GEORGIAN TEAM
Follow up Activity
The Erasmus+ project "DIGITEM" gave the Georgian group opportunity not only to visit Portugal and enjoy the local culture, nature and food but also to learn via non-formal educational methodology. Digital youth work combined with social inclusion and empathy is a highly interesting and much-needed topic for us and the beneficiaries we are working with as youth workers; after obtaining specific competencies, we had to share them with our beneficiaries locally.
Once we got home, we started to plan the follow-up activity that we planned in Paco de Ferreira, Portugal, during the training course. After discussing several options, we implemented the activity "Dual-Sefl Portrait" (modified version) in the Sachkhere Youth Center, which is located in a rural area. Right after this, we dealt with the date and selected the 30th of July as the closest date to the training course. We had one online preparatory meeting, during which we planned the follow-up activity and divided the roles and tasks.
Thus, all four of us, who took part in the training course, drove for two hours from the capital through the beautiful Georgian nature, and finally, we reached the youth centre full of young people waiting for us. First, we started the event with the get-to-know-each-other; we introduced ourselves and discussed the project. Next was an energiser, which is necessary after speaking activity to wake up and be concentrated. As we had already divided the roles among us, we followed the plan according to it. Lika started by introducing the team, Tatia did the energiser, Slava introduced the activity and gave the instructions, and Mariam ran the debriefing alongside other teammates. In addition, Lika spoke about the project and the time we spent in Portugal.
The activity was emotional and had an exciting outcome. First, participants drew or wrote their perceptions about their personalities and how others see them. After we had debriefing and reflection sharing, participants were very emotional and expressing their feeling and giving opinions about themselves. After a short discussion started about the need to be changed and how to show others their real personality. The art therapy was a good activity and a relevant follow-up to the project.
We spent more than 3 hours in the centre, and up to 30 participants participated in the event. After the core activity, we played other games and energisers and discussed the challenges of including various fewer-opportunity groups. We also spoke a lot about the Erasmus+ program and the opportunities it gave young people in Europe and beyond.
On the way back, we discussed and reflected on the day follow-ups are a great way to improve your competencies; thus, being a multiplier is not only a responsibility but also a way of learning.
Thanks to the project Georgian team are now more empowered and can better cope with the issues coming from the digital field and inclusion. We are looking forward to taking part in the following activity of the project where we will be hosting our friends from this training course.
PARTICIPANTS' IMPRESSIONS FROM THE PROJECT:
Stanislav Mezhdoyan: The project was unique because it had both components, learning and having fun, as it should have been in the non-formal educational youth project. We spent a week in Portugal, experienced the local culture, and shared the culture of eight European countries. Another aspect I like about the project is getting to know youth workers from different countries and learning from each other. This is a great leap forward for my carrier path I expanded my networking and friendship ties.
The topic of empathy in digital entrepreneurship is crucial for the development of new visions within our organisations and job places. We improved our digital skills and attitude towards the different groups of society that need to be reached and targeted correctly. I will definitely use the competencies I gained in my workplace and will be a better youth worker compared to my previous style of work.
I will never forget the intensive working hours and funny evenings with the great people from eight countries who I will remember always.
Lika Zurabiani: Participating in the DIGETEM has been an incredibly enriching and eye-opening experience. Throughout the seminars and workshops, I have gained a deep understanding of the significance of humanitarian values in the context of digital transformation. The project's focus on teaching the connection between empathy and technology was inspiring and thought-provoking. The diversity of participants from more than seven different countries added a whole new dimension to the project. Interacting with individuals from various cultural backgrounds was a delightful experience, as I had the opportunity to learn about their unique customs, traditions, and ways of life. The workshops and art therapies held throughout the week were both enjoyable and insightful. Engaging in these activities helped us to develop a deeper level of understanding and empathy towards others, which proved to be crucial when collaborating on group tasks and business idea development sessions.
Additionally, the day trip to Porto was an amazing way to explore the beauty of the city with my fellow participants. It provided an opportunity for us to bond outside of the project's structured activities and further solidify the friendships we had formed. I am confident that the insights and experiences gained from this project will continue to influence my personal and professional life positively.
Tatia Lortkipanidze: Digitan Entrepreneurship Through Empathy
The main goal of the project was to enhance youth workers' competencies in the field of Digital Entrepreneurship in an inclusive and comprehensive manner while fostering their empathetic and humanitarian values. It aimed to emphasize the significance of empathy in customer service within the context of online businesses.
The training course brought together more than 30 participants (youth workers). The project was assembled to provide participants with the skills to start their own businesses. The course included activities such as – managing business, and working with customers, also we had a chance to create our own business project with a website, logo, concept and tone of voice.
Additionally, mentioned training was my very first Erasmus + project, and I got the opportunity to work with experienced youth workers throughout the world. Furthermore, culture nights were impressive and diverse.
Appreciation to all the included participants/ credits to Niko, Eva and Erma.
Mariam Latsabidze: Participating in DIGETEM has been a rewarding and transformative experience for me. Throughout the journey, I had the privilege of working with a diverse and talented teams from different countries, fostering an environment that thrived on collaboration and mutual understanding. It was incredible to see how digital advancements, when combined with empathy-driven strategies, had the potential to revolutionize businesses and improve user experiences. Undoubtedly, this experience will continue to shape my personal and professional growth in the future and I want to thank all the involved individuals for making my experience unforgettable.
Links to the posts on social media:
Training course photo post:
Follow-ups
Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/Umbrellageo/posts/pfbid02dmCCAmxRQnbu29gxjFsiVKauyjkoky8avryDUwHr7xWHwstcbVfNRPazR8Sn86bfl
Instagram post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CvXspKvIrLH/?img_index=8