Training of youth workers in
"Using your local area and resources"

Værlandet 15th to 25th August 2005

Through introducing the participants to a number of methods used for exploring a local community and the surrounding environment, they were enabled to create a 1 day programme that was implemented and thoroughly evaluated by the other participants and the trainers.

The training was designed in such a way that we followed the natural progression of a actual exchange. I.e. intercultural learning, developing knowledge about the YOUTH programme, planning, preparation, project management, actual implementation, evaluation and reporting.

The four main partners from Norway , England , Denmark and Wales supplied trainers and developed the programme together, communicating via e-mail and telephone. As all four have worked together on previous trainings and exchanges there was no need for a pre planning visit. All trainers spent 2 days in advance of the training ensuring that all was in place in advance of the arrival of the participants.

The majority of participants arrived by plain in Bergen, some had to spend a night at the youth hostel there, this due to difficulties in arriving before 1400 on Monday the 15th august.

Public transport was used to bring participants to and from the training site. During the actual training we had 2 rental minibuses and 2 private cars.

Accommodation was at the Gamleskule in Værlandet, and old school that have been converted to a hostel with dorms, kitchen, baths, classrooms and common room.
We had some issues here, i.e the showers were constantly cold, due to strong wind we were short of training space (this was improved when we were allowed to borrow 2 classrooms from the culture school) the strong wind made it impossible to have the “classroom tent” up.

The objectives were as follows:

- Develop a comprehensive understanding of the YOUTH programmes processes amongst the trainees.
- Enable the trainees to explore a large number of methods & techniques used in International Youth Work.
- Develop a model that may be used in any setting, a small village, town or city.
- Promote a comprehension of how to utilise sport & ICL activities in order to understand issues concerning nature and environment.
- Encourage future co-operation amongst the persons present and organisations represented

Through information, group work, introduction to working methods and intercultural learning and arrangements we believe that all the objectives were achieved. This was also reflected in the reports during WAT groups and the written final evaluation done by each participant.

We noted that some of the participants were discussing actual projects together, however only 2 weeks after the actual training course it is too early to say if this will occur. For the case of Vesle Daniel I must say that we had several persons attending the training that I will attempt to keep in touch with, there is a couple of volunteer exchanges already under discussion.

The participants were made aware of the multitude of possibilities that exist within the programme. Large emphasis were continuously placed on the importance of creating high quality exchanges and that just small adjustments may be the difference between a great and not so good project. It seemed to the training staff that all participants left the training with a lot of enthusiasm about arranging or being a part of arranging an exchange

In the daily evaluations and the written end evaluation all participants expressed that this training had impact on their personal development and that their skills definitely increased. However if this was enough to enable them to actually arrange an exchange themselves remains to be seen. In the point of view of the trainers about 70 % of the participants will actually have the required organisational skills, abilities and experience required to manage an actual exchange.

The participants were surprised on this way of working. It was a positive experience for them to be challenged in many different ways. Even when they “failed” most recognised the learning value of this. With most people the best learning occur when things does not go entirely as planned. Including a bit of a “nature shock” in the training has proven to be very valuable as a tool to increase the understanding and value of good communication, it also showed the participants the possibilities of misinterpreting information, both linguistically and culturally (i.e. waterproof in Portugal does not mean the same as waterproof in Western Norway ). We emphasised the importance to ask a question over again if you are not certain that you understand it.

This training was largely based on establishing good group/team work. A large emphasis is placed on getting the different people to work well in a multinational team. Possibilities to air out frustrations were provided through the so-called WAT groups. In these groups participants placed together in the afternoon and a thorough evaluation of the days programme occurred.

At the arrival day a large section of the evening was used on introducing the participants to various ICL games and icebreakers.

During the first day a session on Hopes and Fears established the learning needs of the participants. In addition we also felt a need to establish a common base for what a youth exchange is, thereby identifying more learning needs in the group. We discovered a group with a wide diversity of experience.

We also arranged for some evening / afternoon activities with fishing, sailing, climbing and kayaking in order to get the minds of participants off the theory and just enjoy being outdoors.

Various methodologies were used throughout the course, these included:

T.A.P.E T(Taste) A(Analyze) P(Production) E(Exchange)
Three Ps P (paper) P (place) P (people)
S.W.O.T analysis S(Strenghts) W(Weakness) O(Opportunities) T(Threats)
S.M.A.R.T analysis Specific Measurable Achievable Realistic Timetabled
10 commandments of a youth exchange
Learning cycle (Plan - Do - Review)

 

The four partners have designed this training course together and it is now difficult to pinpoint what elements that each partner is responsible for. In all aspects we are equal partners, thus this is a team effort.

The training had a great impact on the local community, having 27 people walking around in a community of 200 really leaves an impression. The community got involved in many different ways, from being invited to dinner and barbeque, bringing fresh crab and locally made vine for us to have a taste, to being asked to dress out as pirates as a part of an environmental orienteering course.

The Gamleskule where we stayed had their overnight stays increased with 25 % for this season and the economy of this voluntary operated hostel was saved. The fishing boat Makrelen, which is a community restoration project, was used in one of the activity days for fishing / sailing activities.

The local shops had a substantial increase in their turnover for their period. Maybe most importantly, the local people have a raised self esteem by having visitors being interested in this little place on the west coast of Norway .

Hopefully the photos and stories from the participants may lead to some of their friends and families coming here as tourists in the future. That would be a very valuable impact.

The training was orally evaluated on a daily basis through the WAT groups (What About Today), this was three smaller groups that were supposed to spend ½ hour every day except the three activity days. We had some problems in managing to meet all the evenings, so we had to meet some mornings as well.

During the activity days the groups evaluated their day and received feedback from the other participants and the trainers.

At the end of the training we had a final written evaluation questionnaire. These are mainly very positive and show that the training has had a lot of impact on many. Copies of these are a appendix to the report.

As the daily leader of Vesle Daniel I will try to stay in contact with many of the participants, with some there have already been discussed potential for future exchanges, especially via EVS.

We had a wonderful 10 days, and every aspect of the training ran smoothly. According to the final written evaluations most participants felt that their expectations were met and that they had a good and valuable training.

The training site is perfect for this type of arrangement, it would also be ideal for arranging a youth exchange. So we are hoping to be able to use it many more times.

We were very well received by the local community; this made a very positive impression on the participants. Through the hospitality of the islanders the stereotype of Norwegians as cold and distant and unfriendly was completely overpowered.