• The European Capital of Culture is a city designated by the European Union (EU) for a period of one calendar year during which it organises a series of cultural events with a strong pan-European dimension.

• Preparing The European Capital of Culture can be an opportunity for the city to generate considerable cultural, social and economic benefits and it can help foster urban regeneration, change the city's image and raise its visibility and profile on an international scale.

Volunteering programme European Capital of Culture Wroclaw 2016

PARTICIPATION TYPES

• EVENT VOLUNTEERING

• LONG TERM VOLUNTEERING

• CORPORATE VOLUNTEERING

• E-VOLUNTEERING

• General and on-the-job trainings• Certificate of volunteering for the ECoC 2016• Opportunity to be involved in the creation of

cultural projects• Participation in team-building events• Gaining knowledge in new areas• Chance to meet new, inspiring people

OFFER FOR VOLUNTEERS

We had a cooperation with many entities:

• city volunteer center • corporations (employee volunteering) • schools (school volunteering) • youth educational center • senior center • local NGOs • EVS volunteers• scouts• prisoners from half-open prison

WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED?

Almost all events during ECoC 2016 were organized with volunteers help. • Grand Opening of European Capital of Culture in Wroclaw• World Jazz Day• David Gilmour's concert• Flow spectacle• Opening of the UNESCO World Book Capital• Theater Olympics• Singing Europe• International Theater Festival DIALOG-Wrocław• social projects, as part of the microGRANT program• European Film Awards• Closing Ceremony of European Capital of Culture in Wroclaw

PROJECTS ORGANIZED WITH VOLONTEERS’ HELP

• every-day help • help in preparations for events• help in guest service• help in the logistic department• help in the press office• support in running infopoints• help in translating, editing texts

THE SCOPE OF SUPPORT

• making new friends• participation in integration events• the possibility of being part of a major cultural

project• the opportunity to do something for the city• opportunity to develop new skills• opportunity to learn how to organize events• contact with an international community• many unique experiences

WHAT ARE THE MOTIVATIONS FOR VOLUNTARY WORK?

OPERATIONAL GOALS OF VOLUNTEERING PROGRAMME

• building a tool for the recruitment proces and volunteer management, database

• building a platform for activation and motivation of potential volunteers

• recruit the necessary number of volunteers for the needs of the ECoC Wroclaw 2016

• appropriate preparation volunteers to theirvolunteering work

STRATEGIC GOALS OF VOLUNTEERING PROGRAMME• promotion and development of cultural volunteering • building civil society• strengthening the positive image of Wroclaw as an

open city with great cultural potential• providing professional service to guests arriving to

Wroclaw for ECoC events• social activation of citizens, including: seniors, people

with disabilities, international citizens of WrocławEngaging citizens of Wrocław in organization of European Capital of Culture

PROJECT STATISTICS• over 1200 people in our volunteers database• 4 volunteers coordinators• over 2000 volunteers working with us during 2016• 2000 events• women > men• most of volunteers were students • most of volunteers were Polish, but we've

involved also international volunteers from all over the world

IMPACT OF VOLUNTEERING • volunteering helps to involve citizens in local

development, thanks to that they can play an important role in developing civil society.

• contributes to social inclusion

• it is a learning method and increases the chances of employment

YOUTH EDUCATIONAL CENTRE WROCLAW

„Volunteering work has produced many positive effects that have resulted in educational work at the Youth EducationalCenter. Young people, often for the first time, have experienced that helping other people can bring lot of positive emotions.During the volunteering they learned to work in team, according to a specific instruction, they were independent, responsible for a specific task. The relationship between the educators and the children was also improved, together they were responsible for the common duties. We could watch volunteers who are able to work on their own and deal with problems, overcome their limitations with shyness and lack of faith in their own abilities.”

Sławomir OstrowskiYEC Educator