Programme & action: ERASMUS+, Key Action 1: Training Course
Venue: Lapua, Finland
Dates: 17-24 October 2017
Participants: Aneta Jelínková, Jan Krotký
Please read the information about this TC available below and TC summary & gorgeous project booklet
Participating countries: will be specified
Hosting organisation: NGO Noored Ühiskonna Heaks (Estonia) & Seinäjoen kaupunki / nuorisopalvelut (Finland)
Project report:
When I arrived in Lapua (Finland) on October 17, I did not know that I was going to spend one of the best times in my life. Twenty-four people from 13 countries participated in a training course. So many people took part in the Waves of Migration project and I asked myself: Will I know their names after training? Will everyone have the same chance to take part in the training course?
The first question was resolved very quickly. The next day we introduced ourselves and tried to remember a few names. We also tried to overcome our shyness, it was easy because the participants were very polite and open-minded. In a group discussion after each session, I realized how big potential this group has; how smart people are involved in this course. I realized I should be proud of myself as part of this fantastic group.
After the first two days, we went deeper into the subject of migration. We have learned some important facts, concepts, migration-related institutions, or different ways of integrating people. One of the most impressive parts were “games” in which we tried to be in the migrant´s shoes, and that was a strong experience. I will surely use these “games” in the future. During the course, we also invited local workers who are trying to establish connections between immigrants and local people in Finland. During the week we also visited the sauna and swim in the cold lake. With this experience and with potatoes for dinner we felt like typical Finnish people.
The last task of the week was to develop a migration game that we played at a local school with 14-15-year old children. This task was more complex than we thought because we did not know how the Finnish children would behave or if they speak English well. But I think at the end we managed it quite well and the kids went home with some experience.
Thanks to our trainers – Marco and Helena, we have created a great team in which everyone had the same chance to express themselves. I think most of us did not want to end this training course. Some of us had tears in our faces last day. I will have this experience in my heart a long time. However, we have created great connections and I expect that our professional or personal trajectories will meet in the future. Finally, I thank to my Czech colleague – Aneta, it was pleasure.
KIITOS
Jan Krotký
