INDEX- Introduction .......................- Daily conclusion of the Seminar .....................- Interviews with participants in the seminar.. - EVS experiences in Lefkada ............................- Work results .....................................................- Lefkada memories ............................................- Presentation of the organizations ...................

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INTRODUCTION

The European Voluntary Service (EVS) is anopportunity for young people between 18 and 30years old to be a volunteer in one country of theworld, in a non-profit organization.During voluntary service, young people learn at dif-ferent levels (communication, autonomy, citizens-hip, culture ...). At the end of their voluntary service,they receive a certificate called "Youth Pass". Thiscertificate confirms the volunteer's participation inEVS, and learning that he had during his EuropeanVoluntary Service.Although the administrative process of implemen-tation of volunteer in a project seems the same, theroutes followed by partner organizations (sendingorganization, host organization, coordinating orga-nization) from the phase of preparation of the volun-teer until the final evaluation of the project aredifferent in terms of methods and quality.In order to improve the quality of volunteering pro-jects, get more impact, and give more value to inter-cultural learning and the certificate awarded to thevolunteer, we organized a training course involving26 youth workers, ex-volunteers, mentors and youthleaders, from 13 European organizations (Bulgaria,Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy,Latvia, Spain, Poland, Romania, Slovenia and Tur-key) active in European voluntary service for eightdays in Lefkas in Greece.During this seminar we shared together our expe-riences, improved our skills on EVS projects mana-

gement and developed common methodologies inorder to facilitate and improve the quality of prepa-ration of the volunteer, the implementation of itsEVS project, including the achievement of tasks andself-learning and evaluation of the volunteer and todevelop his conscience on the evolution of his pro-ject.The methods that we developed will permit more ef-fective monitoring and support for volunteers andwill improve the outcomes of their EVS projects.During our training course, we created an educatio-nal tool called "volunteer's logbook”. This tool willbe used by the volunteer from the beginning till theend of the service. It contains all stages of the project,methods of support, evaluations and learning expe-riences.During the project, participants created this maga-zine in order to bring the light to the fallout of thistraining and to the feedback of participants.The team of Solidarity Tracks thanks all our friends,participants in this training for their contributionand active role. Congratulation for the results achie-ved thanks to your effort.The road of creativity and initiatives on the non-for-mal education and on volunteering remains longand exciting…

Mohamed ChaabouniSolidarity Tracks

This training course is a really interesting ex-perience for me, as there are many factors that arenot happening in a regular or usual way, the wayI'm used to. For example, the fact that Greek peoplehave a long break during the day and are workingtill late night was a little disturbing at the beginning,but then, you note getting used to the new rhythm.. The composition of the group of the training is alsonot very usual, as the people are coming from com-pletely different environments with very various ex-periences, expectations and interests. To build theprogramme the way that it would answer the hopesand expectations of everyone was also very challen-ging.

At the same time, I really appreciated all these "unu-sual" things, as they helped me to come to many self-reflections and analysis and to come to interestingconclusions. I believe that this is actually the bestway to learn.I like the training outcomes that start to come of outof the blur right now, and I deeply believe that theEVS tool that the group creates is rather innovative,and would be useful for many NGOs all over Eu-rope. I feel proud of this concrete outcome that wemanaged to do all together.

Anna RoganovaThe trainer

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Daily conclusions of the seminar

The impact of EVS projectsEVS projects have impact on very dif-ferent kind of aspects. First of all thevolunteers are affected by the work intheir host-organization and on theirprojects. For the volunteers EVS is anew experience in many differentways. Not only that the volunteershave learning experiences in a non-formal context, where they acquiredifferent kinds of skills and competen-ces. The volunteers are also faced withthe challenge of getting used to awhole new cultural and social contextdifferent from their home countries.Besides the volunteer, the host-organi-zation is affected by the volunteersproject. While working on the project,the volunteers bring their experiences,skills, knowledge, motivations andinspirations into their host-organiza-tion and affect the host-organizationswork. Furthermore the volunteersproject has an impact on the local com-munity it’s embedded in. In order toraise awareness of the projects objecti-ves the involvement of the local com-munity is an important aspect of the

projects impact and success. By offe-ring their services to the local commu-nity and organizing events andactions, the volunteers project ideas,values and objectives are realized andmultiplied in the community.

