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VALUE: Volunteering Activism for Loving and United Europe

2022-1-DE04-KA153-YOU-0000659532022Mobility of youth workersfinalized
Countries: DE|BG|IT|CY|ES|LT · Grant: €28,205
Quality and innovation of youth workYouth policy developmentCommunity development

Objectives

By implementing the “VALUE” Training Course through Erasmus+ from September 2nd to 10th, 2023, in Dresden, Germany, we aimed to address the increased need for young people in Europe to participate in volunteering projects. We recognized that many NGOs were hesitant to include international volunteers due to a lack of skills and competencies in managing these activities effectively. Given our extensive experience in local and international volunteering, we wanted to share our knowledge with other organizations, helping them grow their capacity and ultimately create better-quality volunteering projects and programs across Europe. We aimed to build and raise the capacity of youth workers to design, develop, plan, and implement high-quality volunteering projects for their organizations and communities. We sought to equip participants with non-formal education experiences, enabling them to reflect on and assess their learning processes and facilitate this reflection in group settings. We provided youth workers with tools and methods for efficient volunteer management, including coordination, mentoring, and providing mental and physical support. Additionally, we aimed to develop an understanding of different volunteering practices across European countries and facilitate the sharing of experiences among participants. We encouraged youth workers without experience in volunteer management, providing them with the skills to start developing and implementing international volunteering projects. To support this, we created a comprehensive handbook on volunteer management. We also provided tools and knowledge to help youth workers reach out to young people facing obstacles and encourage them to participate in international volunteering projects. Furthermore, we aimed to build partnerships among the involved organizations, laying the groundwork for future collaborative projects, especially in volunteering. We sought to increase the visibility and importance of volunteering and the education of volunteer coordinators within the participants’ communities. Ultimately, we aimed to contribute to the creation of more high-quality and impactful volunteering projects and programs across European NGOs and social enterprises, promoting the development of a democratic civil society.

Project partners (6)