Involve! Include! Improve!
Last dayAfter a long Eurovision night we woke up and enjoyed once more the amazing breakfast along with the more amazing view! We started at 10:00 as programmed and as its the last day of the training we discussed with our learning buddies about thw whole learning process of the training. But this time we had this meeting outside in the park to get energised and enjoy for the last moments the fantastic above view! Later on, we gathered up with our teams we had in the school workshop and our task was to make a manual for workshops like these, like a draft for everyone who wants to arrange such a workshop! Collecting the manual from everyone we will make a booklet as a useful tool for youth workers! After a quick coffee break and an energizer about the names we did the first day, making a circle of emotions and memories, we started to work with our national team for the events we are going to organise from May 2017-May 2018. We made a Calendar and in a row we were presenting them to the others as well as watching theirs. And it was a great way to exchange new ideas and good practicies to implement in your organisation. And later on, after the delicious lunch we had, we filled our Youthpass certificates online and at 16:00 we started our session! This time we were talking about future! And more specifically about future projects! So according to thematics we were interested in, we splitted up in groups and started to organise and write our projects in various fields like environment, music, social inclusion etc. And to get energized after our work on the projects we did the most fascinating energizer of the week! !CLEANING THE ROOM! EVALUATION ALERT ! ! So its time for evaluation for the whole week and project! The evaluation process was in 4 creative ways and lastly with an online survey! The creative ways were: 1) The "pizza" project, in which we had to fill with dots about thing in the project (activities, accomodation, food etc). The more in the centre the better! ! 2) Participation Thermometre 3) Happiness Chart for every day 4) Project Boat ( Put ourselves somewhere in the boat) So, as we finshed the evaluation, as well as with the online survey about the quality of the project as a whole, we had some free time to prepare our luggages for tomorrow! And the best part started at 22:00 when we revealed our secret friends! Someone in the middle of the circle, with eyes closed, describing his/her gfits from secret friend, who is coming in front of him/her and he/she tries to find out who is it by touching! It was a very emotional and touching moment with real and tight hugs, we will never forget!!! Then, it was the time for the Youthpasses which we get them again with a different way, and again with lots of emotions! Everone had to give and award the Youthpass Certificate to someone else by announcing some facts about this person!! And at last, in order to have something from everyone to read it on the back to home plane, we sticked a paper on our backs and we started to write for everyone something to remember! And that was all! A great training has come to its end and we feel full of fruitfull ideas and most importantly full of special people that entered in our lives and i hope will stay!
Thank you for all the amazing moments! Aitah! We started our day with an Open Space session. It was time for Heleri, Rachel, Hannah and Silvia to share about their experiences on different topics with others. They prepared their presentations and talked about it for 20 minutes. This session was very informative and it was full of new useful information. We learnt a lot of new things and shared our experiences with them as well. Hannah's activity was memorable. Afterwards, it was time for each country to present what they had been done so far in order to share the results of the Action Plan agreed in December during the meeting with the representatives of each partner organisation. Many activities were already taking place and others would be planned in a near future. There can't be no afternoon session without first having a delicious and comforting lunch. During the afternoon we discussed about How to involve young people with fewer opportunities (Economic, Geographical, Social, Educational, Disabilities, Cultural and Health Problems). Each one of us had something to say and we shared our good practices with each other. This year never made more sense watching Eurovision Contest! We gathered on the training room, danced, sang and watch this project that unites different people in its different ways of expressing their own culture and traditions.
It was time for Portugal to win this time, with the performance of Salvador Sobral. Cheers!!! Lídia, Merve & Mirko The alarm rang early for us because there was a mission to accomplish: to deliver important information to Valga students about Erasmus+ .The day before was spent on preparing activities : energizers, games and workshops. This was an interesting and useful experience for both parties, because most of the students had never heard of Erasmus+ before and some participants from our group had never done activities like this either. We got a lot of positive feedback and hoped that we were able to give a nudge to students to take part of different Erasmus+ projects. Through the eyes of people from different countries and cultures, the school in Valga was like a mansion. We were all extremely surprised, shocked of how good were the conditions in schools and how polite and enthusiastic the teenagers were! The most amazing moment for us was, when we were able to be in two countries at the same time. “I’m in Latvia, I’m in Estonia, I’m in Latvia aaaaand Estonia.” The border made us feel free and was a good example of how the world and people should be: open-minded, prejudice-free and happy! On the way back we discussed with our study buddy about the experience that we’ve just gained and what could we have improved.
