​The ‘Take the next step’ training seminar took place from 16/11/2016 until 21/11/2016 where international volunteers from all over Europe came together at the St John Bosco college in Battersea, England. Working within the frame of migration and the refugee crisis, the international volunteers had the opportunity to reflect on their intercultural experiences with other international volunteers, develop their project management skills and learn how to integrate their own intercultural experiences into projects for their local communities.

The main objectives of the ‘Take the next step’ seminar were to raise awareness on the HR dimension of voluntary work, both within the setting of an international voluntary service as well as within the local community. Also to encourage returned volunteers and train their project management skills enabling them to take on an engagement in their local communities, catering and safeguarding the human dignity of young refugees. Don Bosco Youth-Net also aimed to multiply the learning experience of the participants within their sending organisations, mainstreaming this approach for other returned and future international volunteers. The last objective was to encourage the networking between volunteers from different European countries and between international volunteers and local volunteers active in member organisations to motivate them to start-up actions together in support of young refugees.

Next to sessions on human rights and migration the participants had the chance to develop own projects during co-working spaces. Working alongside each other developing their own projects the participants had the chance to give each other feedback and work together to develop their projects with the guidance of the trainers. We are happy to announce this initiated the further development of projects in the home countries of the participants after the training course. The venue, being so close to the English capitol, gave the opportunity to visit London during an exciting interactive city Challenge.
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The 'take the next step' training seminar was part of DBYN’s ‘Don Bosco 4 Refugees’ (DB4R) project. DB4R consists of 3 activities which are focused on the theme of migration. Through these 3 activities the participants will be developing a campaign which aims to advocacy for the rights of young refugees in Europe. DB4R is co-funded by the Council of Europe through its European Youth Foundation.

Objectives

1. To raise awareness on the HR dimension of voluntary work within a Don Bosco setting, both within the setting of an international voluntary service as well as within the local community
2. To encourage returned volunteers and train their project management skills enabling them to take on an engagement in their local communities, catering and safeguarding the human dignity of young refugees
3. To multiply the learning experience of the pax within their sending organisations, mainstreaming this approach for other returned and future international volunteers
4. To encourage the networking in between volunteers from different European countries, and motivate them to stay also involved within DBYN
5. To encourage the networking between international volunteers and local volunteers active in our member organisations, and motive them to start-up actions together in support of young refugees​

Project Partners

Training programme

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We were the first international group staying at the renewed Salesian college and Salesian community in Battersea, London. When constructing the sight, the Salesian province decided to include accommodation for groups to stay at the venue. This allowed us to do (international) youth activity, close to the centre of London.  

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