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Creating Experience
Creating Experience
Start date: Jun 17, 2014,
End date: Oct 17, 2014
PROJECT
FINISHED
Project "Creating Experience" is a training course in Pona (Georgia), 17.-23.7.2014, involving four partners: MO Plusko from Slovakia (main organizer), GYE from Georgia (host organisation), FYCA from Armenia and Prague by Night from the Czech Republic.
The training course is based on existing need of an organization that develops young people through different outdoor and indoor activities. As they are becoming short of new activities and ideas the motivation and involvement of youth workers is decreasing. Also the youth work practice and utilization of experiential learning in the Caucasus region is different comparing to Central Europe.
The aim of the project is to improve competences of youth leaders in the field of experiential learning and using outdoor activities as a tools of non-formal education, so they can use new knowledge and skills to create (not only copy) particular experience/activities and event that youth will benefit from. The objectives are to explain the main principles of experiential learning and using experience as learning tool with the main focus on outdoor activities; to bring new inspiration based NOT only on new activities, but through understanding of how to create the activities; to enhance utilizing existing activities through understanding of their principle and possible adoption according to the goal of activity; through the own experience to increase motivation of participants and their involvement in organizing activities in the future.
We expect 24 motivated participants age 18+, 6 from each country. They should be leaders/trusted advisors who work with youth at the age of 16-30 or support other youth leaders; who lead activities/events taking at least 2 days; who might face the „boredom“ with tools they know or practice and are seeking for new tools or knowledge of how to use them in more efficient way. The team will consist of 3 experienced trainers from Slovakia and 2 people from Georgia responsible for logistics.
The core working principle will be using experience as a tool for learning, therefore all discussed topics and issues will be first demonstrated/experienced during the program. These activities, meaning indoor and outdoor games (ice-breakers, team-building activities, trusts, energizers, etc.), role playing, discussions, case studies and work in smaller groups will not only inspire participant, but also lead to better understanding of the theoretical inputs. The competences will be developed through the main thematic blocks - Experiential learning, Activity goals, Phases of an activity, Where activities come from, Pimp your activity, Dramaturgy of an event, Activity creation.
The first part of the training will be rich in activities followed by theoretical explanations and inputs. Later the activities will be reduced, giving floor to theoretical and practical workshops, presentations and discussions. Having understood and absorbed the knowledge, participants will be supported in development/ invention of their own activity. In the last phase of the training, invented activities will be tried out and feed-backed in order to ensure the knowledge has been successfully transferred and is ready to be used in day-to-day life.
After the training the participants will understand that experience can be used as a mean of personal development, not necessarily the ultimate goal of activity. They will be able to choose and step by step create activities based on their set up goals and create a program of an event (e.g. a summer camp or a youth exchange) according to rules of dramaturgy. Participants will get tips and tricks to raise the utility of their activities and get chance to acquire new skills by creating and trying their own activities in the group. The ultimate result will be a toolbox with new games that can be used/further developed by the participants in their future work.
We believe the TC will wake up participants´ curiosity, foster their creativity, build their confidence for implementing their ideas and future actions and foster their further self-development. We expect that participants later use the new knowledge and skills in their professional lives and share them with other team-mates in their organisations/at work. We strongly believe that the TC will have positive influence on perceiving the Caucasus region by partners from central Europe, break negative stereotypes and bring all countries closer and that the Caucasus organisations will have new trusted partners for potential future projects.