Weblog of the YSA Seminar in Tirana

Weblog updates

ysaseminar — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 08:24:09 +0000

Updates on the weblog include:

Flickr photos – we now have a few pictures for you to see and download.
Tags – this should make searching and navigation easier.

YiA guide

ysaseminar — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 07:54:39 +0000

This is the latest version of European Commission’s guide for the Youth in Action programme.

Leadership session handout

ysaseminar — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 07:51:12 +0000

This is the handout used during the leadership session.

Identity and diversity

ysaseminar — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 11:01:41 +0000

What to they mean to me?

Way of thinking, talking, dialogue
Background culture
Being active
Physical appearance
Values
Character
Behavior
Zodiac

The onion model and the iceberg model

Tips and tricks for communication in projects

ysaseminar — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 10:16:14 +0000

Take the group size into account (composition, gender, nationality, etc.)
Be friendly
Do not scare people
Mind your pronunciation
Make eye contact
Not to often use face to face communication (not recommendable to use in big groups)
Open debate
Be smart – well prepared
Be honest
Forums
Use more than one method (i.e. email, telephone, …) remember reception in some countries is not so good
Mind your body language
Avoid stereotypes
Be open minded
Think out of the box
Plan meetings with project leaders as soon as possible
Communicate today do not put it off till tomorrow
Be clear
Do not escape of the problem – solve it!
Listen
Do not hesitate to call people
Smile (always )
Believe in what you say
Choose right medium for different audiences
Try to use the right method at the right time. But please use a method to communicate
Put yourself in others’ shoes
Making blog, websites, forums, seminars

Project management session

ysaseminar — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 10:03:32 +0000

Action planning

How to start?
- Build readiness
- Refine the goals
- Examine resources
- Provide information (to all stakeholders)
- Develop a time line and stick to it
- Keep it real
- Discuss with partners (brainstorming workshops)
- Roles and responsibilities
- Ownership
- Inclusion
- Informal discussions
Key elements of action planning

Vision (future picture) – in discussion

Ways and tools

Needs of the society/ market/ environment

Desired results

Concrete (specific aims and goals)

Measurable

Deliverable

Mapping the environment (continuous + evaluation of limitations and strong points)

Opportunities

Competition

Support

Challenges

Building partnerships

Selling the idea

My vision is your vision

Involve partners in defining the project/ vision

3 Cs of action planning
- Commitment
- Contacts
- Creativity

Handout on action planning

Evaluation

Monitoring and evaluation
- Monitor with a team
- Diversify sources of information
- Look for reasons
- Setbacks are normal!
- Safeguard human relations
- Encourage and motivate
- Limit changes
- Adapt objectives and activities
- Foresee checkpoints
- Act in time
- Define procedures together
The evaluation process
- (Re)designing
- Collecting information
- Assessment and conclusion
- Implementing results (follow up)
- Interpreting
- Preparing
- Learn from previous experiences
What to evaluate?
- Everything measurable (define fail and successes )
- Feelings
- Self
- Group
- All stages of designing a programme
- Paper work (it is easy)
- Reporting
- Media frequency
- Pre/post evaluation
- All aspects of the programme
How to evaluate?
- Dance
- Paint
- Draw
- Open questions to participants
- Visual
- Internal (participants and team) / external evaluation
- Evaluation games
- Discussions (debates) and body language
- Evaluation of workshops (activities)
- Observation
- Mid/final evaluation
- Quick fix!