The training course „ Leading Ladder” was organised in October 2015 by Shokkin’ Group Italia in cooperation with its international partners in a small town Scanzano Jonico, Italy. It brought together participants from 9 different countries: Italy, Estonia, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, France, Latvia and Hungary. The main aim of the training course was to develop facilitators for youth exchanges and boost the work of partner organizations. During the 8-days training course we had several workshops and sessions held in non-formal style, which were on the topic of communication and leadership models, method creation, non-formal education framework, and also project development. For instance, we had an activity, where we learnt about different leadership styles (laissez-faire, autocratric, democratic etc.), and after this theoretical part we moved to the practical part by dividing into groups and holding an activity on our own in a concrete leadership style. Nonetheless, we had a project-making night, when we created our own Erasmus+ youth exchanges’ plans and then presented them to others.
At the same time, along with the learning, we all really enjoyed the place and the weather and the sea. We lived in a hotel on the southern seashore on Italy, and as the temperature was rarely below 23 degrees, we enjoyed warm waves of the sea after lunches. Besides, the Italian food was amazing. In other words, the hospitality and the cosiness were incredible!
Furthermore, we had great free-time activities, which helped our team become extremely friendly very fast. One day we went to beautiful Matera and had a nice excursion in the town as well as enough free time!
By the end of the course it had been really hard to say “Goodbye” to everybody. For just a week all the participants became very close friends to each other. And, of course, we learnt so much new things and now I can say that I have a better understanding of leadership styles and motivational techniques and I am sure that I will use it in future when organising youth work!
Igor
