace education workshops. The main focus of the programme is to foster confidence in the young people, to open new opportunities to them, and to foster the values of inclusion, respect for diversity, non-violence, human rights, solidarity, empowerment and cooperation.

VSI has run numerous trainings, seminars and networking events on the topics of international volunteering, non-formal learning and inclusion of young people.

Deadline:Monday 4th April, 2011Date of Selection:Monday 11th April, 2011

Interested applicants must request an application form from Sara in the VSI office who can be contacted on . A full travel info sheet will be sent to selected participants on April 11th.

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This communication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.