Training Course Youth-full Volunteering happened in Lithuania where international participants had the chance to experience empathy, compassion and learn about volunteering by theory but mostly in practice. Safe space for discussions, self- analysis, understanding our own needs and the possibility to contribute for better society where created. The highlight of the project was Volunteering jam that was organized to give a chance for participants to experience volunteering fully. For this reason 3 different organizations where chosen to provide our time and organize certain activities for them: Caritas day center for kids, Trakai Disabled Employment Center and Family Support center. All three organisations are very different and very similar at the same time: they all seek to help people but have quite different target groups. It was emotionally difficult experience for some participants but at the same time most rewarding. We also had the chance to volunteer in social enterprise ‘Mano Guru’ in order to spread their visibility and attract more people to come to this place. Participants also got the chance to understand their unique model: their work is based on inclusion of ex- prisoners who seek to go back to the society and start working.
Further, different non- formal educational methods were used to encourage the discussions and tackle very sensitive issues we normally do not talk openly: discrimination regarding religion, gender, sexuality and other topics. It helped better to understand ourselves but also target groups we are going to work in the future with in our volunteering projects. Models of volunteering, different practical and theoretical aspects were analyzed, discussed and developed together. On top of that- participants had the chance to present their working methods in Open Space. Wow, so many new tools were experienced!
Besides that, we also had the chance to talk profoundly about European Solidarity Corps with the National Agency’s representative who provided the detailed information about new modified plan for young generation. She provided the valuable and elucidate answers in the response of the questions. Participants gained the practical and effective knowledge about how to apply for European Solidarity Corps, also about finance, volunteering, traineeships, jobs, duration, and regulations.
All this experience was evaluated by the participants and the feedback was more than expected! Main results of the project will be visible soon- local actions by participants started to be implemented!
Official project partners:
Inovatyvi Karta (applicant organization from Lithuania),
Ungdom i Aksjon (Norway),
KURO (Czech Republic),
Baltic Regional Faundation (Latvia),
EPIKA (Slovenia),
Mostar Friedensprojekt e.V. (Germany),
Genista Research Foundation (Malta).
We also had a pleasure to have representatives from “Voices of jasmine” (Germany) and “Creativity Rocks” (Norway). Project was implemented with the support of Erasmus+ programme of the European Union. #erasmusplus