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Empowering Youth Workers in Jordan: A Deep Dive into the DEVMIGRA Training Journey

In our mission to support young migrants and foster social cohesion, the DEVMIGRA Project recently conducted a comprehensive training series in Jordan. Grounded in the DEVMIGRA Manual, these sessions were designed to equip youth workers with the pedagogical tools, communication skills, and digital storytelling techniques necessary to create inclusive, safe, and transformative environments.

Below is a detailed overview of the key sessions and the impact they achieved.

1. Laying the Foundation: Principles of Non-Formal Education (NFE)

The opening session established a shared understanding of Non-Formal Education (NFE) as the cornerstone of youth work with migrants. Facilitators guided a group of 10 youth workers through the learner-centered and participatory nature of NFE.

Using the DEVMIGRA Manual as a roadmap, participants explored how NFE tools—such as role-playing and experiential learning—can bridge cultural gaps and resolve tensions in multicultural contexts. The session concluded with participants designing "micro-activities" focused on social integration and emotional expression, ensuring they left with practical strategies ready for immediate application.

2. From Theory to Action: Designing Full NFE Session Plans

Building on the fundamentals, the second session focused on the architecture of an effective NFE session: warm-up, main activity, debriefing, and reflection.

Working in small groups, youth workers tackled real-world challenges, such as strengthening cooperation between migrant and host-community youth. Using brainstorming tools and DEVMIGRA templates, they developed creative activities ranging from intercultural storytelling circles to emotional-mapping. A key takeaway was the "psychosocial dimension"—learning that true empowerment comes from the reflection after the action.

3. The Power of the Voice: Public Speaking and Advocacy

Communication is a vital tool for both facilitators and the migrants they support. Drawing from Chapter 3 of the DEVMIGRA Manual, this session focused on:

• Technical Skills: Voice control, body language, and managing anxiety.

• Ethical Advocacy: How to help migrants share their stories while protecting their dignity and ensuring informed consent.

Participants practiced speeches on youth empowerment and migration, receiving peer feedback that emphasized clarity and sensitivity. Many participants expressed a newfound confidence to integrate public speaking into their own workshops to build self-esteem among migrant youth.

4. Digital Storytelling: Narratives for Healing and Visibility

In an increasingly digital world, storytelling is a bridge to visibility. This session introduced the digital storytelling methodology, guiding participants through the stages of defining a message, storyboarding, and basic digital editing.

Working in pairs, youth workers drafted storyboards that reflected personal experiences or hypothetical scenarios. By using simple mobile recording tools and editing apps, they learned how to help young migrants process emotions through narrative. The focus remained on ethics and safety, ensuring that digital content avoids retraumatization and respects the creator's privacy.

5. The Toolkit Lab: Co-Creation and Final Evaluation

The final session served as a "Toolkit Lab," where all the concepts—NFE structures, public speaking, and digital tools—merged into a concrete resource. Participants collaboratively contributed ideas for:

• Intercultural games.

• Reflection exercises.

• Emotional support tools tailored specifically for the Jordanian context.

The training concluded with a reflection circle. The consensus was clear: participants felt a significant boost in confidence and a deeper understanding of how to use the DEVMIGRA Manual to make a tangible difference in their daily work.

Looking Ahead: The session plans and toolkits developed during this training are now ready to be implemented in youth centers across Jordan, marking a significant step forward in the DEVMIGRA project’s local impact.

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