EVS in Sweden!!!

“Adventure, Dreams & Hopes”

Name HO The Organization for Poverty Alleviation & Development (OPAD)

Name SO YouNet

Dates of activities 01-12-2014 / 01-12-2015

Title of the project Adventure, Dreams & Hopes

Number of volunteers and gender 1 Female

Contest and environment The EVS volunteers will be hosted in Botkyrka municipality, Botkyrka is part of Greater Stockholm and is one of Sweden’s most international municipalities with people from about eighty different countries speaking more than hundred languages. Botkyrka is famous municipality for its diversity dimension with 80% of immigrants That helps make Botkyrka Municipality a vibrant cultural and intercultural forge. Botkyrka municipality is very open to youths and it offers a lot in term of personal growth and cultural activities. The social context of Botkyrka municipality is particularly receptive to volunteering activities, hence they find a perfect incubator that creates the ideal conditions for the growth and the informal learning of the EVS volunteers involved in volunteering activities in this area. The volunteers will stay in multi ethnic and stimulating environment by taking advantage of operations and contacts in OPAD. This enables volunteers to approach this context and act as main characters, hence making the most of the unique opportunity of the EVS. This close contact with the local community and active participation in voluntary work, and other activities carry out by OPAD generally reinforce the growing opportunity for the volunteers. Furthermore this will have a positive effect in the process of learning the Swedish language which will be accelerated and facilitated by the close contact with the local community.

Accommodation description OPAD organization will provide the best possible living conditions for the volunteers with all necessary facilities. Furnitured apartment, full equipped kitchen, microwave, wireless internet. TV set, Home Cinema, DVD player. Vacuum Cleaner, Iron, Blankets and Pillows etc. Volunteers will be living in a Single room in an apartment shared with other volunteers in Botkyrka municipality, either at a close proximity to the projects sites.

Volunteer Profile • Ability to work in teams and also individually according to the task at hand,

• Interested in our activity areas: education, youth and art,

• Motivated to meet new people and cultures,

• Interested in sustainable projects,

• Open to learn and share knowledge,

• Basic knowledge of English is essential to have a more efficient volunteer work,

• The ones that have former voluntary Work experience and youngster with limited opportunity will be given priority.

Food allowance Volunteer will have a monthly allocation 100€ per month, to buy food and basic necessities, they will be given a choice to cook their own meals.

Local Transport The costs will be covered by the organization (90€ per month)

Pocket money 115€

Travel cost and travel direction (best airport, airline…) 100% up to 275 €

Emergency number Frank Kanu (+46–700412714) or Quinta Sone (+46 739604757)

Visa information

Country Currency Swedish krona to Euro 1.00 SEK = 0,108107 EUR

Activities/Agenda:

ACTIVITIES FOR THE VOLUNTEERS OPAD organize bigger events such as cultural festivals, entrepreneur fellowship. Conferences, trainings, Youth’s exchanges and seminars etc. The volunteer can be part of a group responsible for making the Programme, contact with media or Support reporting (Media, documentation) organizing housing and food, Organizing transport, organizing the cultural part of an event (such as getting artists there) or being the one giving a lecture or workshop, Support the planning, preparation and organization of international projects or Conferences, Co-operation with other volunteers and Support the implementation of international projects.

For more information about the hosting organisation:

http://europa.eu/youth/vp/vol_organisation/64000708737_en

In case you are interested in taking part on this EVS please send us your motivation letter and CV in English to evs@you-net.eu before 15th of October 2014. The hosting organisation will take care of the selection.

http://youthfacingcrisis.com/2014/09/11/evs-in-sweden/

EVS in Hungary!

International voluteers! Let’s meet in Várpalota!

We would like to invite all international EVS members in Hungary to join our program on 24 Mar 2014 at 10.00 in Youth Center of Várpalota.
The aim of our program is to encourage Hungarian young people to join the EVS program and this will be also a good opportunity for the volunteers from different regions and settlements to discuss their experiences.


Further information and application: makovi.agnes@thuryvarkft.hu;
We look forward to you and wish you a very happy and fruitful time at Youth Center of Várpalota.

