Venue: Samara, Russia Involved Volunteers: Andrea Koolen Activity Duration: 6 months Hosting Organization: Samara Jewish kindergarten Makkabi, Russia supported by Lastochki/ICYE Russia Sending Organizations: Grenzenlos – interkultureller Austausch, Austria The EVS project involved 1 Austrian volunteer Andrea Koolen for a 6-months voluntary service at the Samara Jewish kindergarten Makkabi in Samara, a 1,5 million city in the south-east of Russian central part. Makkabi is a Samara Jewish cultural center. The kindergarten is a part of the organisation. The children are educated according to the program approved by the government of Russian Federation. In addition they get to know the history and traditions of Jewish people, learn Hebrew. The volunteer will be involved in the innovative pedagogical activities carried on by the kindergarten, such as playing, reading, painting, music, modelling and theatre, and there will be also space for the development of volunteers’ personal projects. The organization Lastochki, part of the international network ICYE, will closely follow the volunteers learning process, by helping her to keep track of their experience, by taking care of her practical and logistical needs, and by helping her to act “European Ambassdor” for the local community. The project was part of the MELANGE program, the EVS programme in Vienna strongly supported by the city of Vienna/wienXtra where Grenzenlos set up networks for volunteers and international partners and host partners and volunteers receive special support before during and after their EVS.