How to plan and prepare myEVS projectPlanning and preparing an EVS pro-ject is a demanding and comprehen-sive task. Both are crucial for thesuccess and impact of an EVS project.Therefore it is even more important, tomake sure that in the process of plan-ning and preparing a future project, asmuch aspects as possible are conside-red. Before departure to the host-orga-nization and EVS project, thevolunteers sending organization orthe national agency of the volunteershome country organizes a departureseminar in order to prepare the volun-teer for his stay. When the volunteerarrives at his new town and host orga-nization, the first weeks of his projectare spent in order to prepare and im-plement the volunteer’s project. Next

to the welcome of the volunteers bythe host-organization (icebreaking in-formal meetings, inclusion in the orga-nization/community, personal andemotional support) the nationalagency of the host-country organizesan arrival seminar for all volunteers inthe host-country. For planning and preparing the volun-teers own project, project coordinatorand volunteer have to work really clo-the together in order to define the pro-ject’s objectives, methods, targetgroup and beneficiaries. Furthermoregetting in contact with the local com-munity, target group and other peopleinvolved can help to volunteer in theprocess of project planning. Creatingand using a timetable for planning,preparation and realization of the pro-ject is a helpful tool for the volunteer.By this way the evolution of the pro-ject can be followed and the differentactivities concerning the project’s ob-jectives planned and prepared.

The difficulties encounte-red/measures takenAn EVS project is for the volunteer, itshost-organization and for the localcommunity as well challenging. Fromthe beginning to the end it can be con-nected with different kinds of obsta-cles and difficulties. In order to findsolutions of the difficulties encounte-

red, in the first place measures forthese problems have to be taken. Someexamples for problems and difficultiesencountered by volunteer and host-or-ganization could be the following: theintegration of the volunteer in thelocal community and host-organiza-tion; homesickness; difficulties be-cause of the new cultural context; lack

of support by the local community;difficulties because of conditions re-garding living, working, social con-text, etc.; volunteers motivation. Allthe problems and difficulties mentio-ned are caused by different reasonsand require therefore different solu-tions.

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How to ensure the quality oftasks of my volunteerThe quality of tasks of the volunteer inan EVS project is an important aspectto make sure, that the volunteer fulfillstasks which to fit to the volunteersskills, knowledge and experience. En-suring the quality of tasks means alsoto adapt the volunteer’s tasks to hisdeveloping skills and experiences du-ring the whole EVS period. In order todo this, giving feedback and evalua-ting the volunteer’s work is very im-portant.

How to support and train myvolunteerTo enable the volunteer of an EVS pro-ject by support and train is anotherimportant aspect to ensure a good im-pact and success of the project. Sup-porting and training the volunteermeans to take measures that enablethe volunteer to be as successful aspossible with his project. In order tosupport the volunteer, analyzing thevolunteer’s skills, interest, objectives,motivation and needs can help to givethe volunteer support and training ac-cording to his personality. Supportingand training the volunteer in accor-dance to his personality and the pro-ject objectives can therefore be ofdifferent kind. Besides explaining thework of the organization to the volun-teer, the volunteer’s involvement inthe organization and its team is im-portant in order to feel the volunteerwelcome and supported in his project.When it comes to the volunteers pro-ject, supporting can mean to offer thevolunteer a language course, to in-volve the volunteer in the local com-munity, to take care of his technicaland personal needs as well. The eva-

luation of the volunteer’s project andhis personal objectives on a regularbasis is necessary to adjust the volun-teer’s support and training in order toa project with good impact und suc-cess. Another condition to supportand train the volunteer in an effectiveway is to have a clear definition andvision of the volunteers project. Bythis way the project coordinator canhelp the volunteer to plan the differentactivities in order to achieve the pro-ject’s objectives.

How to involve my volunteerto our projectThe involvement of the volunteer inthe EVS project and the host-organiza-tion is a crucial aspect for a good im-pact and success of the EVS project.First of all it is important, because wi-thout the feeling of being welcomeand integrated in the host-organiza-tion and its team, the volunteer willnot be motivated to work in the host-organization and on his own project.Involving the volunteer in the host-or-ganization can start with a warm wel-come of the volunteer in the first daysand weeks. Explaining the organiza-tion to the volunteer, showing the vo-lunteer the city, inviting the volunteerto local events and meeting the volun-

teer in informal contexts are onlysome possibilities to involve the vo-lunteer. The involvement of the volun-teer in the daily work of thehost-organization is as well an impor-tant aspect to include the volunteer,for example by giving the volunteertasks, responsibility according to hisskills and personal objectives. For theinvolvement of the volunteer also hispersonal and emotional situationshould be considered by either projectmanager, mentor or other members ofthe team.

