Shanghai Project: Train the Trainers (TTT)

Objectives

Develop a cohesive team of youth workers with global vision and systematic approach; foster high-quality counseling teachers in high schools and universities; greatly strengthen these youth workers in their personal development while enhancing their professional knowledge; further foster these youth workers’ capabilities to train other youth trainers and help to strengthen these trainers in their personal growth; ultimately build the local train-the-trainer team with high morality and great expertise in Shanghai.

Collaborative Partners

East China Normal University’s Research and Training Center For Youth Education in Mental Health

Program Content

  • In September, 2003, The Youth Foundation and East China Normal University officially signed the partnership agreement and began to discuss the framework of local training program to accommodate the actual needs in launching of youth counseling work in Shanghai.
  • Between October 2003 and June 2004, the program was at the start-up stage where the TTT participants were screened and selected; at the same time, research was conducted for the feasibility of Hong Kong’s “Understanding Adolescents Project” (UAP) to be used in Shanghai locally.
  • Between July 2004 and July 2006, TTT program was staggered with two major series which were development courses and professional seminars. Particularly the professional counseling course series included six public courses, 16 workshops, one 7-day LA (Leadership Academy) Camp and one 3-day advance training camp for youth teachers. The theme is related to hot topics and issues in current youth work, like youth crisis intervention, eating disorder, marriage counseling, media education and career planning, and professional fields in counseling, like family therapy, cognitive therapy, adventure-based counseling. Personal development course series included six thematic development courses which were youth worker training, finding authentic self, finding true human relationship, psychological development, gender and identity, and life mentoring. Also there were one 2-day camp and 17 small group activities of personal development.