A learning organization is a place where people are

continually discovering how they create their reality.

And how they can change it.

Peter M. Senge

Marco,participant from Italy

I bring back home with me new friendships, that's for sure. I gained an insight about other

EVS experiences and of how former volunteers kept on with their working/studying life

afterwards. By now it is a but more clear to me also what I want to do in the future; and new

contacts of organizations working in the youth field. I also enjoyed a lot the project laboratory

ofmy group, about writing a guiding book for future EVS.

Zenayp, participant from Turkey

First of all I'm very happy to be in Germany again for a short time after my return to

Turkey (even though I did my EVS in France, but I visited Germany several times).

Well I'm really happy to work in a team with nice people from all over Europe and I

hope to use the ideas of the seminar for new projects. I hope to keep in contact with

seminar people! And finally, you are all invited to Turkey, I would love to see you and

host you!

Agnese, participantfrom Latvia

This project is important

and interesting for me,

because I want to be a

volunteer. In these days

I got much information

about EVS. I spoke with

people who have

experienced being a

volunteer. Now I know

about

misunderstandings,

what could be when you

go to another country to work one year. I met nice

people from other countries. For me it was a good

possibility to understand what it actually is volunteer

work, how it works. Now I need to take decision – I

am readyornot to go abroad forone year.

Maria, participant from Greece

It is always interesting and important

to meet people from different countries

that work on the same field as you do

and exchange experiences and good

practices. This is what I enjoyed the

most in this seminar. The fact that

through the workshops we had the

opportunity to discuss and solve our

problems and questions. Finally, it is

always good to find new contacts and

meet the people that work there “face

to face” and this was something that

will reassure the results ofour work.

Introduction

Aims of the seminar

Methodology of the seminar

Contents of the seminar

Development of the seminar

Results of the project laboratory

Conclusions

Organizer of the seminar and partner organization

Annex 1: Description of products of laboratory projecta) Tools and ideas for the involvement of formers EVS volunteersb) EVS Biblec) Ex-Postcardd) Intercultural Pass for organizatione) Results of World Cafe

1

The project “European Volun-Peers – one year abroad was about helping sending and hosting

organization to develop long-term sustainable work with EVS Programme. It was about

creating a clearer and more strategical ly planned guidel ines for this field, based on the needs

and expectations of volunteers, organizations and also local community. The first part of the

seminar included the theory about culture, communication, intercultural ity, multicultural ity

and also about organizational culture, intercultural competences of volunteers, employees

and organizations, and intercultural coaching. The purpose of this seminar was to develop

new instruments for developing intercultural human resources and organizations. Based on

the responses of partcipants - employees and ex-EVS volunteers – in the second part of the

seminar during the laboratory project we created new instruments we can use in our work.

The seminar was supported by EU “YOUTH IN ACTION” programme (Action 4.3)

- To increase understanding of employees and volunteers about intercultural competences of

persons and organization

- To develop awareness about culture of organization and development of intercultural

human resources

- To develop creative and attractive ways of involvement of volunteers during and after

voluntary service in the organization and in the local community

- To develop understanding about the intercultural learning process during the stay abroad

- To bui ld a network of organizations that work in the field of EVS

2

Edgars, participant from Latvia

This seminar for me was a good chance to join professional work tasks with

organization interest for doing EVS on our process of certification as host and sending

organization. I also came here to meet Jugendsozialwerk officials for new project

discussion.

3

The course was based on the principles and practice of non-formal education taking into

account the participants' needs, motivations and previous experiences as starting point of the

programme.

The variety of methods that we used during the seminar:

- Active methods for group dynamics;

- Work in mixed groups;

- Learner – centred and based on the experiences of participants;

- Based on a personal responsibi l ity for learning, supported by a strong group dimension and

a col lective approach;

- Enabl ing participants to apply and transfer what they learned to their work practice;

- Taking into account the needs and motivations of participants and be open to regular

feedback and evaluation;

- intercultural coaching laboratory project as a method of intercultural col laborative learning

- Documented to ensure a maximum multiplying effect

Understanding of what the intercultural competence of person and organization is

Understanding what the organizational culture is

Get to know the map of intercultural methods

Activities for cooperation with EVS Volunteers and Ex-Volunteers

Cooperation with local community

The organization was excellent in Rudolstadt – as usual and discover

for me the new organizations working the same way. After 3-4 days I left

here with new friends as we had known each other for years. This

seminar definitely will give the fruitful continuation in new projects not

only EVS ones.