How to engage volunteers tovalorize and illustrate theevolution of the projectThe engagement of volunteers in theprocess of valorization and illustrationof the evolution of the EVS project isregarding many aspects important forthe success of the project. Valorizationas a part of the evaluation, monitoringand feedback process is important forthe volunteer in order to ensure or im-prove the quality of his project and tofollow how the project’s objectiveswere achieved. The illustration of theproject can show the volunteer theevolution, impact, success, targetgroup and beneficiaries of his project.Furthermore it makes the volunteeraware about the difficulties and pro-blems he encountered as well as thesuccess and outstanding moments ofhis project. Explaining why it’s worthto valorize and illustrate the evolutionof the project to the volunteer is neces-sary task to be done by the host-orga-nization. Only if the volunteerunderstands the sense of valorizingand illustrating his own project, thevolunteer will be motivated to doboth.

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How to engage volunteers tovalorize and illustrate theevolution of the projectThe engagement of volunteers in theprocess of valorization and illustrationof the evolution of the EVS project isregarding many aspects important forthe success of the project. Valorizationas a part of the evaluation, monitoringand feedback process is important forthe volunteer in order to ensure or im-prove the quality of his project and tofollow how the project’s objectiveswere achieved. The illustration of theproject can show the volunteer theevolution, impact, success, targetgroup and beneficiaries of his project.Furthermore it makes the volunteeraware about the difficulties and pro-blems he encountered as well as thesuccess and outstanding moments ofhis project. Explaining why it’s worth

to valorize and illustrate the evolutionof the project to the volunteer is neces-sary task to be done by the host-orga-nization. Only if the volunteerunderstands the sense of valorizingand illustrating his own project, thevolunteer will be motivated to doboth.

How to ensure a good impactfor our EVS ProjectsThe main objective of an EVS projectis a good impact on the volunteer, thehost-organization and the local com-munity the project is imbedded. Toensure a good impact, different as-pects have to be considered.

How to make my project morevisible + multiplier effectTo make the EVS project visible is forthe success, impact and the sustaina-

bility of the project in the future ofhigh importance. Visibility means,that the evolution and the actions ofthe project can not only be seen by theparticipants of the project and the vo-lunteers host organization. In order tomake aware of the project and its ob-jectives in the local community, a widerange of possibilities can be used. Bythis way, the EVS, the host-organiza-tion and the volunteers project can bemultiplied in society by using diffe-rent channels.

How to evaluate my EVS pro-jectIn order to ensure and improve thequality, success and impact of EVSprojects, project evaluation by the vo-lunteer, the host-organization and thevolunteer’s mentor regarding diffe-rent aspects is a helpful tool. Besidesthe project, the volunteers objectives.

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Interviews with participants in seminar

Chris FarkWhat was for you the most outstan-ding experience of the training

course?My most outstanding experience werethe roleplays about solving problemsof the volunteers. I really enjoyed pla-ying and watching.

Which organization do you repre-sent? Where are you from?I represent the Youth Centre of Beelen,Germany. In German it is called “Ju-gendtreff Beelen”. It is your home ofsports, culture, leisure time, informaleducation and multicultural learning.

Did you miss anything?Before I say what is missing, I really

want to say thank you to the organi-zer. I think it´s a really good accom-modation and they care about of allour problems and wishes.

How effective was the course for youand what will you take back home?For me the TC was very successful. Ilearned a lot about the EVS Pro-gramms and I got many friendly newpeople to know. Honestly I don´tknow right now, what I will take. I gota lot of new impressions and ideas.Probably I will need some time toprint them out.

Urban Erzen

What was for you the most outstan-ding experience of the trainingcourse?The expectations of the final productof the group. I like to observe the pro-cess of making it. The contributionpart of each of us and to see the resultswhich represents the time we wereworking together.

Which organization do you repre-sent? Where are you from?Local youth organization of city Med-

vode, Slovenia.Did you miss anything?No, thank you all.

How effective was the course for youand what will you take back home?It is difficult to tell before we see thefinal product. But while making it, wewent through all important matters ofEVS project. The course did exploremost of EVS subjects. I am interestedin efficient EVS tool to use it with ourvolunteers.

