Training FAQs

Our unique approach to facilitation provides a framework for using arts-based practices as facilitation tools. The trainings also use an experiential, creativity based methodology for developing your own skills as a facilitator—including self awareness, personal presence, and comfort standing in front of a group. You will learn strategies for engaging a full range of learning styles and bringing out the strengths of group members.

We offer training to help facilitators to lead transformative programs that promote equity, creativity, emotional intelligence, and community engagement. Our methodology is based on our proven Creative Empowerment Model.

Our primary training series includes two 2-day Creative Facilitation trainings: Creative Facilitation 1 and Creative Facilitation 2.

For those who want to delve more deeply into the Creative Emplowerment Model, and take your facilitation skills to the next level, we offer an advanced training called Art of Facilitation that requires participating in training for 5 weekends over a 5 month period.

We also offer ongoing learning opportunities such as online workshops, and specially designed trainings for schools, organizations, and businesses.

  • Please contact us right away if you need to cancel your registration.
  • To see if you are eligible for a refund, review our Payment Policy.

Our trainings are for anyone who works with groups of youth or adults as well as for people who simply want to enhance their own creativity: youth workers, educators, artists, trainers, facilitators, business leaders, and the general public. The trainings are useful for anyone who wants to increase the impact of their programs for youth or adults.

Yes. The Creative Empowerment Model is useful in working with any age group as well as intergenerational groups.

Absolutely not. The Creative Empowerment Model is based on the premise that you don’t need to be a professional artist—or have any arts experience—to use the arts in your work with groups. People with or without arts experience enjoy equal benefits from the trainings.

Absolutely not. Creative Facilitation 1 is unique training that introduces people to the cornerstone of our model–using the arts as facilitation tools. It’s unlike any training you’ve ever taken. CF1 provides the groundwork for using the arts as facilitation tools and at the same time develops your own confidence in your creativity.

Creative Facilitation 1 (CF1) focuses on using the arts in facilitation and developing your own creative confidence. Creative Facilitation 2 develops key competencies and communication skills required to lead powerful learning programs.Both trainings are experiential and provide practical tool kits of activities you can apply straight away to working with youth and groups of all ages. Because CF1 introduces participants to the unique nature of the Creative Empowerment Model, it is highly recommended before taking CF2.

Check out Upcoming Trainings to find a training in your area.

Partners for Youth Empowerment and our partners hold trainings in the UK, Canada, USA, India, Uganda, South Africa and more. If you do not see a Upcoming Training listed in your area, please feel free to contact us. We are open to working with you to bring Creative Facilitation to your community and/or organization and ONLINE trainings are currently in development.

Sign up for our newsletter in the footer below to get updates, or contact us

Register for the training or workshop of your choice and you will receive a link to join the meeting on Zoom at the designated time.

Our online trainings take place in a private and secure PYE Zoom room. You will get the most our of our online trainings if you are able to share your video and sound and remain present with a stable internet connection.

Check out our Online Training Guide for information on Zoom and some tips for a good online training experience.

It is difficult to begin the training late or to miss the first day of a training. Our trainings begin with team building activities that serve to develop the group trust; this trust serves as the foundation of the rest of the work. If you can’t attend the whole training, please contact us

Whether participating at home or in person, PYE training is experiential so please wear comfortable clothes and footwear. All supplies will be provided for in person trainings, but if you have a special musical instrument you want to bring, please feel free. It might come in handy, and it’s definitely not a requirement. For online trainings and workshops, the list of supplies required will be outlined with the description of the specific training.

Participants are responsible for finding their own travel and accommodations.

Absolutely! We offer certificates of attendance for all of our trainings. Please contact us to receive a certificate via email.

  • PYE’s Creative Facilitation methodology has been externally evaluated. A recent evaluation of our work finds that the Creative Empowerment Model offers a power foundation for designing and delivering quality youth programs. You can download a copy of the report here.
  • Our Creative Facilitation training is highly practical and experiential and will give you a manual that will help you to design and implement effective programs for youth. These skills can be applied right away.
  • PYE training is unique. It goes to the heart of using facilitation to develop vital social and emotional skills in young people and increase your impact. Our alumni often tell us that this training provides a missing piece to their professional development.
  • The skills and insights that you learn at a Creative Facilitation trainings are easy to share and implement with your groups and with other team members after the training.
  • Anyone can use these skills in their work, community and personal life. You are welcome to take what you learn and spread it far and wide!
  • PYE trainers are invited based on their skills, qualities and experience.
  • We only need a certain number of trainers per location depending on the local strategy.
  • If you are interested in leading CF1 let us know.

The skills required to lead CF1 are listed here. You will need to move through five levels of proficiency with each of these skills during your training before you can lead CF1. The levels of proficiency include: understanding, noticing, describing, showing and teaching. This is a learning process.

  • Group Process
  • Personal Presence
  • Communication
  • Creativity
  • Personal Development
  • Inclusion
  • Relationship Building
  • High emotional intelligence
  • Strong personal presence
  • Willing to learn
  • Excited about other people’s transformation
  • Compassion
  • Desire to see the world change and see yourself as part of that
  • Not afraid to take creative risks and fail in front of people
  • Fun to be around
  • Inspiring
  • Organized and reliable
  • Accountable for mistakes
  • Creativity and ability to engage public in a creative way
  • Fascination with people and culture

It’s different for everyone. Some people lead CF1 after three experiences, others take a lot longer. Taking longer does NOT necessarily mean you are less skilled or experienced. It has a lot to do with learning style and opportunities to practice.

  • The first step is to register and attend a CF1 and CF2 training. We encourage you to talk to the trainer at the trainings to learn more about the role.
  • Your next steps include attending CF1 several more times, first as an observer, then by taking on facilitation of one or two activities, then by coleading, and finally, by leading. You need to be able to facilitate all of the different parts of CF1 in order to lead it on your own.
  • After attending for the second time as an observer, we will work closely with you to move your training forward if it seems to be a good match for you and for PYE.

It’s so important to practice! This is embodied work, and is always best learned with and FROM participants. Some ways to practice:

  • Set up entrepreneurial opportunities in schools, local businesses, community centres, conferences etc.
  • Gather together trusted friends and family to practice leading your activities
  • Bring the Creative Empowerment Model into your current work

If you don’t see the answer you are looking for, please contact us.