EVS in Italy!!

4 EVS vacancies in Italy (NGO Vicolocorto) for long term projects starting in the following dates:

- 1st of june 2014
- 1st of july 2014
- 1st of december 2014

Deadline to apply: 10th of march!

For further information write to: candidates@vicolocorto.org

Miriam, an EVS volunteer in EDRA explains to us "Why you should be an EVS volunteer?"

Why you should be an EVS volunteer? 

ΓΕΙΑ!

I would like to share some feelings with you about why you should live this experience. To be an EVS volunteer is to have an opportunity to improve yourself. You can live your own life, to be really you and if you don´t know how you are…you will know in the end of your project!

It´s true that is not everything easy, some moments you miss your “real life” because you know how is your life in your country and that it is easier to communicate in your mother language when you are speaking about feelings or important things. However, it´s true that in one point you forget all these things and your EVS life became your “real life” and I think that in the end of my project I will miss this. I´ll miss my flat mates, I´ll miss our users, the staffs, our GREAT mentor, our sweet Greek teacher, the others volunteers, in general the life in Athens…

The most common things that you can live if you´ll be a new volunteer can be…

…To smile a lot, to know new people that in a short time they become your small family, to improve your English, to learn Greek, to improve your skills and aptitudes, to travel, to reject stereotypes of a culture, sometimes give the lie to, to value all the things that you have…

If you want to live a new experience like this…you are welcome to EDRA!

Miriam Aragon Mendez

EVS in EDRA !!

Petra is the new EVS volunteer in K.S.D.E.O. EDRA and she gives us her first impressions!

"I arrived in Athens one month ago and I feel in home here! I like the cheese, olive oil and the Greek bread with seeds, I like the tradition of drinking coffee for long hours, I like the small streets and the monuments, and I like the music and the Greek accent. I just don't like the crazy way that people drive here and the bad habit of smoking everywhere. About my project, I work daily with people with mental disabilities what is for me a very rewarding challenge. ΕΔΡΑ, the organization where I do EVS, is one of the Greek organizations that does an excellence work with these people. My project is exceeding my expectations because in addition to promoting the cognitive and motor development of these people, I can do food education. Educational materials, cook workshops and educational games for kids are some of the activities of my personal project in ΕΔΡΑ. I am loving this experience!"

Η Βούλα μιλάει για την εμπειρία της στην Ισπανία !!!

Γεια σας! 

Είμαι η Βούλα, είμαι 27 χρόνών και είμαι από τη Θεσσαλονίκη. Είμαι εθελόντρια στην Μαδρίτη, σε ένα από τα δημόσια πανεπιστήμιά της, σε μια οργάνωση που ασχολείται με φοιτητές με νοητική καθυστέρηση και ουσιαστικά παρέχω την βοήθεια μου στην διεξαγωγή των μαθημάτων τους. Ταυτόχρονα παίρνω μέρος σε δημιουργικές δραστηριότητες που κάνουμε με ηλικιωμένους σε έναν οίκο ευγηρίας. 

