OAT training
What is it? OAT (on-arrival training) is a course recommended for the volunteer and entirely free: accommodation, food, transport costs, etc. Soon after arriving in the country – sometimes even before – the volunteer is invited by email and must register for the training. It runs over four days, generally in a town other than the project’s, in a touristic location, allowing the volunteer to clear their head and stay attentive. Very often the training is in English, given the many nationalities involved.
What is it for? It is very important for the volunteer: it deepens their knowledge of their project and provides information useful throughout the adventure – the volunteer’s rights and duties, the roles of each actor (mentors, sending organisation, hosting organisation…), breaking down the contract to understand each clause, and learning the functions of the Youthpass certificate, the skills to obtain it and how to use it. Beyond the administrative side, the training also lets you discover another town, another culture and a new way of life, and meet new volunteers of different nationalities and build bonds. It is also there to answer any question about the project or local customs, and to help solve any problems at the start of the experience.
My training: my OAT training took place in Hammamet, 400 km from my hosting organisation, with the trainer Mariem Ben Ltaifa and seven other volunteers of various nationalities. It was very beneficial: I learned a great deal, answered questions I had, visited a new town and met fellow volunteers who later became my friends. I stayed in a superb four-star hotel (Hôtel Menara), and the training was very pleasant, with a relaxed and agreeable atmosphere.
