From the 16th to 20th of May 2012, a total of 36 participants from 14 countries gathered at the Youth Education Centre in Hattingen to participate in the training programme “Train the trainer – How to lead an international workcamp„. In international groups they prepared for their ewoca³-camps in the summer of 2012, guided and supported by experienced trainers. ewoca³ is a support programme targeting youth work organisations in Northrhine-Westphalia, created by the Association for Education and Exchange (IBB e.v.) in Dortmund and funded by the Federal State of Nortrhine-Westphalia and the Mercator Foundation. Following the slogan “3 partners_3 workcamps_3 countries„ it enables twelve youth work organisations to organise three trilateral youth exchanges each.
Intercultual communication – Know-How
But before the young participants will pack their bags for the first time in the summer of 2012, their future workcamp leaders had to prepare specifically for their work in the generally trilingual camps. This training, covering topics such as “intercultural communication„, “intercultural conflicts„ and personal leadership styles, is a fixed element of the ewoca³ support programme. Through simulations and roleplaying the future youth leaders experienced the particularities of social interactions between people from different cultures. “Such an intensive training is extremely important to prepare them for the work in the camps.„ said Katharina Teiting, project officer at the IBB Dortmund. “Intercultural encounters are often affected by misunderstandings, as ways of expressing and acting such as volume, tone, facial expressions, gestures or forms of politeness may be completely different from culture to culture.„
Diversity of participants
Some of the training participants, hailing from 14 different european countries, never had the chance to participate in such an extensive training course before. In the summer of 2012 they will, in trinational teams, lead one of twelve workcamps. “It is important that the youth leaders not only get to know the methods of international youth work, but also prepare for their equal-footed collaboration in the coming summer„ Katharina Teiting continues.
Funding by “Youth in action„
IBB Dortmund is especially happy for the training course to be financially supported with roughly 25 000 Euro by “Jugend für Europa„ (Youth for Europe) in Bonn, using funds of the EU programme “Youth in action„.