EVS: The Adventure - SALTO-YOUTH...25 1. INTRODUCTION: This toolbox compresses most of the...

Toolbox of the training course: European Voluntary Service: The Adventure developed in Peniche, Portugal, from the 10th until the 13th March 2008.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION

2. EUROPEAN VOLUNTARY SERVICE 2.1 WHAT IS EUROPEAN VOLUNTARY SERVICE? 2.2 WHAT IS A EUROPEAN VOLUNTARY ACTIVITY? 2.3 WHO ARE THE PARTNERS IN NA EVS ACTIVITY? 2.4 WHAT ARE THE PARTNER’S OBLIGATIONS? 2.5 HOW TO INVOLVE YOUNG PEOPLE WITH FEWER OPPORTUNITIES? 2.6 WHAT TRAINING SESSIONS ARE PARTS OF EVS? 2.7 HOW IS A PROJECT FINANCED? 2.8 YOUTHPASS

3. FRAME WORK OF THE TRAINING COURSE

4. TEAM OF TRAINERS

5. TARGET GROUP

6. THE PROGRAM

7. METHODOLOGY 7.1 MORE ABOUT US 7.2 IN-LINE 7.3 EVS THE HISTORY 7.4 FROM YOU AND FROM ME 7.5 WHAT IS EVS 7.6 EVS AIRLINES 7.7 EVS ACTORS 7.8 EVS MOVIE – SHORT TERM 7.9 HOW TO APPLY TO EVS UNDER YOUTH IN ACTION PROGRAM 7.10 MEETING WITH VOLUNTEERS 7.11 BUILDING YOUR HOUSE 7.12 IDEAS FOR SALE 7.13 PROJECT CYCLE – P.I.E.F. 7.14 OPEN SPACE FOR PARTNERSHIP

8. EVALUATION

9. CONCLUSION

10. BIBLIOGRAPHY AND MULTIMEDIA RESOURCES

11. ANNEXS

Developed by Daniel Martins & Manuel Luís Portugal, Peniche – 10th – 13th March 2008

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1. INTRODUCTION:

This toolbox compresses most of the exercises, activities and materials used at the

Training Course: EVS The Adventure, that was developed in Peniche, Portugal,

between 10th until 13th March.

As with any tool, its efficiency and successful depends mostly on the skills of the user,

and to perform correctly this TOOLBOX it´s important to adapt the tools to the context

you are working as well as the group of participants.

It´s essential during the preparation of the Training Course the trainers have a clear

frame of the aims you want to achieve in final based on the competencies you expect

the learners will acquire in the end of the Training Course. Design the training program

and use/create the tools to be used on it, needs to be selected according with the

participants information and the resources you can use during the training activity.

The main aim of this document it´s to share a good practice of a successful project

under Youth in Action Programme Action 3.1 that took place in Peniche, Portugal.

2. EUROPEAN VOLUNTARY SERVICE:

2.1 WHAT IS EUROPEAN VOLUNTARY SERVICE?

European Voluntary Service (EVS) supports transnational voluntary service of young

people. It aspires to develop solidarity and promote tolerance among young people,

primarily to reinforce social cohesion in the European Union. It promotes active

citizenship and enhances mutual understanding among young people.

These general objectives shall notably be achieved by:

• Supporting young people’s participation in various forms of voluntary activities, both

within and outside the European Union;

• Giving young people the opportunity to express their personal commitment through

voluntary activities at European and international level;

• Involving young people in actions fostering solidarity between citizens of the

European Union;


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• Involving young volunteers in a non-profit-making unpaid activity for the benefit of

the general public in a country other than his or her country of residence.

European Voluntary Service is a ‘learning’ service: throughout non-formal learning

experiences young volunteers improve and/or acquire competences for their personal,

educational, and professional development as well as for their social integration. The

learning elements consist of a mutually agreed definition of the expected learning

outcomes, processes, and methods, the certification of the acquired competences, the

participation of the volunteer in the EVS training cycle, and the continued provision of

task-related, linguistic, and personal support, including a crisis prevention and

management mechanism.

2.2 WHAT IS A EUROPEAN VOLUNTARY SERVICE ACTIVITY?An EVS activity allows a young person, aged 18 – 30, and in special cases from 16

years old, to be a volunteer in another country for a specified period, normally between

2 and 12 months. European Voluntary Service activities can take place, for example, in

the field of the environment, arts and culture, activities with children, young people, or

the elderly, heritage, or sports and leisure.

2.3 WHO ARE THE PARTNERS IN AN EVS ACTIVITY?

Each EVS project and activity is based on a partnership including the following project

partners:

• one or more volunteers;

• one or more sending organisations;

• one or more host organisations;

• one co-ordinating organisation (applicant), which can be (but does not have to be)

one of the sending organisations or one of the host organisations.

