Building Bridges for Volunteering between Europe and Latin America

BUILDING BRIDGES FOR VOLUNTEERING BETWEEN

EUROPE AND LATIN AMERICA

WE BUILD TOO MANY WALLS AND NOT ENOUGH BRIDGES. ISAAC NEWTON

of European Voluntary Service Organisations

Published in 2014 by the Alliance of European Voluntary Service Organisations Š ALLIANCE 2014 All rights reserved For further information: alliance@alliance-network.eu

Youth in Action

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained there in.

INDEX Preamble 1. About Alliance network and the project 2. About Learning Bridges project 3. Building the Bridges - Activities and highlights

3.1 Kick-off networking seminar

3.2 Multipliers’ Training

3.3 Job Shadowings

3.4 International call for logo creation

3.5 Local campaigns and events 4. Final evaluation meeting and Dissemination event 5. Annexes

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PREAMBLE

Learning Bridges has been an inspiring and very motivating project for all organizations, youth workers, volunteers and all young people who got involved in it from the very beginning!

The idea was born around 2009, during an Alliance Technical Meeting, that is the largest gathering of NGOs form all around the world organizing international voluntary service projects within local communities worldwide.

After been worked out and applied for resources in order to realize it, it started in November 2012!

“Learning Bridges� has undoubtedly served as a stable and solid tool to bring together voluntary organizations and young people from Europe and Latin America, in a very meaningful way!

Throughout the whole project and its various activities, the exchanges, the job shadowings, the trainings, meetings, local and national events, youth voluntary organizations and young people form Europe and Latin America, came together to share their history, their concerns, their fears and hopes for the future!

A tremendous amount of work with various events has been delivered throughout the whole project, work that to a great extent depended on the initiatives and active contribution of all those involved and especially the young people.

However at the end of the project, what matters the most, is not so much what has been produced but what has happened to the minds of young people engaged to it . Above all, they had the opportunity to see the geographically opposite parts of the worlds (Europe and Latin America) with a fresher look, with more understanding, with more tolerance, more love and curiosity and finally with more inspiration!

And this is what makes it so unique and valuable for our network , its organizations and volunteers!

Chrysafo Arvaniti

President of the Alliance

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“THE LESSONS LEARNT TOGETHER AND GATHERED IN THIS BOOKLET WILL KEEP US CONNECTED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BRIDGE.” FROM THE PUBLIC PRESENTATION OF LEARNING BRIDGES RESULTS BRUSSELS, SEPTEMBER 2013

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AND THE PROJECT

1. ABOUT ALLIANCE

“VOLUNTEERING IS STRONGER IN TIMES OF CRISIS AS PEOPLE TURN TO EACH OTHER FOR SOLIDARITY”

The Alliance of European Voluntary Service Organisations is an International Non Governmental Youth Organisation.

It represents national voluntary service organisations which promote democratic youth participation, intercultural education, understanding and peace through voluntary service.

The Alliance, founded in 1982, is presently made up of 50 members from 29 countries in Europe, Asia and America. The originality and innovation of the Alliance lies therefore in the fact that it has managed to guarantee its internal democratic function creating a structure that allows the widest participation on behalf of its member organisations.

The cooperation between Alliance and Latin America organizations was an idea originated during one of Alliance Technical Meetings, which is the largest international yearly meeting of international voluntary service organizations.

Representatives from organizations both from Europe and Latin America identified the need to dedicate more time to learn from each other’s good practices, to exchange on know-how, to share common problematic and find a space to get inspiration for the future!

The idea was to ‘build’ bridges of connection among the two regions.

2. LEARNING BRIDGES PROJECT

should lead young people to take an active “Learning Bridges to Youth Empowerment, role in finding ways out of crisis, as well as new forms of creativity and entrepreneurship.

Creativity and Participation” is a project funded by the European Union through The plan of activities included: the Youth in Action Programme (Action • a Kick-off networking seminar, 3.2). It is coordinated by the Alliance of • a Multipliers’ Training on Youth European Voluntary Organisations with the empowerment in voluntary projects participation of 8 European and 10 Latin combined with a study visit, America organisations.

• 8 Job Shadowing activities between The project comes from the common Europe and Latin America, assessment within the Alliance that • an Evaluation meeting and public “international volunteering” can be a dissemination event, fundamental tool, that leads to youth • raising awareness campaigns and events empowerment and to the development of organized locally by the participating key competences, necessary to make young organisations, people think critically, participate actively in • an international logo contest the local communities and into the labour market.

Along the entire project participants The main goal is to create a space developed and collected examples of to explore and analyse innovative and good practices, innovative approaches and alternative ways for the reinforcement of successful stories about volunteering, youth social cohesion, civil society development participation and empowerment. and inclusion. In today’s multifaceted crisis in Europe and the rest of the world, the development of social and civic competences 5

THE PARTNER ORGANISATIONS Promoters from 14 countries in Europe and Latin America were involved in the project. The common field of action of all organisations is International Voluntary Service (IVS) for the development of local communities and the empowerment of young volunteers. The diversity of local needs, realities and methods applied, constituted the ground for the exchange of innovative approaches and strategies addressed to young people. All European and Mexican promoters are members of the Alliance.

“VOLUNT EERING: DO I ONLY HELP OR DO I A LSO LEAR N?�

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“ASIDE MANY DIFFERENCES, WE ARE UNITED IN THE SAME THING: WE HELP PEOPLE IN NEED”

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UNITED KINGDOM FRANCE SPAIN

MEXICO NICARAGUA COSTA RICA ECUADOR PERU BOLIVIA

ARGENTINA

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ESTONIA BELGIUM ITALY GREECE

Asociación Cultural de Intercambio de Costa Rica - ACI (Costa Rica) The principles of ACI are to promote peace and brotherhood, contribute to sustainable human development, encourage human exchange and harmonious relations with the environment. Through international volunteering and cultural exchanges, ACI involves young people in social and environmental projects offering them new perspectives and opening for them a window to the world. The main activities organized are ecological and social group voluntary projects. www.aci.cr Asociación “Centro de Desarrollo Rural de San Rafael del Sur” - CEDRU (Nicaragua) The mission of CEDRU is to promote and improve the development of the region San Rafael del Sur, to increase the standard of living of the population with special focus on the weak part of the population and trying to include as many women and young people as possible. The values underlying CEDRU’s work are solidarity, inclusion, cooperation and participation. At international level the organisation has hosted groups of volunteers from Germany and North America. At the local level CEDRU has worked with hundreds of young people in the public schools of San Rafael del Sur in many social and environmental projects. www.cedru.org

Brigada de Voluntarios Bolivarianos del Peru BVBP (Peru) BVBP is a national organisation composed of and totally dedicated to young people, with a long history in Peru since 1982. The headquarters are in Lima with branches in most provinces of the country. The guiding values of BVBP are integration, solidarity and social service. The main aim of addressing the needs of young people in their own communities and empowering future generations of young leaders, are addressed through the organisation of summer international workcamps, street work projects for local communities and group cultural exchanges with young people from other parts of the world. Youth empowerment is a key word in BVBP action. www.bvbpperu.org Citizens in Action (Greece) “Citizens in Action” was created with the purpose of promoting active participation of young people and adults in social life, as a way to create a democratic, interdependent and open society. Members and young volunteers take part in local and international voluntary and training programmes that benefit local and rural communities in practical terms (community development) and with the educational aim of creating responsible and active citizens among international volunteers and local young people. The focus of C.i.A. volunteering projects is on the theme of inclusion as a way to empower young people to find alternative solutions to crisis and boost their initiative and creativity. www.citizensinaction.gr

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CoCat (Catalunya-Spain) Cocat is the coordination platform of workcamp organisers in Catalonia (Spain), integrated by all those youth organisations which organise international workcamps in Catalonia regularly. It works for the promotion of voluntary service, as a tool for personal and community development, mainly through workcamps, and puts its efforts in fostering networking in the local and the international field. To give opportunity to all youngsters to access IVS projects and support them in their learning process is an important aspect of Cocat’s work. www.cocat.org Concordia (France) The main objectives are to help young people acquire collective life skills, promote the values of peace, mutual respect and intercultural understanding, support local and sustainable development. International workcamps and mobility are a perfect tool to reach these goals and Concordia exchanges every year more than 2000 volunteers with partner organisations from the world.

