Training on intercultural through Experiential Learning & Outdoor Education

1. CONTENTS: • Project Introduction • Why to develop this Training Course in SENTAGE House • General Elements of the Course • Objectives • Contents of the course • Methodology • Languages • Participants' Profile • Procedure for applications • Financial conditions • IMPORTANT: Participants have to • Program Training on intercultural through Experiential Learning & Outdoor Education sentage@gmail.com – Mobile : 00351.918178966

2. Project Introduction: Dear Friends, Why does ARCA / SENTAGE wish to organise this Training Course together with Lithuania, Estonia and Spain? ARCA has a number of experiences with outdoor activities since 1996 when an Adventure group has been created. Recently, members decided to support the creation of another organization dedicated to the local development of the Algarve country side area near Tavira (an increasing desertified area with geographically excluded young people), through outdoor activities and experiential learning. Training courses are an important part of ARCA educational activities. This training activity aims to enable those actively involved in local development and in the promotion of intercultural learning (youth leaders, youth workers, elected, volunteers, and professional staff of our organisations, etc.) to play a more active, efficient and informed role in our local and European youth work, improving the quality of outdoor and experiential learning youth activities with an intercultural dimension, connecting it to the 2006 / 2007 All Equal All Different campaign. ARCA / SENTAGE wishes to develop further partnerships with Outward Lithuania and other 2 youth organizations, creating new spaces where different approaches, methodologies, best practices and experiences can be shared, and through that, developing the work of our organizations when using experiential learning and Outdoor Education. Most of all, ARCA / SENTAGE and its partners wish to develop facilitators competent in non formal education and Intercultural learning using the above mentioned methodologies linking it to the campaign issues of Diversity, Human Rights and Participation. sentage@gmail.com – Mobile : 00351.918178966

3. Why to develop this Training Course in SENTAGE House: ARCA / SENTAGE and its partners wish to organize this Training Course in the SENTAGE House in Várzeas do Vinagre, south of Portugal countryside, in August, in order to prepare facilitators to work in non-formal context with Experiential Learning and Outdoor Education for Intercultural Learning. This house is starting to be used to work for local development and social revitalization in a region that is increasingly desertified and where young people face geographical exclusion in every day life. We wish to include trainers from other experienced organizations that could insure the Skills, Knowledge, Attitudes and Cultural diversity in the team. sentage@gmail.com – Mobile : 00351.918178966

4. General Elements of the Course: • Aims and objectives of the course • The main aims of this course are: • To broaden understanding of the role of ‘Experiential Learning and Outdoor Education’ in the social development of individuals and groups in a cultural diversity context. • To enable participants – within the framework of their Organisations – to competently prepare, run and evaluate non-formal education activities for Intercultural Learning using Experiential Learning and Outdoor Education methodologies. sentage@gmail.com – Mobile : 00351.918178966

5. Objectives: • To provide insights into concept of Experiential Learning (EL) cycle and Outdoor Education (OE) methodologies according to principles of non-formal education; • To expose participants to an Intercultural process; • To familiarise participants with the theory and methods of experiential learning and intercultural learning; • To explore the use of outdoor education to improve individuals citizenship competences (Communication, Critical Attitude, Engagement Solidarity, Human Ethic and Social Values, Living Together, Team Work Cooperation, Self-confidence, Responsibility initiative, Expressing and Developing one’s own ideas/opinions); • To provide space for the development of essential skills for the facilitator using Experiential Learning and Outdoor Education in youth groups (debriefing / evaluation, programme design, feedback, peer education, risk assessment and security issues); • To increase participants' knowledge and awareness about principles of ethics and values involved in non-formal education and intercultural learning youth activities. sentage@gmail.com – Mobile : 00351.918178966

