We asked our members what they were doing since mid-March to create and facilitate online learning, training and support opportunities for youth leaders, youth workers and youth work organisations. Here we share our experiences with reflections, challenges, success and questions. This the 3rd part of blog posts where we collect training practices in response to COVID-19 impact on international youth work mobility. Read the 1st part and 2nd part in the series.
Vitalie Cirhana
Activity: Online educational programme for youth workers from Republic of Moldova
Dates: 1 April – 31 May 2020
Reference link: https://www.facebook.com/events/220476995713989/
Profile of participants: youth workers from youth centres of Moldova
Structure and key content: Online educational programme was structured in 15 modules where participants were invited to explore the competencies of youth workers and develop them through the online sessions which were delivered every Tuesday and Thursday for 2 months.
Your personal/professional reflection on challenges, successes and questions of doing this online: Online educational programme for youth workers from Republic of Moldova was alternative to the COVID-19 and bring new perspective to the professional development of youth workers in Moldova, but still have many weak points comparing with residential trainings. At the end it creates a good precondition for developing a future blended learning program for youth workers from the Republic of Moldova and starts to work on digital youth work in Moldova.
Sabrina Apitz
Activity: EuroPeers Network Meeting – Virtual Edition including an Online Open Space
Dates: April 24-26, 2020
Reference link: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3005072499568342&set=gm.3027716953956360&type=3&theater&ifg=1
Profile of participants: EuroPeers (30 participants)
My role: Technical moderator
Your personal/professional reflection on challenges, successes and questions of doing this online: This network meeting takes “normally” place as a 3 day meeting starting from friday late afternoon to sunday midday. It is done as a walking Open Space. The format is very much appreciated by these young active EuroPeers, so of course, we have been a bit sceptical, if a virtual edition can evoke the community feeling we experienced before. We decided to keep the actual dates and started with a prep phase on padlet, providing pax the information needed (agenda, links) and inviting them to tell more about them (map of residencies, map of their voluntary service, profile map) and some joint collecting of expectations, topics, contributions, digital energizer and sustainable travel highlights. These prep phases gave somehow the chance to get to know the others or meet them again already beforehand at your own pace.
Sandra van de Kraak
Activity: webinars MDT (Social Service)
Dates: 19 May 2020 4 webinars in different regions of The Netherlands
Reference link: https://www.doemeemetmdt.nl/wat-is-mdt
Profile of participants: organisations who organising or want to start Social Service in The Netherlands.
Your personal/professional reflection on challenges, successes and questions of doing this online: I was participating in these webinars to connect with local organisations who want to collaborate within The Netherlands for Cities of Learning and share my experience with Open Badges (hot topic in NL). For a long time I didn’t have time to do this investment of time in NL, due to many travelling abroad. Due to showing my skills more in NL, I hope to easier connect with colleagues and young people when I go back to international mobilities and give my new connections opportunities they were not aware about yet. Due to investment in different specific tools and developments internationally I now have my Dutch colleagues something to offer. Due to my innovative attitude the previous years I’m now ahead of my Dutch colleagues. During the webinar where I could not see the other organisations, could not know who was participating and the facilitators using Menti.com to ask us questions and again we could not see what others were sharing we started to comment in the comment field. It gave me opportunities to share websites, articles, and to offer my services. After these 4 webinars I have 7 organisations who now want to meet and chat about further collaboration, and cities of learning are now known by the national MDT organisers.
Participants feedback, if available: don’t use menti.com when you want to connect people with each other ;-).
If you haven’t done so, read the 1st part and 2nd part in the series.
Found this helpful? Every month we host digital self-help group for trainers to share our reflections, challenges, success and questions. Join us!
Cover photo by Samantha Borges on Unsplash