Training and non formal education activities are a relevant part of Concordia’s effort to ensure quality and sustainability in its actions. www.concordia-association.org

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Concordia (United Kingdom) Concordia´s mission is to foster crosscultural understanding and friendship by providing young people with quality opportunities for international volunteering, work experience, education and training. It sends volunteers overseas each year and organizes short and long term voluntary projects on UK. Concordia also offers leadership training and many opportunities for young people to access international volunteering. www.concordiavolunteers.org.uk

EstYES (Estonia) The aims of the organisation are to increase international understanding and solidarity, enable people to learn from each other and broaden their horizons by living and working together, promote international voluntary service as a powerful tool for local development and non formal education. Estyes organized voluntary camps in Estonia and sends young volunteers abroad. It also organizes and takes part in youth exchanges and trainings, seminars and conferences related to their field of action. The main target group is youth between 14 and 30 years old with specific consideration to young people with special needs. www.estyes.ee

Fundación Proyecto Ecologico Chiriboga (Ecuador) The main aim of Chiriboga is the protection and conservation of the environment while promoting local development. An important tool to help people realise the importance of environmental protection is to involve international volunteers in the workcamps organized in small communities. Chiriboga also chose education like a way to promote the increase of academic level in the students of the primary schools from country areas and urban conglomerations. International volunteers help to deliver extra educational programmes for children and young people; at the same time, these intercultural exchanges let the volunteers, students and the local inhabitants to learn from each other, giving them unique experiences of life. chiribogaecuador.wordpress.com Fund for Education and Volunteer Work - FEVI (Ecuador) FEVI aims at promoting understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity, providing volunteering based support for elderly people, children, women, indigenous people and those in needs, promoting social and economic development of the less resources communities in Ecuador. Voluntary service is promoted in local Universities so that young people can develop leadership capacities in their community, learn to identify and solve local problems, avoid injustice, inequality and violence. www.fevi.org

JAVVA (Belgium) The mission is to promote the active participation of young people and their mobility through intercultural exchanges, in order for them to fully assume their role of active and responsible citizens. JAVVA is driven by the principles of intercultural diversity, youth participation, solidarity and peace. It sends and receives volunteers in the frame of short and long term projects such as workcamps, youth exchanges and voluntary service, and organises local events and activities. www.javva.org Red Tinku (Bolivia) Red Tinku is based on the principles of interculturality, social justice, local participation, solidarity, self-management and autonomy. The aim is to bring greater opportunities for the marginalized and excluded, and this is the focus of their voluntary projects with young people and children, indigenous groups from rural areas and urban communities.

Apart from hosting international volunteers, Red Tinku organized non formal education activities with special focus on sustainable development and protection of the environment. www.redtinku.org

“ASIDE MANY DIFFERENCES WE ARE UNIT , ED IN THE SA ME THING: WE HELP PEO PLE IN NEED” 11

Subir al Sur / SES Foundation (Argentina) Subir al Sur is a program of SES Foundation which promotes intercultural and peace education through intercultural voluntary service on an international, regional and local level. The activities include the organisation of IVS projects, seminars and cultural events to involve young people and specially youth with fewer opportunities. The vision is to transform ethnocentric and absolute visions of life introducing values of solidarity, peace and respect for cultural diversity through the pedagogical tool of social service. www.fundses.org.ar www.subiralsur.org.ar Solidarites Jeunesses (France) SJ organizes short and long term international voluntary service programs as well as projects with people with less opportunities, training sessions and international solidarity projects. One of the main aims is to encourage the participation of all people, specially youth, through volunteering and non formal education. www.solidaritesjeunesses.org

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Sonqoykipi (Peru) The main work of Peru Sonqoykipi is dedicated to attend the necessities of the local population of children that were left without parents and suffer from the effects of this war such as violence (physical and psychological), infantile mistreat and intra-familiar violence.

With the supportv of the international volunteers many activities are organized to help Peruvian children and families, such as educational, recreational, cultural and social activities as well as classes of basic themes on human development. www.peruentucorazon.org Vimex (Mexico) VIMEX’s work is driven by the values of solidarity, cooperation and intercultural exchange. The main target are young people and their empowerment to become independent and responsible citizens. It organizes programs where international volunteers help in the social needs of Mexican people, get to know local culture, customs and daily realities. VIMEX encourages the exchange of different ways of thinking and the coexistence with people from other countries, by spreading a culture of volunteering and participation. www.vimex.org.mx

Vive Mexico (Mexico) Vive Mexico philosophy consists in involving young people of different nationalities in projects focused on aid and cooperation with the objective to provide a space where their energy and creativity can be channelled towards the promotion of brotherhood and solidarity between nations all over the world. The objectives are to promote cultural exchange between young people from different nationalities and backgrounds, and develop voluntary service in Mexico as a mean of solving social, cultural and ecological problems through international solidarity and co-operation. It also coordinates a wide variety of seminars and congresses as well as leader trainings to help developing International Voluntary Service in Mexico and Latin America. www.vivemexico.org YAP Italy (Italy) It implements international short term voluntary activities, training courses for intercultural youth animators, information projects and campaigns. Added to the voluntary action in the territory, the organisation implements activities of centralised and decentralised information, communication and education of the youth to citizenship and the European dimension.

YAP IT also contributes to the involvement and sending of socially, culturally or economically disadvantaged youth and young people at risk to itineraries of non formal education aimed at stimulating their personal growth capacities inside the community. www.yap.it

OUR STRONGEST LEARNING IMPRESSIONS...

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Much more intense intercultural learning process Opportunity to get involved in a global network Democratic openness Like-minded people Together we can made a real change Examples of good practices Reminds the importance of youth participation Support to real needs An amazing amount of people active in the voluntary field Got aware of my own potential Intercultural volunteer exchange Current topics in today’s voluntary world Chance to actually meet people from a different continent Involving a variety of actors Competency of trainers United strengths Real impact to International Voluntary Service today and for the future Human and personal intercultural experience Plan concrete follow-up activities Mix of local, national and international level activities The same understanding about what Volunteerism is So many organisations who “sell” volunteering for what is not Threat: exploitation of volunteers and their motivation Commitment and enthusiasm of all involved organizations Need to assure the long term commitment of volunteers and the communities Good preparation before the service continue cooperating Decision-making people have participated Gives ground for a real change There was no pattern to Job Shadowings and more flexibility I have the power to bring a change now Enormous potential in the number of exchanged volunteers 13

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES The project aimed to boost the cooperation among organisations in EU and LA, and to empower key individuals active in these organisations (youth workers and leaders; active volunteers; staff; young trainers).

The specific objectives were to: • Promote international and local volunteering as an effective tool to empower young people, develop their creativity and spirit of initiative • Enhance youth participation in the local communities by enabling the exchange, training and empowerment of active volunteers, youth workers and staff of the partners • Exchange and develop innovative practices in the field of International Voluntary Service (IVS) • Between Latin America and Europe, that contribute to the fight against crisis, poverty and unemployment • Build sustainable and wider partnerships among Latin American and European civil society organisations dedicated to youth and volunteering • Develop a solid network of voluntary organisations at international and regional level.

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THEMATIC AREAS International Voluntary Service (IVS) and Networking IVS is the main activity of Alliance members and the partners in this project. It is our common ground to share our experience, challenges and visions, and to develop together ideas for future cooperation.

Youth Participation The participation of young people in the life of their local community, may it be their neighborhood, the organisation where they volunteer, their school, university, town or even their region. By getting interested in their social surroundings and taking actions for the benefit of others, young people often develop a set of competencies that are useful in their personal and professional future.

Empowerment Youth workers and young people can highly benefit from their participation in training courses and volunteering activities. They can become aware of their potential, discover new interests, explore fields unknown to them and possibly make a step forward in their life. They can bring a valuable change in an organisation, innovative ideas, know-how and new perspectives.

Creativity and sense of initiative Volunteering can provide young people with newly acquired self-confidence, team work capacity, sense of solidarity, problem solving and new manual skills. These are important factors in learning how to put ideas into practice, face challenges and find creative solutions to overcome obstacles, for the benefit of all.

Inclusion Alliance Accessing policy states that the inclusion of young people from disadvantaged background in IVS projects is a key priority for the network. They are those youth having a great potential but do not have access to learning opportunities and spaces of expression, due to lack of education or job, poverty, social discrimination. 15

EXPECTED RESULTS The creation of an informal network of multipliers in volunteering and youth empowerment.

Increased participation in local or international volunteering projects run in 2013 and 2014 Preparation of new International Voluntary Service projects with European and Latin America organisations.

Creation of direct links of networking and mutual support at regional and international level.

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3.BUILDING THE BRIDGE ACTIVITIES AND HIGHLIGHTS The project lasted 15 months from September 2012 to November 2013 and these were the steps we made all together. Eventually, more than 2300 young people and 70 youth workers and staff from all the countries took part directly in international and local activities organized within the project.

3.1 KICK-OFF NETWORKING SEMINAR In the beautiful venue of Tepoztlan and thanks to the arrangements made by VIMEX organisation, the official opening of the whole project took place with the participation of representatives from local Tepoztlan authorities, the Youth Institute and the Secretariat for Development of Morelos state, the General Direction of External Relations for linking with Civil Society organisations of Mexican state.

