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EVS - Herøya Misjonskirke - EVS 2016-2017
Start date: Aug 15, 2016, End date: Aug 14, 2017 PROJECT  FINISHED 

The voluntary activities will take place in Porsgrunn, in the southern part of Telemark. The base for our work is in Herøya, part of Porsgrunn. The town has about 35 000 inhabitants and is, with Skien, the centre of Telemark region. Telemark is situated in the south-east part of Norway and is characterised mostly by an anland climate. During the winter there is often snow from December to March. The temperature will vary from +5 to -15 degrees Celsius, which gives splendid opportunities for winter activities such as cross country skiing and skating. In the summer, the temperature is usually 15-22 degrees Celsius and there are chances for hiking in the woods, swimming and other water activities. The Mission Church (Herøya Misjonskirke) is located in the centre of Herøya with nearly 3.000 inhabitants. The church at Herøya is located in the same area as a food store and the local sport´s club. The church has its own cafe, conferance room and an apartment.The volunteers live safely in a newly renovated apartment on the 2nd floor of the church. The church is also prepared to assist in relation to health or family if necessary. The pastor family lives about 300 metres away and ready to assist at short notice should there be any issues. The mentor lives around 1.5 km from the church . The project is also totally free of alcohol and other drugs. The volunteers will receive a mobile phone, so fast contact is possible and they will probably also have the use of a car.Support: The church in Herøya will be the base for the volunteers and staff. Most of the activities will take part in Herøya, but we also cooperate with Moflata Mission Church in Skien that has similar activities. We also work with the kindergarden next to the church where volunteers could participate according to their own wishes. There are also several other organisations in ther area that will also be hosting volunteers. In previous years, this group of volunteers has been a valuable support. Proposed activities for volunteers:The volunteer will be working side by side with our local volunteers, doing all types of tasks. The tasks will be directly connected to specific activities we offer and the running of the church. The tasks will range from preparing and selling food, social interaction with peolpe of all ages, cleaning and so on. It is important that the volunteer understands that everyone jhas to pitche in and contribute and that we have a positive attitude.The main group that we work with are children and youth from age 6 to 16. The second group is grown-ups and parents from the age of 30 to 55 and the third group is seniors from age 70 and up, so it is important that the volunteers are comfortable and enjoy ineracting with these target groups. The volunteer will learn to work in the local enviroment, devolep cooperation skills through working with the church staff and other volunteers. Through this, the volunteer will develop leadership qualities andlearn how to plan and carry out activities. An important part will be the ability to evaluate the work and through that, develop an even better offer both for the future. The church works with all generations, but the volunteer will mostly work among children and youth and will get a lot of experience in being a children and youth worker.In our church, there are people with different ethnic and cultural backgrounds and the volunteer will get some experience in cross-cultural work. As the volunteer comes from a foreign country, the person will, as a leader, bring new experience into the church work.The volunteers will be a part of the staff and will have key functions in the youth enviroment in the organisation. They will be given space to develop their own abilities to serve in the orgnisation and use what they can offer to fulfil the goals of the activities. The volunteer will be part of the church staff and will answer to the pastor as his or her Managing director and superior. The church work is organised through staff meetings, where future work is planned.Children and youth work is directed towards children and youth from the age of 6 and up. In all the groups, the volunteer is encouraged to work as one of the leaders who again answer to the main leader.The volunteers will participate in some of these activities. The first few months, until the volunteers becomes adjusted to the Norwegian culture and language, the main job will be as a helper in the church's kitchen, where the volunteers and the other leaders will prepare and sell food during the different activities. After a few months, kitchen work will still be a part of the volunteers work, but then there are many other things which the volunteers can participate in and/or arrange.Depending of the skills of the volunteers, they will be able to start up new activities, run projects and take part in the kind of activities they prefer.
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