Μου μίλησαν για το EVS όταν ακόμα ήμουν φοιτητρια και από τότε πάντα το είχα στο μυαλό μου γιατί η ιδέα μου τράβηξε πολύ το ενδιαφέρον. Τελειώνοντας τις σπουδές μου γενικά δούλευα οπότε ήταν δύσκολο για μένα να φύγω από την Ελλάδα παρόλο που ήθελα να γνωρίσω καινούργια μέρη, καινούργιες κουλτούρες, καινούργιους ανθρώπους και γενικά να ζήσω ένα χρονικό διάστημα σε μια χώρα που δεν ήταν ελληνόφωνη. Έτσι, κάποια στιγμή αργότερα έμεινα χωρίς δουλειά και πια είχα τον χρόνο να συμμετάσχω σε ένα EVS. Η απόφαση δεν ήταν καθόλου δύσκολη, ήθελα να ρισκάρω γιατί πίστευα πολύ στον εαυτό μου. Τo EVS ήταν η καλύτερη ευκαιρία που μπορούσε να μου δοθεί έστω και αν στην αρχή του προγράμματος συνάντησα δυσκολίες. 
Είμαι στην Μαδρίτη εδώ και 4,5 μήνες και ζω στιγμές που δεν ξανάζησα ποτέ, κάνω πράγματα που δεν ξανάκανα, νιώθω ότι προσφέρω και γι αυτό νιώθω χρήσιμη, κάθε μέρα μαθαίνω τόσα πολλά που στο Πανεπιστήμιο ποτέ δεν διδάχτηκα, γνωρίζω καλύτερα τον εαυτό μου. Ζω, προσφέρω, δημιουργώ. Εσωτερικά νιώθω ότι γίνομαι καλύτερη και το σημαντικότερο, πλέον έχω αυτοπεποίθηση όταν μιλάω και λέω την άποψή μου χωρίς να φοβάμαι. Είναι τόσα πολλά που δεν μπορώ να περιγράψω σε λίγες γραμμές. Το EVS είναι ευκαιρία ζωής, γιατί απλά ζεις βιώματα που σ' αλλάζουν κυριολεκτικά :)

EVS in Spain!

We are glad to inform you that we are looking for two volunteers to join us in our next term project “Volunteering programme to support young people with intellectual disabilities and elderly people” in Madrid, from 1st of October 2014 till 30th of June 2015. We’ll be implementing the selection process next month, so we’ll be glad to receive any application (Cv and motivation letter) before the 15th of February. In case you know someone interested in our project, please, see below a brief description of the project and the activities:

The Office for Solidarity and Co-operation – UAM collaborates with people with intellectual disabilities coming from the hand of PRODIS Foundation and our Disability Area.

The activities to take place and that volunteers will participate in, are the next ones;
- Collaboration with PRODIS Foundation in activities destined to promote and to support the social and labor insertion of young people with intellectual disabilities ( Filing and Organization, New Technologies, English, Culture and Society and so on)

- Participation in daily activities carries out by the Disability Awareness Area from our office; support, accompaniment and adapted transport service for people with sensory disabilities. To benefit the social integration and the labor insertion of people with functional disabilities.

- Participation in local volunteering activities to support elderly people; free time and leisure time activities (crafts, theatre…).

- Collaboration on administrative tasks carry out in the Area of International Volunteering; filing and registration of sending and hosting EVS projects conduct by the office since its origin.

- Collaboration in the Week of Solidarity and other events. The Week of Solidarity involves a series of events (workshops, film forums, conferences, courses ...) for which help is needed with many tasks, for example, promotion, organization and advertising, among other. They will also participate in the initial trainings provided by the office to new volunteers, telling them about their project and helping us with the dissemination of the program.

Please, also note that because of our project needs and the kind of activities we carry out, it is highly recommended that the volunteers are able to communicate in Spanish.

Contact email: voluntariado.europeo@uam.es

EVS projects in Portugal!

These are the available places for the new term:

1. At Centro Social de Palmela (in the village of POCEIRÃO) 2012-PT-1

Jardim de Infância a Cegonha (1 volunteer) Is composed by; nursery (20 children from 3-5 years old). The volunteer will develop the EVS project in pre-school wich main objective is to help the children to developed their global capacities trough different kinds of activities. The Pedagogic Project for the Kindergarten and the class-room project depends on the team and the children needs. The volunteer will support the team and help to develop the project with the guidance of the
Educator responsible (pre-school teacher) together with 2 helpers.


2. At Centro Social de Palmela (in the town of Palmela) 2012-PT-1

The activities of the volunteer depends on the department where the project is developed and also from the personal interests, motivation and objectives of the volunteer, because this project is open to new ideas and ways of being: There are two departments that volunteers can work at CSP Palmela, Jardim de Infância “A Árvore”. (1 volunteer) Kindergarten with 4 rooms with 25 children each, between 3 and 5 years old, open from 7h to 19h. The pre-school main objective is to help the children to develop their global capacities trough different kinds of activities. The Pedagogic Project for the Kindergarten and the class-room project depends on the team and the children needs. The volunteer basically will support the team and help to develop the project with the guidance of the Educator responsible (pre-school teacher) together with 2 helpers.

