TOSCA Training Course

16-20 October 2023 in Belgium, Oostende

Online preparation learning space: https://bit.ly/tosca23

Online preparation zoom meeting: October 2nd 2023 at 16:00 CEST.

Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85278919408

Co-ordinated and monitored by SALTO European Solidarity Corps Resource Centre

Organised by the network of National Agencies of the Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps
Programme
Financed by the Erasmus+ European Solidarity Corps Programme of the European Commission
Info Pack for Participants edited by TOSCA Trainers
in collaboration with the SALTO European Solidarity Corps Resource Centre
Published by SALTO European Solidarity Corps Resource Centre
 Info Pack for Participants

Content:

● A brief presentation of the TOSCA European Solidarity Corps Training Course

● A brief presentation of the European Solidarity Corps Volunteering Activities
● Practical information
 BRIEF DESCRIPTION
OF THE TOSCA EUROPEAN SOLIDARITY CORPS TRAINING COURSE

What is TOSCA?
TOSCA – training and support for organisations in the European Solidarity Corps
Actions – is a Network Training open for all National Agencies of the Erasmus+: Youth
in Action and European Solidarity Corps Programme.
The training activity aims to support and build up the capacities of organizations that
actively participate in the Volunteering Actions of the European Solidarity Corps, in
order to ensure quality and impact in the respective projects.
The international dimension of TOSCA is given by the different nationalities of
participants and trainers. This is an asset for the intercultural dimension of the course.
The course methodology is based on the concept of experiential learning, in an
atmosphere where participants can learn a lot from each other and have fun.

Objectives and benefits of the training course:

● Foster understanding, awareness and commitment to the core quality criteria

of the European Solidarity Corps
● Build up competences on how to design and implement European
Solidarity Corps projects with a view to quality
● Ensure clarity and support on how the programme works formally:
opportunities, guidelines, structures, priorities, rules, and procedures
● Give space to participants to express burning issues and needs and offer
support where possible
● Foster a supportive community of organisations involved in the European
Solidarity Corps
● Awaken the learner within
Part of the course is an ONLINE preparatory phase:
Before the residential training course, there is a mandatory TOSCA online course. It
aims to introduce basic information in order to establish common ground, as well as
provide a place where participants will start to form a community of learners and will
carry out first homework and assessments of their own organisation, local community
and own needs.

Thanks to this phase, you as participants will enter the residential training with
already a common basic understanding of the European Solidarity Corps Volunteering
Activities.

The online space for Tosca Belgium 2023 is here: https://bit.ly/tosca23

The following RESIDENTIAL training activity aims to support and build up the
capacities of the participating organizations relevant to the profile and needs of the
participants, in order to ensure quality and positive impact in the respective projects.

PRESENTATION OF THE EUROPEAN SOLIDARITY CORPS PROGRAMME

The European Solidarity Corps programme brings together young people to build a
more inclusive society, supporting vulnerable people and responding to societal
challenges. It offers an inspiring and empowering experience for young people who
want to help, learn and develop and provides a single entry point for such solidarity
activities throughout the Union. This European Union initiative creates opportunities
for young people to volunteer or work on projects in their own country or abroad
those benefit communities and people around Europe.
You can find more information about the Programme in the European Solidarity Corps
Programme Guide, especially about:

● Quality Label
● Volunteering (Individual and Team Volunteering Projects;)
● Solidarity projects

For further information, you can have a look at the Solidarity Corps Website of the
Commission: https://youth.europa.eu/solidarity_en
Or by contacting your National Agency:
https://youth.europa.eu/solidarity/organisations/contact-national-agencies_en
 PRACTICAL INFORMATION
for the residential training in Oostende

The training will take place in Belgium, in OOSTENDE. The training venue is located a
five minute walk from the hotel. You will be accommodated in single rooms.

Rosa Hotel
Van Iseghemlaan 76
8400 Oostende
https://rosahotel.be/en/

Check in starts at 15:00.

Check out until 11:00.

Training Venue

De Grote Post
Hendrik Serruyslaan 18A
8400 Oostende
https://www.degrotepost.be

The training course will be held

at the Grote Post. It is the
converted building of the old
Post Office and is used as a
cultural centre nowadays. We
will be working in the rooms
Atelier 1 and Atelier 2

The catering will be offered by Cultuurcafé. They work with local products as much as
possible, which ensures a smaller ecological footprint. An exception is the coffee, but
it is organic and fair trade.

At the start of the training we meet at the lobby of the Rosa Hotel

Travel information
Before booking your travel, please get in touch with your National Agency
regarding the travel arrangements!

How to get to the venue?

Traveling from Brussels International Airport (Zaventem) to Ostend takes about

1,5 hours. You either change trains in Brussels-Midi or Ghent Sint Pieters Station. It’s
approximately €50 for a return ticket.

Check the timetables and book your tickets online:

https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/home

Traveling from Brussels South Charleroi Airport, you can book a shuttle bus to
Brussels-Midi (Brussel-Zuid) train station. From that point you can take a train to
Ostend (see description below). A single ticket is approximately €20.

Check the timetables and book your tickets online: https://www.flibco.com/en

Departures are planned every 20 minutes.

If you arrive by train in Brussels-Midi (Brussel-Zuid), you can take a direct train to
Ostend, or you change trains in Ghent Sint Pieters Station.

Check the timetables and book your tickets online:

https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/home

From Ostend Train Station you can either take the Coast tram (Kusttram) and get
of at the stop ‘Marie-Joséplein perron 2’. From that point it is a 3 minute walk to the
Rosa hotel. Or you walk directly to the Rosa hotel. This would take you 16 minutes.

Working language:
English

Food:
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included and will be provided by the host.

Weather:
Please inform yourself about the weather forecast before packing your luggage.

Insurance:
Please note that each participant is required to have travel insurance and health
insurance. It is your own responsibility to arrange this.
Main sessions of the programme (draft):

Day 1 (16. 10.)

• Welcome, practicalities, introductions.
• First team building and project overview

Day 2 (17. 10.)

• Intro to the concept and flow
• Group mapping
• Salto ESC presentation
• My organisation / project I.
• ESC quality compass intro
• ESC quality compass – guidelines and rules

Day 3 (18. 10.)

• Excursions
• Reflection of the morning
• My organisation / project II.
• ESC quality compass – values

Day 4 (27. 10.)

• ESC quality compass – community and impact
• Open workshops
• Project market
• Evaluation
• Closing

What to bring?:
1. A local chocolate from your country or region.
2. Materials to our library - thematic books, leaflets, examples of good practices..,
if you have some.

Trainers of your TOSCA:

Jan Látal
Pieter-Jan Uyttersprot

Contact:
If you have any further questions please ask wietse.vandaele@jint.be

See you soon!