Short presentation of each major event listed above.

Feedback seminar 23-28. January 2007, Puszczykowo (nearby Poznań), Poland

Participants :

1. Stas Sajin
2. Alina Secrieru
3. Carolina Secrieru
4. Elena Ichizli

Discussed subjects:
The Feedback Seminar had as main topic the evaluation of the first year of YTNF project. Another aim of the seminar was to exchange ideas and experience with other SCI-branches (not involved in the project) and to establish some new contacts.

At the seminar there were participants from the 6 countries involved in the project (Moldova, Ukraine, Belarus and Russia, Poland, Germany) and other which helped as well as for the evaluation of the project as for the follow-up and future plans (Switzerland, Great Britain, Netherlands, Finland, Ireland, France etc.).

The seminar was very good organized. The place was wonderful as it was a peaceful one and really quite. The food and the accommodation also were very good.

The seminar was facilitated by Zaneta Gozdzik, who helped for the good evaluation of the project. Her role was a very important one as she facilitated the sessions and helped to point out the main problems, conclusions, ideas, etc.
At the seminar we had the opportunity to know better how is the YTNF project developing in other countries and to see what is the level of running the project in our country. Also, we had the chance to analyze the weaknesses of the project and to figure out solutions and new ways to make the project a successful one.

During the seminar all the countries have presented their activities in the frame of this project. This gave the possibility to establish new partnerships, to make some bilateral projects (as is now doing AVI with SVIT) and to draft some future plans with other SCI-branches.
A main topic was the communication between the Steering Group, Regional Manager and the PMTs. We have concluded that there is a lack of communication especially between the SG and the PMTs and made a plan of how it could be improved in order to assure the transparency and a fluent exchange of information.

At the Feedback Seminar we were presented some new projects (LTV centers, Job-shadowing) in which could be involved our organization.

We had a financial report and also have discussed about how necessarily is to find new donors for our projects. In the same idea, we have discussed and about the necessity of making more innovative projects, as the YTNF project has as one of its aims the implementation of interesting projects, not just of workcamps. The projects should refer to the main topics: strength against racism and xenophobia, social exclusion and human rights education. It was pointed out that after the end of 3 years the PMTs should be able to run by themselves their own projects (here including finding finances!).

Finding new volunteers and the motivation of them was another issue. All the countries from the project pointed out that this is a problem, as lots of volunteers come but leave the project very soon. Some of the solutions are to select better the volunteers, to make more often PMT meetings, to show the opportunities from the project (trainings, workcamps, etc.)…

AVI-Moldova understood that it needs a new strategy of writing and implementing the projects, and also, that it needs to motivate more its volunteers and maybe to make a bigger promotion of the YTNF project.

Also, there were some discussions about the web-site – it has to be more often up-dated!!!!! and by all the YTNF countries.
During the last day we had some workshops were we had the opportunity to exchange and to gain some new experience through discussions and analysis with the participants from other SCI-branches. This way we had the opportunity also to promote the activities of our organization and to find some future partners for some projects which will be run in the YTNF frame.
At the seminar, New Group Belarus has presented the YTNF T-shirts and pencils.

Writing the project “Human Right on the bicycles”

In February 16th was discussed “the rights of the man on a bicycle” project. Even though it is a project requiring a lot of new creative ideas, not many were those to contribute with ideas and suggestions. Present: M. Veveita, Nick, Alexandrina, Elena, Alina and Cezar that helped enormously in finding optimal solutions for the problems that the project is facing.
In the budget all necessary equipment was introduced, transportation, including bicycles, that was decided to be bought and used during more then one year, to be used in more then one project, to be used in work camps and be offered as prizes in some conquests.

In the budget were not included the number of units for the materials required for the project, or their overall costs, but we consider necessary to purchase 15 bicycles, that will be sufficient for the teams made up of 3-4 volunteers.

We tried to come up with a title for the project but we have not come out to a final decision. Cezar has taken the responsibility of finding a professional cook, specialized on out door cooking, that could help us at the project, regarding accommodations we decided to stay in the localities that we are to go through, of course having the permission form the LPA and we are to be equipped with tents for any case and as well for more adventures.