Pedagogic Play centre for children- CAPIJ: CATL Balão Azul. (1 volunteer) CATLS “Balão Azul” organizes different kinds of free time activities for children from 6 to 15 years old, boys and girls, after school during school holidays, integrated in a socio-cultural animation project where children and youngster can choose and freely participate. The volunteer basically support the team with meals, hygiene and transports and help on the academic activities as school homework. He is also expected to support the different free-time activities (ateliers, games, visits…) and extra currícular activities not only with children but also with parents and for the community.
Momentos Mágicos (1 volunteer)

3. At Okupa- Espaço Juventude (in the town of Palmela) 2012-PT-1

Okupa (1 volunteer), the Youth Department develops international and national youth activities; youth information; training and workshops; youth happenings/meetings; holidays Programs/camps, etc. OKUPA pretends also to promote the issues of youth in the local community, promote the EVS in the local community and to potentials participants, organize activities (cultural, artistic…) to show and promote the local activities organized by the CSP and other organizations. The volunteer will have the opportunity to create and develop the Okupa’s Newsletter, work in the Okupa’s blog, promote youth information and participation, organize activities for the youth and general community in the Youth Month (Março a Partir), spread youth in action potentialities and networking. Basically supports the staff whenever it is needed.

4. At Liga dos Amigos da Escola da Azeda (in the city of SETUBAL) 2013-PT-35

ATL (1 volunteer). Liga da Escola dos Amigos da Azeda organizes free time activities, after school (in the morning or in the afternoon), for 120 children between 6 and 10 years old. The Pedagogic Project depends on the team and the children needs and volunteer will help to develop the proyect with the guidance of the Educator responsible. Please note that this part is just a basic and short summary of working places and tasks of the volunteers. Please refer to your activity agreements to get a specific and detailed information about your working place and activities.


5. At Letra Cooperativa Cultural in Espaço Fortuna Artes e Ofícios ( in the village Quinta do Anjo) 2013-PT-46

Letra’s headquarters- Páteo da Fonte, Saberes e Sabores (1 volunteer) supporting the development of communicational, cultural and artistic activities. The volunteer will have the opportunity to create and develop the Letra’s Newsletter and Facebook, organize activities for the youth and general community together with the other volunteers in the coordinating organization, including spreading youth in action potentialities, promote local artists and traditions, help the organization and development of concerts, jam sessions, exhibitions and other cultural and artistics activities. The volunteer will work together with the Letra’s responsible and other staff members and volunteers from the organization, creating, planning, developing and evaluating the activities.
At the Arts an Crafts Center and regional products Shop (1 volunteer). The volunteer will learn, developed and support activities with the 3 painters and the pottery markers, creating, paiting, producing the traditional “Azulejos” (tiles) and Craft, using traditional and modern methods. Also the volunteer will support the workshops developed with children, youth, the community and tourist; organize the guide tours to Fortuna Artes e Ofícios (explaining the traditional pottery methods) and support the shop with the traditional products (cheese, wine, craft, pottery, sweets, etc).
1 volunteer with fewer opportunities. The volunteer will renovate and built a new room for artistic indoor performance and storage and reorganize the gardens around Espaço Fortuna Artes e Ofícios, using traditional materials and keeping the heritage of the main creator of the space- Mr Sebastião Fortuna. They will work as mason, carpenter or gardener, according with the interest and profile of the volunteer.

EVS short term project in Poland!

Εγκεκριμένο Πρόγραμμα στο Lodz, Poland αναζητά 1 Έλληνα/Ελληνίδα εθελοντή για short term project, από 1st February - 30thMarch. 

More information:

http://ec.europa.eu/youth/evs/aod/hei_form_en.cfm?EID=58000928810

EVS in Slovenia!

Το Youth Center Krško αναζητά έναν EVS volunteer για το πρόγραμμα «Get spotted 4» από 3.3.2014 έως 1.9.2014, εγκεκριμένο πρόγραμμα EVS στη Slovenia, MUŠTER.

