1.Name, age, organization

Louise Winnecke Jensen (trainer coordinator)

Im 25 years old and studying pharmacy in Copenhagen,
Denmark. For the past 3 years I have been a very active part of EPSA, first as
Liaison Secretary for my local association, then Vice President of Education,
and until 1 week ago Training Officer, as mentioned above. On the day of
election of the new team I had the huge pleasure of being awarded with the
title "Honorary Life Member", which basically means that my future is
tied together with EPSA's... c",)

2.Why did you become a trainer?

My training life really started in LSS 2008 in Ankara,
where my eyes towards the wonder of trainings were opened. I learned so much
from the content of the trainings and from the trainers themselves, whom
afterwards encouraged me to pursue a "career" as trainer. So here I
am almost 2 years later, realising that I have actually been involved in
trainings far further back, as a handball trainer in the 90es and later on in
my faculty when organising various workshops. I love the fact that I can
literally change people's life by putting some effort into something I really
enjoy doing!

3.What are the trainings you like most to
deliver/what are your specialities?

Well, first of all a warning: Beware of my sarcasm... If I say something which make you wonder if I am insane, just keep in mind that I am probably just trying to be funny - or well, in some situations it is just a case of pure insanity. In that case you can just ignore my comment... c",)

1.Name, age, organization

Alexandra, 25, AEGEE (trainer coordinator)

2.Why did you become a trainer?

Because I am passionate enough to care. To share. To empower. (And like with many other things, there is a story...)

3.What are the trainings you like most to deliver/what are your specialities?

Feedback, facilitation, coaching, group dynamics and team management, communication

4.Something fun about you, hobbies

I'm an experimentalist par excellence :) I like anything thought-provoking, the colour orange and salsa! :)

1.Name, age, organization

Alex Anton, 27, external trainer, currently working as a PM for a large multinational company based in Switzerland

2.Why did you become a trainer?

It's pretty much a fair-trade: passion for sharing what I've learned and a thirst to absorb a lot more from all participants!

3.What are the trainings you like most to deliver/what are your specialities?

Career and personal development, creativity, working in international groups, presentation skills

4.Something fun about you, hobbies

As probably all of you, I love to travel. But I also love to write and photograph as I discover this beautiful world. From this perspective, I've published - and even won some awards! - some interesting pics and travel essays inspired in places as diverse as the Brazilian Northeast and North Sulawesi, Indonesia. I also believe that independent travel does foster a number of essential traits to a great leader: adaptability, self-discovery, creativity and courage, among a lot more. We will discuss it personally in July :)

1.Name, age, organization
Sonia Pavlenko, AEGEE Cluj-Napoca

2.Why did you become a trainer?

I realised I am good at training and thus I became a trainer. I used to be a teacher before, so training was just a tiny step in a
different direction.

3.What are the trainings you like most to deliver/what are your specialities?

Project management

4.Something fun about you, hobbies
People coined a phrase about me after attending my trainings, which is typically the last slide I use for my ppt presentations, namely "Anytime, anywhere, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ."

1.Name, age, organization

Astrid Schrader, 24, AEGEE & Youth Delegates to the United Nations.

2.Why did you become a trainer?

Initially? Because to me the international training events were the most instructive and inspiring events in my organization. However, now after all those years my primary reason for training is that I am all the more convinced of peer-to-peer training as the most powerful tool to empower young people to change the societies they live in. Peer-to-peer training is education for life mastery, for group leadership and most of all for democracy.

3.What are the trainings you like most to deliver/what are your specialities?

Conflict management and teamwork. ICL and international youth participation.

4.Something fun about you, hobbies

Lots of them! International youth training is of course number one. I am a trainer since 2005 and like challenging myself with mad target groups. Thanks to that weird habit of mine I found myself leading workshops not only with the boards of student organizations but with life guards, both school kids and their teachers, UN diplomats, the members of all sorts of political parties or soldiers of the German national army for instance. Next to that I like exciting my brain with international politics, read books on conflict resolution, and I build up a student consultancy on conflict management.

1.Name, age, organization

Jelena, 24,ESTIEM
2.Why did you become a trainer?

Once I've attended a lecture of one well-known professor here in Belgrade and I was amazed how boring he was! And then I thought- if he could do it, why couldn't I? Soon everything started... Reading books, listening TEDs talks, attending different events where I've met lot of inspiring people who made me to fall in love with trainings even more! Here I am now,elected for a LSS trainer once again :) What can I say- this project will wait for a while until it gets rid of me :)
3.What are the trainings you like most to deliver/what are your specialities?

Definitely communication, team work/management, presentation skills, feedback, motivation&recruitment.