4

DAY 1: Friday, 7th of January

Arrival - getting to know each other through ice-breaking games

DAY 2: Saturday, 8th of January

Since the day before everybody came at a different time, the first day was spent in getting to

know each other through ice-breaking games. Furthermore we presented our organization

and discussed about the expectations and worries and also the program of seminar. At

afternoon was spent in getting to know the city of Rudolstadt. The very important part of this

day was presentation

about the results of

survey about impact of

European Volunteer

Service on development

of intercultural human

resources and

organizations and

discussion about

col laborative work in

laboratory project.

DAY 3: Sunday, 9th of

January

We spent the day

discussing about intercultural ity and EVS from different points of

view – the three main topics were: “Which characteristics reflect an intercultural competent

organization?”; “Which personal behavior reflects intercultural competence of the

employees?”; “Which personal behavior reflects intercultural competence of volunteers?”.

Furthermore presentation of Youth Pass.

DAY 4: Monday, 10th of January

This day the group went to Jena in order to meet two professors of the Department of

Intercultural Business Communication of the Friedrich-Schi l ler University: prof. Bolten and

prof. Strohschneider. Thanks to them we got the basic theories behind intercultural

behaviors.

Raffaele, participant from Italy

I found it very interesting to work for the

project with my team, also because it

was quite a long time that I've been

thinking about writing a book about my

EVS and living abroad overall. I also

enjoyed the “intercultural coaching”

part, discovering new things about

myself.

DAY 5: Tuesday, 11th of January

On Tuesday the group started the discussion by evaluating the trip to Jena and what it was

said before, and started laying down the bases for the project laboratory. In this day many

ideas came up, and the group was divided into three smal ler groups to develop different

ideas: a group working on the organizations, a group working on ex volunteers, and a group

working on future volunteers.

DAY 6: Wednesday, 12th of January

During the morning we kept on working on the project laboratory. In the afternoon the

whole group assisted to a training session on intercultural coaching. This afternoon the group

learned what coaching means, gaining insights of why it is important and how it works.

DAY 7: Thursday, 13th of January

In the morning we continued with the activities of the intercultural coaching: a method was

shown which helps people in l istening to themselves. During the afternoon the project

laboratory activities kept on.

5

DAY 8: Friday, 14th of January

The group kept working on the project laboratory and in the afternoon the

three groups presented the results: a guide book for future EVS

volunteers; few instruments to keep involved EVS volunteers after their

service; two postcards with information about ex-EVS organizations, to be

handed out by organizations and National Agencies during the pre-

departure and final evaluation seminars.

Marialena, partipant from Greece

It was a good opportunity to meet new people and work with them in the

future. Also the ideas that came up were really interesting and helpful for

the organizations and the volunteers.

DAY 9: Saturday, 15th of January

The group carried out a final evaluation of the activities, and the

afternoon was free to prepare to leave.

DAY 10: Sunday, 16th of January

Departure

6

Results of the project laboratory

The Project Laboratory sessions started on the fifth day of the seminar. The group presented their

ideas for future projects, based on the necessities and possible improvements outlined during the

previous days. The ideas were divided into 3 different groups in accordance with their main focus of

interest: the organisation, ex-volunteers and future and potential volunteers. After two working

sessions the three final ideas were presented: a guidebook for future EVS volunteers based on the

experiences of young people who have participated in different international mobility projects, a set

of instruments aimed at involving former EVS volunteers in their organisations' work, and a publicity

campaign aimed at promoting the Ex-EVS organisations and their work.

Follow up:

- Implementation of the new instrument in my work

- Seminar about intercultural coaching and work in intercultural teams with simulation game

“Babylon” 2012

- Active work in the group Ex-EVS

- Working on the application for the fund of the “EVS Bible” project.

- Focusing on myself doing things I learned during coaching session.