Krško spreads aut in the end of the Sava gorge before Krško field, on the right and on the left bank of the Sava River. It is a cenral location of Posavje region and accessible via Ljubljana – Zagreb highway and via regional roads from Celje, Maribor and Novo mesto. It is 98 km away from the Slovenian capital of Ljubljana and 51 km from Croatian capital of Zagreb.

YOUTH CENTRE KRSKO is a public institution founded by municipality of Krsko in April 2002. We are working with and for young people in Krsko and region Posavje. Our approach to reach these youngsters is youth culture work (projects with dance, photo, concerts, and theatre) as well as project work: drug- and alcohol prevention projects, informal-learning project (language courses, other courses), the annual Youth Culture Festival, leisure and holiday activities (workshops), as well as intercultural work (youth exchanges, EVS projects). Our newest acquisition is Multimedia Centre Posavje.

Sample of volunteer tasks:

• help to organize prevention programs (Life without drugs and alcohol; prevention workshops Bright head; youth workshops, Camp for youth with criminal record)

• help to organize debate evenings

• organize (with the support of the employees in the youth center) children holiday activities (June one week), August one week and October one week)

• help to organize Halloween party with other EVS volunteers

• organize volunter evening

• make own project (20-30% volunter own program)

• 1 day a week working in our reception (with the help of our informers)

• present her own country, language and culture and EVS to children in kindergarden, primary school and high school

• help to organize multimedia programs (multimedia workshops, LAN parties, creative workshops, video and music workshops)

• help to organize VJ evenings

• make own project (20-30% volunter own program)

• organize (with the support of the employees in the youth center) Geek fest 2013, multimedia festival for young people

• 1 day a week working in our reception (with the help of our informers)

• help to organize debate evenings

• help to organize Halloween party with other EVS volunteers

• help to organize EVS weekend for all volunteers in Slovenia

• organize volunter evening

• present his own country, language and culture and EVS to children in kindergarden, primary school and high school

• assistance in organizing and implementing activities program manager:

• Geek festival 2013 (festival of the development of computers over the years)

• help to organize debate eveningshelp to organize Halloween party with other EVS volunteers

• make own project (20-30% volunter own program)

• 1 day a week working in our reception (with the help of our informers)

• volunter evening

• stand up nights

• evenings of amateur theater groups

• organize children holiday activities (February  one week)

• help to organize Halloween party with other EVS volunteers

• organize and perform EVS weekend (all volunteers form abroat, 2 days)

• exchange of experience and knowledge between individuals and organization,

• share and promote common European values,

• promote Youth in action programmes and EVS

• exchange cultural backgrounds of individuals and organizations included in project,

• share common working methods regarding to non formal education in the youth field,

§ attend Slovenia language course

§ share her experience about EVS and living in her country with young visitors in our youth center

§ share her experience about EVS and living in her country with pupils and students on information hours in local primary and high school

§ attending pre-term training in your country

§ attending on-arrival training in Slovenia

§ attending mid-term training in Slovenia

§ after arrival attending evaluation in your country

§ write final report in Slovenia

§ finish Youthpass in Slovenia

or

§  work in multimedia (workshops, support aur program managers)

§ attend Slovenia language course

§ share his experience about EVS and living in her country with young visitors in our youth center

§ share his experience about EVS and living in her country with pupils and students on information hours in local primary and high school

§ attending pre-term training in your country

§ attending on-arrival training in Slovenia

§ attending mid-term training in Slovenia

§ after arrival attending evaluation in your country

§ write final report in Slovenia

§ finish Youthpass in Slovenia

or

regular monthly concerts of different musical genres

help to organize  closing party of volunteers and young visitors in the Centre in 2013  

§ attend Slovenia language course

§ share her experience about EVS and living in her country with young visitors in our youth center

§ share her experience about EVS and living in her country with pupils and students on information hours in local primary and high school

§ attending pre-term training in your country

§ attending on-arrival training in Slovenia

§ attending mid-term training in Slovenia

§ after arrival attending evaluation in your country

§ write final report in Slovenia

§ finish Youthpass in Slovenia

The tasks we will adjust during your time here!

