On January 31, 2013, twenty-five YES Alumnus from around the world came together for the eleventh YES Training of Trainers (ToT) Alumni workshop. With the goal of creating a network of YES alumni ready to take on leadership roles within their countries, the workshop provided participants with the many skills and tools necessary to effectively train other alumni upon returning home.

In his reflections on the ToT workshop, YES Alumni Hassan from Pakistan said, “It is evident that no matter where we come from, we are a force of individuals with a common purpose and goal to give back to our communities, benefit them and help them in every way possible.” Regarding the ever-growing network of YES alumnus, Hassan said, “Although we met as strangers, we left as a family with the spirit to build on our learned knowledge as we returned to our home communities.”

Another YES Alumni, Joseph from Tanzania, said, “The ToT workshop experience has been one of the greatest experiences I’ve had.” In addition to the knowledge he gained, Joseph explains how the ToT workshop greatly enhanced his interactive abilities and challenged him to exceed his own comfort zones. “I really found this to be an amazing experience.”

 Since 2008, ten YES Alumni Training of Trainers (ToT) Workshops have been conducted, seven in the United States and three international workshops in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2009; Istanbul, Turkey in 2010; and Accra, Ghana in 2011. The Training of Trainers Workshop has provided YES alumni with tools to utilize and build upon the skills gained during their year abroad, discover new skills and abilities, and a path to put those skills into action to benefit their professional and personal lives, fellow alumni networks and local communities. Topics covered include group dynamics, experiential learning, training methodologies and formulating effective training goals and objectives.

To view the live session recordings click here.