Isabelle
Sweden
She attended a leadership camp organised by SISU, which is an annual, weekend long event. She was given the information about YLAB after the leadership camp and encouraged to make an application to be part of the Swedish group that would travel to the Blended Mobility in the UK.
Isabelle was part of the ‘Next Steps’ group that travelled to London to begin planning for future youth exchanges. She has also recently returned from travelling through Asia.
Increased her self confidence and improved her English speaking skills. Isabelle made new friends from across Europe and has an increased appetite for international work/opportunities!
“During a week in England I meet friends for life. I came out of my comfort zone and tried a lot of new things. I learned a lot more of my leader ship and questioned how I do things and why. We shared an experience together that no one can truly understand and I will forever remember that week!”
I learned that you can communicate with almost everyone by showing what you mean with your body and easy words. You don’t need to be really good at the same language to be understood.
I learned more about my own leadership and how to work with different methods while leading different groups.
I meet new people that influenced my thoughts and while discussing I questioned what I believed in and what was right. I am now more open for new things and new experience.
Fanny
Sweden
She attended a leadership camp organised by SISU, which is an annual, weekend long event, and was known to SISU as a great local sports coach.
Fanny was recommended by SISU staff to get involved in the project and encouraged to make an application to be part of the Swedish group that would travel to the Blended Mobility in the UK.
Fanny is a young entrepreneur, working both as part of her family business and as a badminton coach. She attended the YLAB multiplier event in Sweden and spoke to national partners about her experiences as part of the project.
Increased her self confidence and improved her English speaking skills. Fanny has made new friends from across Europa and has an increased appetite for international work/opportunities!
Zikel
U.K.
He has followed a pathway at StreetGames from a participant and local volunteer leader, through to representing StreetGames as a Young Advisor and a member of local project staff.
As an experienced leader, Zikel was invited by StreetGames to apply to be part of the group from the UK to attend the Blended Mobility in the UK. Zikel was encouraged to act as a mentor to other members of the UK group.
Zikel is now a paid member of the StreetGames Trainer Team, regularly delivering workshops across the West Midlands. He also works for The Royal Foundation coordinating apprenticeships across Birmingham. Zikel attended the UK Multiplier event and Train the Trainer event.
Made new friends from across Europe. Increased his ‘trainer’ skills and has improved his confidence in an international setting.
The experience was … Well.. Life changing!
It opened doors for me that I never thought possible. I got to meet new people, from different cultures and gained new skills for international work.
I learnt that there are ways to communicate even if you don’t speak the same language.
I learnt about project management internationally.
I learned how to engage women in sport.
Heather
U.K.
She has followed a pathway at StreetGames from a participant and local volunteer leader, through to representing StreetGames as a Young Advisor. Heather was encouraged by StreetGames to apply to be part of the UK group to attend the Blended Mobility in the UK. After a successful application, Heather was part of the planning group that brought the Blended Mobility to life.
Heather has now started University studying Sport and Exercise Science, and was successful in securing paid summer work in the USA as part of a summer camp.
Heather’s confidence has grown throughout the project, opening up new international opportunities for her. She has made new friends from across Europe and is still keen to be involved in future international projects.
I met amazing people that I will never forget! It’s made me think more about doing international work, and what else is out there!
YLAB training is…
1. New games and activities.
2. Language should not be a barrier
3. Group work is really important
Kieron
U.K.
He has followed a pathway at StreetGames from a participant and local volunteer leader, through to representing StreetGames as a Young Advisor and a member of local project staff.
Kieron was encouraged by StreetGames to apply to be part of the UK group to attend the Blended Mobility in the UK. After a successful application, he was part of the planning group that brought the Blended Mobility to life, and acted as a mentor whilst at the event.
Kieron has now started a new job in a secondary school as a learning mentor.
Kieron’s confidence to support less experiences leaders has improved greatly, as has his belief in his own abilities. He has made new friends from across Europe and is still keen to be involved in future international projects.
The experience was brilliant learning off a variety of people from different nations was a real eye opener.
The experience was brilliant learning off a variety of people from different nations was a real eye opener.
1. Learnt new games to deliver to young people at home that they may not have tried before.
2. Learnt new leadership techniques that I am able to use which has made me a better leader.
3. Developed a better understanding of how to deliver to harder to reach groups I.e. Groups that may not necessarily speak the same first language as you.