During four working days, from 13th to 18th December 2012, partners got to know each other, shared their needs and expectations in regards to the themes of the project and their local realities. The results included a detailed plan of action for each of the activities: the training, the job shadowings, the local events, the logo contest and the final evaluation and follow up meeting.

Three main thematics were identified according to the needs of the partners: how to reinforce networking between EU and LA and within LA impulse the capacity building of staff and active volunteers through the exchange of expertise guarantee the multiplying effect of the project and the impact on volunteers

Also some important decisions were taken on how to jointly ensure the cofinancing of the actions and maximise the impact of the project by developing solidarity measures within the partnership.

Following the commitments undertaken at the meeting, two organisations could participate in the Job Shadowing phase and reinforce the multiplying effect of the project.

“IT IS A VERY GOOD IDEA TO INCLUDE TO EACH LARGE INTERNATIONAL PROJECT, LIKE “LEARNING BRIDGES”, THE POSSIBILITY OF RUNNING LOCAL EVENT OF LARGER SCALE. THIS GIVES A GREAT CHANCE TO INVOLVE MORE LOCAL BUT ALSO INTERNATIONAL YOUNG PEOPLE WHO SHOULD BE THE FINAL BENEFICIARIES OF SUCH PROJECTS.” 17

3.2 MULTIPLIERS TRAINING “Steps for Euro-Latin American Cooperation and Quality in Voluntary Service”

Learning Bridges project gave space to develop a specific methodology on how to match the expectations and improve communication between European and Latin America sending and hosting organisations of IVS projects, through the Multipliers’ Training in Morelia, Mexico (8 - 16 February 2013). 25 participants from the 18 promoters took part in the Training that was co-organized and facilitated by the Alliance network and Vive Mexico organisation.

The methodological aspects of Networking in IVS between Europe and Latin America, that were developed along the different activities of the training, include the following important issues: • Challenging trends in international •

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volunteering Understanding forms and types of volunteering and where we as a network fit: What European organisations see when looking at Latin America projects and vise versa.

Getting to know practical procedures of the international volunteer exchange: How to communicate our work to young people and to our partners and other stakeholders (tools, resources, skills and knowledge) Ensuring exchange of thoughts on intercultural learning in the process: How to trigger ICL in IVS among young volunteers and the local community?

Redefining our needs in EU-LA context based on individual interest and approach

The follow up of this training would include trainings for trainers of volunteers on national level. This is a small taste of what we talked about, shared and created during those 8 days.

Our shared meaning and principles of volunteering Solidarity – Cooperation – Help - SelfInitiative – Reciprocity – Commitment Identification with the cause – Respect – Not paid – Organized/Quality – Empathy - Involve the local community - Empower the youth - Transparency - Non profit – Inclusion Gender equality - Social justice – Proactive Against prejudices - Share common goals - Not professional – open to everybody Learning by doing Challenging trends in international volunteering 1. Confusion between Volunteering and Voluntourism. Ideas for actions: • Give our organisations and activities

more visibility, give clear informations about the differences between the values that mark our IVS action and the profit reasons behind tourist agencies.

• Accepting volunteers from partners and being loyal to them.

• -A specific proposal is to have short common text on what makes our IVS organisations different from the voluntourism structures.

2. State intervention: Voluntary work can never replace paid labour and should not be exploited. Ideas for actions: • Organisations should make alliances with

local and national governments also as a way to guarantee the non exploitation and the maintainance of the principles of volunteering.

• Share experiences and good practices on alternative fundraising 3. Funds and needs: there is a lack of fundraising training in Latin America, while in Europe organisations too often depend on public funds. Ideas for actions: • Share skills and ideas on public, but also

alternative, fundraising, on negotiation and lobbying.

4. International sponsors in big volunteering events: they are very appealing for the personal benefit of volunteers but there is often exploitation of free labour. Ideas for actions: • More efforts on promoting and

informing about the meaning and values of volunteering.

SYNERGIES BETWEEN FORMAL AND NON FORMAL EDUCATION: THE EXPERIENCE OF MORELIA In the year 2005 the Technological Institute of Morelia signed a collaboration agreement with Vive Mexico organisation. The objective of the agreement was to contribute to the integral education of the students and future professionals, promoting social responsibility and “glocalization” under the motto “think globally act locally”. This is achieved by involving the students of the university in voluntary actions developed by the international volunteers, thus matching the research and know-how field from the university with the team work and intercultural competences that the international volunteering scene brings to the local reality and the group.

The result was a International Cooperation Project for Community Development and Infrastructure Improvement for Saving Water, Creation of Environmental Awareness and Entrepreneurship Culture. The aim of that specific project was to promote among youngsters an international and intercultural vision, participating actively in the design and implementation of a system for water purifying and also to develop high social impact activities by working with children and youngsters, implementing workshops for entrepreneurship culture, environmental awareness and design a life project.

Between July and November 2011, about 80 international volunteers, local youth and Mexican students cooperated in a variety of research, planning, manual and educational activities that had a direct impact on hundreds of children, students and workers of Morelia area.

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Recipes for Intercultural competence development.

The goal of the activity was to find a recipe for a workcamp that would have the greatest impact in terms of intercultural understanding both to participants as well as to the local community. Participants had to find the ingredients to “cook” a good intercultural understanding in a workcamp.

Some participants were divided in the “kitchen team” groups that had to prepare the recipe, while others were the “village council” that had to decide to award a prize after having found the indicators of success. Indicators had to respond to what extent the intercultural learning aspect was systematically addressed within the project.

To take the decision on the winner, the Villange Council considered three different levels, from the one with basic elements that should be present in each workcamp (i.e. having a local workcamp leader, having contact with the local community, etc.), to the one that pays more attention to the preparation of the workcamp (i.e leader prepared, preparation of the local community), til the one whose content provides added value to the project (i.e. dissemination activites, involving media, initial and final evaluation to measure the impact, have a final big event etc).

The most tasty recipe was the Space camp and these are the ingredients: • To well prepare the program of free time

would like to invite some of the volunteers to dinner.

• To ask if someone in the community would like to share some knowledge about something (playing guitar, dancing, etc.) with the volunteers.

• To organize a day of international meal, so every volunteer can share their own food.

• To invite the local population to work hand by hand with the volunteers Further tasty ingredients from the other recipes are: • To involve local volunteers as participants •

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in all the workcamp To organize thematic Workshops (what happens in each country, how we solve different conflicts, i.e. using games and movies) To ecourage and promote initiatives of the volunteers To organize a tour of sensibilization about the culture of the area (what are the needs of the community and the culture and history) To have a spaces of free expression for the volunteers express their emotions, actions and solutions to improve the workcamp in diverse ways.

Issues to work on and improve through cooperation and networking 1. Preparation and follow up of volunteers

and projects, aiming at improving the activities before the workcamp and try quality of IVS to include in it the participation to local 2. Development of cooperation within Latin events.

America.

• To have a first day of official opening with 3. Visibility of IVS values and projects. the local authorities and medias.

• To offer the local community if they

LATINOAMERICARTE - A COMMITMENT TO INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION FOR INCLUSION FOLLOW-UP PROJECT COORDINATED BY SUBIR AL SUR-SES FOUNDATION LatinoamericArte is a project that aims to promote exchanges between youth of Latin America using art as a fundamental tool for cultural exchange and production.

LatinoamericArte is an Intercultural Cooperation Meeting to be held in Buenos Aires on February 2014 with the participation of 20 young people from Latin America and Europe from 20 different organizations, together with more than 60 local young people. The organisations’ aim is to promote international volunteering, which in Latin America is not as known as in Europe, while bringing closer to each other youth from different parts of LA region. All partners committed to support young volunteers participation by not applying extra fees for the management of the project.

This is an educational experience and individual social transformation based on the values of social service and diversity. It will last two weeks: during this time, young Argentinean volunteers and young volunteers from various countries around the world will come together to work on a community service project totally designed and self-managed by the local youth group linked to Subir al Sur. Crosscutting themes of the exchange will be: • Latin American Identity: components of American identity, recognition of indigenous peoples and migrants social and historical role, globalization, what unites young people across Latin America.

• Culture and interculturality.

• Conflicts arising among young people and within their local communities.

These crosscutting issues will be addressed in artistic workshops with young people where there will be three main stages: discussion and debriefing, exchange of experiences and/ or cultural products and creation of an artistic output by all the young participants to express what they will have learnt during the project. The artistic methods will include cinema, music, street art, dance and radio.

Besides, recreational activities will be organised as opportunities for exchange, such as visiting social organizations and a tour of southern Buenos Aires identifying the characteristics of the territory.

