Search for European Projects

Learning and volunteering In Austria
Start date: Aug 1, 2014, End date: Dec 31, 2015 PROJECT  FINISHED 

The EVS project "learning and volunteering" took place in 3 different hosting organisations: In the Diakoniewerk Gallneukirchen there were hosted 5 volunteers from 5 different countries (France, Poland, Turkey, Latvia and Ukraine, Start was in september 2014 and it had a duration of 12 months. In the Jugendhaus Lehrlingsstiftung there was hosted a volunteer from Estonia from october 2014 on, for the duration of 10 months. In Caritas St. Isidor ; there were 2 volunteers, from Turkey and Bosnia Herzegovina, start was in october 2014 with a duration of 12 months. We created this project to give youngster the chance of a unique learning chance in their life, but also for bringing new/fresh european ideas into different organisations in Austria and also for creating new ideas between the organisations and motivating other youngsters in Austria to do EVS as well, when they see/hear about this project, meeting the volunteers... All 8 volunteers came from different backgrounds, some with weak financial background (long time unemployed), bad family background and so on. Motivation is the thing they had all together. We wanted to have a nice mix of nationalities, so that they can learn about other cultures as well, when doing EVS in Austria, where all brought in their culture, mentality, ideas and got a good insight into being involved in a social organisation and learning more about Austria, its culture, habbits, language... With this EVS project we wanted to create a learning experience for the youngsters, the involved sending organisations, but also for all people involved on the hosting side. EVS volunteers are a big enrichment for society, for Austria, for the organisation and espcially for all the persons, the volunteers are involved in. They brought in their ideas in the area of disabled, elderly, children and youth in all different areas. When getting an insight into this area of work they brought in their culture by e.g. singing a song with children, creating an own project with disabled persons, showing pictures from their home country, cooking a tradtional dish from their country....so in the end it didn`t matter in which project they were foreseen, as they could bring in their ideas in each area and hosting projects were also flexible for ideas from volunteers, that were growing with their stay in Austria. By time they learned more about Austria, themselves, others, Europe...so Europe got a face for them, they met new people and made friends where they could discuss things about stereotypes. The EVS project made them stronger in mind and normally they return from EVS as a real positive thinking and open minded young European. Some will then go to different European places, for work, for fun, for making projects....so EVS opens the door to a positive future for youngsters! All learning process was using non formal learning, to understand the learning process EVS volunteers got a youthpass in the end, so that they can understand what they have learned during EVS but also to show others, using it for applying for a job and so on. The results are the learning for all involved persons and partners, to learn more about different cultures, real open talks about different issues of countries, realizing ideas of youngsters, give them the chance of becoming active in Europe, get an understanding what Europe is by living EVS and a unique learning experience in life.
Up2Europe Ads

Coordinator

Details

10 Partners Participants