"EVS 4 U" Training Course for Sending and Hosting Organisations

Date and Venue

•  "EVS 4 U" Training Course took place from 22-26 September 2004 in Wroclaw, Poland.

Aims

The  "EVS 4 U" Training Course was organised for organisations from Eastern Europe and Caucasus countries willing to start cooperation within Action 2 of the YOUTH Programme - European Voluntary Service (EVS).

The  main aims of the Training Course "EVS 4 U"  were:

• to prepare EECA partners to efficient cooperation with organisations from Programme Countries in frame of the EVS,
• to stimulate understanding and to promote idea of Voluntarism in EECA countries

Additional aim of the was to find potential EVS multipliers, who were ready to promote and to inform about EVS and the YOUTH Programme in Eastern Europe and Caucasus as well as to co-operate on this issue with EECA Resource Centre.

Objectives

• To train and prepare potential partner organisations from EECA, which can host and send volunteers in the frame of EVS (Action 2)
• To learn about EVS philosophy
• To multiply EVS idea
• To get to know with obligation and responsibilities of organisations participating in EVS 
• To develop the necessary knowledge, skills and attitude to organise an EVS project
• To train in EVS project management
• To get to know the basic knowledge about YOUTH Programme
• To provide knowledge about possibilities of cooperation with Eastern Europe within the YOUTH Programme
• To present examples of efficient and successful EVS projects hosted in Poland

Participants

The "EVS 4 U" Training Course brought together 20 active members of non-governmental organisations with voluntary service experience from Eastern Europe and Caucasus.

Applicants had to fulfil following criteria:

• Had experience of work within voluntary service (preferably having personal volunteer's background) in their country
• Were ready to develop new EVS projects (hosting and sending) in their countries
• Were an active members of organisation being able afterwards to coordinate and implement EVS projects 
• Had non-formal education background (participants representing companies were not allowed to participate)
• Were prepared to participate in follow-up or evaluation activities organised by SALTO-YOUTH network
• Were prepared to actively attend and contribute during the full duration of the "EVS 4 U" 
• Were prepared for participating in the training modules in English and Russian
• Preferably was having knowledge about YOUTH Programme and some experience from previous projects
• Wanted to play the role of multiplier of EVS and the YOUTH Programme and been prepared to pass on the information, skills and contacts stemming from the event through their future activities

Trainers

The team of trainers was selected on the basis of their experience in the EVS  programme. Trainers were also responsible for documentation activities. We wanted especially invite trainers having besides English also Russian language abilities.

 

Programme elements

3-days training course:

• EVS presentation with special focus on cooperation with EECA countries
• How to find volunteers
• How to train volunteers
• How to motivate volunteers
• The role of the supervisor and mentor in an EVS project 
• Intercultural learning in EVS project
• Partnership in EVS - rights and obligations of hosting and sending partners
• EVS volunteer tasks
• EVS project management (including basic elements of risk management)

2-days short study visit in Polish hosting placements of EVS in Dolno-Slaski Region around Wroclaw

Financial conditions of participation in the "EVS 4 U" Training Course!

• SALTO-YOUTH EECA RC provided board and lodging for all participants.
• Travel costs of participants from Eastern Europe and Caucasus as well as visa costs were reimbursed directly by the SALTO-YOUTH EECA RC in Poland.