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Trainers

The Pool of Trainers (PoT) is a valuable human resource and a capacity-building tool for our member organisations and partners, providing a high level of tailor-made support in many different areas. Their skills and expertise range from advocacy and youth policy, to non formal education and the rights-based approach. They also have expertise in many topical areas relevant to work of the Youth Forum and its members.

Check out the bios of our 2026 PoT below 👇

Find a trainer

A total of 11 items found.

Vita Davydova

Amsterdam, Netherlands

I’m a trainer and facilitator working at the intersection of political education, process design, and creative communication. I design learning spaces that help people feel confident to participate, think critically, and turn ideas into action. My journey as a trainer began in campaign and event organising, and more precisely from a realisation that how people work together matters as much as what they work on. My background spans from campaigning and event facilitation to communications and visual design. I bring visual and participatory methods into my trainings to make complex topics accessible and practical. My work is based on the values of inclusion, sustainability, and my main principle is building processes that actually work for the people involved.

Miljana Pejić

Belfast, UK / Belgrade, Serbia

I became a trainer because I am fascinated by what happens when people are given the tools to think, listen, and disagree differently, while still showing respect and care for one another. Teaching argumentation and debate showed me this first-hand, noticing how young people gradually shift how they see the world, recognising nuance, and beginning to notice space for progress and mutual understanding where it once felt impossible. Every group I work with leaves a mark on me. Even as an introvert, these shared moments of learning keep me motivated and energised, and continually remind me how deeply community matters. I am proud of being an empath and a careful listener, and of creating safe spaces where people feel respected, heard, and able to express their perspectives openly, particularly when working across diverse and sensitive contexts. As a trainer, I care as much about people as I do about ideas and content delivery. I am at my happiest when a training ends in honest and thought-provoking conversations that stay with participants long after the training is over.

Adam Lambe

Ljubljana, Slovenia / Amsterdam, The Netherlands / Dublin, Ireland

My first training was with Irish student councils 7 years ago, teaching the basics of stakeholder engagement, strategic planning, and most importantly, exercising their right to participate. Since then, I have worked with young people in many diverse settings across Europe. With a background in political science, I have policy knowledge that adds experience and tangible examples to my trainings, especially in the area of human rights and democracy. I am proud of my work with the Council of Europe, where I've created e-learning modules, co-facilitated many residential seminars and mentored groups of young activists supporting their learning and follow-up actions. I am a very process-oriented trainer, believing that groups need supportive conditions to work well together. I love working with dynamic and lively simulations, bringing energy to trainings and inspiring participants to express their youthful creativity, working both with institutional actors and stakeholders alike.

Sofia Di Patrizi

Genoa, Italy

I am a trainer with 6+ years of experience working with young people and adults in non-formal education settings, both locally and internationally. My work is rooted in a strong belief in the power of participatory, inclusive learning to foster critical thinking, civic engagement, and social change. I am particularly passionate about political participation, feminist and queer issues, and creating safer, more inclusive spaces where diverse voices are heard and valued. I design and facilitate trainings that are interactive, reflective, and adaptable, aiming to engage people on multiple levels. Working in international environments is a key source of inspiration for me, as I deeply value the mutual enrichment that comes from intercultural exchange and collective learning. As a trainer, I bring commitment, empathy, and a strong methodological background to support meaningful and transformative learning processes.

Chloe Jordan

Bristol, England

Driven by my passion for youth empowerment, I have built my career in the youth and sport sector, working with national sport federations and NGOs across Europe, focusing on moving organizations from tokenistic to purposeful youth engagement. To do this, I have coordinated events and facilitated workshops to help participants and organizations build confidence, skills, and the capacity for genuine youth participation. My journey began at 12 as a young leader, serving on multiple youth boards; this is where I learned the value of non-formal education, advocacy, and the importance of a strong organizational culture. Progressing from participant to programme lead, I now help others and organizations develop safe spaces for growth. As a trainer, I am always proud to witness participants grow in confidence and self-expression. This motivates me to support organizations in creating inclusive structures and meaningful opportunities where young people are heard, valued, and empowered to lead.

