How do you prepare young people to become facilitators in an international Scouting environment? You give them the space to practise, experiment, reflect and learn from each other.
The Training of Trainers took place from 9 to 13 September 2026 in Lithuania, bringing together Rovers and Operational Framework volunteers who will contribute to upcoming European Scout Region activities, including The Academy in November 2026 and the European Agora in 2027. With the support of the European Youth Foundation of the Council of Europe, the training aimed not only to prepare participants for these events, but also to strengthen a longer-term pool of young people equipped to design and deliver learning experiences across the Region.
The programme followed a simple idea: participants learn best by experiencing facilitation themselves. They explored different approaches to facilitation and Non-Formal Education, learned how to design a session, experimented with visual communication and practised using games, case studies and other participatory tools.
A key part of the training was putting this learning into practice. Participants developed and delivered their own short sessions during a Project Fair, followed by a larger workshop exercise where teams had to plan roles, structure activities, engage their audience and manage their time. Feedback from the facilitators helped them identify what worked and what they could improve before delivering sessions at their respective events.
The training also created space to look beyond the immediate events. Participants explored different opportunities within World Scouting and how they could continue their journey as volunteers, while exchanging experiences and knowledge with peers and members of the Europe Support Centre. This contributes to a more sustainable approach to knowledge transfer and capacity building across the Region.
The experience was framed through the image of a prism: just as a prism reveals the different colours contained within a beam of light, the training encouraged participants to recognise the different skills, experiences and perspectives they bring to Scouting. Together, these different “colours” become a stronger spectrum when they are connected by a shared purpose.
For the participants, the training was a step towards their next challenge. For World Scouting and its Member Organizations, it is also an investment in young people who can create meaningful learning experiences for others and carry knowledge, skills and ideas onwards through the Movement.