The meeting will end with a festival where the conclusions and cultural productions will be presented to the community along with local youth on an open space.

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3.3 JOB SHADOWINGS 22

Eight Job Shadowings of 15 days for youth workers and active volunteers from European and Latin American organisations took place between April and September 2013 with the overall aim to improve networking. For a wider multiplying effect, Job Shadowers and involved organisations shared the outcomes and highlights of their experience with all the partnership through written reports shared online and during the Final Evaluation meeting.

During the realisation of the project, the job shadowings became 10 thanks to the active contribution and co-funding of single organisations.

Let’s share! The multiplying effect of Job Shadowing visits through self-funded actions by ACI, CEDRU and SJ

Rica, thanks to the joint financial effort of the partners involved to cover the travel and lodging expenses. These are the learning highlights of this “triangle” Job Shadowing.

During the Kick-off meeting partners “During the orientation seminar planned specific solidarity measures for the outgoing French volunteers, to maximise the impact of the organized by SJ, I had the project and take this unique chance opportunity to participate in the for exchange and networking. As preparation of the different activities a result, ACI Costa Rica sent a staff that they had. Also I could present member to Solidarites Jeunesses in my organisation to the participants France on June 2013. Few months and explain them a little bit about later, on September, a staff from how a host organization implements CEDRU Nicaragua visited the office a voluntary project. And of course and activities of ACI in San Jose.

I got to know from the participants Knowledge and ideas about new about their motivations to participate practices and educational approaches in voluntary program out of their in volunteering went from France to country.

Nicaragua passing through Costa

After the seminar I visited a project called Le Creneau where SJ host several international volunteers. During my stay there I had the opportunity to live the experience of voluntary project in France since I participated as the others in the same conditions, working, cooking and organizing free time activities.

In regards to the know-how about this project the director of the Creneau and the coordinator of volunteers explained me about how do they work with the volunteers, and how they implement the workcamps in the region, I had even the opportunity to assist to several meetings with different partners of the workcamps, one with an educational association for young people in social disadvantage, and other with a social organisation that promotes cultural activities for the people of a small village” “Through the encounter with other cultures and organisational realities in Costa Rica, we could learn from each other, discover similarities and differences between our cultures and personal backgrounds but also between our organizations.

Participating in the activities allowed me to interact with members of the organization and the international volunteers who were currently in the phase of preparation, orientation and information about the different projects that they were about to start at ACI. From the prospective of CEDRU, we acquired knowledge and skills on how to support volunteers, regardless of their resources, to participate in volunteer projects. In addition, we developed project proposals for voluntary work with local and foreign youth.”

“It was a very successful exchange between SJ and ACI in terms in future projects as well as it was very rich human experience! We learnt interesting practices on the involvement of local youth in the association, the ways to encourage them take active role in the society and shape their neighborhood.

The coordinator of ACI added very valuable inputs during SJ pre-departure trainings for the volunteers going for workcamps and MLTV projects in Latin America. He brought another perception of volunteering, intercultural learning.

Within our organisations we strongly believe in the Networking and work in close cooperation in order to assure quality in projects and positive impact on all levels. Therefore a session on partnerships is part of the training for outgoing volunteers, to make clear the way we work and the idea behind it. One thing is to speak about it and another is to face it. The presence of ACI coordinator made the participants take one step further in the intercultural exchange and concrete partnership example before leaving their country.”

The main aim of this phase of “Learning Bridges“ was to offer the opportunity to the job “shadowers” to visit an organisation in the other continent, observe their work with young people and to share good practices and contribute to the organisation’s activities during his/her stay.

As it’s clearly seen from the reports of the organisations and job shadowers involved, the activity reinforced the networking links among participating organisations and the planning of future cooperation projects. Latin American Organisations that were not experienced yet with European programmes and youth policies, have had the chance to get first hand information about EU strategic priorities in the field of youth and skills development.

From a content-related point of view, the job shadowings were focused on alternative practices to foster the entrepreneurship of young people in a variety of fields (environmental sustainability, social economy, community development, international volunteering etc.), as a way out to the nowadays crisis and unemployment.

The topic of positive impact on local community (civil society involvement and relations with public authorities) of IVS was also developed through concrete actions implemented by job shadowers.

The job shadowing phase was also the crucial inspiring moment to exchange and try out methods of tutoring and peer supporting. One person from each hosting organisation provided guidance and support to the job “shadower”.

After the job shadowing a lot of new ideas about future cooperation between European and Latin-American organisations were expressed both on bilateral level and for the whole network. The communication was improved and the partnerships were

strengthened. New working methods of youth work were shared between project promoters on the inclusion and empowerment of young people and on promotional strategies of IVS values and opportunities.

Successful practices identified by the Job Shadowers • Inclusion, accessibility and safety • People from the local community take •

•

•

•

•

part as participants in the workcamp.

International volunteering programs for participants under a social disadvantage status become a tool for social reintegration Reduction of the fees, in order to include youngsters with fewer resources in specific projects.

Promotion of IVS projects to teenagers so to include youngsters with less than 18 years old The organisation makes available to the volunteers with low financial resources, a number of scholarships to help them finance their travel to the voluntary project abroad.

The organisation welcomes in its office all the international volunteers taking part in workcamps, at their arrival in the hosting country. The workcamp leaders will then guide and travel with the volunteers to reach the local workcamp elsewhere. This is an effective risk management measure.

Mentorship for IVS volunteers Every time a volunteer takes part in a a long term project in Mexico, a call for mentor is published on the Facebook page of the organization. Local young volunteers apply

for it and receive training before the arrival of the foreign volunteer. The mentor is in charge of accompanying the volunteer all along the project favouring his/her cultural and social integration. On the other hand, the local young mentor can benefit from the interaction on a social/cultural level by exchanging with the volunteer as well as by improving the language skills.

ACTIVATING AND INVOLVING LOCAL YOUNG PEOPLE FOR A HIGHER AND DEEPER IMPACT*EXCHANGE OF PRACTICES BETWEEN COCAT AND SES (APRIL 2013) “We found very interesting the practice, implemented by SES, of engaging local volunteers in the activities of the organization, in particular as mentors for foreigners volunteers, most of all for long term projects.

We have been trying to do it as well, but we really couldn’t implement it as a structural tool of hosted volunteers’ management. We could test that it’s a very good practice of SAS/SES, as it facilitates work of the organization by sharing responsibilities and at the same çand engagement of local young people, who can also have a good time and be pleased being in charge of facilitating the integration of foreigners volunteers in their context, which they know directly and deeply. Of course, for foreigner volunteers it is a unique opportunity to discover local context, culture and have fun, with youngster like them.

We discovered that Argentines volunteers are very active in their local context and engaged with the organization, they are real multipliers and guarantee a better communication and visibility of the projects. Their involvement in the organisation helps to create local projects with a great potential of social transformation and community work.”

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Youth empowerment through local networking

Promotion of IVS

• Work with university students through

youth themselves from the small communities that are about to host an international project, to describe and even promote the upcoming voluntary programe in their neighbourhood or village. This is an example:

http://goo.gl/EtNNzv • Organize activities for workcamps participants that allow them to meet people from the local communities and promote the work they do.

• Tailored strategy to recruit volunteers use of a certain language to communicate with young people in order to promote volunteering. The word “scholarship” is used to convey the message of volunteering as a learning opportunity.

• Arrange visits of delegates of foreign associations and schools to know the local project.

close cooperation with universities administration to encourage them and offering opportunities to take part in the international projects in the country and abroad as a part of an integral education approach.

• The association Trabajadores Sociales Comunitarios de Bolivia (Social Community Workers of Bolivia) is the biggest national organisation.

Many young people members of this organisation take wish to take part in the process of social change of their country.

In the context of an IVS project, they can undertake the responsibility and put in pratice civic actions that in the future may bring to the creation of a national Youth Policy.

Youth empowerment through IVS • Managing important responsibilities in

the project such as to be the responsible of the kitchen during a whole day • Possibility for international volunteers to become a leader of a workcamp, and also the option to implement workshops for their colleagues and for the visitors of the project.

• Inviting the volunteers when they come back from their international voluntary service projects to take part as cofacilitators in the pre-departure trainings for future volunteers.

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• The use of videos made by the local

IMPORTANCE OF STEREOTYPES: YOU SEE WHAT YOU ARE PREPARED TO SEE IMPORTANCE OF MOTIVES: YOU EXPERIENCE WHAT YOU ARE PREPARED TO EXPERIENCE; YOU PROGRESS FROM WHERE YOU START; YOU NEED TO LISTEN IN ORDER TO HEAR AND YOU NEED TO WATCH IN ORDER TO SEE.