Benjamin Gröbe

What was for you the most outstan-ding experience of the trainingcourse?In the training course was no outstan-ding experience for me. But I reallyliked to see how we were making pro-gress on our project, although we hadsometimes problems to work effectiveand concentrated. That’s why I am re-

ally satisfied with the outcomes of ourseminar – the EVS tool.

Which organization do you repre-sent? Where are you from?I represent the organization called“Europäisches IntegrationszentrumRostock e.V.” (EIZ Rostock). The EIZRostock is an organization for generaland political education located at theBaltic Sea in Germany.

Did you miss anything?Before saying what I missed in the se-minar, I like to start with the positivethings which should be mentioned.First I like to thank the organizers, ourtrainers and of course all the partici-pants of the training course that wemanaged to work on a common pro-ject and that we reached our objecti-ves. For the next training course I would wish that some participantswould take the training course and its

objectives more serious and that teamspirit would be stronger.

How effective was the course for youand what will you take back home?In the seminar I gained a lot of expe-rience from the practice of EVS host-and sending organizations. As anEVS-coordinating organization I hopeto use and share this knowledge in thefuture with my organization and otherorganizations in my hometown Ros-tock. Especially the intercultural as-pects of the EVS which I got to knowin our seminar are very interesting forme. Additionally to the experiencesand knowledge about the EVS, I lear-ned in the seminar a lot about diffe-rent methods to work, reflect and toevaluate while using them in the semi-nar. I hope to use these also in my fu-ture projects.

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EVS experiencies in Lefkada

Name: Sandra Niedermayer

Age: 20

Country: Austria

How long is your staying here? : 1 year, 1st

September 2011 - 31st August 2012

What is your project about?

Recycling project: we have workshops

with local children in order to teach them

what the hell to do with all this garbage

and also other events to promote recy-

cling and protecting the environment.

How long was the process to apply? for all EVS

3 months, for Solidarity Tracks 2 months

Some funny experience in Greece or EVS:

hmmmmmmm maybe their motto: TNT -

Tomorrow not today

Name: Sonia Huerta

Age: 25

Country: Spain

How long is your staying here?: I´m here since 5th

of December 2011. My project is for 1 year so

I will have 5 month more for enjoy.

What is your project a about? My project is about

environment and sustainable development.

How long was rhe process to apply?: I was thinking

about EVS during my last year in the Univer-

sity (2010). In April 2011, my friend told me

about one project in Lefkada related with en-

vironment and recycle education. I started to

make the application in September. Then my

project was approved and I started in Decem-

ber.

Some funny experience in Greece or EVS:

I´m here for 7 months and I had a lot of funny experiences. It is difficult to choose one but I re-

member once that we went to Meganisi Island and we lost the ferry to come back to Lefkada.

We had no place where to stay and we were thinking that we would have to sleep in the beach.

Finally we asked to some sailor and he accepted to bring us back to our Island.

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Name: Silvia López Talens

Age: 24

Country: Spain

How long you stay? : My EVS was for 10

month (feb. 2011 – dec. 2011) but I

prolonged my staying here and now

I´m still involved in organization.

What is your project about? : My project was

in Orange Radionet project. It is the

radio in Internet that Solidarity Tracks

has to promote their activities and to

communicate with young people. Also,

I helped in the organization of semi-

nars, training course and youth ex-

changes. As well, I was and am

helping giving technical support to other volunteers. I am responsible of promotional actions

like creation of posters, brochures, stickers…

How long was the process to apply? : When I was in my last year of University I heard about EVS

project. I started to search for project in May 2010. After some refused answers, I contacted

Solidarity Tracks and his coordinator chose me for the radio project. We started to make the

application. The Greek national agency refused my application two times, and finally at the

third tried, It was approved in December 2010. So I started my project in February 2011.

Some funny experience in Greece or EVS: my first week here when I have to go to supermarket and

buy vegetables. I had no idea of Greek language. So I was trying to explain to the woman

what I wanted because she didn´t understand English. It was very funny moment because

she didn´t understand me at all and she gave me garlic instead of onions. I was so tired about

the situation that I didn´t say nothing. It took me 40 min to buy something that I didn´t want

and didn´t need.

Name: Varis

Age: 25

Country: Latvia

How long is your staying here? : 12 months

What is your project about? It is about sus-

tainable development.

what are you doing here? I engage myself

in positive activities.