SAMPLE OF STANDARD VOLUNTEERS WEEKLY PROGRAM

Monday:

09.00     preparations for the day

09.30     meeting with the coordinator

10.30     organizing existing programs and helping program leaders

11.00     lunch break

11.30     organizing existing programs and helping program leaders

16.00     the end of work

Tuesday:

08.30       preparation for the day

09.00       employees meeting

10.30       lunch break

11.00       slovenian language course

12.30       organizing own events

15.30       the end of work

Wednesday:

15.00       work in info točka (aur reception)

17.30       lunch break

22.00       the end of work

Thursday:

09.00       preparations for making own project

11.00       lunch break

11.30       preparations for making own project

15.00       meeting with the mentor

16.00       the end of work

Friday:

14.00       preparations for making own project

17.30       lunch break

18.00       working in the club space/hanging out with young people

 22.00      the end of work

Saturday, Sunday: free days

The hosting organisation will monthly prepare working schedule for the volunteer and will hang it in office and the appartment.

Roles of volunteers in the project thought the whole duration of the project:

Working hours and days off:  7 hours per day, 5 days per week, two consecutive days off per week and 12 days holiday for the duration of the project. The volunteer should ask for the days off at least 3 days before vacation.

Food and Accommodation:  The volunteer will live in Youth hostel Krško; in the apartment in which will have her own room and will share a kitchen, bathroom and living room (TV, computer and free internet). Volunter will have a free access to laundry room. A monthly food allowance is provided (170 €/ month).

Local Transport:  A monthly allowance for local transport is not necessary, because the youth center is located in the city center. If they will help on the events outside the center, we will provide them a transportation. The volunteers will have the possibility to get 2 paid travels to go sightseeing Slovenia.

Volunteer Allowance:  The volunteer will receive a monthly allowance of 85 €

Language training: Language course will be organized 1 time per week and will last 90 min per a course. Language course will last as long as the volunteer will be making progress in her/his grammar. After she/he will get to know the grammar she/he will use Slovenian language.

Learning Outcomes: 

Gain basic knowledge of Slovenian language

Learn basic level of Slovenian language for normal communication.

Gain as much knowledge and experience as possible

Learn as much as possible (especially about Youth work and Slovenian culture) and gain competences for life long learning.

Interpersonal and social competence

Adaptability and coping with new challenges, team-working with colleagues, sharing responsibility for living together with another volunteer, gain and spread awareness of European citizenship.

Cultural expression

Developing cultural awareness of each other’s needs in a multi-cultural setting, learn to accept other cultures, improve tolerance.

Communication in foreign languages

Communicating, socialising and negotiating in a second language (English)

In addition to ensuring effective mentoring for each volunteer, the hosting organisation will take full responsibility for monitoring the whole learning process – explaining it fully at the on-arrival training, conducting a thorough mid-term evaluation and issuing the Youthpass on completion of each volunteer’s service.

Η Ντέμη και η Αναστασία μας γράφουν για την συμμετοχή τους στο εκπαιδευτικό πρόγραμμα “Evaluating EVS inclusion project” στη Πολωνία

Η Ντέμη και η Αναστασία έλαβαν μέρος στο Εκπαιδευτικό Πρόγραμμα με τίτλο “Evaluating EVS inclusion project” στη πόλη BYSTRZYCA KLODZKA της ΠΟΛΩΝΙΑΣ, από τις 20 έως τις 25 Νοεμβρίου 2013.

Το σεμινάριο διοργάνωσε ο οργανισμός Europejskie Forum Młodzieży και το παρακολουθήσαν συνολικά 24 άτομα από διάφορες χώρες. Στο πλαίσιο του σεμιναρίου, η Ντέμη και η Αναστασία επισκέφτηκαν διάφορα προγράμματα φιλοξενίας εθελοντών, τα οποία συντόνιζε ο οργανισμός EFM στις πόλεις Bystyrzyca Klodzka και Klodzko, όπως, ένα παιδικό σταθμό και ένα δημοτικό σχολειό όπου δάσκαλοι, παιδιά και εθελοντές EVS μας υποδέχτηκαν και μας παρουσίασαν το πρόγραμμα και τις δράσεις τους. Επίσης, επισκέφτηκαν το κέντρο νεότητας για την διεξαγωγή της ευρωπαϊκής εβδομάδας νέων, και έλαβαν μέρος σε σχετικό project με παιδιά.