THE PREPARATION OF VOLUNTEERS AND PROJECTS FOR A DEEPER IMPACT The preparation of volunteers and projects for a deeper impact One of the strengths of a network of international volunteer exchange organisations is the common understanding and methodology of pre-departure preparation of volunteers going to projects on other continents and their on-arrival preparation once they are there. Predeparture and on-arrival trainings provide concrete conditions that make it more likely for volunteers to: • Experience proper intercultural learning and gain intercultural competence and attitudes towards the “other” deeply and durably through self reflection, through understanding cultural diversity as a source of exchange between one’s identity and a global identity, • Gain a wide perspective of volunteering and youth involvement in the host country, • Accept the experience of international volunteering projects as a tool to improve their consciousness about the richness of diversity and the power of volunteering to develop oneself and a local community The degree of intercultural competence which can be reached during an IVS project depends on several variables such as: • The intercultural awareness and previous experience of the participants, • The general profile of participants, composition of the group, communication and language skills • The concrete set up and theme of the project, • The capacity and experience of the organisations involved and the coordinators of the project • The match of expectations and motivations of the organisations, participants and communities involved.

In order to achieve this, the SO and HO need to consider the following: • How to determine a good mix of nationalities and profiles for an IVS project • What to consider for the preparation and evaluation sessions of IVS projects • How to train the people responsible for a project on the aspects enhancing chances for intercultural learning and participation • How to prepare / work with the local communities where a project will take place • How to determine the degree of intercultural competence and self confidence of participants and communities in the beginning and how to measure the progress made thanks to the project • How to create an atmosphere of trust, which incites people to open up during a project • How to develop the degree of self confidence and sense of initiative of participants

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COCAT “We’re sure this project helped both organizations to know each other better, create mutual confidence and to build a real “bridge”, and it will help us to reinforce and promote this network and collaboration”

:)

“There were many interesting and useful things to learn or reflect upon. However the most impressive is probably the cooperation with the universities, which VIVE Mexico has, promoting non-formal education through youth exchanges and IVS with the view to create a link and coherency between formal and non-formal education to harmonise it for the benefit of youth.

This is something we should try to do in Estonia and in Europe in general”

“We started from very basic ideas that could improve the cooperation between our organizations in outgoing/incoming sector. First of all it concerns the implementation of Alliance quality standards in the projects we all realize.”

:)

YAP Italy, host of Alexander Linares (Red TInku)

:)

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Alexander Kurushev (Estyes) Job Shadower at Vive Mexico on August 2013

Sharon Peña Muñoz (VIVE Mexico) Job Shadower at Concordia UK on April-May 2013 “I am glad to be part of this Learning Bridges project through this Job Shadowing, it was a great experience, we cannot see how amazing and beautiful is our work in the world until we see that we are far in distance but close in ideals”

Anne-Clotilde Schweizer (SJ), Job Shadower at SES Foundation on June-July 2013

:)

“Through this experience I have realized the motivation of the organizations that I met, but also the needs of these organizations. Young Bolivians I met are full of energy, without means they are able to do great things and have a strong political focus. The notions of political commitment are very important in Bolivia, notions that are low in our French volunteers.

When different cultures meet, it can be “electric”, it is important to take this into account to enhance our collaboration. “

:)

Nunzio SORICARO (Concordia France) Job Shadower at VIMEX on April 2013

“On the one hand, I actively took part in one of the trainings for workcamp leaders by leading some activities. The training is really well conceived, participatory and dynamic. Afterwards, I had the chance to participate in its evaluation where we had the opportunity to exchange ideas and good practices that can be useful for the next trainings. It would be useful if Vimex’s trainers could take part in one of the trainings for workcamp leaders organized in Europe and vice versa”

:)

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3.4 INTERNATIONAL LOGO CONTEST Why a contest for Learning Bridges logo?

We believe that the project logo would better represent the bridges we are building, if it was the result of a participatory and inclusive process where young people have a leading role. We wanted to give visibility to the diversity of ideas and understandings of volunteering that exist in our countries and communities.

Partners agreed that this logo contest would not be considered as a competition but as an occasion to reach more young people and involve them in future voluntary activities. The "prize" (easy participation in an international workcamp) is to be considered as an incentive to discuss about the meaning and impact of volunteering, get to know concrete opportunities and entering the worldwide community of international volunteers.

More than 30 young people from Latin America and Europe took part in this international initiative that was launched on April 2013. Alliance friends on social media (more than 2000 individuals and organisations from all over the world) could take part in the selection of the final logo through the Liking Marathon on July. The final three logos selected by partners were made by:

VOLUNTEER LEARN CREATE PARTICIPATE!

Alzbeta Hrušovská – Italy Volunteer of YAP IT The official Learning Bridges logo

Eduardo Larios – Mexico Volunteer of VIVE MEXICO

• Alzbeta Hrušovská – Italy (volunteer of YAP IT), the official Learning Bridges logo;

• Eduardo Larios – Mexico (volunteer of VIVE

MEXICO); • Carlos Izquierdo - Peru (volunteer of BVBP).

Learning Bridges partners warmly thank all the young people who put their creativity at the service of IVS reinforcement between Europe and Latin America!

Carlos Izquierdo - Peru Volunteer of BVBP

3.5 LOCAL CAMPAIGNS EVENTS TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT VOLUNTEERING AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE Integral part of the Learning Bridges project were the campaigns, events and meetings organized at local or national level to promote IVS among young people, to encourage their active participation in voluntary projects, to create new synergies with the local stakeholders and to generate a deep rooted impact on the local communities.

The starting point in the implementation of the local campaigns or events was the realization of local introductive meetings where the Euro-Latin America project was presented in details and the local campaigns were planned. After these meetings the young people actively took part in the events that have been conceived as an active tool to share the diversity of ideas and perspectives on volunteering and to promote intercultultural approaches among the youngest.

A great variety of events were organized in all 14 countries: from promotional events in schools, to workshops with volunteers about to start their project, local fairs, trainings for youth leaders and several meetings with local organisations and public authorities that are developing an important social work in urban and rural communities.

A specific priority has been given to the participation to the events of young people coming from disadvantaged background due to poverty or living in isolated areas. In fact they have scarce possibilities to enter voluntary activities and projects at local and international level and it’s fundamental provide them with information to experiment new learning opportunities, either by facilitating their participation in projects abroad or by bringing international volunteers to their community. The meetings and events organized within Learning Bridges allowed to establish new networking links for the future development of IVS projects and the involvement of more young people.

As outcomes of the events we can list the awareness raising of the young people about participation and volunteering, their concrete and practical involvement in voluntary-based activities and the dissemination of information about the support provided by Youth in Action programme among the local communities.

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Setting the ground for a wider reach to isolated areas of Peru through youth empowerment - The nation-wide campaign of BVBP from June to August 2013 The campaign started with a national meeting of BVBP youth leaders in Ica, where the young emerging leaders could share needs and resources from their regions and plan future common strategies to impulse youth participation and democratic processes at local level.

The multiplying effect of this first action allowed to start a dialogue with the local communities of the young leaders, for the implementation of IVS projects in three new departments of BVBP: Palca, Ayacucho and Pucallpa regions. These new workcamps will be introduced to the international partners for them to send motivated volunteers.

Two of the planned workcamps already took place during the summer 2013 and were leaded by the participants of Ica meeting with the support of more experienced BVBP members.

A national workcamp will be organized on Winter in La Selva for the first time, with the support of the local community leaders: this will a “trial” for the possible future hosting of international volunteers.

During all the phases of the campaign, priority was given to the young delegates from the internal areas of Peru, which have less opportunities for participation due to geographical isolation and poor economic conditions of their regions.

Special consideration must be given to an important meeting with the local youth and community in Puno region, in the south of Peru on Titicaca lake. This is an isolated and poor are (more than 60% of the population in the area lives in conditions of extreme poverty, according to Peruvian national census - INEI2007). It was an unusual occasion for so many youngsters in the area to express their hopes but also their frustration for the lack of basic services and opportunities that they face everyday. This created a bigger committment for the social workers of BVBP that visited the region.

“WE NEED YOU… TO LEARN!”

MESSAGE TO YOUNG PEOPLE IN NICARAGAUA

TO INVITE THEM TO BECOME VOLUNTEERS

“If the mountain won’t come to Muhammad then Muhammad must go to the mountain” The Training of Learning Bridges that took place in Morelia had an immediate multiplying effect on a local community in Ayacucho region, Peru. BVBP participant, Alexander Marino, thought that the opportunity to live an international learning and volunteering experience had to be given also to those young people that cannot afford paying a travel abroad. For this reason and with the support of BVBP, he coordinated an international workcamp in Ayacucho inviting local youth to participate in the voluntary work together with the foreign volunteers.

