R/A: Train the trainer Actions
Two “Train the trainer” training sessions were held on March 21st and 23rd, 2023, as part of the Response/Ability project under the Erasmus+ program. The first day of training, which was held online via the Zoom platform and was organized by project partners KEPA, Open Impact, and Codesign Toscana, had 27 professionals from Greece and Italy in attendance. The participants, who work with young people and NEETs, had the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with the Response/Ability project tools. Furthermore, during the meeting, the partners presented completed project actions and shared the research findings conducted in Greece and Italy.
In addition, during the event, two presentations were delivered by Mr. Lorenzo Scalchi, who is associated with the independent Italian organization CODICI Ricerca e intervento that focuses on promoting research and transformation in the social sector, and Ms. Claudia Zampella, who is a Learning Designer. Mr. Scalchi’s speech revolved around the topic of “Why the term NEET is not useful for the workplace,” while Ms. Zampella shared insights on the application of the Learning Design methodology.
After being divided into Break-out rooms based on the themes of the challenges that arose from the research, the participants utilized the tool of idea generation (brainstorming) on the Miro platform to record information about the people directly and indirectly involved with young individuals, including their interests and fears, as well as ways to approach and sensitize them. The group identified opportunities and shortcomings in the cities of Italy and Greece and developed solutions to address the challenges faced by young people. Lastly, they recorded potential educational methods that could be used to help the target groups learn.
On Thursday, March 23, 2023, KEPΑ conducted the second action at the new offices of the Hellenic Design Centre, which involved 10 trainers selected based on the trainer call criteria posted on KEPΑ’s website on February 7, 2023.
On the second day, the completed Service Blueprint tool of the Response/Ability project was presented by the European Programs Department team of KEPA. The tool depicts all the necessary stages and steps that an organization and its personnel should follow to implement a corresponding Pop-up School. After that, the research findings on NEETs in Greece were introduced, and using the “How might we..?” method, the urban challenges that the city of Thessaloniki faced were transformed into opportunities.
Following the selection of the winning challenge through voting and shaping, the trainers concentrated on it and collaborated in designing all the actions that will be executed together with the 30 chosen NEETs during the three-day Pop-up School in June. KEPA’s staff and the trainers will continue to work closely together in the upcoming period to prepare and organize all necessary actions before the school’s implementation.
Finally, the partners of the project from Italy, Codesign Toscana & Open Impact, carried out an action similar to the second one on Friday, March 24, 2023.