Οι συμμετέχοντες είχαν την ευκαιρία να επισκεφτούν τα γραφεία της οργάνωσης, να ξεναγηθούν στην πόλη, αλλά και να απολαύσουν παραδοσιακές πολωνικές γεύσεις. Πέρα από τη γνωριμία με το πολωνική κουλτούρα, τη καθημερινή ζωή και την τοπική κουζίνα, οι συμμετέχοντες γνώρισαν και αντάλλαξαν εμπειρίες με άλλους νέους από τη Ρουμανία, τη Τουρκία, τη Τσεχία, τη Λετονία, την Ισπανία, τη Σλοβενία, τη Γερμανία, τη Πορτογαλία, το Ηνωμένο Βασίλειο, την Ιταλία, την Εσθονία και φυσικά τη Πολωνία.

Μερικά στιγμιότυπα από το σεμινάριο στη Πολωνία:

Training course in Czech Republic - Golden Frame

Last October, two members of NGO "EDRA", Elena and Stella (me!) participated in a training course that took place in Czech Republic, titled "Golden Frame: An international East‐West training course on how to increase the efficiency and creativity in organisational and volunteer management". 22 participants from 11 countries: Bulgaria, Hungary, Ukraine, Armenia, Czech Republic, Moldova, Poland, Greece, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Malta met in Švýcárna, Adamov and spent a pleasant week together.

Bernard from Malta writes: 

"My experience in Czech Republic was very positive and enriching the fact that we were so multicultural thought me that we may speak different languages and have different traditions and lifestyles but we are all human beings trying to find our trut purpose in life".
"It's quite amazing how a group so different from each other coming from 11 different countries can get so close in just a week".

Gayaneh from Armenia writes:

"The path goes and I go with it. Here is the place. It's almost dark and I know nothing about it. I feel interesting things are going to happen.... Night lights of Václav Havel Airport. Way back home. That was a right feeling. Great information, nice people, team, organizers, nature, spirit... Feeling youth in the air. Youth is the future".

Anna from Armenia writes:
"Here are several points that I liked from training:

. gained new information on raising motivation of the staff in the organization

. gained new information on coaching skills

. found interesting partners from other countries".

Beata from Poland writes for our trainer Zora:

"...irreplaceable Zora (It is not a joke, I am serious in 100% J)!"

It is not only that we learnt a lot about how to work with volunteers, to improve our leadership, management and coaching skills, to discover our creativity. We met, lived together, shared small cozy rooms, laughed, worked, travelled, walked in the forest, lived.

Aneta, one of the organisers, before we arrived in Czech Republic, she asked us to send her our favorite quotation. I can't find something better to describe my experience to this training course than Zach's (from Malta) quotation: "Experience is not what happens to a man... it is what a man does with what happens to him" (Thank you Zach!).

You can find more quotations and information for the training course here.

As Bernard said:

"Thank you Golden Frame, thank you Youth in Action you have given us one hell of an experience.

And as they say in Czech Republic NA ZDAVIE!!!"

Thank you!

Stella Ioannou

YouthPass

What is Youthpass?

Youthpass is part of the European Commission’s strategy to foster the recognition of non-formal learning. As a tool to visualise and to validate learning outcomes gained in “Youth in Action” projects, it puts policy into practice and practice into policy:

• Creating their Youthpass Certificate together with a support person, participants of “Youth in Action” projects have the possibility to describe what they have done in their project and which competences they have acquired. Thus, Youthpass supports the reflection upon the personal non-formal learning process.
• Documenting the added value of a “Youth in Action” project, Youthpass visualises and supports active European citizenship of young people and youth workers.
• Being a Europe-wide validation instrument for non-formal learning in the youth field, Youthpass contributes to strengthening the social recognition of youth work.
• Making visible and validating key competences through a certificate, Youthpass finally aims at supporting the employability of young people and youth workers.

