23 June 2009 / 09:47

“Building bridges through volunteering”

Long-term volunteer projects (including EVS) make up another big sector of work for many SCI branches, groups and partners. However, there are not so many possibilities for partners to meet, evaluate, discuss and exchange successes in this field – as it is for workcamp exchange, which inspired SVIT and IAL Sweden to develop “Building bridges through volunteering” project.

The main aim is improve the quality of the exchanges and the international communication and cooperation in SCI in the field of EVS and long-term exchanges by evaluating them, discuss challenges and difficulties, and how to deal with them. We also want to provide the space for discussion on different aspects of EVS exchanges: to share knowledge and practical skills regarding local integration of volunteers, how to organize additional educational activities in the framework of EVS projects (focus on human rights, combating racism and xenophobia, gender equality and social inclusion), how to improve the intercultural learning process, how to involve former EVS volunteers in a other volunteer activities for benefit of civil society in the home-country.

The seminar will be organized in interactive way, and we would be glad to hear your ideas and suggestions for topics to be discussed. As the outcome, we hope to have new ideas for promoting EVS and LTV, plans and proposals for cooperation and common action to improve quality and quantity of EVS and LTV projects in SCI. The project is organized by IAL Sweden and SVIT Ukraine, with support of LTEG working group, and financial support of Youth in Action programme. The seminar is targeted on former EVS volunteers, local activists and staff of SCI organizations, and will take place in Sevastopol (Crimea, Ukraine) from September 20 to September 27, 2009. Working language will be English.

Source - www.svit-ukraine.org