The local community and the power of solidarity The crisis in Greece significantly affects both the functioning of all institutions and structures (formal and informal) and also every aspect of everyday life of citizens in cities and communities.

It also inevitably brings difficulties when organizing workcamps. In the workcamp of Pentalofos Kozanis, the problems caused by the lack of material and financial support from the public authorities, due to its challenging economic situation, were overcome thanks to the self-management of the local community of the village. The attitude of solidarity of the locals to support the implementation of the workcamp was an immediate reaction to the situation. Important needs such as transportation, tools and other logistic issues were covered or supported either with the participation of village structures (eg cultural association), in collaboration with structures of adjacent villages (eg nursing home of nearby village) or from the support of individual donations of items, lending of tools, transportation by car and van etc. That was a perfect example of solidarity from the local community as a form of alternative support and “fundraising” for the implementation of a workcamp.

Where there is no money, other interesting practices can come out from a grassroot level.

Volunteering is also commitment to the place where you live!

CEDRU discovered the huge potential and willingness for volunteering among young people - April 2014 It was exciting to listen during the campaign, every day, to the young people that are involved in CEDRU ecological brigades: with their own words they spoke about volunteering and how nice it was for them to have that experience. They said they have learned a lot in their activities, which has been good to help the development of their school and their community; they also said they felt useful by helping without expecting anything in return. To undertake the tasks assigned with love and responsibility, for exaple in reforestation campaigns on the rivers of their communities, is the expression of a love for nature in which they met many young people from different places who do it with the same enthusiasm and joy.

These were beautiful examples shared at the time of the talks: they started from their experience at local level to get to talk about international volunteering and the countries where there are offers for international volunteering opportunities.

Young people who gave the talks, were always positive when they spoke of the opportunities for international volunteering: it was their “mission” in that moment to motivate and encourage other young people to different types of volunteering. Still, we felt that young people are not very interested in volunteering in other countries due to their economic background. But we could notice a lot of interest in participating at local level and join the green brigades that are currently organized by Cedru. This was an important and pleasant discovery for us.

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Diversity and interculturality through food and creativity - JAVVA event with young refugees - August 2013 The second raising-awareness event counted on the participation of young asylum seekers from Fedasil refugee center where JAVVA coordinates the placement of international volunteers.

For the young refugees, being involved in a youth activity was something new. The objectives were to spread knowledge about IVS and possible involvement of the young users in local activities (such as workcamps in Belgium); to stimulate their reflection about the benefits of intercultural dialogue in a highly multicultural group as the one they live in; to make them express themselves through team work and creativity.

The day started with some ice breakers and games to create a good group dynamic. The participants then went on to organise and cook two plates: one from Afghanistan and the other from Guinea. They compared differences and similarities in their culture through a simple cultural expression such as food; they ate and shared the meal together.

JAVVA volunteers also realized video interviews with the young refugees to allow them express their opinion about the experience lived during the day: trying something new of another culture, discovering the beauty of multiculturality and, through food, appreciating the value of diversity.

It was a unique occasion for the young refugees to reflect about interculturality in everyday life and to understand better the reasons why international

volunteers enjoy participating in the life of the hosting center.

Raising awareness on the field - Chiriboga Foundation side by side with the international volunteers - July and August 2013 International volunteering is not rooted in Ecuador culture: it is seen more as a way to look for another life abroad. But there are aspects in the local culture that are linked to IVS! The word “minga” in Quechua language stands for “community work”. It is an occasional form of solidarity and involvement in the matters of the community, but it served as bridge for Chiriboga volunteers to bring the message of volunteering to the inhabitants of Jipijapa region.

Going house to house to raise people’s awareness on volunteering and ecology, the international volunteers that took part in the two workcamps of Chiriboga became known in Jipijapa community. The involvement of local people in the daily work together with the volunteers, was the decisive step that made people understand better the meaning of such international work, with a learning-bydoing approach.

In 2013, with the support of Learning Bridges project, the municipality got encouraged to be involved in supporting the action of the volunteers with available resources. This was the first step of a collaboration with local authorities that is expected to keep growing. Also, local youth committed to take part in future international activities for the benefit of their own community.

CONCORDIA FRANCE Informational event about IVS in Versailles (June 2013) “We were in contact with a recreational centre for children of a Parisian suburban city. That was the occasion to organize artistic workshops about Latin America and its culture: the children drew various items, among them a series of Bolivian national flags, a big logo of Inca Kola to symbolize Peru and a Maya pyramid for Mexico. All these were used to decorate the working room were we then held the 2-day workshop for our future international volunteers.”

between the Italian volunteers and the job shadower Alexander from Red Tinku. We appreciated a lot the contribution of Alex to the intercultural learning topic.” http://goo.gl/cTYOI0

ESTYES - Raising awareness event on volunteering (August 2013) “All the participants were amazed by the number of people involved into this event. Moreover, it was a very diverse group as we had participants from Europe, Latin America and Asia. For many young people it was the first time they could meet people YAP ITALY - Training for from other continents and workcamp leaders (May interact with them in real 2013) time and in real life! Such “In the training for camp meetings undoubtedly make leaders that we organized, a deep long lasting positive one of the most important impact to the young people. activities during the We can’t say for sure workcamp season, we how many people will encouraged the exchange of consider voluntary service experience in volunteering as an important part of

their future, but we drew their attention to the international voluntary service, the benefits it gives and its “accessibility”. We challenged stereotypes that many young people associated with volunteering (age limits, only international, too expensive). And we believe, we succeeded to show meaningful alternatives to the virtual world to which more and more young people depend nowadays.”

JAVVA - Training for outgoing volunteers (June 2013) “We wanted to stimulate volunteers’ reflection about youth participation and active citizenship: what does the IVS mean for them and for the local communities (both the one where they come from and the one that welcomed them)? What is in their power to accomplish in order to contribute to a fair development of society?”

4. FINAL EVALUATION MEETING AND DISSEMINATION EVENT The final evaluation meeting took place in Brussels from 31st August to 6th September 2013 thanks to the welcome of JAVVA - Jeunes Actifs dans le Volontariat et les Voyages Alternatifs.

The project promoters that had met at the Kick-off meeting in Mexico could gather again after almost one year to asses the work done and the lessons learnt, and plan concrete follow-up actions.

At the same time and place, Alliance volunteers realized one of their yearly most important meetings: the Joint meeting of Working Groups and Committees. This was a unique occasion for Learning Bridges partners that were new in the Alliance, to get to know about the internal participatory procedures and the current working priorities of the network. As a result, in cooperation with the Staff Development Working

Group, Learning Bridges partners agreed to open the invitation to the Latin America organisations to take part in the Buddy System, a mutual support mechanism aiming to improve IVS cooperation and raise the quality of the international projects (see Annex 2).

During the evaluation meeting a number of issues were raised and discussions were born on the priorities that the partnership should address in the near future with the aim of increasing Europe-Latin America cooperation and improving the quality of IVS projects based on shared needs and concerns.

WE MANAGED TO LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR SUSTAINABLE COOPERATION LINKS WITHIN LATIN AMERICA AND BETWEEN LATIN AMERICA AND EUROPE, BY PROMOTING VOLUNTEERING AS TOOL TO EMPOWER YOUTH AND THROUGH SHARING AND DEVELOPING INNOVATIVE PRACTICES TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTARY SERVICE FROM THE OPEN DISSEMINATION EVENT OF LEARNING BRIDGES PROJECT- BRUSSELS, SEPTEMBER 2013

Idealism vs Pragmatism... and the place in between!

We, IVS organisations, need to improve and tailor our promotion strategies to the target groups we aim to, whether they are students, youth with disadvantaged background or young professionals, and depending on the country. For example, in Mexico volunteering opportunities are often presented as “cultural scholarship” because the idea of volunteering is not as rooted in the culture as it may be in other countries such as the UK. The motivations of volunteers vary considerably even in the same country: from being idealist and just wanting to help, to pragmatic, meaning to live a learning and empowering experience.

On the other hand, IVS organisations follow similar tendencies: some focus on the work that must be done for the local community while others focus more on the educational aspect of the workcamp for the volunteers and the local youth.

In the extreme positions of idealism and pragmatism, we identified the current threats to the values of volunteering!

In reality most volunteers and IVS organisations position themselves along the flow in between the two extremes: volunteering is not only providing a service to the community or learning opportunities to the volunteers, but a mix of all these tendencies.

When we promote IVS, it is important that we are aware of whom we are talking to but also of the message we, as organisations, want to give and which must be based on our shared values.

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Quality of IVS and “voluntourism” In the past few years organisations had to invest extra efforts to promote IVS and reach out to potential volunteers. It is a new trend that in the UK started around the year 2005 due to the huge increase of travel agencies, online websites and companies promoting a form of alternative travel that could be defined as “voluntourism”.