The second part of the day was focused on group dynamics and how to notice changes during the lifespan of a group. This is good information to use in the next projects so that we can evaluate the development of the team. The strategy can be also useful to prevent future conflicts and help groups achieve their goals. Now, we are waiting for the sauna… Keep you updated! In the morning we facilitated and participated in a “World cafe”; an opportunity to discuss important issues about how to reach more participants with Erasmus+. This was an informal event where 4 volunteers facilitated the discussion of important topics concerning youth work whilst everyone enjoyed delicacies such as “magic juice” and “warm water with herbs”. After lunch we prepared workshops to deliver in Estonian schools. We were all excited about this as we wanted to experience the culture of a different country's school system. The objective was to inform students about the volunteering and educational opportunities available to them through Erasmus+, using a relaxed and non-formal learning environment. After a group reflection session and a delicious meal of buckwheat and chicken in a creamy sauce, we spent the rest of the evening putting the finishing touches to our presentations, ready for an early start the next morning. People were tired out after all that hard work... ...or was it because of all the snowball fights earlier?!
In the morning we all made our own notebooks to record all our amazing thoughts and ideas for the week. With our books in hand, we learnt more about Erasmus Plus and the different elements of the programme from Strategic Partnerships to Youth Exchanges - learning from our group's experts. After an energising "Shark Song" we divided ourselves across 8 islands of Key Competences and explored these islands together. We then reflected about our learning by watching Shaun the Sheep and analysing what Key Competences the animals displayed during the episode. (Shaun is very entrepreneurial and showed good initiative). Finally we reflected about the different roles of Youth Workers through brainstorming and sharing our ideas. The 2nd Intercultural Night was hosted by Romania, Turkey, Poland, Spain and the UK. We had quizzes, dances, songs, videos, food and drink from each country. 26th April brought together Tartu's young people interested in the activities and projects offered by Seiklejate Vennaskond. We met in the evening in one of the university buildings, to share some stories and give overview of Seiklejate Vennaskond's activities. This event was part of Tartu student days.
Seiklejate Vennaskond participated on 19th April in Tallinn student days with event "Discover the world through adventure!". We organized information session in Tallinn Student House, where we shared our experiences and told interested youngsters, how they could use Erasmus+ opportunities to discover themselves, Europe, or even the world! :)
Seiklejate Vennaskond took part of youth employment fair called "Suveks tööle!" ("Go work in summer!"). This was a massive event, with more than 3000 participants aged 13-18 from Tallinn and Harjumaa region. Kristi and Heleri were present whole time, and giving out suggestions, tips and introducing all the international opportunities. Hundreds of youngsters gave their emails, to receive more information about Seiklejate Vennaskond, Erasmus+ and international opportunities. Never have we experienced so intense fair, with so many interested youngsters coming all at once! Hopefully we can send the first ones abroad very soon :)
On 6th, 9th and 10th April Seiklejate Vennaskond organized analyze meetings for our ex-EVS volunteers. Meeting on 6th was in Tartu, on 9th and 10th in Tallinn. Volunteers shared their great experiences, but also some horror stories and crazy happenings. Together we discussed, how EVS changed their lives, and how they have used this experience for the future life. Useful tips were exchanged about host organizations and now we definitely know better, what should we keep in mind on the matter of specific projects.
On 6th April, EVS information event took place in Tartu. First of all, Orvi shared her 10 months experience in Romania, with some great stories and unexpected events. After that Rauno shared his experience from Sheffield, in United Kingdom (6 months project). It was great to hear, that even though host organization was hosting EVS volunteers for the first time, they did a great job! After that, Heleri from Seiklejate Vennaskond gave a little overview how could future volunteers apply themselves. All stories must have been inspiring, as after the information event several participants decided to apply for EVS themselves, and one of them, got right away accepted to the same UK project, where Rauno participated before! :)
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