2.4 WHAT ARE THE PARTNERS’ OBLIGATIONS?

A solid partnership between EVS sending, host, co-ordinating organisations and the

volunteer is the basis of every EVS activity. An adequate match-making between the

volunteer profile and the tasks has to be in place. An activity agreement is signed by all

the partners before the beginning of the activity.

• The sending organisation is in charge of the preparation and support of the volun-

teers before, during, and after the EVS activities.


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• The host organisation has to ensure safe and decent living and working conditions

to the volunteer throughout the entire activity period. It has to provide adequate per-

sonal, linguistic, and task-related support, including the identification of a mentor for

the volunteer.

• The co-ordinating organisation (applicant) has the role of facilitating the implement-

ation of the project by offering administrative and quality support to all project part-

ners and enabling their networking.

2.5 HOW TO INVOLVE YOUNG PEOPLE WITH FEWER OPPORTUNITIES?One of the most important priorities of the Youth in Action Programme is to give young

people with fewer opportunities access to the activities within the Programme.

Special efforts are made and incentives given in order to allow young people with fewer

opportunities, including young people with disabilities, to participate actively in EVS.

These ‘inclusion’ activities are open to 16-30-year-olds, provided that competent and

tailor-made preparations, accompaniment, and follow-up are provided.

2.6 WHAT TRAINING SESSIONS ARE PARTS OF EUROPEAN VOLUNTARY SERVICE?

The project foresees the volunteers' participation in the EVS training cycle. It consists

of pre-departure training, on-arrival training, mid-term meeting and final evaluation.

EVS volunteers have the right and obligation to participate in these training sessions,

which are provided by or on behalf of the National Agencies or by EVS sending, host,

or co-ordinating organisations in line with the ‘Volunteer Training: Guidelines and

Minimum Quality Standards’ of the European Commission (see: Commission web site).

2.7 HOW IS A PROJECT FINANCED?

Community financing of an EVS project is based on the principle of co-funding with

other public and/or private contributions. This means that contributions, in kind or in

cash, from the sending and host organisations are necessary to cover the total cost of

the project.

The Community grant is based on a combination of:

• participation in the actual costs for certain types of expense;

• flat rate amounts for certain other types of expense; and

• Amounts based on scales of unit costs for certain other types of expense.


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2.8 YOUTHPASS

Every volunteer is entitled to receive Youthpass, which describes and validates the

non-formal learning experience. This document can be of great benefit for the future

educational or professional pathway of the volunteer. Through Youthpass the

European Commission ensures that the voluntary activity is recognised as an

educational experience and a period of non-formal and informal learning. The

Achievement Report is filled in jointly by the volunteer and a representative of the host

organisation, is signed by both, and handed over to the volunteer directly at the end of

the voluntary activity abroad.

You can get further information about the Youth in Action Programme and the

European Voluntary Service (Action 2) from your National Agency and reading the

‘Programme Guide’ of the Youth in Action Programme. You can also visit the web site

of the European Commission: http://europa.eu.int/comm/youth/.

The training-kit on ‘International Voluntary Service’, published within the framework

of the Partnership between the European Commission and the Council of Europe, can

serve as a useful tool for planning and implementing EVS projects and is available at

www.training-youth.net/tkits.htm.


http://www.training-youth.net/tkits.htm

http://europa.eu.int/comm/youth

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3. FRAME WORK OF THE TRAINING COURSE:

Objectives of the Training Course:

The main aims are to promote the Youth in Action programme opportunities in general,

the European Voluntary Service within young people with less opportunity and to

improve the quality of the projects with this target group in particular.

In concrete, the objectives were:

• To assist participants in clarifying the philosophy of EVS Short Term;

• To make the participants familiar with the EVS Short Term process (hosting &

sending);

• To prepare the participants to developed quality EVS ST projects;

• To encourage the use and implementation of EVS ST in their countries and cities;

• To improve communication and co-operation between organisations;

• To discover possible motivations of volunteers, sending and hosting organisations

within the EVS ST;

4. TEAM OF TRAINERS:The trainer’s team was composed of two persons with many experiences with the EVS:

Daniel Martins – Since 2000 developing project under Youth Programme and Youth in

Action Programme, ex-EVS volunteer in 2005, EVS Sending and Hosting Coordinator

since 2005, trainer member of SALTO pool of trainers, trainer member of Portuguese

Youth National Council (CNJ) pool of trainers.

Manuel Luis – Since 2001 that is the mentor of volunteers that were on the Youth

Organisation of Peniche and EVS coordinator. During this period host 46 long term and

34 short term volunteers. Has already been facilitator in a few international seminars.