Travellers, mostly from Europe and North America, are offered a placement in a voluntary project mainly in the so called South of the world, in a way that often does not guarantee the implementation of important quality standards both in the preparation and follow-up of the volunteer and his/her work in the hosting project.

The issues at stake in “voluntourism” are two: the Quality of IVS and, connected to it, the cooperation links between sending and hosting partners, which set the ground for a shared understanding of needs and future perspectives.

Learning Bridges partners and the Alliance network consider essential that IVS organisations respect minimum quality standards and commit to establish sustainable cooperation links of mutual support and development. By sharing methods and approaches of community

work through volunteering, we could appreciate that Latin America does not need humanitarian aid from Europe: we all have things to learn from each other and only within a networking framework we can ensure to build long-lasting links of reciprocity.

We want to raise awareness within the international community of volunteers and organisations, about the values that guide our action. In this context the quantity of workcamps organized and volunteers hosted and sent does count, but most of all counts the quality.

For this reason, partners decided to disseminate information about Alliance Quality Charter by first of all translating it into Spanish (see Annex I) for the benefit of all Latin America organisations that currently and in the future might want to get involved in IVS. We are not service providers but opportunities providers, always basing our IVS projects on the local communities needs first, and then creating volunteer positions to fit them - not the other way around. We are not searching projects for volunteers, but volunteers for projects. This differentiates our understanding of IVS in relation to Voluntourism.

On September 4th an Open event to present the outcomes of the overall project was organized by the partnership at the European Trainees Residence in Brussels. We enjoyed the presence of several guests: Mr. David Garrahy, European Youth Forum Policy and Advocacy Coordinator; Ms. Marian Klingberg, Programme manager of European Voluntary Service at EACEA; Ms. Matina Deligiani, President of CCIVS; Ms. Sara Turra, International Coordinator of SCI; Mr. Simon Nickelson, Director of AVSO; Ms. Gabriella Civico, Director of CEV. More than 25 members of the Alliance Working Groups and Committees attended the event.

As an introduction, there was a short video summarizing the steps of Learning Bridges project (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-75Ghx8Stv8). Then the project partners

presented the main activities and results of the project by identifying key words that would well describe the process of building the bridge between Latin America and Europe: the bricks of this valuable bridge are made of Commitment, Partnerships, Discovery, Strenghtening, Inspiring, Cross cultural exchange, Empowerment, Impact, Progress, Trust and Networking.

The topic of Youth Participation was the focus of Mr. Garrahy’s speech about the European Youth Forum campaign on the European Elections 2014. Last but not least, the representatives of Vive Mexico, Mr. Obeth Hernandez and Mr. Alberto Garcia, introduced to the public the innovative practice of linking non formal and formal education through joint actions implemented by the IVS organisation, the Technological University of Morelia and the public authorities.

At the end of the Evaluation meeting, partners developed concrete suggestions for follow-up actions: • Improve the preparation of local community for hosting foreign vols

• Joint trainings for trainers of youth workcamp leaders • Improve the process of preparing volunteers before departure and mentoring them

• •

•

•

during their voluntary projects, by sharing and translating important information and training materials used by partners Share successful practices of alternative funding for workcamps and IVS projects Facilitate the accessibility of volunteers to projects implemented in the other continent by establishing bilateral agreements between organisations to decrease the participation fee in workcamps (e.g. set fee-free quotas).

Establish contacts with communities and associations of migrants in the sending country to involve them in IVS (successful practice implemented by YAP IT with the Bolivian job shadower).

Create a solidarity fund to facilitate the exchange of staff, based on the positive experience of ACI, CEDRU and SJ.

To continue the cooperation and allow the implementation of the follow-up plan, Latin America organisations that were not members or established partners of the Alliance network were invited to meet the Alliance community at the Technical Meeting on March 2014. This is one of the most participated and important yearly events for IVS worldwide, as it is the moment when all members, partners and guests of the network share information about the exchange activities (short and long term volunteering and training programs) that they are going to implement during the year. Members committed to support new organisations approaching the Alliance in implementing the quality charter by inviting them to enter the mutual support mechanism of the Buddy System.

The vision on the long run is to boost synergies in IVS between Europe and Latin America, while at the same time create more and more spaces for Latin America organisations to meet and develop sustainable links at regional level.

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5. ANNEXES

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ANNEX I: Alliance Quality Charter in IVS Alliance Quality Charter

The Alliance Quality Charter has been produced as a target to which all organisations working in the field of international voluntary service should aim.

This Quality Charter sets the standards of our work together, thus enriching the experiences for all those involved: the volunteers, the hosting communities and the hosting and sending organisations. This document should be a standard benchmark by which organisations can evaluate their work together and therefore strengthen their partnerships.

For Alliance members, partners and guests those standards are binding. Priority should be given to the cooperation among members, partners and guests of the Alliance.

1. Volunteers’ Rights & Responsibilities 1.1 Rights: 1.1.1 All volunteers should be informed of: their rights and responsibilities as volunteers; requirements and conditions of their projects; details of the hosting organisations and background to the workcamp movement in general.

1.1.2 Volunteers should be informed of any language requirements, work responsibilities, the number of working hours, type of accommodation and general conditions of the project.

1.1.3 Volunteers should be informed about any significant changes to the project as soon as possible.

1.1.4 Volunteers must be provided with: accommodation (including washing facilities and toilets), and adequate food or budget for it, according to local standards. The group will not be expected to pay any additional fee which was not included in the project description, for their own food/ accommodation whilst on a workcamp.

1.1.5 Volunteers must receive all necessary health and safety instructions regarding the work, accommodation, free time activities and transport (if necessary for the project) and be provided with the necessary safety equipment to carry out the work. A first aid kit should be available in the workcamp.

1.1.6 Volunteers have the right to adequate supervision during their project.

1.1.7 Emergency procedures concerning accidents, during or outside the working time, must be explained to volunteers.

1.1.8 Volunteers should have opportunities to express their opinions/concerns on the progress of a workcamp to a responsible person and where possible be included in the decision process.

1.1.9 Volunteers must not replace paid labour or volunteer on a for profit project.

1.1.10 Volunteers have the right to know how their fees that they give to either/both sending or hosting organisations are used.

1.1.11 Volunteers have the right to extra support to facilitate their inclusion on a project, providing this is agreed beforehand with the host.

1.2 Responsibilities: 1.2.1 Volunteers must accept and abide by the rules and conditions of the hosting organisation.

1.2.2 Volunteers should inform themselves of the voluntary movement, the workcamp philosophy and be motivated to take part

on the project.

1.2.3 Volunteers must prepare themselves for the project by reading any information given to them by the sending/hosting organisations.

1.2.4 Volunteers are responsible for arranging and funding their travel (unless they are going on a supported programme), for seeking professional advice on current medical precautions and arranging their visas with the help of their sending organisation.

1.2.5 If the volunteers cancel their place on a project they must inform the sending organisations as soon as possible.

1.2.6 Volunteers are responsible for obtaining adequate insurance, especially when it is not provided by the hosting/ sending organisation.

1.2.7 Volunteers should arrive on time and participate for the entire duration of a project.

1.2.8 Volunteers must send any information that has previously been requested to the hosting organisations (e.g. confirmation slips, travel details etc.) and if these change they must inform the host as soon as possible.

1.2.9 Volunteers should be flexible and understand that details of the projects can change at the last minute.

1.2.10 Volunteers must be active participants and support good group dynamics as this is a key to a successful project.

1.2.11 Volunteers are responsible, as a group, for organising their free time activities along with the support of the leader.

1.2.12 Volunteers must obey the laws of the hosting country. They are also responsible for their own behaviour on the project and they should respect the culture and traditions of the local host.

1.2.13 Volunteers must not engage in violent or discriminatory behaviour (e.g. racism, sexism and homophobic behaviour).

1.2.14 Volunteers must inform their sending organisation of any relevant health issues that they might have before they go on a project. This is only applicable if the health issue poses a risk to the volunteer or to other people. This information will be treated in the strictest of confidence.

1.2.15 Volunteers are responsible for providing feedback on their experience to their host and sending organisations.

2. Hosting Organisation’s Rights & Responsibilities 2.1 Rights: 2.1.1 Any volunteer not abiding by the agreed rules of the workcamp can be expelled from the workcamp.

2.2 Responsibilities: 2.2.1 Each host organisation must implement and respect the rights of the volunteers (see section1.1).

2.2.2 It is the responsibility of the hosting organisation to ensure that the host community understands the international and social aspects of a workcamp and is motivated to achieving these in addition to the project work.

2.2.3 Hosting organisations should only accept volunteers from a sending IVS organisation, unless there is no IVS organisation in a particular country and a volunteer applies directly.