Frauke
Germany
She was part of a volunteer project with BSJ for a year before YLAB started.
Frauke got involved in small steps in youth leader work with BSJ and became interested in international work. She was given the opportunity to become part of the German group who attended the Blended Mobility in the UK.
Frauke is now working for BSJ as trainer and team worker for BSJ, whilst also studying Sports Management at University.
Her confidence has soared, especially her ability to communicate across languages, she no longer has a fear of the language barrier!
Paulina
Poland
Paulina was known to V4Sport, having worked with them on a previous volunteering project.
Her main role at her organisation includes working with youth organisations and their volunteers. Paulina was therefore invited to be a part of the Polish group attending the Blended Mobility in the UK, to act as a mentor to some of the other youth leaders from Poland.
Paulina is still working with youth organisations and young volunteers and hoping to get involved in more international work soon
This opportunity helped Paulina to realise that there are things that smaller towns can get involved with in terms of international exchanges. Her perception was that these things were only available to those in the big cities. The project helped to widen her horizons and explore what she could do to have an impact on other young people from her community.
The experience gained during the Blended Mobility, I will remember for the rest of my life. Meeting lots of friendly people. The energy flowing from the youth awakened to life. Lecturers have put a lot of heart into every task performed by them. I learned a lot of interesting fun, which I use! Thank you again for everything. Adventure and learning for life. It is worth remembering that the team is the strength and power.
1. Openness and a smile for everyone.
2. Various interesting fun for big and small.
3. Group work is of great importance.
Boguslawa
Poland
Boguslawa currently works for a partner organisation of V4Sport in Wroclaw.
As part of her day job, she is responsible for sport and culture across her community, so YLAB was a perfect fit to help her explore other opportunities, so was invited to be part of the Polish group that attended the Blended Mobility in the UK.
She is still working in Wroclaw, helping to bring more opportunities in sport and culture to the community also she is participing in international projects, hoping to extend this to international opportunities soon.
YLAB was a game changer for Boguslawa, helping to build her self confidence and believe in her abilities. It has opened up other international opportunities for her and helped her to see what else is available to her and her community.
The project was organised perfect, everything and everyday (even every minute!)was planned very well. I met a lot of fantastic people with passions and positive energy. if recommend this particular training course to other young people.
1. The most important thing, if learned is – “you must to know what you do and why”. I mean: the assumptions/ target of project is really important.
2. The team is really important – working with integrated (well-known) people is easier and more interesting and more effective.
3. new sports activities
Timothee
Germany
Tim works for BSJ at Blossin, an outdoor adventure centre, leading German-French leadership programmes.
He got involved in small steps in youth leader work with BSJ and became interested in international work. As part of his volunteering, he was given the opportunity to become part of the German group who attended the Blended Mobility in the UK.
Tim has studied Youth Work in France and is now regularly leading youth exchanges and international training, linking in with BSJ and Blossin.
YLAB helped to build Tim’s confidence as a youth leader, but also as a trainer. Upon reflection, he now sees himself an as international trainer and the possibilities open to him are endless!
Be active!
To lead an International Meeting
To communicate with people from other countries and with other ideas
To Lead games in English
Szymon
Poland
Szymon regularly volunteers through V4Sport at stadiums and events.
Through his volunteering, Szymon was invited to be part of the Polish group that attended the Blended Mobility in the UK.
Szymon is developing his own initiatives around sport in his hometown, something he would have not been confident enough to do before attending the Blended Mobility in the UK. He is trying to involve voluntary services into sports projects more and more submitted and international voluntary services like e.g. during the UEFA Women’s EURO Netherlands 2017 or the UEFA Euro Under21 Poland 2017. He is trying also to attract the attention of authorities of their city for mistakes made in the area of sport and sports investments which very much are missing. His epigraph it: “to be a beaten and not to surrender it is a victory. To win and to settle on laurels it is defeat. “Józef Piłsudski
for Szymon, this project has helped him to believe that everything is possible! He has made friends from across Europe, gained new ideas and it has empowered him to go and make a difference in his own community.
This is the best thing that has ever happened to me!
New ideas
New friends
New Opportunities