“My tools, your tools, our tools”

International Trainig Course
“My tools, your tools, our tools”

27.08. – 05. 09. 2025
Tryavna, Bulgaria

 

          SUMMARY:

“The Change is in You” Association has always strived to support the development of youth by using innovations in education and personal development. This project is motivated by the growing need to modernize the methods of working with young people, especially in the context of environmental challenges and digitalization. Today’s youth workers, teachers and social workers often use traditional approaches that no longer meet the demands of today’s world and are not always environmentally sustainable. Our project seeks to offer solutions through digital and environmental tools that can replace outdated practices such as the use of paper for feedback and communication.

This initiative is a response to the new challenges that the digital age and climate change pose to young people and the professionals who work with them. The digital platforms the project will work with will not only provide more sustainable working methods, but also promote environmental awareness among young people.

There are two key needs that the project will address:

The first is related to the provision of innovative methods and approaches for working with young people that respond to modern social and digital realities. We often meet youth workers and educators who struggle with the lack of up-to-date and applicable tools for their work. This creates a gap between the needs of young people and the resources available to professionals.

The second important need is the need to use more sustainable, ecological methods. In the context of growing concern for the environment, this project aims to introduce digital solutions that are not only more efficient and convenient, but also environmentally friendly. An example of this is the replacement of paper feedback forms with online platforms such as Google Forms, Slido, SurveyMonkey and others.

The main goal of the project is to collect and share best practices, mobile applications, platforms and innovative ecological solutions for youth work, providing youth workers, teachers and social workers with modern digital tools.

The sub-objectives of the project include:

• Transition to ecological and digital solutions to replace unsustainable practices
• Fostering collaboration between youth professionals by sharing experiences and knowledge regarding digital environmental tools
• Raising awareness among young people about the importance of sustainable behavior by using digital methods in everyday work
• Development of a handbook that will serve as a practical guide to ecological methods and digital platforms, easy to use in different youth work contexts

During the various workshops and practical sessions, the participants will have the opportunity to present online platforms and other digital tools that they already use or can be implemented in youth work that are not only easy to use, but also offer wider opportunities for analysis of the results, can be used for interactive sessions and collecting ideas and questions during trainings, without the need for printed materials, etc.

The handbook that will be created at the end of the project will be a key resource that will gather in one place all the proposed digital tools and methods. It will be structured so that each tool is described step by step, including instructions for implementation in different work contexts. It will be an important resource both for project participants and their organizations and for other youth work professionals. Its accessibility and practicality will facilitate the application of the new methods in daily work with youth. The long-term goal is not only to improve the effectiveness of youth work, but also to promote sustainable and ecological practices in Europe.

The project will also promote cooperation between youth workers from different countries and facilitate the creation of sustainable connections and networks that contribute to future joint initiatives in the field of digital ecology and education.

Through this project, the “The Change is in You” Association continues its mission to support young people by introducing innovations and ecological solutions in their education and personal development. The digital platforms that will be integrated into the project will replace outdated and unfriendly methods, providing youth workers and educators with more sustainable and effective ways to communicate and work with young people. The handbook that will be created will bring all these solutions together, providing an easy-to-use tool that will contribute to the sustainable development of youth work in Europe and will be a valuable legacy for future generations.

The following activities / sessions will be organized according to the methods used for them:

1. Energizers and icebreaking games. Each day, for 10-15 minutes before each session, participants will optionally present a game. Their aim is to raise the spirit and energy level of the participants, to awaken and encourage them.
2. Team Building games (including logical games and decision-making games). The purpose of these games is to provoke the teamwork of the participants and thus to transform the 40 young people from “strangers to one another” into teammates to support and help each other. Logical games are intended to provoke them to think critically and to find a solution to a problem, through discussions and compromises.
3. Presentations. They will be implemented in a formal and informal form. Formal will be the official presentation of statistics, information on a given issue, etc. These will be used during the sessions: Introduction, YouthPass Presentation and the 8 Key Skills, Erasmus + Questions and Answers, Youth Unemployment in Our Countries, SWOT Analysis, Canvas Business Model and more. And the informal ones, through theater, drama, music, etc. These are included in the sessions: Intercultural Evening, Presentation of Business Ideas, Advertising Campaigns, etc.
4. Discussions. Their purpose is to encourage young people to express their opinions and to uphold them. Also encourage them to think critically and ask questions in front of many people when something is not clear to them. But the most important aspect is speaking to the public because many people are worried about it and don’t ask questions and present and defend their own opinions.
5. Role-playing games (simulations). Their goal is to get young people to put themselves in different situations and characters to try to look at the world through other people’s eyes, but also to be able to show what they can, in an environment where every mistake is fixable and second chance will always be given.

          PARTICIPANT`S PROFILE REQUIRED:
Eligible participants per country: 1 staff member or youth worker over 18 with experience
Duration: 8 days + 2 more days for the travelling
Working language: English, at least lvl A2
Insurance & Health assistance: The insurance is a responsibility of each participant. The cost for issuing it will not be covered by the hosting organizations. Before coming to Bulgaria, you must issue and have valid European Health Insurance Card and Health Care insurance for the duration of the whole project!