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5. TARGET GROUP:

There were 18 participant’s from many countries of Europe, here is the list of the parti-

cipant’s organisations:

Country Name of the organisation

Bulgaria NGO Barbastro

Croatia Help

Estonia Environmental Student’s association (EPSA) of Eesti Maaulikool

Finland Ushanga

Macedonia Association for progress, education and lobbying - PEL

Macedonia Centre for Intercultural Dialogue

Malta TdM2000 Malta

Norway Narvik Peace Foundation

Poland Semper Avanti

Portugal Animar

Portugal Associacao Juvenil de Peniche

Romenia Millenium Center

Romenia Youth Organization Sakura Romania

Serbia Scout group “Remizijana”

Serbia Center for Support of Women

Slovakia Inex Slovakia

Slovenia Mladinski Center Nova Gorica

Sweden Viksjoforsbaletten

The group consists in people that have already some experience with the EVS process

and other part that don’t have any idea of the process of the EVS. We have to balance

the activities for have equilibrium between the group. It was important too to share ex-

periences and good practises between the participant’s. With EVS short term there

were only two organisations with some experience.


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6. THE PROGRAM:

Time Table 9th March 10th March 11th March 12th March 13th March 14th March8h00-9h00 Breakfast 9h00-9h30 Energizers

Arrival of participants and check-in BEFORE

20p.m.

1.Get to Know each other

2.Program presentation: aims & goals

1. Structure of EVS

2.Watch a movie about EVS short term (20m)-discussion

3.Youth in Action program

1.Inclusion methods: preparation, implementation, Evaluation, follow up.

1. Building Partnerships2. Presentation of the project ideas developed: Strenghtness and weekness3.Group discussion

Departure of participants

12h30-14h00 Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch14h00-14h30 Energizers

14h30-18h00

1. EVS the history and philosophy...

2.Team Building

3.EVS: The adventure

1.Meeting with EVS volunteers (Short and Long term)

1. Steps to Apply for YAP

1.Building Partnerships (cont)2. Conclusions of the TC3. Final Evaluation

20h00-21h30 Dinner Dinner Dinner Dinner DinnerOpening evening activities focused on ice-breaking

International evening-

music, food and drinks from each country.

Free Evening

Cultural Activity

Farewell Party

7. METHODOLOGY:Based on Non-formal and informal learning methods, “learning by doing” is one of the

most efficient ways of learning, the course concept have been created in a way that

allowed for active participation and exchange of good practices between participants.

Non-formal and informal learning enables young people to acquire essential

competences and contributes to their personal development, social inclusion and active

citizenship, thereby improving their employment prospects. Learning activities within

the youth field provide significant added value for young people as well as for the

economy and society at large.


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7.1. “More About US”

Objectives ▪ To support the process of guiding participants to the international reality of the training

▪ to contribute to the process of building the group▪ Get Know Each other

Time Frame

45 minutes, including▪ 30 minutes for the exchange in small groups▪ 10 minutes for feedback about the exercise in plenary▪ 5 minutes for a short round of introductions in plenary

Materials / Resources Colour papers, pencils, map of Europe, photography’s of all the

participant’s.

Description of activity

1 – Find a creative way to divide the group in subgroups with 2 persons;

2 – Give a A5 piece of paper of each participant and explain them that in this paper must be some space for a personal photo and the rest it´s for the subgroups develop a creative INTERVIEW. Give for each subgroup 12 minutes to develop a CREATIVE questions (ask to the participants to don´t follow the “normal” questioner like “age”, “job”...) about themselves to introduce for whole group in plenary.

3 - Back in plenary, each participant present’s the other, for all group and the trainer/facilitator after each presentation fix on the Map “Who comes from Where!”. In the end of the presentation you have a full map with all participants and the countries they represent on the TC. (check the photo bellow)

CommentsIt´s a good Activity to get really know better each other, and to gave a clear overview about the origin of each participant, to show the cultural diversity of the group and explain them the importance for the group to share them knowledge, experience and points of view as a important TOOL to improve the TC.


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7.2. “In-LiNe”

Objectives ▪ Provide a interactive contact between the participants▪ First contact with the names and countries of each participant▪ Balance the knowledge and experience about the EVS

Time Frame

30 minutes

Materials / Resources Chair of each participant (in circle).


1 - Participants are asked to stand-up on the chair (it´s important for the Trainer/facilitator to ask before if some of the participants have a problem to stay up on the chair for 5/7 minutes).

2 – The Trainer/facilitator must explain that from now on they can´t speak, and together from A to Z, they have to organize in alphabetic order without stepping on the floor (the Trainer/facilitator must fix where is the A and the Z Chair) – give 5 minutes for this task.

3 – When the group finished the task, the trainer/facilitator goes from A to Z asking the name louder and confirms if they are in correct alphabetic order. It´s important the all group listen the names of each participant.

