Project description legambiente toscana by COCAT

ERASMUS+ 2015 - KA1 - Learning Mobility of Individuals Youth mobility Applicant organisation: Legambiente Toscana onlus Name project: Environmental Volunteers Project description The project will involve a total of six volunteers for nine months and will take place in Tuscany, in different places, even if the main activities will be developed in Florence. Volunteers will take part in different contexts: one is the office of Legambiente in Florence and the correlated activities in the city (campaigns, events, managing Giardino dei Semplici) and, on the other hand, the context of the urban garden at Fabbrichino theater in Prato. Cooperating with young people from different countries will promote a dialogue and a cultural exchange. During the activities, exchange will not be only between volunteers but also between people from different contexts in Italy. Volunteer profile has the following features: strong motivation for the project, interest in the activities, flexibility to adapt to every situations, interest in children's education, spirit of collaboration/cooperation. The project has the aims to promote a sustainable lifestyle and to support a cultural exchange between the volunteers. The idea of this project is to educate volunteers to be able to transmit eco-friendly lifestyle, discovered during the EVS project. All activities of the project will be related to environmental issues, rural development and active participation in the community at local, national and European level. Volunteers will be involved 7 hours per day in the activities; if necessary they will take part in weekend activities respecting rest days. During first month volunteers will attend an italian course in order to improve the language and to permit them to familiarize with local culture. One of the main activities will be the organization and implementation of the main campaigns of Legambiente Toscana (i.e. Italia NO OGM, Piccola Grande Italia, FestAmbiente, Goletta Verde, Puliamo il Mondo, Festa dell'Albero). They will be also involved in environmental education at school: volunteers will help in the planning of educational paths for every schools in addition to take part in meetings with classes. Volunteers will contribute in the maintenance of Semplici Garden, helping in the treatment and conservation of green spaces, greenhouses and collection of plants. Others activities will be the routine maintenance of the green area "giardino Fabbrichino", the related laboratories about enviromental education for children in Fabbrichino theater and international workcamps in summer. Some activities request a light physical effort (i.e. conservation of green spaces, maintenance activities), on the other hand some activities request organization and communication. The project will form volunteers using their knowledge and personal skills to reinforce their ability in team working. Volunteers will also have the possibility to develop their own project and their new ideas in order to improve their skills and competencies. The methods for developing these skills are informal and non-formal learning adjusted to the needs of the volunteers: Legambiente Toscana onlus will use group sessions, peer education and discussions and useful methods to grow up their personal, educational and professional profile. Their ability in management and leadership will be strengthened through the participation in decision-making processes. During the first meeting with the mentor and the staff, volunteers will be introduced in the association and could describe what they expect from the project in order to specify the objectives to be pursued.