Special Activities - Training

Providing international training opportunities is an important aspect of the activities of Global Fellowship.

Globally

Over the years many young leaders have enjoyed the learning experience and fellowship of a “Young Leaders´ Workshop”. The latest workshops have been organised in South Africa in 1998, Australia in 2001 and Denmark in 2002. The Denmark course attracted approximately 80 participants from 20 countries, with the programme focussing on the role of organisations in church and society.

The next major Young Leaders´ Event is planned for 2005.

Occasionally Global Fellowship invites for a conference for employed staff, usually with focus on strategic issues, training and exchange of working methods. Obviously, everybody can benefit and learn from the experience of colleagues. But these experiences of a professional environment are particularly important, because many member organisations have just one or very few people in their full time staff.

The last training event for staff also took place in Denmark in 2002, coinciding with the event for young leaders. In total, 104 participants from 22 countries attended the two events in Denmark.

Regionally

The Regional Fellowships provide various training seminars and conferences for central key persons of the member organisations as well as for young leaders. Clearly, the events vary in shape and duration, ranging from a full weeks´ international course for young leaders (typically 16-25 years of age) to a conference session for key persons as an extension of the annual general meeting of the Fellowship.

Fortunately, some Fellowships are able to organise regional training activities for young people annually, which is difficult on a worldwide scale because of the costs involved.

Further information about these regional events can be obtained from Global Fellowship or the particular Regional Fellowship.

The Regional Fellowships also from time to time facilitate or organise joint training or exchange activities for a limited number of the member organisations in the area.

Bilaterally

Member organisations on a bilateral level often agree on exchange activities for young leaders with a training aspect involved. As an example a young leader from one country can spend some months working as a volunteer for a sister organisation in another country or even in another continent. Also a leader from one country can be invited to another country as an instructor or guest speaker.

Because of their general knowledge about all the member organisations very often Global Fellowship or the Regional Fellowships can facilitate such exchange activities and assist the member organisations in setting up viable programmes as well as useful evaluations for the benefit of future activities.

Young people who would like to do voluntary work and share their skills with sisters and brothers in another country are welcome to approach Global Fellowship for advice.

Equally, if a member organisation would like to invite a young leader or a leader with special skills from another country, Global Fellowship might be able to assist.