4.Something fun about you, hobbies

1.Name, age, organization

Wander Kenter, 22 years, IFMSA/EMSA the Netherlands

2.Why did you become a trainer?

I wanted to be a trainer to be “infectious”. I want to be infectious so I could to spread the spirit of training. To transfer knowledge and help people see their own capacities. To move their boundaries and search for new goals. I believe training in NGO’s like EMSA are the ultimate international, intercultural learning, cooperation and integration. It brings people from all over the world, with different background and different believes together. To create a perfect ‘bubble’ or niche where you learn more than a complete semester ‘academic qualities’.

3.What are the trainings you like most to deliver/what are your specialities?

Until now I delivered a lot of different training. But to be complete honest Presentation skills, Team management, Facilitation skills and Leadership skills and styles are my favorite topics. I have affection with the topics and read a lot about them.

4.Something fun about you, hobbies

I have this thing with music. I love listening to music all day long 24/7. But (un)fortunately I also have to sleep and do some study. Beside IFMSA/EMSA, study and friends I am practicing swimming and do some occasionally cycle racing.

1.Name, age, organization

Wendelien van der Gaag, 23, IFMSA (International Federation of Medical Students' Associations)

2.Why did you become a trainer?

Actually it started out of passion for my organization, and passion for sharing everything I had learned in the past years. I got so many chances which made me the person I am now, and I wanted to motivate others to grab every opportunity they get to learn and experience more. After two years it would also be the next step in my own development, and it turned out to be one of the things I truly love to do: to educate people in a very interactive way, to train, and share all the knowledge you have and make others share theirs as well. I love the energy you get back from people, the inspiration it gives you and the motivation and flow to keep you going. Each and every time I learn from my trainees as well, that's what I like so much!

3.What are the trainings you like most to deliver/what are your specialities?

Group dynamics / team management, presentations skills, motivation, leadership skills, negotiation, strategic planning and vision building, creativity

4.Something fun about you, hobbies

Another passion of me is music. Listening to it, playing it myself or just dancing! I play the saxophone, the sound of it, the jazzy grooves and the diversity of the music you can play with it, that's what I really like! Right now I'm also active in the one and only IFMSA-NL band, specially brought together for our lustrum this year :) Next to this I like the work within my organization, having fun and drinks with friends while cooking a nice dinner, I like to play soccer, love to travel and explore new cultures... o and before I forget... I also use to study ;)

1.Name, age, organization

Kajsa Olofsson, 22, soon 23..ESTIEM - European Students of Industrial Engineering and Management

2.Why did you become a trainer?

After attending LSS09 as a participant the world of trainings (as well as youth organisations) opened in front of my eyes. I discovered an amazing tool to facilitate people's learning and development of skills and insights as well as a way to encourage and support personal development and reflection. I have got so much out of trainings myself and I want to inspire and empower others to explore their potentials by facilitating the process of making existing and new knowledge and skills visible and useful!

3.What are the trainings you like most to deliver/what are your specialities?

My favourite trainings are related to interaction among people as communication, emotional intelligence and feedback.

4.Something fun about you, hobbies

Hm, about me..someone described me as a tiny huge person, well can't really do much about my shortness however I strive to fulfil the big heart part! For hobbies, apart from the fact that I can spend nights reading interesting material in my elibrary (containing a lot of amazing books) I am most of all a sport-freak. Running is my way to relax and reflect so even if it sounds like an impossible mission, I will bring my jogging shoes for some running in Ljubljana. Have a 30km race to pass in September so not much of a choice! :) Also, some of the best things following organisational involvement is for sure all travels, cultures and people you meet and discover through events and meetings, I am continuously looking forward to more! I do still have a lot of things to explore in Europe, after that, well, travel tips are more than welcome!

1.Name, age, organization

2.Why did you become a trainer?

3.What are the trainings you like most to deliver/what are your specialities?

4.Something fun about you, hobbies

1.Name, age, organization

Tim Govaert, 26, BEST

2.Why did you become a trainer?

Hmmm...too long ago to remember :) I think because I like to see people develop, open up and get inspired. The positive change you see in people after a training event I find extremely motivating. And on top I believe I learn as much each session as my participants do!

3.What are the trainings you like most to deliver/what are your specialities?

Personal leadership, MBTI, presentation skills

4.Something fun about you, hobbies

One of the things I'm known for in my organisation are my short e-mails :) I like to keep things to the point and without a lot of bullshit. Same goes for my training sessions in fact. But don't be scared, I do talk enough ;)

1.Name, age, organization

Sara Dolcetti, 23, and currently working for the Boston Consulting Group - an international strategic management consulting firm - in their Toronto office

2.Why did you become a trainer?