How long was the process to apply? : Around

half year

Some funny experience in Greece or EVS:

Everything is new, many people, new

emotions, great impressions, beautiful

place, every day happens something

unexperienced and fun.

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Working ResultsThe participants of the TrainingCourse “Bringing additional valuefor our EVS projects” were all peo-ple involved in EVS programs.They were youth workers, EVS co-ordinators, volunteers (current orfuture), etc. For this reason, themain objective of our training wasto create an useful tool for both,volunteers and coordinators. Butthat wasn´t the only project fortraining. As well, during the weektogether, we wanted to preparemagazine, a radio emission and avideo what would summarize allour activity in Lefkas. But, it ismore difficult to work in a biggroup, so we decided that the bestwould be to divide participants inthe four following groups.

TOOL TEAM:

Although the content of the toolwas done by the entire group du-ring the different workshop, wehad a “tool team” who was res-ponsible to put all the ideas inorder and to decide about design.The mainaim of crea-ting the toolwas to helpvolunteer tofollow, toe v a l u a t eand to keeptrack ofhis/her project.. All the participant organizationswill receive the tool in order to use

it, if they want, to follow and helptheir EVS. But, also they canchange and personalize this tool tomake it closer with their needs asa hosting or sending organization.

RADIO TEAM

A group of five participants had aninteresting task: they were the“radio team”. During the seminar,they did interviews to participants,EVS in Lefkada and random peo-ple to know more about Youth inaction program and experiences ofparticipants. The emission donewas published in Orange Radio-net, the radio online of SolidarityTracks and it is available in thislink::http://www.spreaker.com/user/orangeradionet/bringing_additio-nal_value_to_evs_project.

MAGAZINE TOOL

Another group preferred writtenjob instead of radio. No problem,they were the “magazine team”,responsible to create the contentand the idea of this magazinewhich shows what the work in theTraining was. They did interviewsand collected information fromparticipants and seminar in orderto have this last result..

VIDEO TEAM

Always it´s nice to have an audio-visual result which represent inimages how we worked. This wasthe objective of the “Video team”.Their first idea was to present allparticipants through a stop mo-tion. After, they wanted to showour working activities but also thefun time that we spend together.

During the Training Course, wehad the chance to know better Lef-kada and some volunteering ac-tions developed in the Island. Solidarity Tracks office: the groupwent to visit the office of SolidarityTracks. There, they met the Euro-pean volunteers that this organiza-tion has. The EVS explained theirprojects which are related with dif-ferent topics like environment, sus-tainable development, youth andmedia. With this visit, the partici-pants not only could see how someEVS experiences in Lefkas are.Also, they were informed aboutother actions of Solidarity Tracksin Youth in Actions program. Thatmeeting was good for create a con-nection between volunteers andparticipants by sharing, as well, afunny evening. Another visit that the group didwas to the Eco home based in

Nydri. It was the last Euromedproject of Solidarity Tracks and ittook place last June. There, morethan twenty participants from dif-ferent Mediterranean area workedtogether to built an Eco house. In the visit, the participants learnthow the experience of that projectwas. But, the participants also met localactivities. In this sense, they wentto visit the Summer Camp for chil-dren in the schools of Lefkas. Mo-nitors and teachers were spendingtime with lefkadian children,doing sports, day trips, going tobeach or activities in the school.Also, Solidarity Tracks was parti-cipating in Summer camp withthem and some EVS were havingworkshop about environment andsustainable development. Partici-pants of training met the directorof Summer camp in Lefkas to

know all the details about this ac-tivity. After some days of hard work,everyone needs a break. For thisreason, we thought that we deser-ved a boat trip around different Is-land of Ionian Sea. During the dayoff, we charged our batteries withthe energy of the sun, beach,friends and fun. After that, wewere able to continue working forour objectives in the TrainingCourse. We thought that the best way topromote volunteer activities isdoing also by yourself. We wantedto do something for Lefkada com-munity. As beaches are very im-portant for the Island, we decidedto make a cleaning activity in thebeach. In cooperation with munici-pality, the group spent one mor-ning taking the garbage out frombeaches.