Also discussed regarding the plan of the project and we consider optimal to have a volunteer responsible for each topic or domain of the project.
Finally we decided not to complicate things, but to concentrate on most important topics such as strategies and elaborating the Human Rights program. Regarding this point as well as regarding establishing the route will be discussed during the next session that will take place next meeting.

Group Leadership Seminar

In the period 2nd to 7th of March, AVI-Moldova organized a “Group Leadership Training” for 19 volunteers (14 YTNF+ 5 international) who learned about the concepts of leadership. The training had been runner by 2 senior trainers, helped by 3 junior-trainers.
The main aim of the training is to bring together experienced and less experienced people in order to strengthen and improve the work in PMTs, so that YTNF project get success and a more efficient development. Besides, during this training you will have the chance to make intercultural exchange and establish/strengthen partnerships between your organizations.
During the activities the participants had the opportunity to know each other and the represented organizations, to exchange their views on what means to be a leader. The main topics of the training were:

• Teambuilding, during this session participants had to work in two teams in order to figure out how hard, but important is to work in a team. The "Bridge" exercise (each team had to make a half of the bridge, and, in the end, the two parts had to match) pointed out that in a team is necessary and useful to listen other's opinions and sometimes, make compromises.
• Leadership and communication, motivation and conflict management. The role-play, draw exercise and a test showed that a leader will be able to succeed, having this 3 main skills - art of communication (understanding and listening others), power of motivation (the leader has to be self-motivated, but also to know how to motivate the team) and conflict management (to solve conflicts, to reach compromises).
• Leadership Skills, the brainstorm which begun the session helped the participants to exchange their ideas about what skills a leader needs. Also, on this topic there were made working groups which had to find the answer at several questions - what should be the qualities of a leader, what should never do a leader, what is the difference between a manager and a leader.
• Presentation skills, in an interactive way, each participant had the opportunity to develop their skills by making a short presentation of a word (the participants were not prepared; they had to choose a piece of paper with a word, to make a 1 minute presentation while being recorded ;)). Afterwards, the participants have watched the video and analyzed their presentations.
• Personal Leadership Development. There have been made 4 workshops on Motivation skills, Time management’s skills, taking risk skills and Problem solving skills. The participants have chosen one of the workshops and worked on one of this topic. The workshops gave the opportunity to exchange different ideas, experiences between participants, but also to gain and improve their own skills.
• Woman Leadership session was funny, but very interesting. The participants worked in two groups and had to find the advantages/disadvantages of a woman leader. Even though there were just 6 men ;) they were really actively participating, being involved in each discussion.

In the end of the training the participants had the opportunity to give to each other ideas to help them as a leader (each participant wrote on a piece of paper advice to the others how he/she could improve his/her skills as a leader).

The training had a funny part as well. In the middle of the training the prep-team has organized sightseeing of Chisinau. This way, the participants had the opportunity to get to know the city and to interact with the Moldavian culture and people. After the sightseeing, there was organized the Moldavian evening at a specific Moldavian restaurant. The participants tasted our traditional, Moldavian food (mamaliga and placinte), which was really delicious!!! (their words)

In the last day of the training, at the International Evening the participants have presented their country. Music, dance and intercultural communication - the main words about this party ;)... and of course, fun!

Collaboration with other local organisations

Milieukontakt, will help to organize the “Group Leadership” Training. They will offer us information on the topic, they made a seminar “Curriculum Development” where 3 YTNF members participated and learned how to lead a session, how to make the program of a seminar, what methods to use. They also agreed to provide us a sticky wall with spray, for an easier facilitation of the seminar.
“People for People” NGO from Edinet, and “Association of Single Parent Families“from Cahul agreed to work on improving the project for “I am like you”, that didn’t pass the last round at the Kinderhilfe organization. They intend to propose this project to other founders, until we will find resources.

Web Page

The webpage is a good platform where everything we do is being promoted. Thanks to the website, we’ve got 2 new PMT volunteers. Also one girl from Romania showed herself interested to help us in the preparation of the 2007 work camps. Many people from exterior said they liked the website and it is very relevant.