KOOLITUS
Name of the project: “Community Organising for Youth Workers” Training Course
Date: 16th till 24th October 2021
City/Country: Strasbourg, France
What was the main topic of the event?
Erika Konevskihh – Community Organising
Erik Mikkus – Community organising
Marjana Kroon – Actions for better community organising
What was the biggest learning moments on the event for you?
Erika Konevskihh – The most important thing for me was gaining new knowledge and experience. We also discussed topics that were familiar to me. But some topics were new to me, such as the experience of debates and role-playing between different parties, also related to the debate. 
Erik Mikkus – The impact non-violent action can actually have on our society – through studying different cases in which non-violent action was used, it became apparent that these actions can have really strong positive effects and really initiate a change in society without the need for any violence. The case studies featured situations where this kind of an action created democracy, understanding of human rights and much more, which proved them to be effective as a method for making a change.
Marjana Kroon – To speak in English and understand others. Also, at the beginning of the project we started writing to ourselves that we would deliver every day until the end of the project. We were divided into different activities into different groups, through which we shared and developed knowledge and opinions about values and conflict, as well as this resolution. We were reminded again that the best way to achieve something is to work together and stick to our beliefs and values, even when others (such as the authorities) are trying to undermine their importance.
Do you have any plans to continue active in the field? If yes, what?
Erika Konevskihh – The most important thing for me was the emergence of motivation to develop my business in my community. There are also examples of what plan you can use to start developing an idea.
Erik Mikkus – Yes, since community organising is also an important part of my own current job and could help me achieve even greater things. Creating a community or organising and existing one could help my and our mission reach further and create a stronger and longer-lasting effect on us and the world around us. Also, the action plan which we created during the project for our own community organising action really inspired me to create this community of fact-checking and prevention of misinformation, so I am very eager to start actually working on this.
Marjana Kroon – Yes, to participate more in training courses.
Would you recommend it to your friends? I yes, why? If not, why not?
Erika Konevskihh – I have already recommended some friends to get a similar experience. Since such an experience opens up a huge number of opportunities for you: knowledge, acquaintances, broadening your horizons, motivation and much more. This was my first experience of participating in such a project and I am very pleased with everything.
Erik Mikkus – Yes, I would definitely recommend this experience to everybody due to various reasons. Firstly, the project’s content was so eye-opening, inspiring and informative and planned out so well. Secondly, the trainers were amazing: they knew what they were talking about and also managed to use very effective methods for giving that information to the participants and ensuring that these newly gained knowledges and skills would remain with us for longer than just a few weeks. Thirdly, the people you meet at such projects are wonderful: they inspire you to be a better person, but also come to terms with who you are and understand that you really shouldn’t try to be somebody who you aren’t, because everybody else is already taken!
Marjana Kroon – I would recommend it, because it is a very good place to make new acquaintances and have a very good language practice.
This Project was financed by European Commission’s Erasmus + Programme