Lefkada memories

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Kárpát-Ifjúsági Egyesület (KIE) - Carpathian Youth AssociationThe aim of the Association is to represent and support Hungarians civil sphere in the most wide sense.Our main profile consists of:1. Voluntary work with people with fewer opportunities (orphanages, disabled people etc)2. Raising European and Civil awareness (by youth exchanges, workshops, youth initiatives)3. Raising cultural awareness (summer universities, excursions etc)We are especially active in the Carpathian Basin and would like to raise European and Hungarian awareness in theyouth hence making them conscious and active citizens.Throughout history, people tended to expect support from externals. It is high time to realise that even as civilians, wecan achieve a lot. We are convinced that a strong civil sphere is the sign of a healthy, well working and balanced society.We wish to contribute to the intellectual and mental rise of the society. For this reason, we deliver and organise voluntarywork and support all freetime and proffessional activities thanks to which Hungarians worldwide, but mostly those li-ving in Central Europe can establish useful relationships.People tend to refer to teenagers and young adults as thehope of the future. On the basis of our age, we belong to this age level as well hence we see this and the generation fo-llowing us as our primary target. However we most warmly welcome even those with more life experiences.

Uchilishtno Nastoialstvo PGTO “Docho MhailovFor now we host just two EVS volunteers. We are based in Tervel, Bulgaria.Contact: dim095@abv.bg

Work In Progress -WIP- is a no profit organization created by a group of young people who decided to promoteactive participation among young people through local and european activities.WIP promotes youth mobility, active participation through youth exchange programs for young people and betweenyoung people from different European Countries. Active participations, International Youth Mobility, Volunteering, Active Citizenship and Fight Against Discriminationare our main Keywords with which we wish to build, day by day, a better Europe!www.workinprogress-wip.euinfo@workinprogress-wip.eu

Presentations of the organizations

Together is an international network of youth organisations, and up to nowadays it includes 7 registered youth asso-ciations from the EU countries with the same name (LUX, FR, CZ, GR, EE, IT and UK), 2 from the South-East Europeancountries (MK and MNE) as well as in Guatemala. Our association is based on the philosophy that can be expressed in 4 words: "participation", "citizenship", "mobility"and "volunteering". The regular activities of "TOGETHER" network aimed at supporting our philosophy and to promoteEuropean values. The activities include various youth meetings, exchanges, trainings, seminars, debates, exhibitions,concerts, fair stands, sport activities and so on. Many of these activities have the financial support from “Youth in Action”Programmewww.network-together.eu.

Europa aquí is the International Mobility Youth Office of Avilés, a service offered by the Municipality of Aviles in co-operation with the NGO Asociación Cultural EN CONSTRUCCIÓN.The principle objective is to bring the local youth of Aviles closer to the different opportunities that Europe has in herdisposition throught the philosophy of non formal learning, and more specifically through the YiA program of the Eu-ropean Commission.In EUROPA AQUÍ we support the participation of different groups of youngsters and associations in youth exchanges,the EVS project, european training courses etc We also organise different local activities including presentations of the youth exchanges and workshops related to thiscontent, intercultural parties, informational workshops on EVS, language workshops and an online radio so as to ensurethe influence of the european projects in our city.http://europaaqui.wordpress.com/

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Europäisches Integrationszentrum Rostock e.V.“Europäisches Integrationszentrum Rostock e.V.” (EIZ Rostock) is a non-party, non-confessional, independent and state-approved association for political and general education in Rostock and the federal state Mecklenburg-Western Pome-rania. The EIZ Rostock is partner in the pan-european EUROPE DIRECT Information network to provide informationabout the European Union and the European integration process. Furthermore it is partner in the eurodesk-network toprovide information and guide about the “Youth in Action Program” of the European Union and other possibilities forthe youth to go abroad. The EIZ Rostock offers education, information and events about the European Union and otherpolitical issues to the wide general public in order to make aware about the European integration process. The EIZ Ros-tock takes part in different cross-boarder projects with partners from different countries of the EU, for example the EUProgram for Life-Long Learning “GRUNDTVIG”. Besides the EIZ Rostock is a sending- and coordinating organisationfor the European Voluntary Service (EVS).www.eiz-rostock.dee-mail: info@eiz-rostock.de

Solidarity Tracks is a non-profit and non governmental organization, promoting youth exchanges, mobility and in-tercultural learning on European and worldwide scale. Solidarity Tracks disseminate the value of the human rights andpursue the initiative of responsible and sustainable development. The actions of Solidarity Tracks support individuals'personal development in relation to local sustainable development.The ultimate goal of our organization is to understand the links which unite people, inspire us, and supports the spiritfor an equal and mutual development. www.tamonopatia.org