I became a trainer:

1. To spark that fire! As the energy that's created in helping another person develop and grow is both invigorating and inspiring

2. To learn: As the dynamics of the groups always change, so to do the ideas/issues that arise - ergo, something will be learnt by everyone

3.What are the trainings you like most to deliver/what are your specialities?

Anything on presentation skills, team dynamics, emotional intelligence and feedback!

4.Something fun about you, hobbies

For 'starters' (pardon the pun!) I love anything entrepreneurial ... be that starting conferences/events or companies.

1.Name, age, organization

My name is Dan Lucas Rau, I am 24, and involved in the student organisations AIESEC & EFPSA. Originally I am from a small town in Bavaria (south of Germany) and on my journey to discover the big wide world I currently ended up in a big town in UK.

2.Why did you become a trainer?

For the reasons why I become a trainer I will tell you more in summer – and also why I can’t get rid of the nickname “Big Fat Pony”! I am curious to get to know you guys & look forward to an unforgettable time together in Slovenia! 

3.What are the trainings you like most to deliver/what are your specialities?

Training is definitely one of these things: I especially enjoy trainings which are interactive, creative and involve lots of drawing, shapes & colours!

4.Something fun about you, hobbies

Three things on my bucket list are to learn Spanish, playing guitar & climb one of the 8000ers. I could not live without music, sports & nature, but I could well do without boulevard press, hypocrisy and Paris Hilton! And I live & work like a donkey – I only move if I like what I am doing, hence I tend to do what I like!

Claire Marie Thomas 28, IFMSA Alumni

2.Why did you become a trainer?

I have always enjoyed mentoring and translating information into enjoyable, engaging digestable formats - becoming a trainer seemed to offer me the opportunity to take these concepts to the next level. In addition it provides me with the chance to get to know lots of new amazing characters from all around the globe and to learn from the experiences and knowledge of my participants as well as other trainers!

3.What are the trainings you like most to deliver/what are your specialities?

I love tackling new topics particularly topics surrounding personal development and global health and development issues. My specialities are probably motivation and anything where I get to design or create an external enviorment - gotta love those crazy role plays!

4.Something fun about you, hobbies

I am passionate about vulnerable populations and spend a lot of my spare time doing charitable child health work. I am a doctor by day, but at night I like to relax and enjoy stand up comedy and live music!

1.Name, age, organization

Late December 1982, in Brussels, my parents, when they saw me, had a
little disagreement about the naming... They evenutally decided to call
me Herve. Since 2003, I am member of the Board of European Student of
Technology, aka BEST, from local group Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.

From my motivation letter I wrote when applying to TRAP (BEST TNT) in 2006 :
"my main reason to be a trainer is to help BESTies to develop their potential. I really like to make people realise how they can achieve their goals by themselves, with their own skills, transforming their weaknesses into strength. Trainers can bring new knowledge, though they mainly enlighten the one trainee already have, in a relative
latent form, and awake it towards its full potential."

Nowadays, I'll just make small modification to the statement above:
Trainer, in BEST and outside, should not be perceived as a status, it is a process. You are not a trainer, you are constantly becoming one.
Step by step, you will craft your path and make your choices among the myriads of options knowledge transfer has to offer...

.. and I'm aiming at all trainees, not just BEST members.

3.What are the trainings you like most to deliver/what are your specialities?

- Communication (General communication, Presentation skills, Active listening ...)
- Team management (Motivation, Team building, Team management, Creativity)
- Knowledge Transfer (Training design, training delivery, knowledge transfer)

4.Something fun about you, hobbies

I'm a party animal and I dance Salsa and I never ask something from anyone which I can't do myself.

1.Name, age, organization

Salmaan Sana, 26, IFMSA

- To learn how to transfer knowledge in a manner that actually make the information "Stick"
- I believe life is about paying it forward, and Training certainly aids me in bringing me that step forward in doing my part
- Having the pleasure and the honour to work with incredibly talented individuals who remain inspiring me, teaching me so much and not so coincidently turn in to incredible friends as well as future colleagues
- the participants: Action = Reaction (need I explain more?)

3.What are the trainings you like most to deliver/what are your specialities?

- Presentation Skills/Public Speaking
- Time Management (Linked to creating Focus and Priority making)
- Personal Development (7 Habits and Reflection)
- Group Dynamics (Team work)
4.Something fun about you, hobbies

Love Dancing (understatement!)
- My bike ride to Uni is therapeutic to me
- I'm a morning person,. I Love the calm and serenity of waking up extra early, when no one to get things done, go for a run and do my chores