2.2.4 If a volunteer is refused a place, the hosting organisation should give a reason (e.g. full workcamp, too many females, etc.)

2.2.5 If a workcamp is cancelled the hosting

organisation must propose an alternative workcamp for the volunteers already placed on it. The replacement camp should be as close as possible to the original project in terms of dates, type of work and work location.

2.2.6 Hosting organisations should ensure that all communication regarding placements of volunteers is done efficiently.

They must inform sending organisations about any changes regarding the project as soon as they occur.

2.2.7 Hosting organisations should do all they can to ensure a volunteer is issued with a visa when required and they should clearly communicate the visa procedures with the sending organisation.

2.2.8 Detailed information (the ‘info sheet’) should be available no less than four weeks before a workcamp is due to start. This information should include an emergency telephone number of the hosting organisation. Hosting organisations are recommended to follow the template provided in the Alliance Guidebook.

2.2.9 Hosting organisation will provide adequate food and suitable accommodation.

2.2.10 There should be a trained person (usually a project leader) responsible for each workcamp to supervise the volunteers and ensure its smooth running. They should also ensure that the volunteers are included in decision making.

2.2.11 Hosting organisation must inform sending organisation about any no shows within three days from the start of the workcamp.

2.2.12 Hosting organisation must inform sending organisation if a significant problem (health, safety or wellbeing of a volunteer) occurs on a workcamp or if a volunteer leaves early.

2.2.13 If, during the time of a workcamp, a volunteer is hospitalised then the hosting organisation is responsible for their wellbeing until the volunteer leaves the hosting country.

2.2.14 Hosting organisations are recommended to have insurance for their projects but in the event that this is not possible they must inform the sending organisations and volunteers before the projects begin.

2.2.15 If, during the time of a workcamp, a volunteer has to be repatriated for any reason then the hosting organisation is responsible until the volunteer leaves the project/workcamp.

2.2.16 Hosting organisations must inform all the volunteers about any health and safety instructions regarding the work, accommodation, free time activities and transport (if necessary for the project).

2.2.17 Hosting organisation should inform sending ones about any relevant remark concerning volunteers.

2.2.18 Hosts must provide volunteers with meaningful and not for profit volunteer work.

3. Sending Organisation’s Rights & Responsibilities 3.1 Rights: 3.1.1 If any significant accident or incident affecting the health, safety and wellbeing of a volunteer (e.g. hospitalisation/arrest) occurs, the sending organisation has the right to be informed.

3.2 Responsibilities: 3.2.1 Each sending organisation should implement and respect the rights of the

volunteers (see section 1.1) 3.2.2 The sending organisations must inform volunteers about the workcamp movement, voluntary service, what they can expect on a workcamp and what is expected of them. They must also be clear on how their projects are funded.

3.2.3 Sending organisations are responsible for providing volunteers with all the necessary information including: preparation/training sessions; handbook; infosheets; contact with past participants, etc.

3.2.4 Sending organisations should only recruit volunteers who are resident in their own country unless there is no sending organisation in a particular country.

3.2.5 The Volunteer Exchange Form (VEF) of each volunteer must be sent to the hosting organisation. It is the responsibility of the sending organisation to submit a completed VEF. 3.2.6 The emergency contact section of the VEF must be filled in and the hosting organisations have the right to refuse a volunteer if it is incomplete. It is the responsibility of the sending organisation to submit a completed VEF. 3.2.7 Sending organisations from countries where a visa is required should inform hosting organisations about visa regulation.

Sending organisations should do all they can to ensure a volunteer is issued with a visa when required.

3.2.8 If the sending organisation receives significant or outstanding evaluations about a workcamp they should inform the hosting organisation.

3.2.9 If a volunteer cancels his/her participation the sending organisation must inform the host organisation as soon as possible.

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ANNEX 2: Alliance Buddy System The Buddy System Manual Introduction The Buddy System was developed by the Staff Development Working Group (SDWG) of the Alliance following feedback from staff members during the Alliance Staff Meeting in 2011. The aim of the system is to enable staff members to share best practice, knowledge and experience amongst Alliance member, partner and guest organisations. This manual outlines the ‘Buddy System’, its purpose, the role of buddies and evaluation of the system.

The Purpose of the Buddy System The idea for the Buddy System was introduced during the Staff Meeting in Botley, UK in 2011.

During the Staff Meeting newer staff members expressed an interest in setting up a scheme whereby more experienced members could share knowledge, experience and examples of best practice.

In the Alliance we share common goals and visions. Apart from following the Alliance Quality Charter that sets standards of our work together we also have the Alliance Guide Book to our hand that leads us in our daily work.

Still we all have our own ways of reaching the standards and goals and it is often difficult to find the time to talk about our best practices and share our experiences with each other. By creating a support system of “Buddies” we can help each other to support daily routines, develop our work in order to achieve a common standard and to increase the quality in our projects.

Whilst the initial idea was to develop a system in which newer staff members could

feel supported in their work, the buddy system has since evolved to include ‘buddy matches’ involving two experienced staff members, where one member is seeking advice and support in a specific area (s) of our work.

Involved parties and their roles In each ‘Buddy Match’ there are two parties; an ‘Asking Buddy’, those who are looking for support and advice and an ‘Answering Buddy’, those who are willing to share experiences, knowledge, advice and guidance.

Answering Buddy Only a staff of Alliance member organisations can become an answering buddy.

The role of the answering buddy is to: • Offer assistance in the best possible way, this may include setting limits of areas of questioning.

• Agree on a mutual schedule i.e. to set a maximum answering time – within one week.

• Accept monitoring during and evaluate after the exchange season • Ask for assistance from SDWG, if facing any issues with the ‘Buddy System’ Answering buddies are not there to do the work of others, cannot be expected to be available at all times and are not expected to know everything. If, as an answering buddy, you have knowledge and experience of a certain area of work in which few other people have experience, your expertise may be shared between two or more asking buddies.

An answering buddy can come from any Alliance member organisation.

Asking Buddy Asking buddies can be staff members of Alliance member, partner or guest organisation that are new to their organisation, new to the

Alliance, or are existing/experienced staff members that would like to develop or improve certain areas of their work.

Asking buddies can expect assistance on related issues - please respect the limits of the areas in which your buddy can offer assistance, to agree a mutual communication schedule and to accept monitoring and evaluation during and after the exchange season. Answering buddies can also ask for assistance from the SDWG if there are buddy system related problems.

Asking buddies can be from member, partner and guest organisations of the Alliance.

How it works The SDWG of the Alliance will send out calls for ‘Buddies’ throughout the year. Staff that are interested in becoming a buddy should respond to this call and fill in the form stating if they would like to become an answering (member organisations only) or asking buddy and what areas of work they are interested in giving/ receiving advice and guidance in.

There are a wide range of topics that are covered by the buddy system including placement procedures, coordination of workcamps, technical support and development of new projects.

Staff that are interested in joining the buddy system should fill in the buddy application form and return it to the SDWG sdwg@alliancenetwork.eu by the deadline given. The SDWG will then review all forms and will make ‘buddy matches’ according to the forms that have been received.

Answering buddies may be assigned to more than one asking buddy if you have knowledge and experience of a certain area of work in which few other people have experience.

Equally, asking buddies may be assigned two or more answering buddies if seeking advice in a wide range of areas.

Once applications have been matched, pairs

will be contacted to inform both parties that has a match has been made. If you apply to be a buddy but there is not a suitable answering/ asking buddy to match your application you will remain in the system until the next call.

After you have received your buddy match it is up to you to contact your buddy, ideally within five working days. Buddies will then be left to communicate with each other throughout the season, abiding by the mutually agreed communication schedule.

The Buddy pairs are formed for one exchange season. Continuous cooperation is possible if both sides agree.

Evaluation About a month after you have been paired with your buddy you will be contacted by a member of the SDWG to check in on your buddy match.

This is to check how much contact you have had with your buddy and to allow buddies to raise any issues they have encountered.

At the end of the season there will be a more in-depth post-season evaluation. All matches will be sent an evaluation questionnaire.

Buddies will be asked questions on all aspects of the system. This feedback will be collated and feedback to the SDWG and the Alliance Executive Committee (EC). If there are similar issues amongst buddy matches the SDWG will aim to amend the buddy system accordingly to try and create the most effective support system for both sides of the match.

Buddies should also share relevant questions and answers with the SDWG at the end of the season. These questions and answers will be collected and will be used to create an FAQ section for the Alliance website which can be used for reference by all staff members, whether they are part of the Buddy System or not.

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Published in 2014 by the Alliance of European Voluntary Service Organisations Š ALLIANCE 2014 All rights reserved For further information: alliance@alliance-network.eu

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