Dara’s Experience at the AFS Training Event in Bonn
Recently, EIL Ireland volunteer Dara travelled to Bonn, Germany to take part in the Active Global Citizen training event organised by AFS. Bringing together young people from different backgrounds and countries, the programme focused on facilitation skills, inclusion, communication, and the role young people can play in creating positive social change.
Reflecting on the experience, Dara described the weekend as both practical and inspiring:
“I went in expecting to learn something useful, but I left with practical ideas that I can bring into my own volunteering.”
Throughout the programme, participants explored what it means to be an active global citizen and how small, everyday actions can contribute to stronger, more inclusive communities.
One of the workshops that stood out most to Dara was Colour Your Life, which focused on creative flipcharts and visual facilitation techniques. The session demonstrated how simple tools such as colour, layout, drawings, and visual structure can make workshops more engaging and accessible for participants.
“It reminded me that you do not need to be an artist to be visually effective. You just need to think about how people receive information.”
Dara said the workshop gave him practical ideas that he hopes to use in future youth workshops and group activities through his volunteering with EIL Ireland.
Another impactful session, Between Adaptation and Integrity: Designing Spaces for Belonging, explored how facilitators can create safe and inclusive environments where everyone feels comfortable participating. The workshop encouraged participants to reflect on the importance of language, group dynamics, and ensuring quieter voices are heard.
For Dara, this connected strongly with the values at the heart of EIL Ireland’s work:
“Intercultural learning depends on people feeling safe enough to share, ask questions, and be themselves.”
The final workshop, Promoting Social Change through Active Global Citizenship in Volunteering, focused on connecting local actions to wider global issues. While the idea of “global citizenship” can sometimes feel overwhelming, Dara found that the programme made the concept feel practical and achievable.
“For me, it is about paying attention, staying open to learning, and taking purposeful action where you can.”
Overall, the experience helped Dara further develop both personally and professionally as a volunteer and facilitator.
“Bonn helped me develop practical skills and shaped the kind of facilitator I want to become. I want to create spaces where people feel heard, included, and motivated to take part.”
Experiences like this reflect EIL Ireland’s mission of encouraging intercultural understanding, learning from others, and bringing those experiences back into everyday life to create positive change in our communities.
We are delighted that Dara had the opportunity to represent EIL Ireland at this international training event and look forward to seeing how he brings these new skills and perspectives into his future volunteering work.