4 – The Trainer/facilitator ask again them to quickly organize the group (keep the rules of no speaking) concerning with distance from the TC to them Home place. 5 - The Trainer/facilitator after they finished the task, go from the far away Point to the closer – let the participants say louder them countries.

CommentsThis can be a good previews activity for the “Participants Profile”, because when you are using the map to fix each profile you can confirm if they were well organized during this activity!

Suggestion: to explore some experience and knowledge the participants have about EVS, you can ask them to organize in LINE on the floor answering the following questions:− Your Organization has experience in EVS projects?▪ Who have experience (personally) in Hosting EVS?▪ Who have experience (personally) in Sending EVS? And Coordinating?▪ Who have done EVS?

Becomes really important for the Trainer/facilitator to know clearly this information, as well as for the participants to know better about each other concerning with the aims of the TC.

If you have participants with physical disability you can perform this Activity in the some away, but instead of using the chairs, make this on the floor.


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7.3. “EVS History”

Objectives ▪ Give for the participants the guide overview of the EVS history

Time Frame

30 minutes

Materials / Resources Rope, springs and A4 Paper for each important moment of the EVS History

(see the documents attached).


1 – Fix the rope on the hall in front of the group.

2 – Go with the explanation since the beginning to the days TODAY – each phase the trainer/facilitator must explain clearly what change and why. This presentation must be really interactive to let the participants get involve and understand the changes.

3 – After you can ask to the participants to speak about them volunteering reality in each country, in form of financial support, who normally search for volunteering service, opportunities,...

Comments Speak about the EVS history are really important to develop in the beginning of the TC because represents a basic knowledge about the subject. It is also important to know the differences between countries and their policies with the volunteering.

Suggestion: You can develop a small theatre performance for each phase and become this model more attractive for the participants


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7.4. “From YOU and From ME”

Objectives ▪ Know the exact expectations from each participant;▪ Let the participants understand the importance of their contribution and

active participation on the TC.

Time Frame

35 minutes, including▪ 10 minutes for individual development▪ 20 minutes for presentation in Plenary▪ 5 minutes for trainer/facilitator explain the aims of the TC and to

comment the expectations of the group.▪

Materials / Resources 2 A3 papers written “From YOU” and “From Me”, post-it (2 colours) and

pens (chill out music can be useful during this activity).


1 – The trainer/Facilitator introduces the 2 papers and fix on the hall where all the participants can see. “From YOU” they have to write what they expect from the TC and the Group of Participants during the Training days; “From ME” they have to write, using other post-it colour, what can be their contribution for the TC and for the group. Give for this task 10 minutes to write individually. (play some music during this phase).

2 - Back in plenary, each participant present’s for the others them Expectations and contributions and fixes the post-it in the correct paper.

3 – The Trainer/facilitator after all the presentations must explain what is the AIMS of the TC clearly and the importance of the active contribution of each participant for the success of the TC.

Comments It’s a useful activity to focus the entire group on the TC aims and to know what exact the participants are expecting from the TC. In other hand it´s also a important moment to involve the group to be active and to explain the importance of their participation to achieve the success of the TC.


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7.5. “What is EVS”

Objectives ▪ The participants know the concept of EVS ▪ Understand the importance of the project for all actors involved, and not

only for the volunteer.

Time Frame

45 minutes

Materials / Resources A5 Colour papers, markers


1 – Fix on the hall the Title “What is EVS”

2 – Find a creative way to divide the participants in subgroups (one colour for each group). The trainer/facilitator ask to the subgroups to answer to “What is EVS” writing one word (or small phrase) in each paper (if you realist that have group with more than 15 papers, ask them to choose the one’s they think are more representative of “What is EVS?”.

3 – In plenary, ask for each group come in the front and fix on the hall around the title the answering papers (the Trainer/facilitator must organize the answers per areas and join the answers are similar, ex. Volunteer, SO, HO can be 3 groups of answers) – see the photo bellow

Comments What is EVS is essential to give the awareness for the participants the concept of EVS and what represent for each Actor involved. Could be an important moment to speak about the Quality VS Quantity on the EVS project for the Organizations, as well as a good reminder activity to let the participants understand that EVS are a Educational non-formal experience.


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7.6. “EVS AIRLINES”

Objectives ▪ Provide a interactive contact between the participants▪ Team Building Activity▪ Group engagement

Time Frame

45 minutes

Materials / Resources 8 (per group) Colour paper (try to have a colour for each subgroup you

expect to do), 8 (per group) little straw, and 1 tape, eggs (number of the subgroups), A piece of paper for each subgroup (1 - big room to have a one table with the materials for each group; 2- Find outside a place where they can throw the aircrafts with 3 or 4 metres).


1 – Find a creative way to divide the group in subgroups of 5/6 persons.

2 – The Trainer/facilitator must develop a creative introduction concerning with the TC subject and explain the need to develop a new and creative aircraft. (ex: The European Commission wants to develop a private airlines company to transport the Volunteers and the EVS spies to develop a Quality control of the projects).