• English level (at least A2 level of speaking and writing);
• Committed to contribute to the follow up of the project;
• Gender Balance have to be followed as much as possible;
• Be interested in developing competences and implement follow-up initiatives;
• Be aware of the characteristics of the learning environment (non-formal education);

     The group of each country will be obligated to conduct dissemination events for other young people in their city/town, within 2 months at the end of the youth exchange.

            VENUE:
 Participants will be accommodated in double/triple rooms each one with single beds and separated by gender. More info about the hotel can be found here – https://www.balyuvatakashta.tryavna.biz/

          WORKING METHODS:
     All the training will be done through the methods of non-formal education. The activities will be for example brainstorming, plenary discussions, simulations, role plays, team building, energizers, ice breakers and many others. Non formal education we remember you that is voluntary, no hierarchical and all its methods are based on the concept of learning by doing.

     The following activities will be organized according to the methods used for them:

1. Energizers and Icebreakers. Each day, for 10-15 minutes before each session, participants will optionally present a game. Their aim is to raise the mood and energy level of the participants, to awaken and encourage them. The games are fun and easy, testing their concentration, reflexes speed, rational and fast thinking, etc.
2. Teambuilding games (including logic games and decision-making games). The purpose of these games is to provoke the teamwork of the participants and thus to turn the participants from “strangers to each other” into teammates to support and help each other. Logic games are intended to provoke them to think critically and to seek solutions to a problem, through discussions and compromises.
3. Presentations and discussions. Their purpose is to encourage young people to express and defend their opinions, as well as to improve their oratorical and organizational skills. Also encourage them to think critically and ask questions in front of many people when something is not clear to them. But the most important aspect is the public speaking because many people are worried about it and don’t ask questions and present and defend their own opinions. They will be implemented in a formal and informal way. Formal will be the official presentation of statistics, information on a certain problem, visits to both facilities, etc. And the informal ones, through theater, drama, music, etc.
4. Creative activities. When creating the brochure and daily publications to disseminate the results, participants will need to include their creative and inventive thinking in these activities. The purpose of these activities is to better prepare them for future initiatives and events that they themselves will implement. In addition, the quality of the final product depends to a large extent on these activities and their dedication to produce a great document.

          WHAT TO BRING WITH ME:

– Bring your hygiene products (shampoo, toothpaste, etc…)
– Bring comfortable clothes and shoes (we will walk).
– Bring swimming suite…. Just in case, you never know what to expect in Bulgaria 🙂
– Each group should bring some food and drinks to represent their own country.
– Bring your national flag, magazines, postcards what will help you to introduce your country.
– Bring your sending organization’s leaflets and any kind of information what you might have.
– Please, find a nice mug from your city/town/country and bring it to the project. On the first day we will make a lottery and you will get a cup that you can use the whole week and later bring home with you as a memory. Less plastic, more beauty!
– If you bring your laptop will be easier for working.
– And your good mood and positive attitude. This is the most important 🙂

          TRAVEL COSTS:
     100% of the participants ‘travel costs will be reimbursed within the valid budget sums calculated according to the official rules of the Bulgarian NA in the frame of Erasmus +. If a sum exceeds the limit, the excess will be paid by the participants themselves. The reimbursement limit per participant is based and calculated according to the official Erasmus+ distance calculator and the rules of the program.

     The reimbursement will be conducted either to the partner organization or to one of the participants personal bank account. If the group decides on a reimbursement to a personal bank account, each one of them should sign declaration, confirming his will.

     There will be only one bank account per country.

     Important: In order to obtain reimbursement for the tickets, you need to follow these steps:
1) You need to present ALL THE TICKETS (that includes all the boarding passes), including RETURN TICKETS, which you will send after realization of the project, otherwise you will not be reimbursed.
2) You need to use PUBLIC TRANSPORT e.g. planes, trains, buses, trams or underground.
3) You need to depart from the country where your sending organization is.
4) It is recommended to make scans of tickets before your arrival in case you lose them. The reimbursement will be done only in Euros.
5) You must complete the dissemination activities and send to the organizers evidences of them (pictures, videos, written report, etc.). Could be one for the whole group or individual – the decision is up to each participant and national group.

          FINNACIAL SUPPORT:
     Project is supported by “Erasmus+” program. Accommodation, meals, program and travel cost (based on distance) are covered from grant.

          YOUTHPASS:
     Every participant is individually entitled to receive a Youthpass Certificate, which confirms participation and validates the non-formal learning (NFL) experience of Training course project. Validating the learning experiences of participants is important in itself and the document can be of benefit in terms of the educational or employment future of the participant. Through Youthpass the European Commission ensures the Training course activity is recognized as a non-formal learning experience.
(*For more information on Youthpass you may click on this page to check it online)

          APPLICANTS MUST:     

1. Read carefully the Terms and Conditions you are agreeing with, when sending your application!
2. Read carefully the Privacy Policy page.
3. Have a valid ID/International passport.
4. Possess valid European Health Card.
5. Fill in the  APPLICATION FORM. and after submitting the form, write an email to stanimir.chukov@gmail.com to confirm the submission of the form

 

*Проектът e съфинансиран с помощта на програма Еразъм+ към Европейската комисия. Тази публикация отразява вижданията само и единствено на нейния автор. Комисията не носи отговорност за употребата на съдържащата се тук информация.