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Volunteering-make the best of it!
Start date: Jun 17, 2014, End date: Jun 16, 2016 PROJECT  FINISHED 

The project picked up the threads of previous projects and experience with international volunteering in Slezská diakonie and its partner organisations. The project was realised in cities and towns of Moravian-Silesian Region which belongs to regions with a wide variety of social services and alternative forms of education of marginalized groups of population due to region’s social and political context. Participants carried out voluntary service in hosting organisations which provide these social services as well as training and educational activities. Project enabled hosting of 18 international volunteers. Within the selection process the coordinating organization did not succeed to find the suitable candidate for Kindergarten, Primary School and Secondary School of Slezská Diakonie in Český Těšín, detached facility in Bohumín. Although the selection process was finished not until the end of December, coordinators did not succeed to find the suitable candidate for the project. Other goals of project were focused on development and learning of volunteers in areas of personal, spiritual and professional development and social, intercultural and societal and political learning. Through volunteers’ development and learning the project wanted to support understanding and tolerance of cultural diversity, strengthen volunteer’s identity and provide volunteers with various knowledge and skills. Accomplishing of these goals enhanced the chance to find a job. The project also wanted to contribute to development and learning of other participants of the project and to improvement of quality of social services. Another goal was to support initiative, activity and citizenship of international volunteers and also mutual understanding of nations and cultures. The project also wanted to contribute to raise an awareness about the voluntary service in regional context. As far as profile of volunteers is concerned, key qualities were motivation, willingness to learn and to adapt to new situations and willingness to learn Czech language intensively. Other qualities which volunteers should have were empathy, ability to treat others with respect, maintaining human dignity and also patience, determination and willingness to tolerate Christian profile of Slezská diakonie. Neutrality and equality of opportunities were maintained during the selection of volunteers. As far as realized activities during the project are concerned, the activities were realized in the area of social services and education. Volunteers carried out their voluntary service by accompanying and helping out in hosting organisation in various work areas but with a major part of work in contact with services’ users. Educational activities were carried out in order to educate and support participants of the project and their development. Participants of the project were provided with a learning cycle which includes three seminars organised by SD, visitations of HO during Study visits and a Christmas meeting. During the voluntary service, participants were provided with both group support during above mentioned activities and individual support during individual supervision meetings. The project was realized with use of participative and qualitative methods during periods of preparation, realization and evaluation of the project. Activities realized during the project were discussed by manager of the project, project’s coordinators and other participants which were directly connected with the project. The project and its results were the most visible on the development of volunteers, hosting organisations and their users, local community, innovation of working methods, support and motivation of hosting organisations, their workers and others. Project has had a positive impact on all participants in several areas. Long term benefit was visible in the area of development of the individual participants, as well in improving the quality of future projects and motivation for further realisation.

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