Training Sources

Programme for peer training and against discriminations and prejudices

EPTO (European Peer Training Organisation)

EPTO (European Peer Training Organisation)

Since 1996

English

English

European

Awareness Material (Leaflet, Brochure, etc)

Integration of immigrants students

Students

The concept of “peer training” was created in 1996 by the European Peer Training Organisation (EPTO).

EPTO encourages 15 to 25 year-old people to take their own responsibility when faced to discriminations and prejudices, to run awareness workshops that question stereotypes and to actively fight exclusion in their schools, youth organisations and general society.

Funded by the Youth Programme of the European Commission, EPTO meets the general objective of the European Union to create a snowball effect among young people who are pioneers in fight against racism.

Thanks to the partnership developed with many local and national organisations, young leaders of several European countries have been trained as “peer-trainers”. Then those young people reach hundreds of others through Europe. EPTO currently coordinates a “peer-trainer” network in more than fourteen countries.

The method is based on peer education, starting from the idea that a group of peers know more than each individual, including the trainers.

The activities induce one to think of the role of prejudices and discrimination at the personal level and to identify reproduction processes at the personal and society levels and how it takes part in a spiral of hatred.

The participants are invited to share their experiences and opinions, to actively listen, to learn in an emotional as well as intellectual way, to develop an action plan that encourages one to takes one’s own responsibilities in order to face prejudices and discrimination in society.

The initial training lasts five days. The programme follows a carefully developed structure that includes: interactive activities, simulations, visualisations and role-playing games, personal reflexions, discussions in small and large groups, etc.

The content addresses many topics and questions to better understand discrimination mechanisms by which young people today are particularly affected: personal identity, stereotypes, exclusion and discrimination, prejudices, and hatred, as well as communication skills in a diverse and multicultural society.

Participants’ objectives:
 Identifying one’s own prejudices, stereotypes and discriminatory behaviours
 Recognising and confronting prejudices and discriminations in all their forms
 Understanding inclusion and exclusion behaviours and processes
 Developing conflict management skills
 Developing empathy, critical mind and communication tools
 Creating an inclusive environment in the group
 Developing an action plan
 Developing animation and facilitation skills

They learn to better know themselves and each other, which fosters coexistence.

After the training, they meet other groups more easily. They become a reference in their neighbourhood, their school, or among their friends. They also act as mediators and “temporizers” …

The EPTO training is also addressed to adults who work with young people (mainly teachers and educators).

For those professionals, “peer training” is an interesting tool for group dynamics: working on the differences between the students of a same class, a same section … evoking and discovering the origins of everyone, improving cohabitation, difficulties related to relations …

For those audiences EPTO organises awareness workshops (between two hours and several days), through its national and local partners.

Two members of Inforef’s team have participated in a four-hour workshop Several aspects of the training were addressed through several exercises (including group knowledge and cohesion exercises). This information session was received with enthusiasm by all participants.

On the downside, in situ initial training is not easily accessible to teachers (excepting during holidays). Besides, teachers have to pay for the training out of their pocket (without public funding).