This activity is for participants taking part in the Cities of Learning study visit for Networking and Advocating.
This session is designed to facilitate a dynamic and collaborative exploration of "Networking" and "Advocacy" from both an organisational and Cities of Learning Network perspective. Participants will collectively define and deepen their understanding of these key concepts, aligning with the "Networking and Advocating", "Communicating Meaningfully", and "Collaborating in Teams" competence areas within the European Training Strategy (ETS) Competence Model for Youth Workers.
Why this Activity? (Collective Wisdom & Shared Understanding)
The World Café approach encourages participants to engage in multiple short, focused discussions around central questions. This method allows for a rich exchange of ideas, drawing on the diverse experiences and perspectives within the group. It's an effective way to build shared understanding on complex topics like networking and advocacy, and to identify commonalities and differences in approaches across organizations and within the Cities of Learning Network.
Objectives of the Activity
- To collaboratively define "Networking" and "Advocacy" from both an individual organisational standpoint and the broader Cities of Learning Network perspective.
- To share diverse experiences and insights related to networking practices.
- To explore different facets and challenges of advocacy in youth work and non-formal learning.
- To contribute to a collective understanding that will inform future strategies.
- To enhance skills in active listening, constructive dialogue, and synthesis of ideas, contributing to "Communicating Meaningfully".
- To effectively contribute to small group discussions and collaborative idea generation, supporting "Collaborating in Teams".
Instructions
1. Table Rotation & Questions:
- Participants will be divided into small groups at various "café" tables. Each table will have a designated host (one participant who remains at the table) and a large paper or whiteboard for capturing ideas.
Each table will start with one of the following core questions:
Table 1: What is Networking for our organisation?
Table 2: What is Networking for the Cities of Learning Network?
Table 3: What is Advocacy for our organisation?
Table 4: What is Advocacy for the Cities of Learning Network?
2. Round 1 (Initial Discussion - approx. 10 minutes):
- Groups discuss their assigned question, sharing insights and noting key ideas, definitions, and examples on the table paper.
3. Round 2 (Cross-pollination - approx. 10 minutes):
- After the first round, participants (excluding the table hosts) will move to a new table.
- At the new table, the host briefly summarizes the previous discussion for the new arrivals. The new group then builds upon these ideas, adding their own perspectives and deepening the exploration of the question at that table.
4.. Harvesting (Sharing key insights - approx. 7 mins):
- After the rotations, all participants will reconvene as one large group. Each table host will briefly present the key themes, insights, and surprising discoveries from their table's discussion, leading to a collective overview of the group's understanding of Networking and Advocacy.
Completion & Badge
By actively engaging in the World Café discussions, contributing their perspectives, and collaborating to build shared definitions and insights, participants will earn the "Network & Advocacy Insight" badge! This badge signifies active participation in a collaborative learning process, deepening understanding of critical concepts for the Cities of Learning Network, and contributing to the "Networking and Advocating", "Communicating Meaningfully", and "Collaborating in Teams" competences as defined by the ETS Competence Model for Youth Workers. This badge has been issued by the Cities of Learning Network Partner trio who are managing the Network.