Youth Activity Foundation - Alternative was establish in little town Łobez in West Pomeranian Voivodeship. In the year 2002 we began our activity to encourage youth to be more active. In our city many organizations operatedon a local level. That is why we decided to broaden our activity and we started looking for international partners to co-operate with.As a result of the development of our activity and cooperation with many partners - organizations from almost all ofEurope, it became clear that our various ideas, goals and endeavors would be more efficiently realized within the fra-mework of an independent organization in Łobez that would set its own priorities in accordance with the needs and ex-pectations of the local Łobez community. We are well-known among many partner organizations from all Europe as a reliable and credible partner. Many of theseorganizations want to cooperate with us and places this cooperation on the same level as large, well-known Polish or-ganizations and active NGO's centers such as: Cracow, Wroclaw, Lublin and Gdansk. The mission of our organization is to create conditions for development of youth allowing them active participation insocial life, supporting local youth initiatives and through this facilitate for the youth an easier start in life.

Jaunatne par iesaistisanos The main goal of our organization is to involve young socially marginalized people

such as orphans, youngsters with behaviour and drug addiction problems, representatives from national minorities, in-habitants of the rural areas, physically or mentally challenged young persons into society and to provide necessary trai-ning to improve social skills and the level of education.Now we are working actively on youth information campaign in cooperation with State Employment Agency, StateProbation Service and the main shopping center of our city “Globuss”.We are engaged in the activities of the program youth we have participated in the numerous youth exchanges and se-minars. We have sent and hosted more than 300 EVS volunteers.www.jaunatnepar.blogspot.com; www.jaunatneies.blogspot.com

YOUTH CENTRE MEDVODEIt is the local youth organization of the city of Medvode, 10 km out of Ljubljana. The main goal is to support local youthprojects and initiatives in a user friendly and healthy way.There are several regular projects always going on, because we have developed a good infrastructure. We are proud onour audio studio, multimedia room and youth club Jedro for concerts, performances, art exhibitions, workshops…There is also one or two EVS volunteer working around and some interesting international projects. A youth exchangeproject EKO ART was voted for the best Slovenia youth project of the year 2011 and we were given a special award fromthe president of Slovenia dr. Danilo Turk.www.mcmedvode.si

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ŠKUC is one of the leading non-governmental organisations promoting non-profit cultural and artistic activity in Slo-venia. It holds the status of a associoation working in the public interest in the cultural field. Its beginnings date back toLjubljana's radical student movement of 1968, while it was formally established on 31 January 1972. In the late 1970sand in the 1980s ŠKUC was one of the key supporters and promoters of alternative culture. Today, ŠKUC's main goalsare to support young and promising artists by including them in the cultural sphere and to organise creative spare-timeactivities for young people.In the past few years the activities of ŠKUC have expanded to areas such as providing information and counselling foryoung people, education, a library, archives, social affairs, prevention, sociology, humanism as well as research activities.It has also acquired the status of a association working in the public interest in the area of health care.

Associazione Interculturale NUR is a non profit association active in the field of intercultural integration promo-ting and realizing cultural events, training experiences and informative seminars for the youth in Sardinia.The association has been created by people motivated by a growing interest for culture and cultural differences.Aware of the fact that tolerance and respect for cultural differences, interculturality and knowledge of one's own heritageare the key factors for an harmonious multiethnic society, our goal is that of promoting the diffusion among the youthof those very same values against the ideas of diffidence, racism, nationalism but also against the syllogism globalization= equality that only leads to the uniformity of the different cultures to the model of the richest countries.Our main fields of activity are the promotion of the exchanges between cultures; the fight against all forms of racismand xenophobia; the diffusion of new medias (CD Rom, Internet, distance learning…) as intercultural tools; youth in-ternational mobility and the recognition of the competencies built through experiences of non formal education.We also work at language training and social inclusion projects for immigrants.

Sauga ANK is based in Parnu, Estonia. We have several projects in Estonia and abroad. Our center is for young peopleto spend their free time. For the future, we are planning to do cooperation as well with EVS volunteers.www. Sauga.ee/noorsootdede

Association for youth and students in partium (PIHE) was founded in 2006 in Oradea, with the aim to keepa constant level of organization and representation of interests in the youth organizations in the city and its surroundings.The association focuses on voluntarism, training of youth leaders, cultural and leisure events of young people, socialactivities mainly inorphanages and Youth in Action programs.