Make Change Yourselves: Turning Challenges to Your Advantage!
The programme is based on an innovative double learning approach which leads to double change! The participants are youth workers who learn to work for change by participating in the programme through workshops, from resource persons and their peers and in practice. At the same time, the participants work for change with marginalised and disadvantaged young people, who themselves learn and change whilst becoming actors for change.
1st Contact teaching workshop, 23. - 27. 5. 2022
The participants met at the campus of Diak (Diaconia University of Applied Sciences) in Helsinki. Diak is one of the partners in the programme which lasts a little more than a year.
What's going on between the first and second workshops?
The first period of Practice Learning in interdiac learning programme MAKE CHANGE YOURSELVES! TURNING CHALLENGES TO YOUR ADVANTAGE! (MACY) has come to an end. In interdiac learning approach this is the time when the participants can apply theoretical knowledge and practical skills from the 1st Contact Teaching Workshop to their own practice with marginalised young people, share learning findings with the peers and reflect on it individually.
The second workshop in Italy
International participants in the interdiac Learning Programme ‘Make Change Yourselves: Turning Challenges to Your Advantage’ came together for their 2nd Programme Workshop in Torre Pellice (Italy), 7th - 11th November. The event was hosted by Diaconia Valdese, which is a partner in this international project.
Make Change Yourselves Experts Meet.
After almost one year, on the 16th of January, an online ZOOM meeting brought together Experts representing 9 partner organisations. The meeting started with a short welcome and devotion. An important part of the meeting was a round of sharing of news from each partner organisation.
The Practice period between Workshop 2 and 3
The second Practice Period of the Programme aims to develop the participants’ work with marginalised young people and to engage them in participatory planning and decision-making. The time between November 2022 and January 2023 was full of Zoom meetings between participants and the learning supervisor and responsible lecturer.
3rd workshop in Riga - Latvia
Third Contact Teaching Workshop in interdiac Learning Programme ‘Make Change Yourselves: turning challenges to your advantage!’ took place in Riga (Latvia) on the 6-10th of March. Diaconia of Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia hosted the workshop and shared their experience of engaging work with marginalised young people.
Experts meeting in Tallinn
‘This is the right programme and the right time’ was the comment of one participant in a workshop of experts and leaders in the learning programme, ‘Make Change Yourselves: Turning Challenges to Your Advantage!’
Evelyn Diana Plitman - My visit to the Czech Republic
On the dates from May 8, 2023, to May 17, 2023, I was visiting the organisation "Slezska Diakonie" in the Czech Republic.
Terhi-Liisa Autioniemi - My visit in Latvia
From 24th to 30th April 2023 I was visit the organisation, Bolderaja Diaconal Centre in Riga, Latvia. During these days I had opportunity to see and explore Diaconal Centre’s activities and services.
Agnese Mikne - My visit in Finland
From 7.-14.May, I was visiting a church called the parish of Oulu Cathedral, which is part of the evangelical church of Finland. In this city I had opportunity to see and explore many interesting activities and I could be a part of meetings that they were having.
Agnese Blaua - My visit in Finland
From 7.05 to 14.05.2023 I visited the parish church of Oulu cathedral in Finland. During these days I had the opportunity to see and explore youth worker’s meetings, a work planning meeting, family service activities, to meet children and youth groups.
Hasmik Mkhitaryan - My visit in Czech Republic
From 9th to 19th July 2023, I visited the organisation ‘Slezská Diakonie’ in the Czech Republic.
During these days I had the opportunity to see and explore their activities and services.
Jan Horák - My visit in Armenia
In the second half of April this year, I had the opportunity to visit Armenia and see how they are working with young people and trying to help them in difficult situations. As a guest of the WCC Armenia Roundtable Foundation, I visited several social centres across the country. To give you an example, the furthest I went was in Ijevan, at the Arvik Social Centre about 200 km from Yerevan. Other centres we visited were Gai, Ashtarak and Gyumri.
Anastasiia Terletská - My visit in Latvia
In the heart of Riga, I embarked on a unique journey of cultural immersion and personal growth through an exchange programme. My experience unfolded within a vibrant day centre for both children and seniors, offering diverse activities and opportunities.
Last workshop in Estonia - 3. - 7. 7. 2023
The international Workshop which started the closing stage of the Learning Programme ‘Make Change Yourselves: Turning Challenges to Your Advantage! co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union,’ was held from the 3rd until the 7th July. This time the event was hosted by the Diaconia of Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church.