3 – After all the introduction ask to the group go near their group WORK table and introduce the material they have for the construction. Explain the importance of the Route planification they must draw before the “airshow”. 4 – Now all the groups know what they have to do and the material they can use. Say that will be a “airShow” after with all Aircrafts in competition, and they have to throw from height of 3 or 4 metres their aircraft to the supervisors (the trainers/facilitators) decide following the next evaluation items:▪ Creativity▪ management of resources▪ Distance the aircraft ▪ The route planification are concerning with the reality


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▪ And the EVS Spy survives! ▪ 5 - When you speak about the Spy, show them the “EGG” must be inside the of the aircraft during the flight (some comments will emerge, but let them know that it’s totally possible with a creative and strong structure.

6 – give for this task 15 minutes to construct the aircraft and after when the time finished bring all the groups the the “airShow SPOT”- One by one after you show for whole group the planification and the subgroup explain how was the construction process, the Pilots must Throw the Aircraft from the Highest point to the floor. After all the Aircrafts stay on the floor, the supervisors must go one-by-one check the Spy and confirm the all evaluation items to take the final decision. It’s important to have a winner, even if the supervisors must have a word for each subgroup.

Comments The Trainer/facilitator must explain the importance of the team work and the advantages we can take to work in group, to hear and to let the others hear you during the construction process. Important remark for the planification, explaining to the group the importance to have a clear image of the results between all group members.

Suggestion: The trainer/facilitator can limit the communication during the construction process (useful to explain the intercultural learning and the language barriers can appear inside of the group and how they can manage with this issue).


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7.7. “EVS ACTORS”

Objectives ▪ Know the roles of all EVS Actors during the project.▪ Have a image of the communication between the Actors during the

project

Time Frame

120 minutes ▪ 40 minutes Outdoor▪ 20 minutes group work▪ 60 minutes in plenary

Materials / Resources Envelopes, pens, small papers, Cenarium with EVS network Actors


1 – Find a creative way to divide the participants in 4 subgroups2 – Give two envelopes to each group, one envelope should be open 10 min. after they go out and the second envelope should be open 15min after the first one.The questions for group 1 and 3 are:▪ Why SENDING VOLUNTEERS (perspective of Sending Organization)?▪ What is the ROLE of the Sending Organization in the Project?

The Questions for groups number 2 and 4:▪ Why HOSTING VOLUNTEERS (perspective of Hosting Organization)?▪ What is the ROLE of the Hosting Organization in the Project?

3 – After the group will meet in the training room, the groups that have the same question’s will work together to present their topics concerning the question’s and after let the two groups to present the answers and start to construct the ACTORS NETWORK (see the photo bellow). The trainer/Facilitator are request to explain all the communication and practical point of view of the project during whole process, as well as the explanation of the Main Actor “The Volunteer” and how the communication works inside of the network.

Comments This Activity give the clear image of the EVS Actors, also giving the opportunity for the trainers explain how works the process, the communication, what kind of problems can appear during project (concerning with the communication, hosting, preparation,...) and it’s also important to mention the benefits for all Actors and Local communities involved.


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7.8. “EVS MoViE – Short Term”

Objectives ▪ Understand the importance of the EVS for volunteers with fewer opportunities.

Time Frame

40minutes- 15 minutes for the movie- 25 discussion in plenary

Materials / Resources Movie, projector


1 – All the group stays in plenary watching the movie.

2 – After discussion with them what they felt, if they have questions, what they think about it.

Comments Are important for the group see the movie, to realise some differences between Long term and short term volunteers, what we must be care during a short term project, we need to be very well prepared because there’s differences between the LT and ST profile of the volunteers.

7.9. “How to apply to European Voluntary Service under YiA

Objectives ▪ Have a contact with the documents for apply for EVS

Time Frame

30 minutes

Materials / Resources Computer and video projector


1 – All the group stays in plenary.

2 – Passing by the computer all the application’s needed for apply to the EVS: Accreditation, Database projects, Application’s form.

3 – Discussion the most important point on each document, for the participant’s have an overview of all the documents.

Comments It can be something bored for some persons that work a lot with the EVS, but when you have participant’s that don’t know what it is an accreditation and how to apply it is very important to clarify this topics with them.

The trainer/facilitator should focus on the most important topics of the follow application forms: accreditation and applying for EVS.


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7.10. “Meeting with volunteers”

Objectives ▪ To give participants the possibility to meet EVS volunteers;▪ To provide an opportunity to get first-hand information about the life of

an EVS volunteer

Time Frame

2hours

Materials / Resources N/A


This activity are directly dependent of the local you have chosen for the training course, but are also an activity useful to provide for the participants a direct contact with voluntary service, and the volunteers.

