According to the Spoti project timeline the first training activity should have been held in Porto, at the Instituto Superior de service social do Porto, with the participation of all the partners of the consortium.
Due to the Covid pandemic that is affecting most of the 2020 activities, the partnership decided to organize the meeting online, trying to contain the risk of the pandemic.

The Partnership set up an effective framework for exchange of good practices, addressed to gender sensitiveness, knowledge transfer concerning the stereotypical and extremely polarised views of masculinity and femininity, mainstream competences, well-equilibrated approach of non-toxic masculinity as well as gender fluidity, and inclusive teaching of heterogeneous groups.

On the 14th the consortium started the activities of the online training organized by the portuguese partner and supported by the coordinator of the project Association Professionals for Quality. The training purpose was to explore the best practices and the methodologies used to reach groups that are hard to involve in social activities.
Each partner involved 3 or 4 participants. The first day each participant shared his/her perspective related to the skills and competences needed to social workers and professionals involved in social activities to better carry on their job. It was very interesting to know each other through this exchange of ideas and brainstorming.

The second day of training has been committed to the presentation of two portugues realities based in Mathosinos, Porto.

The first one is the “Second opportunity school”, introduced by one of the teachers working in the institute. She explained the educational methodologies, the activities and how they deal with students (unemployed youngsters, young school leavers) that were not able to accomplish their path at the public school, giving them a second opportunity to find their talent, creating a job opportunity. (For more info, visit the website: (https://www.segundaoportunidade.com/)

The second presentation has been carried out by two social workers of the CENTRO SOCIAL DE GRIJÓ – VILA NOVA DE GAIA, an organization dealing with Roma people. They shared with the consortium their experience with the involvement of Roma people in different activities aimed at avoiding their social exclusion.
(https://cspssgrijo.com/)

Both of the associations have been invited to take part in this first Spoti training for their expertise developed in involving groups of people difficult to reach, to let them be engaged in social activities, and more included in the society.
After each presentation the participants shared their impressions and debated about the concept of identity and the ethics to be preserved working with sensitive groups.
The final day has been dedicated to a virtual workshop about evaluation activities of the training.
It has been a very important occasion to exchange experiences, ideas and perspectives that have been very useful to get new inspirations for our work.

Next training session foreseen for this project will be organized by CEIPES in November.

Author: Silvia Calcavecchio (Ceipes)