Expectations and exceeding them

Although I had high expectations, the training course “Storify Your Mission for Impact! Youth Worker as a Digital Communicator!” was above my expectations. The main reason for my application was the connection with my job, good experience, and cultural exchange. Storytelling, especially, caught my eye because I thought (and still think) it can really help me with my college, such as writing papers, seminars and in general work. I wasn’t thinking about – and it didn’t matter – the location, the team, the hotel and stuff like that (before).

On the first day I really liked the exercises we did like ‘Mission Impossible’ which really got us comfortable. Although my biggest fear was that I would fail to express my creativity and ideas, the trainers did it in the best possible way and pulled out the inspiration from us. I noticed it on the second day when we went to the mountains discussing our frustrations and after that we were writing our ideas, frustrations, target groups we would like to work with and experiences and then networking between us.

Then again, though my focus (in the beginning) was to learn more about ‘storytelling’, I was overwhelmed that we actually learned many things about making a campaign and what our main goals and hints in making one should be. I have saved the training materials and will definitely use them in my work, as I intend to participate in several projects of making the campaigns of the new product offers and advertising of the company. I also learned about some tools for making the content which will really help me in my life, interests, work and college.

Participants, trainers team, location, food, offer, organization of the Via Civic Association were the best possible. The whole team was really interested to work and in such a comfortable way that you would like it to last longer. Trainers were also committed to work and had lots of patience with all of us! 

We could really joke around and at the same time we were doing something. I met many people from other countries, who I would like to meet again and also improved my English speaking. I liked evening ‘non-formal’ events also. 

Once again, it was 10/10 and I would like to participate in more projects of Via Civic Association and with the same people. Thanks to Deiana for inviting me!

Vanda Saban, Croatia