The VolunCITIZEN project aimed to: Promote Social Inclusion: Match 66 immigrants with NGOs for volunteer work, fostering community participation and reducing isolation. Foster Intercultural Exchange: Engage 30 local youth in volunteer activities with immigrant-serving NGOs to promote mutual understanding. Build NGO Capacity: Train 10 NGOs to better engage and support diverse volunteer groups. Create Sustainable Tools: Develop a matchmaking web platform and 5 educational videos to connect stakeholders and raise awareness. Encourage Active Citizenship: Empower youth and immigrants to contribute to community service and social entrepreneurship. Strengthen Community Bonds: Host volunteer events and intercultural gatherings to build relationships across diverse groups. These objectives ensured lasting impacts in inclusion, active citizenship, and community collaboration.
Hizmet Denmark applied for the VolunCITIZEN project to address pressing community needs related to social inclusion, intercultural understanding, and active youth participation. The project aimed to tackle the following challenges: Social Integration for Immigrants: Immigrants in our community faced difficulties in integrating into the local society, leading to social isolation and limited opportunities for meaningful participation in community life. Engagement of Local Youth: Many young people lacked structured opportunities to actively contribute to their communities, develop a sense of social responsibility, and engage in intercultural dialogue with people from diverse backgrounds. Capacity Gaps in NGOs: Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) struggled to effectively manage diverse volunteer groups and lacked resources to provide sustainable opportunities for both local youth and immigrant participants. These needs were identified through community feedback and our organization's direct experience working with immigrants, youth, and NGOs. The project was designed to provide practical solutions, such as a matchmaking web platform, educational videos, and training for NGOs, to address these challenges effectively.