- I have to put some priorities in my life and try to take my decisions according to them

- I have to find balance in my personal and social life

- Implement new activity for the volunteers

- Start-up with the creation of a datebase, after the discussion with the organization

- To contact ex-EVS in my city to gather new ideas for activities

- Visit one of the participants country

- To organize new international project in the field of EVS

- Set up a meeting with my EX-EVS organization and discussion about the results of the project

- To give briefing to my organization

- To work on new instruments for EVS and share ideas in our seminar facebook-network

- To develop the idea of “Youth-Pass for organization”

Annett Schubert, coach from Germany - www.anettschubert.de

This project of intercultural collaboration has been very interesting to me as a trainer and

coach. It was exiting to see, how much the participants were able to contribute with their own

knowledge and experience in developing new instruments for international voluntary work.

Cultural differences turned out as a big plus in finding the best results. Especially the mixture of

training and coaching helped many participants to reflect on personal intercultural situations as

well as understand new concepts of culture. Finally I would like to thank all the people who

organized and planned the project especially Joanna Pawlaczek.

7

JugendSozialwerk Nordhausen e. V. - www.jugendsozialwerk.de

The JugendSozialwerk Nordhausen e.V. is a non-governmental organization founded in 1992. The

organization supports and maintains projects in the field of youth welfare services and social work,

nursing services, school education, adult education, therapy and sports. Furthermore the association

supports vocational training of foreign and overseas students, international development cooperation

projects and also projects of international youth work and education. Since the middle of the 90s it

has been working in the field of international projects, with a range of partner countries. Projects

have been varied, form youth exchanges to training courses. It has been an EVS hosting and

sending organization for more than 15 years.

Associazione INCO – Interculturalita & Communicazione - www. incoweb.org

Associazione JOINT - www.joint. it

TUFAK Tourism Folklore Research Center Youth Club - www.tufak.org.tr

Experimental TES-HIENET Technology Education Sports - www.tes.gr

Association POST SCRIPTUM

NEVO Norwegian Ex-Volunteer Organisation

Susanne,participant from Germany

To me those days were a meeting of a special kind - being together, living

together, working together and interacting with amazing people.

The variety of different cultures created a fantastic feeling ofmutuality. The

past days were a personal and professional gain and I really want to thank

the whole team for that experience.

8

a) Tools and ideas for the involvement of former EVS volunteers

The group was composed of people from host and sending organizations. The common interest focused

on former EVS volunteers: how can they be involved after their service. Why do we think is important to

have them involved afterwards? Because we believe that with EVS volunteers also start a process within

themselves, which can continue with the support of the organizations afterwards. Their individual

cultures and skil ls are a great resources on one hand, for next volunteers; on the other hand, also for

the organizations and how to improve their work. The main idea we thought to create is a database with

the information about former EVS volunteers: name, last name, address, email, facebook, skype,

mobile, birthday, date of the EVS, project they were involved (and information about the contacts, too:

before, during, and after).

The database is to be used to contact former volunteers for:

- birthday wishes

- Christmas wishes + newsletter about the organization

- new projects (youth exchanges, spreading measures, infodays, how to create a local group of former

EVS – make a pdf file, 2-3 pages)

- go and present “new projects” to the seminars of the National Agency

- mail exchange between new and former volunteers (ask for permission first! )

- newsletter every 1/ 2 times per year

- emailing to ask for money

- invitation to seminars

Then we had other ideas that weren't strictly related to the database, like:

- pdf booklets with specific information about the projects to be updated by

former volunteers and then sent to new ones;

- blog with the personal experiences of EVS volunteers written by

themselves;

- “share this page” on facebook (I like it and I send it somebody else);

The last two items could be implemented on the organizations web page.

Marianne, participant from Norway

I've gotten so much inspiration and new ideas for my

organization, but also for me personally. Many of the things

I've seen, done and learned here will stay with me my entire

life – and so will the friendships, hopefully.

9

We think these tools and ideas could help organizations in achieving the following results:

- more contact with the volunteers – how much more?

- what is the result of the contact?

- more people involved in YiA

- better quality of the projects (less problems)

b) EVS Bible

1) Needs Analysis – Why this project is needed? For whom is it needed?

- Sometimes EVS are not enough guided because of the lacks from the organizations: e.g. in Poland

you cannot drink alcohol on the street, in Ireland there are different plugs.

- They have a lot of formal books, maybe they might need an informal one.

- Target group: youngsters wiling to go abroad to get to know different European culture.

- To help orientating future volunteers with formal, informal (and non-formal) to spread EVS.