Youthpass guide: The Youthpass Guide provides background and support material to implement Youthpass in your "Youth in Action" projects.

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Τree planting activity at "Antonis Tritsis" park!

Last February, the seminar for ex-EVS volunteers took place in Athens. The seminar coincided with the program "Στο βάθος...ΚΗΠΟΣ!" ΜΚΟ "ΕΔΡΑ", where I'm working. I informed our trainer about the program and he happily accepted the proposal and he with the rest of the volunteers participated in it. So for half a day the seminar moved from the centre of Athens and Omonoia Square to the metropolitan park "Antonis Tritsis", where volunteers helped in a tree planting activity in the  forest area of the park. In the activity volunteers from "Φίλοι του Πάρκου" group also took part as well as children from the Greek Red Cross with some volunteers from NGO "EDRA". 

Katerina, an ex-EVS volunteer, writes:

Once a volunteer, always a volunteer.

Meeting other volunteers is always a fantastic experience which always fills you with energy and new ideas. But once you come again face to face with your volunteer self it is impossible not to proceed in a new voluntary action. So, when Stella informed the participants of the EVS annual event reunion about the “Parko Tritsi Project” it was sure that we would participate. And it was awesome! We, kids and other volunteers of EDRA managed in no time to plant many trees, take care of others and learn things about gardening that we had never heard before. Such actions, beyond their social impact, fill you with energy and positive feelings. Keep going EDRA!

Giota, an ex-EVS volunteer, writes:
Athens, February 2013 
With only just a few days back to Greece, having fresh in my mind my 8-month EVS experience in Spain and trying to get used to the old reality, I got together with other ex EVS volunteers in Athens for the Ex EVS Annual Event. All the team members appreciated and responded to the great idea that Stella had for our group to join the tree planting activity to the Environmental Awareness Park “Antonis Tritsis”. So we transferred the seminar activities from the typical hotel conference room to this amazing urban -unlike others- park. We enjoyed the wonderful Sunday morning, got to know new and cool things about trees and plants, took positive action for the environment and made new and interesting friends with the other volunteers. “The garden in the background” surely did fill me with positive energy!

Anastasia, an ex-EVS volunteer, writes: 
I’m being a volunteer for many years! There are many reasons to be a volunteer; I don’t remember why I started but I’m happy that I did it! There are a lot of projects: for one day or more, for some hours or even months! You can start from something that doesn't take a lot of time, so I thought EDRA was the perfect place to start as it has many projects!!! I took part in a small project for few hours in the park "Antonis Tritsis". The project was about planting trees and takes care of others. If you are a volunteer you can surely learn many things! Thank you EDRA for that experience as I learned a lot about trees and I’m happy that I helped and participated in this activity.

Eirini, an ex-EVS volunteer, writes:
We had our annual meeting in Athens. We are Greek volunteers who worked voluntarily in different European countries (European Voluntary Service). In this meeting we discussed about our experiences abroad and the opportunities that non typical learning gave us. The meeting became much more creative and interesting, when we visited Stella (former EVS volunteer) in the environmental park 'Antonis Tritsis', where she was working. Stella was working there as an agricultural scientist until this day.Visiting the park was part of our training. Stella is working with little children, in order to create a vegetable garden and to make a plantation (pine trees e.t.c.). So did we!! We all gathered there in a great sunny Sunday! We met the children and some other volunteers, who were taking care of the park and participated in this wonderful activity. With some guidance by Stella, we started using the planting tools and we digged our first hole in the ground! We then planted our roots and covered them with soil. It was so much fun!
We were sweating, but it was worth it! Thanks to Stella's suggestion of visiting the park, we got to know some basic ways of planting trees, we met other people and we enjoyed the company of the children involved. This was a great experience and I wish we could repeat it soon. This activity promoted the importance of human cooperation, the need for environmental awareness and the ideals of volunteering.

Stella Ioannou