On “EVS the Adventure”: The participant’s went two different projects, in Peniche, that host volunteers. The volunteers present their work and answer to some question’s made by the participant’s.

At the end the volunteers should prepare one interactive game or activity for all group.

Comments The session was quite useful, because volunteers could answer a lot of practical questions, for which training cannot always prepare people.


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7.11. “Building your HOUSE”

Objectives ▪ Building partnership’s for future cooperation▪ Team building

Time Frame

30 minutes

Materials / Resources Blind folders for each participant, rope with five meters in a circle.


1 – Find a creative way to divide the group in three or four sub groups (no more than 7 persons per group).

2 – Ask for all participants if somebody has a problem to stay around 15 minutes blinded – reforce than the subgroups will develop all activity together.

3 – All participants must cover their eyes and stay together with the other member of the group.

4 – The Trainer/Facilitator start to give the instructions saying that from now they are Constructors, and with the material (Rope) they will get in their hands, they must build a HOUSE. - It’s important to don’t give more information – Ask them, to build the house together, and they have 12 minutes for this task. When all the group define that it’s Done, they must put down on the floor the result.

4 – let all the groups finish the task and discuss with the group their feeling and their opinion about the exercise, using concrete questions like:▪ How was the building process? Had a leader?▪ Everybody had the some clear idea about what “House” is it?▪ Some of you felt that nobody listen your point of view? You also tried to

express you idea for the group clearly?▪ The result are concerning with what you had in mind during the activity?

Comments The exercise was very useful before we start to talk about partnership’s, because mostly with the YiA programme, many times we don’t have the opportunity to meet and have the eyes contact of your partners, and we must communicate, build together, organize together, explain and debate points of view, etc. This activity results as a good beginning to start with more concrete team work fasting Partnerships in International field.


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7.12. “IDEAS FOR SALE”

Objectives ▪ Building partnership’s for future Cooperation in International youth field▪ Clarify topics very important for a project▪ Try to be creative and clear in the construction of a project

Time Frame

2 hours ▪ 1hour group work▪ 15minutes hour for all the participant’s watch the projects and make

some comments▪ 45 minutes presentation of all projects and answer to the question’s

Materials / Resources A2 papers, markers, photos of newspapers, magazines, scissors and other

creative materials.


1 – Trainer/Facilitator start explaining that when you are planning and creating one Project it’s sometimes similar to an Advertisement. Develop a quick Brainstorming “HOW one good Advertisement should Be?” (Attractive, clear, fun, comic, with impact, etc.. )

2 – Tell to the group for they divided by themselves and make one attractive project to show to all groups. During this process the trainers/facilitators must go around the groups to check how is going the works. 3 – The groups put their projects on the wall and the trainers/facilitators put a page A4 next to the project for comments. The group has to go around and see all the projects and their own comments, like if there’s missing information ask it.

4 – Each group present their own project to all group and answer to the questions that they have on the page A4, and to other question’s to the participant’s and trainers, that appears during their presentation.

Comments Naturally the groups are made and it appears very nice projects. It is important that this exercise and that if any organisation like the idea of the project they can do it and developed and starts a partnership with the participant’s.


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7.13. “Project Cycle – P.I.E.F.”

Objectives ▪ To highlight quality aspects of EVS projects▪ To increase the understanding of EVS project management▪ To address the different levels of experience in a group and reach a

common understanding of quality EVS projects▪ To promote an intensive exchange of experience and knowledge within

the group of participants

Time Frame

2 hours and 30 minutes- 1hour 30 minutes group work- 1hour discussion in plenary-

Materials / Resources A2 papers, markers, 4 CV’s, 1 EVS project, Exercise “Check Point”


1 – Divide the group in four little group (you can do it by giving numbers to each person since 1 to 4 and after all the 1 stay in a group and the rest until 4 in the same way, to mix the groups).

2 – Give the case-study which is 2 Cv’s and 1 EVS project to each group and a copy of the exercise Check point (Annex nº1). 3 – Explain to the groups that they must choose one volunteer for the project that they have, and answer to the questions of the Checkpoint exercise will guide them to develop a structured EVS project following all phases of the project, Planification, Implementation, Evaluation and Follow-up. It depends the number of the group, but around 1h30 to develop in groups this activity should be enough.

4 – When everybody finish the exercise, the group should meet in plenary and discussion what they decided and ideas that they have for the EVS actors. You need around 1 hour to discuss the results in the plenary.

CommentsThe trainers should go to each group, during the exercise, and help the participant’s in some doubts that they have.This exercise it’s useful to show that there are feelings, different perspectives in each organisation’s that can change the choice of a volunteer.It is also important for the group to have a general idea of a practise work with the EVS process has a SO, HO and the volunteer.