- Book made by former EVS and focused not only on all the aspects of all experiences abroad.

- People reading the book should learn about EVS and different cultures among the European Union

cultures and in order to have a deeper knowledge.

2) What is the project for

- To help future potential EVS

- To make EVS more popular

- To inform young people about it and to guide them.

3) Defining objectives

- Writing a book which will help young people to coope with problems during EVS and to get

ready for the journey before they start.

4) Quality Criteria

- Collect information from former EVS with a contest publishing the best ones (at

least one per country): the prices will be the publish of the name and the small

picture of the author.

- Each story has to been sent with a picture which represents the experience.

- English mother tongue and one “EVS expert” to revise the book.

- Print on recycled paper.

Chiara, participant from Italy

What do I bring back home with me? A re-newed desire to try myself out again,

creating new contacts with other ex-EVS and current EVS volunteers, trying to bring

to my city the “intercultural breath” too.

10

5) Defining the Methodology

- As soon as the project wil l be approved. .

- We col lect information from former EVS al l over EU. We need to

contact organizations to get e-mail addresses of volunteers

wil l ing to help us.

- Distributing tasks to each one of us.

- Once a chapter is written by a volunteer it wi l l be reviewed by

the others.

- Put al l together and print it.

7) Resources

- We need a flat where we can cooperate and discuss

about the issues and writing the bible.

8) Title of the Project

- EVS BIBLE

- ALL ABOUT EVS

- EVS: THINGS TO KNOW

- ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT EVS AND MORE

- CARPE DIEM

- EVS: WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

- EVS FAQBook

1. Introduction: EVS description Why do

we need EVS Different programs of EU

2. EVS appl ication How and when to apply

Motivation letter and European C

3. Preparation Preparation for 2 -3 months

Documents (i . e. VISA) Suggesting movies,

facebook groups

4. Countries The detai led description of 27

European countries

5. Tips about the project Issues

Ulvi, participant from

Turkey

Using the interculturalism

concept over EVS is a

good way of using our

experiences while we

help developing EVS /

Youth in Action /

Exchange processes. I believe working more over this subject will also benefit

more. We all learned and kept valuable information or knowledge to take with

us. This is why more seminars like this, we need to implement. I am happy to be

part of this step.

Financial Issues

- To give advice about different costs of l ife in the countries and cities

- Experiences from former EVS (with pictures)

- Cooking for yourself

- How to survive without your mom

- Insurance

- To give them advice and abuse for insurance

- Communication

- Instructions (use Skype, social networks, Couchsurfing…)

- Social ize

- Do not be shy

c) EX-EVS Postacards

“The European Voluntary Service (EVS) provides young Europeans with the unique chance to

express their personal commitment through unpaid and ful l-time voluntary activities in a

foreign country within or outside the EU. In this way, it seeks to develop sol idarity, mutual

understanding and tolerance among young people, thus contributing to reinforcing social

cohesion in the European Union and to promoting young people's active citizenship.”

http: //ec.europa.eu/youth/youth-in-action-programme/doc82_en.htm

We would l ike to make postcards to promote ex-EVS organizations in Europe. An ex-EVS

organization is a network of former volunteers, volunteers and future volunteers. Our aims

11

are to help volunteers before, during and after their service. We do this by

helping future volunteers with the appl ication process, by giving useful

information before they go, by answering questions during their service and

by offering a safe network where they can express feel ings/problems/ideas.

We also help ex-volunteers re-entry in the society, when/if they move back

home. Our goal is to engage ex-volunteers in our work. We bel ieve it is a good

opportunity for them and us to continue intercultural learning/exploring, as

wel l as for local communities and organizations.

Jan Gasiorowski, trainer from Poland/Spain

It was a great pleasure to work with all of you! You have proven to me that

what I learned in school is not always true: 2 plus 2 doesn't always equal 4, it

can well equal 5 if a group of people get together and come up with some

extraordinary ideas;) Thanks!

12

Ex-EVS postcards

“The European Voluntary Service (EVS) provides young Europeans

with the unique chance to express their personal commitment

through unpaid and full-time voluntary activities in a foreign country

within or outside the EU. In this way, it seeks to develop solidarity,

mutual understanding and tolerance among young people, thus

contributing to reinforcing social cohesion in the EU and to promoting

young people's active citizenship.”

