Skill Up
Leadership skills training project for volunteers
ABOUT THE PROJECT
SKILL-UP is a 12-day international training program for youth leaders from Poland and Portugal, which took place in Braga, Portugal, from August 24th to September 6th, 2022.
The project aimed to develop their professional competencies, with an emphasis on leadership and soft skills, including exploring methods focused on integrating disadvantaged youth (those experiencing socioeconomic and geographic barriers).
The project participants were volunteers from the My Future Foundation, who developed critical skills in the job market: public speaking, project management, negotiation, and team building. They acquired this knowledge through group work, role-playing, outdoor activities, and Oxford-style debates. Participants were also encouraged to share their experience within their organizations and through working on existing projects.
The program also aimed to encourage youth to become actively involved in social life and inspire them to take action in their local communities.
What contribution did youth leaders make to the project?
They were involved in various stages of the project, of which five main ones can be distinguished:
1) Planning – During a meeting with the project manager, the youth leaders analyzed their skills at the foundation, particularly those they would like to acquire, and the areas in which they would like to work in the future. They were also asked to identify one work method they used in Poland that they would like to share with the Portuguese youth leaders, based on this, they created goals
and an action plan.
2) Preparation – the youth leaders were divided into five groups, each assigned a specific task (marketing activities, practical aspects, writing proposals, conducting workshops, and logistical aspects) – this allowed for planning the project management.
3) Implementation – most activities were based on peer learning and experience-sharing methods. This meant that the youth worked together to share their experiences and further develop their ideas.
4) Evaluation – Each day, the youth leaders had time for reflection. This allowed the team to evaluate the activities and ensure that the expected results had been achieved. With the help of a moderator, the youth assessed their acquired knowledge and will receive a YouthPass certificate confirming the skills they acquired and the results they achieved.
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Funded by the EU. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the EACEA is responsible for them.
Project duration: August 4–September 6, 2022, Braga, Portugal.
Project number: 2021-2-PL01-KA153-YOU-000040965
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