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7.14. “Open space for partnership’s”

Objectives ▪ Building partnership’s▪ Start building projects with partners

Time Frame

1 hour 30 minutes

Materials / Resources Motivation


1 – Give open space for the organisation’s build their own partnership’s and space to work in concrete projects that they have and want to develop in the future.

Comments This activity are normally used to go further with the proposal ideas all developed during the “IDEAS FOR SALE”, but it’s also a important opportunity for more and new ideas and to find partner for ongoing and future projects Naturally the groups are made and it appears very nice projects. It is important that this exercise and that if any organisation like the idea of the project they can do it and developed and starts a partnership with the participant’s.

8. EVALUATION

The moments of evaluation during this TC were two: 1. Midterm evaluation - on the second day at the end of the day. We have an informal conversation with all group and ask them:-How is going the training course since they start, how they feel, time tables, contributions to change something, etc...

2. Final evaluation – In this last day, we do two different kind of evaluation, a personal with some questions, where we put all the topics that we developed during the TC and they should give their opinion about the sessions of the training course by marling a clear X in one of the boxes (1 wasn’t at all useful, 5 was very useful) and if you want, they can give a brief comments. (See annex nº2) After we use a A3 paper where you should draw a TARGET divided in 4 areas, where they should put their mark and evaluate: Trainers, Training, Individual and the group. When they put their mark, they should put inside of the part that they think it was, if that will be more in the center is very good, more far away it wasn’t good.


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9. CONCLUSION

EVS are a “big adventure” for all the people and organizations enrol of this unique opportunity to know other culture, other language, habits, countries, etc..., independently of the motivations of all actors, we can’t NEVER forget the aims we must follow to achieve all the objectives we all attach with us in the projects we were/are/will be involved and the one’s written on Youth in Action Guide.

Develop specific and general training courses about EVS aren’t never enough, because the same project with different persons involved, can change completely and the main aim of this TC are to remind the Organizational tasks to keep the quality of the projects and partnerships, to provide the best opportunity for the volunteers, Organizations and Local Communities.We know that this experience are too much important for all actors involved, and mostly for the Volunteer(s) who is physically, emotionally, educationally inside the project, and in the centre of it.

EVS: THE ADVENTURE Training Course TOOLBOX are a strong beginning to develop structured quality projects under Action 2 of Youth in Action Programme, providing for Sending, Hosting and Coordinating Organization.

The importance to keep in mind the preparation of the volunteers, the structured service programme, the mentor(s) you can provide, the clear communication between all Actors, the conditions for all to take as much as you can from this experience. As well as understand that ONE Volunteer are ONE Intercultural opportunity for you and your local community, ONE improvement for your organization, ONE chance to benefit of all motivation she/he can bring with him/her, ONE point of view of other landscapes and places in EU (and not only).

Basically, ONE person open to share, to change, to learn, to live, to contribute, to grow, to improve, to be BETTER and more strong, and in other hand, representing one organization involved you must know clearly what’s the aims of Youth in Action in general, and know deeply the objectives connected with the EVS projects, what’s the tasks you have before, during and after the activity, and be totally aware of your responsibilities as an Non-formal Education provider.

The TC “EVS: The Adventure” were successful designed to give the base skills about European Voluntary Service for Sending, Hosting and Coordinating Organizations, and then go further with specify information about how to do the Planification, Implementation, Evaluation and the Follow-Up of the projects, using always the non-formal methods to promote the group reflections, sharing previews experiences, and group constructions.

It is important to adapt the program to the target group that you will have at the TC, you can that experience through a application form that you can create to have that information. After the trainers must balance the program with the knowledge’s of the entire group and involved the ones with more experience to change it with the new ones.


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This TOOLBOX can be used, not only for international groups, but even for national organisations, that sometimes don’t have many/any chances to participate in this kind of training’s and be a way for they learn, share, and have all the knowledge of the steps of the EVS, it can be adapted for hosting, sending or even coordinators organisations.

The trainers should always provided their own experience developing EVS projects, giving a practical input as an useful tool for the one’s have no experience on the field, and we recommend for implementation this specific TC as add value to request Trainers and Facilitators with good practical knowledge about EVS (YP and YAP mostly).