We would like to make postcards to promote ex-EVS organizations in Europe. An ex-EVS

organization is a network of former volunteers, volunteers and future volunteers. Our aims are to

help volunteers before, during and after their service. We do this by helping future volunteers

with the application process, by giving useful information before they go, by answering questions

during their service and by offering a safe network where they can express

feelings/problems/ideas. We also help ex-volunteers re-entry in the society, when/if they move

back home. Our goal is to engage ex-volunteers in our work. We believe it is a good opportunity

for them and us to continue intercultural learning/exploring, as well as for local communities and

organizations.

- The postcards will be handed out at seminars, and used by organizations.

- Target group: people from 18-30.

Goals:

Postcard 1: give future volunteers information about the network, and to let them know that

there are always people to contact, if they need help/inspiration/a friend or just to talk.

Postcard 2: inform ex-volunteers about organizations in their home countries that can help them

reentry the society; encourage ex-volunteers to help new volunteers and share their experiences

with organizations/us/other volunteers.

Postcard 1

Front: We’re coming with you

Ex-EVS organizations: before, during and after

Back: Rainy and cold? Sunny and warm? Talk to us whenever

you want!

Youth in Action logo

13

Which characteristics reflect an intercultural competent organization?

- Use international projects for the development of personal resources

- Presentation of international employees in the internet

- Intercultural trainings for the col leagues who are working with people from other countries

- Good preparation for new coming people to make clear which roles are to obey

- Defining roles of welcoming new employees including different people

- To be open for changes ( disseminate results + evaluation of int. Projects + making

conclusions + real izing it)

- Publ ishing achievements and special qual ifications

- Support the qual ification of people from other countries

- Employers from different countries representing different rel ig ions

- Regular meetings within the teams, open for every subject the employers are interested in

- Engl ish name of the organization, Engl ish homepage, info-material in different languages

- Involvement of al l employees in the ideas + objects of international projects (newsletter,

meetings. . . ) => to learn from each other

- Flexible routines of a working day

- Bring people with different experiences + different cultures together to solve an problem to

an activity

Which personal behaviour reflects intercultural competence of volunteers?

- Curiosity and wil l ingness to try and learn

- Abi l ity to adapt to unexpected situations, flexibi l ity

- Wil l ingness to contribute and give and share

- Sense of humour

- Positive thinking and focusing on the things you l ike

- To question the stereotypes and treat everyone individual ly

- To be acquainted with the content of culture

- Be able to make the first step

- To be aware that the first days and weeks are difficult

- Don’t let the language be a barrier

Ines, trainer from Germany

The time I spent with you was a great pleasure for me. I am proud of

the wonderful european volunteers and the people taking care of them.

I hope the results will be really used in the future work of our

organisations.

14

Which personal behaviour reflects intercultural competence of employees?

- Ability to host volunteers , share the same idea of voluntary

- Should be a mentor for work and social life

- Open minded

- Accept differences e.g. behaviour; how to greet, make a joke, ways to work

- Give guidance in professional work, start working half a day at the beginning (set up social

network, time to adapt)

- Give clear job descriptions day by day or week

- Aware of different ways of problem solving

- Awareness of problems (difficulties)

- Space and a person to express everything what’s on your mind (questions, worries, criticism, joy,

get feedback and confirmation, evaluation)

- Heart for young people; willing and patient to invest in people

- Acceptance of criticism, interrogation

Joanna, trainer from Poland /

Germany

The most important was for me to

se that collaborative cross-cultural

learning is not an utopia, it really

works. In a short time we learned

a lot from, with and about each

other and created interesting

products. It was a big challenge

for me to organize this project. I

am very grateful to our group for

their energy, ideas, patience and

understanding. Thanks a lot!

Tobias, participant from Germany

The days in Rudolstadt were very interesting. it was very exciting to get in

contact with people with such different cultural backgrounds but at the end

of the day we all had one thing together: EVS! my fellow worker Susanne

and me worked on a special project to optimize the project in our

organization. we were very successful!

Novella, participant

from Italy

I enjoyed the people and

the nice atmosphere – it

felt like if we were

speaking the same

language, not just English

but at a deeper level. I

bring back home new

friends for my personal

life, and new contacts for

my professional one, and some methods

on how to deal with intercultural topics. A

total success!