The project focuses on empowerment of low-skilled adult learners, volunteers engaged in activities in voluntary organisations, which are understood as all those non-profit organisations that engage volunteers and provide voluntary services of any kind. More and more people engage into voluntary work of various kind on formal and informal basis. Importance of non-profit org. providing voluntary services (associations, societies, foundations, churches) is increasing steadily. In 2015 (Eurostat last avail.), the involvement in informal voluntary activities in the EU-28 was slightly higher than in formal (organised) voluntary activities (22.2 % versus 19.3 %). Participation in partner countries: IT(12 formal; 11,2 informal), PL(13,8; 50,6), ES (10,7; 10,6), DE (28,6; 11,4); BE (20,4; 20,8). In all countries there are strong organisations that belong to networks, but there are also many small that operate locally/regionally and struggle to survive. Volunteers help elder, sick, immigrants, environment, but they also do work that helps keeping organisations alive. In this aspect, it would be beneficial for them to take advantage of EU funds. If they had strong digital, intercultural and initiative taking and entrepreneurship skills with specific knowledge on EU projects writing and managing, it would not only bring positive effects to their lives but also to organisations they voluntary for. Partners conducted own research about participation of voluntary organisations in EU projects and trainings available for volunteers. Results show that the reason “why” they don’t participate is mostly that volunteers are not trained in this area, they are not aware of such opportunities, they don't have international contacts or they don't have competences to write high quality EU funded project. Analysis of approved projects show, that there are no or little written by volunteers. As for the trainings, organisations can't afford it, especially if from their point of view, it is less urgent. If they have to choose accounting vs. how to prepare EU project, the first will be chosen, because it is a requirement while the second is only an option. As it is getting more difficult for small associations to raise money, this sector in particular could benefit from EU funded programs but often there is no one, who would know how to prepare projects. The objectives are: - to improve and extend the supply of high quality learning opportunities tailored to the needs of volunteers, especially those that are low-skilled by enhancing their knowledge and skills in issues related to EU projects development and management with a focus on developing effective open and innovative education in the digital area through the use of ICT supporting key competences - increase inter-regional and transnational cooperation and develop and reinforce European networks especially of those voluntary organisations that are not part of EVS/ESC -increase the capacity of voluntary organisations to operate transnationally -develop digital learning materials and tools in particular OER and support the effective use of digital technologies in education and training - to disseminate widely the results in order to reach as many as possible volunteers and voluntary organisations throughout European Union. Target group are low-skilled adults who work as volunteers of those voluntary organisations that are not part of EVS, that operate in small communities, work on local and regional levels and are not aware of possibilities that EU funded projects could bring them. The project is centred among development of two main Intellectual Outputs: - 1 OER for volunteers including practical Toolbox on various aspects of cooperation within EU projects (including 1-Internationalisation for voluntary organisations, 2- Dissemination and exploitation of results, 3-Intercultural communication in transnational work, 4-quality in EU projects, 5-ICT tools for the implementation and management of European projects). OER will include theoretical part and practical tools for work on planning, design and management of EU projects. - 1 e-catalogue of good practices in the field of EU projects implementation by voluntary organisations with possibility of interactive exchange of good practices for these organisations. The project is likely to have a sustainable impact within and beyond the project lifetime on the low-skilled adults who work as volunteers, on voluntary organisations, adult education providers, participants and participating organisations. As result of the project low-skilled adult volunteers will upgrade their competences in preparing and managing European projects, enhance their digital skills, intercultural competence and sense of initiative and entrepreneurship. Voluntary organisations will be able to strengthen their position in the region, gain new sources of funding, run more effective operations and establish new, international networks.
CTV set ambitious goals in a complex and diversified field as volunteering. The objectives chosen were: - to improve and extend the supply of high quality learning opportunities tailored to the needs of volunteers, especially those that are low-skilled by enhancing their knowledge and skills in issues related to EU projects development and management - increase inter-regional and transnational cooperation and develop and reinforce European networks especially of those voluntary organisations that are not part of EVS/ESC - increase the capacity of voluntary organisations to operate transnationally develop digital learning materials and tools in particular OER and support the effective use of digital technologies in education and training - to disseminate widely the results in order to reach as many as possible volunteers and voluntary organisations throughout European Union. To accomplish those objectives, partners chose to address the activities to volunteers and in particular to low-skilled volunteers of those voluntary organisations that are not part of Solidarity corps program, that operate in small communities, work on local and regional levels and are not aware of possibilities that EU funded projects could bring them.
The main idea behind the project was to empower volunteers in planning and writing international projects. The strategy chosen was through digital skills and ICT tools in a simple and effective way to be able to address also small and non structured organisations. In the planning phase the partners decided to apply for this project after having noted that more and more people engage in voluntary work of various kinds of non formal and informal activities. In small association volunteers also manage the organisations. In this aspect, it would be beneficial for them to take advantage of international cooperation. If they had strong digital, intercultural and initiative taking and entrepreneurship skills with specific knowledge on EU projects writing and managing, it would not only bring positive effects to their lives but also to their organisations. Partners conducted their own research about participation of voluntary organisations in EU projects and training available for volunteers. Results showed that they don’t participate is mostly that volunteers are not trained, they are not aware of such opportunities, they don't have international contacts or they don't have competences to write high quality international projects.