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10. BIBLIOGRAPHY and MULTIMEDIA RESOURCES10.1 BIBLIOGRAPHY

YOUTH IN ACTION PROGRAMME GUIDE (version of January 2008)

Intercultural Learning T-KIT SALTO nº4

International Voluntary Service T-KIT SALTO nº5

Training Essentials T-KIT SALTO nº6

10.2 MULTIMEDIA RESOURCES

10.2.1 – Movies and documentary

“Make your Mark Abroad – Volunteering” BBC Resources

EVS Short Term Movie “EVS, a challenge, an achievement for young people with

mental disability” - Future capital Spanish EVS

10.2.2 – Internet

www.juventude.pt – PROGRAMA JUVENTUDE EM ACÇÃO em Portugal

www.salto-youth.net – Non-formal Resources Centre

http://ec.europa.eu/youth/ - Education, Audiovisual & Culture Executive Agency


http://ec.europa.eu/youth/

http://www.salto-youth.net/

http://www.juventude.pt/

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11. ANNEXS:

Annex nº1 - "CHECKPOINT EXERCISE" Step by step to a successful EVS Activity

TASKYou are a team of experts for EVS from Sending and Hosting organizations. This exercise will take your team through the 4 steps of the EVS activity cycle:

1) Planning2) Implementation3) Evaluation4) Follow-up

Each step in this exercise consists of 2 parts:

a) a task that you need to accomplish in a small groupb) a conclusion and discussion about your results with one of the facilitators

Step 1 – PlanningPlanning time! All actors are getting ready.

TASK:Pretty soon the volunteers will leave for the hosting country, where he/she will stay to work with the hosting organization.

Your first task is to prepare the planning of the whole activity and especially with preparing the volunteer for his/her stay abroad. In this planning phase also travel and arrival are to be considered.

Guiding questions:• What could be the tasks of the Sending Organization in the planning period – in relation to the volunteer but also in relation to the activity generally?

• What could be the tasks of the Hosting Organization in the planning period – in relation to the volunteer but also in relation to the activity generally?

• How is the learning of the volunteer addressed in the planning phase? (Check: Key competencies)

• How can the Sending Organization support the volunteer for his/her travel?

• How should the Hosting Organization organize the volunteer's first 24 hours?

• What should the Hosting Organization organise in the first week of the volunteer’s stay?

Step 2 – ImplementationImplementation time! Living and working in the hosting country.

TASK:


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The volunteer has settled into his/her new home. Language skills are more or less improving and he/she is motivated to get down to work.Your second task is to consider the volunteer’s personal support. Also discuss how you can involve the volunteer into the new (working) environment.

Guiding questions:• How could the Hosting Organisation organise the work for the volunteer in the beginning? What kind of work would be best for him/her?

• What could the Hosting Organisation agree on with the volunteer in terms of working hours and holidays?

• How could the Hosting Organisation organise the personal support of the volunteer during his/her stay in the hosting country?

• How are you dealing with the Key Competencies of the volunteers in the implementation phase?

• How could the Sending Organisation support the volunteer during his/her stay in the hosting country?

Step 3 – EVALUATIONTime to look back! The volunteer's last steps in the EVS activity.

TASK:Only a few weeks and the volunteer has to say goodbye to his/her colleagues and friends of the Hosting Organisation, the EVS activity is almost finished.Your third task is to think about an evaluation strategy for the volunteer's EVS activity.

Guiding questions:• Why and for who is an evaluation of the volunteer's activity important?

• What exactly should the Sending and Hosting Organisation evaluate?

• At what moments should Sending and Hosting Organisation evaluate the EVS activity?

• What methods could be used to evaluate the volunteer’s activity?

• When would you introduce the Youth Pass to the volunteers? How are you going to work with it?

Step 4 – FOLLOW-UPTime to see what's next! Life after the volunteer has returned home…

TASK:The volunteer is backing home after his/her stay in the hosting country. What's next? Your fourth and last task is to come up with a follow-up strategy for the volunteer's EVS activity.

Guiding questions:


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• What things can be done during the implementation phase with regard to "life after the volunteer's stay"?

• What action should the Sending Organisation take after the volunteer has returned home? Think of all partners involved in the activity.

• What action should the Hosting Organisation take after the volunteer has returned home?

• What roles and responsibilities do the Sending and Hosting Organisation have, one year after the activity has ended?


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Annex nº2 - Evaluation Form TC EVS The Adventure

Please give your opinion about the sessions of the training course by marking a clear X in one of the boxes (1 is not at all useful, 5 is very useful). If you want, you can give also your brief comments.

SESSION 1 2 3 4 5 COMMENTS

Get to know each other

Introductions, expectations and resources in the group

EVS: History and philosophy

Team Building: EVS Airlines

International Evening

Structure of EVS

Youth in Action Programme (PowerPoint + questions) NA

Meeting with EVS volunteers

Project cycle: Implementation,

How to apply to the Youth In Action programme

Visit to the Fortress of Peniche

Cultural Evening: Let’s dance a bit?


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Building partnership’s

Group of participant’s

Info Pack: EVS The Adventure

Accommodation & Food

Support Materials

Please answer the following questions:

1. From what elements of the training did you learn most?

2. What did you miss in this training?

3. What is your opinion about the way the trainers worked?

4. What is your opinion about the practical organisation of the training (from the moment that you heard about it till now)?

5. Do you have any suggestions to improve this Training Course?


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