Medea Pavliashvili

Gori, Georgia

I am a trainer who thinks learning should feel less like a lecture and more like an experiment you actually want to join. I help youth and youth workers go from “I think I can” to “I can actually do this.” My journey started early, running informal spaces and leading activities with peers during my school years, discovering first-hand how guiding others sparks growth for everyone. I am the founder of Gori Youth Center, where I lead a team of passionate youth workers and directly support young people in developing key competencies, confidence, and active participation through grassroots programs. I also bring experience to the international stage as a board member of MIJARC Europe and as a trainer and project manager with Umbrella, working with youth from rural and urban contexts alike, successfully acting as the bridge between the local and international youth work.

Nikola Zhivkov

Vratsa, Bulgaria

Do what you love and you will never work a day in your life! This sentiment defines my journey as a full-time trainer and youth worker. To me, youth work is far more than a profession, it is a vital mission. I believe that every training session and activity must be grounded in deep knowledge, but it is that extra spark of passion that truly drives transformation. I hold an unshakable belief in the power of non-formal education to change lives. My commitment is resilient, there are no obstacles—or "bullets"—that can break my conviction in this cause. I approach my work with the understanding that our impact goes beyond simple metrics and that can really change lifes. After all, as the saying goes, "42 is not just a number" — it represents the deeper meaning we seek in our work. I am dedicated to empowering the next generation youth activists with purpose, heart, and unwavering faith in their potential.

Yasin Bulat

İstanbul, Türkiye

I am a trainer and learning experience designer who loves turning capacity building into learning experiences people remember, enjoy and act on. My work is grounded in non-formal education, rights-based practice, experiential learning, and the philosophy of conscientização. Since 2019 I’ve designed and delivered programs for over 4000 young people across 15 cities and 7 countries. I enjoy working at the intersection of advocacy, organisational development, and creative pedagogy—using simulations, games, dialogue, and co-design to help organisations create impact beyond one-time sessions. Whether I’m mentoring facilitators, designing learning paths, developing materials or facilitating policy conversations, I bring curiosity, care, and a holistic lens. Let’s work together to design learning journeys that are meaningful, participatory, rooted in reflection and collective action.

Tudor Arnaut

Chisinau, Moldova

Salut! I am Tudor, and I have more than eight years of experience in youth policy and training in Moldova and the Eastern Partnership region, working at the intersection of advocacy, participation, and organisational development. I currently serve as Secretary General of the National Youth Council of Moldova, supporting youth organisations to engage meaningfully in policy dialogue and democratic processes. As a trainer, I have designed and delivered sessions on civic engagement, media literacy, leadership, and inclusion for diverse youth groups. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and a Master’s degree in Public Policy allows me to bridge formal academic knowledge with non-formal learning methods used in youth work. I believe good facilitation, clear policies, and a sense of humour can save both democracy and group dynamics!

Judit Lantai

Brussels, Belgium

I have been passionate about non-formal education for almost 15 years which has been quite the journey! It started with peer education – supporting student union activists and ESNers while studying Educational Sciences and delivering sessions at my university, schools, and NGOs. My time as a representative and staff member for the National Youth Council of Hungary (2014-2017) opened my eyes to the European youth movement, and brought me into different collaborations. I had the privilege of working in the Secretariat of OBESSU and the European Youth Forum, and to serve as Secretary General of the Young European Federalists (JEF Europe). For over 10 years, I complemented this journey with working as a freelance trainer, facilitator, and youth worker, collaborating with diverse groups across countless events and projects. Currently, I do this work full time, continuing what I love most: empowering young people and strengthening participation and democracy across Europe.

Spyros Papadatos

Brussels, Belgium

I am a passionate youth worker and trainer shaped by non-formal education, volunteering, and international mobility, and by the belief that meaningful youth participation happens when people are trusted, challenged, and supported to grow. My work has taught me how to bridge grassroots realities with complex policy and organisational contexts, helping young people and youth organisations turn ideas into concrete action. I work extensively in the last years on rural youth participation. My passion is organisational development and in particular external relations, policy-making & advocacy, funding and management. I also facilitate large-scale events, such as the last four EU Youth Conferences between 2024-2026. As a trainer, I am especially proud of creating learning spaces that are structured yet human, where participants feel safe to engage critically, take ownership, and develop confidence in their role as change-makers. I see every training as a shared learning process — one where reflection, participation, and practical relevance go hand in hand.