“EmPLAYability” was the second training activity of the KA2 Strategic partnership project with the same name implemented by four organizations from Estonia, Spain, France, Italy and Croatia. The project we involved youth leaders/workers from each country to discover the set of educational games developed on the topic of youth employability.
“I have always believed that, being an educator, it’s essential to be equipped with new forms of teaching and learning. Training plays a vital role in providing an opportunity to upskill, update knowledge and provide a platform to engage with different people.
When I heard about this training I got excited. The reason might be my own urge and passion towards gaining new experience. This training title and objectives were self-explanatory and addressing the basic need of young adults: “EmPLAYability, game based-learning to fight youth unemployment”.
I have been teaching at the university level for ten years and I have seen youth struggling hard for finding a good job opportunity for themselves. Sometimes, students were familiar with their own interests and goals, and sometimes not. In my mind, there were several questions like: “how we can direct our young adults to explore their own interests? How we can develop patience, resilience, and the ability to achieve small steps first to achieve bigger goals? How we can train students with essential soft skills? How the process of recruitment can be made more effective and interesting? How being an educator I can contribute to young adults in my country?”
So, having all these questions and motivation in my mind, I joined this training course in Spain. The core purpose of this training was to offer tools, context and space to discover, explore and create educational games that support job search and soft skills development of young adults.
This training depicted a clear picture of diversity in terms of having participants from different cultures, countries ages, and gender, and this platform provided the opportunity to learn from training as well as from the experiences and involvements of peers.
The structure of the training was kept simple, from the basic concepts of employability and game-based learning towards the development of different games prototypes. So, whatever was learned during the sessions, was implemented later on in terms of developing a new set of games for young adults. This training provided knowledge skills and hands-on practice of what it had envisioned. The whole week was entertaining, well organized, and constructive.
Initially, I was worried about how I could develop a board or other type of game within a short time span. But due to the cooperation of my peers and competent trainers, this task was achieved very efficiently and this aspect makes me surprised. This training course was beneficial in many other ways. It helped me to develop networks, friends and enhanced the circle of professionals. After this training I am planning to implement such activities and game based teaching aspect in my own teaching at university level.
Besides, there is need to promote awareness regarding soft skills and employability among youth in my country to presenting a proposal to the relevant authorities for this objective is my future goal. Because, knowledge and skills should be transmitted to the new generation so that we can contribute to build a society which is emotionally strong, academically excellent, and able to find solutions for the challenges. “
Sadia
“Our main learning points were to define problems in youngsters’ employment, to decide how these problems could be solved and to think of ways to improve the overall situation in today’s youth employability. To achieve every aim, we used different methods. We had input sessions, different workshops and a lot of practical exercises (games).
In my opinion, the combination of methods was extremely useful and, at the end of the week, successful. Between these learning and practicing hours we had our spare time, when we could eat, walk, play, talk or simply relax, which was also very important. Sometimes after we had done all the sessions for the day we went to the city centre and had a nice dinner all together.
I was very surprised that participants had absolutely no problems with communication between each other. Despite the fact that the difference in participants’ ages was palpable, we all have been connected with one topic and one aim. We didn’t feel any difficulties talking and (the most important) understanding each other. Simply saying, we didn’t face the language barrier.
The absolute best part of the project was people. The organisators’ crew and group of participants were amusing. Everyone was so friendly and active so it was very simple to join the team and start working together. Activities between learning sessions and workshops were very interesting. While participating in them, me and other members of the project were becoming friends. We did plenty of things and had a lot of fun together.
For me, personally, this project was very useful and knowledgeable. I learnt a lot of new interesting information, learnt how to help other teenagers and how to step out of my comfort zone. I met a lot of amazing people and got plenty of great experiences. I think, that the aim of this trip was achieved: we tried all the games, improved them and learnt, how we can help other people using these prototypes and discovered information.
This was my very first international project and it was just perfect. I’m very grateful to Shokkin Group and will definitely participate in other projects.”
Olga
“Topics and Objectives
The aims of the international training course I took part in were to offer tools, context and space to discover, create and explore educational games that support job search and soft skills development. We were able to discuss the topics of youth employment, learn how to design educational games and contribute to the implementation of the each countries’ games. The outcome of the project were the 6 games, polished and ready to use, and even some new game ideas.
Learning Points
We learned what we were supposed to, that’s for sure. The course promised us to teach everything you read in the first paragraph, and it achieved its purpose. Moreover, I had my own unusual life lessons and there is definitely something to remember.
Methods and Activities
The most used methods were as simple as practical they are: we had activities everyday and there was no time to get bored. We had teambuilding activities on the first day, some input lessons and some experience and opinion exchange. We spent a lot of time working in groups, brainstorming, thinking together, playing educational board games, discussing them and creating our very own game prototypes.
The Group
That is most inspiring thing, trust me. It was my second project ever, and yet, meeting those people and seeing them opening up in this short period of time. Seeing them as beautiful as they are, everyone with their own details. They showed themself as kind and open-hearted, ever friendly nice people. It encourages you to do the same.
The Outcome
So much has been already done and so much is only yet to happen. Let’s seek for the better tomorrow together, and keep in mind that every step you take counts.“
Michael
