Training Teams and Other Foursomes

For some of us, it's the dead of winter, for others it's way too hot, and especially it's too dry at the moment. We live (from left to right) in Canada, Austria, Australia and the Philippines. We are two boys and two girls (just like Abba, the children in the Chronicles of Narnia, or two thirds of the cast of Friends) and we all use gmail. A lot.

We make up the training team of the International Mosaic Committee. What that means is that we are charged with the important task of coordinating the training of Mosaic staff, project coordinators and trainers all around the world. Doesn't sound like a small task, does it? It's not. Mosaic strives to make sure that every Mosaic project undertaken has a project staff and project coordinator that have received training. This is important for the programme because it ensures a level of quality. The themes and approaches of Mosaic projects are massively different from one chapter to another. What does that mean? For example, one project in India explored water conservation in a classroom setting. Another project in Sweden engaged immigrant youth using the arts. Yet another project, this one in Canada, brought together youth from every single province in Canada and ran a unique peace-education camp. But even with so much variation in form and content, all of these projects share a common educational framework. It's a framework that pays attention to how people learn and how things we do in our communities can have a real, measurable impact. And the people who put these projects together, they all received training in this framework. It's not that hard. You could learn it.

The four of us don't do all that training ourselves. In fact, we don't do much of it at all. Instead, we train trainers. Mosaic trainers are individuals who have learned about the Mosaic programme inside-out and have developed a special set of Attitudes, Skills and Knowledge. Equipped with these special attitudes, skills and knowledge, Mosaic trainers are the best people anywhere to train people in the Mosaic framework and support projects at they are being planned and while they are happening.

A few times a year, in different parts of the world, we hold Mosaic Growth and Development Workshops (or MGDWs). This is where we, the training team, train keen individuals to become Mosaic trainers. After each MGDW we add our new group of trainers to our global Network of Trainers which is really the core of the Mosaic training system. Part of our job is to coordinate this global network of trainers. We draw on them to meet training needs in the parts of the world where they live. Montreal needs some training? No problem, we say, we've got a trainer in our network who lives right around the corner.

Sound like an interesting role?

Interested in becoming a Mosaic trainer? There are opportunities coming up. In April, there will be two MGDWs. One will take place in Thailand, the other in France. We are actively looking for enthusiastic individuals to participate. If you are keen about Mosaic, we would love, love to have you. Get in touch with the Mosaic committee to find out more. Don't delay.

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