6. Contents of the course: • Experiencing 1,5 days of outdoor activity to establish team work and group dynamics. • Analysing the learning outcomes of that outdoor activity and reinforce it with theoretical knowledge. • Participants workshops for practice transfer and exchange – peer education and coaching. • Working on risk assessment and security issues. • Reflection on ethics and values in non formal education youth activities. • Debating on the role of Experiential learning and Outdoor Education in the development of young people’s active citizenship including more disadvantaged regions. sentage@gmail.com – Mobile : 00351.918178966

7. Methodology: The course will give participants the opportunity to experience, and reflect upon, being both a participant and a facilitator. The entire course is designed as a mutual learning situation, where participants can compare their approaches and experiences to Outdoor education for intercultural learning and development of active citizenship. Towards the end of the course, groups of participants, with the assistance of the course team, will prepare, run and evaluate outdoor educational activities. A diversity of non formal education, experiential learning and outdoor education working methods will be used. sentage@gmail.com – Mobile : 00351.918178966

8. Languages: English is foreseen as the working language of the course. sentage@gmail.com – Mobile : 00351.918178966

9. Participants' Profile: Working directly with young people Interest in outdoor activities or already have some experience Willing to implement experiential learning in their work with young people Open mind for intercultural learning Have the possibility and commitment to developing international project with other organisations Ensuring a gender and geographical balance Good physical conditions to support a full time powerful training Psychological awareness for such a training In general candidates should: be aged between 18 and 30 (exceptions may be made on the basis of justification); be actively involved in youth work, while preparing to take on responsibilities in organizing international activities through the youth programme; be well informed about their organisation, and be prepared to explain to the other participants about the activities in which they have been involved; be able to work in the working language of the course; be in the position to act as a facilitator after the course; Be committed to attend for the full duration of the courseand be supported by a sending organisation. sentage@gmail.com – Mobile : 00351.918178966

10. Procedure for applications: All candidates must apply using the enclosed application form. This form should be receivedby e-mail, fax or post,directly in the ARCA Head Office together with a letter of recommendation/support from the sending Member Organization or Partner Organization, maximum by 17th of July 2006 (at the latest). The preparatory team will make the selection of participants on the basis of the motivation, perceived training needs, experience and potential for multiplication of individual applicants. In addition, the team will try to ensure a balance between gender, geographical regions, and different types of experiences, cultural backgrounds and organisations. The accepted candidates will be informed by the 24th of July 2006 and will subsequently receive a course file with additional information and the draft programme. The sending Member Organization and their successful applicants are reminded that once a candidate has been placed on the final list, they must make every effort to attend for the full duration of the course. If, for any exceptional reason, they are unable to take up the offer of a place, they must inform the Head Office immediately. A waiting list will be established. sentage@gmail.com – Mobile : 00351.918178966

11. Financial conditions: Board and lodging are provided at and paid for by ARCA in the SENTAGE House – Portugal; 70% of travel expenses (cheapest ticket) are reimbursed according to the operational rules presented, on presentation of the relevant receipts and boarding passes (do not forget to take a receipt from your travel agency or Flight Company). An enrolment fee will be due from each participant accordingly to our current categories and to the financial needs of this training course. This fee will be deducted from the amount to be reimbursed for travel expenses). Country Participation Fee Portugal60€ Spain60€ Estonia40€ Lithuania40€ sentage@gmail.com – Mobile : 00351.918178966

12. IMPORTANT: Participants have to arrange their own travel insurances. ***Please, make sure you BOOK YOUR FLIGHT ONLY AFTER THE CONFIRMATION OF THE FINAL PARTICIPANTS LIST AFTER 11th OF September, or else, we won’t be responsible for any cost spent before the participation in the training is confirmed to your organization contact. Don’t forget to bring musical instruments, good mood, open hearts and minds and you of course! One more thing to remember, bring some typical food or drink for our farewell-party!!! Deadline for applications: 10th September 2006 > be in active communication with your Organization Contact!!! sentage@gmail.com – Mobile : 00351.918178966

13. Program sentage@gmail.com – Mobile : 00351.918178966