Researches show that between 92 and 94 million adults in the EU – i.e. 22 % to 23 % of Europeans aged over 15 – are involved in volunteering. A Eurobarometer survey published in April 2015, revealed that the most common areas for volunteering are charity, humanitarian and development aid (44 %); education, training or sport (40 %), and culture or art (15 %). Their activities are usually aimed at a local community (66 %) or the volunteer’s country as a whole (27 %). Cross-border volunteering remains modest, with only 7 % of activities being aimed at another EU country, and 11 % at other parts of the world.Project’s overall Aim: Support for social engagement of young people, youth workers and youth organisations through volunteering and capacity building actions with direct impact to boost active citizenship, inclusion, cross sectoral cooperation and quality of youth work in the local communities. The project is a continues cooperation of the approved project Volunteering Connecting Communities enriched with more actions and valuable tools to be used in the local level. Volunteering helps citizens to connect with others in their local communities who may be from entirely different backgrounds. It creates bonds and shared identities that go beyond superficial differences that might otherwise seem important. Volunteering also provides a meaningful way of grappling with social problems – for example, reducing social isolation or improving mental health – for both the volunteer and the communities being supported the volunteering.The theory of change we would like to propose is a combination of tools in local and European level. Each local campaign planned in the local community would promote volunteering concept as effective ways to normalize daily life.Objectives: • To build capacities of partner CSOs working with young people with fewer opportunities, their beneficiaries and volunteers on volunteering and its qualitative management• To develop further and support existing local volunteering infrastructures (volunteers Hubs) through cross sectorial approach • To plan and implement awareness raising campaign on promotion and values of volunteer work in local communities• To share best practices, exchange “know how” and establishing bridges of closer cooperation with various stakeholdersThe final project beneficiaries (people in local communities, elderly, minorities, and people with disabilities) will directly benefit from developed capacities of target group, as these capacities will enable more quality identification of needs, planning, implementation and securing the support of volunteering programmes focused on improving the quality of their lives. Therefore, the partner’s consortium expects to have a positive impact and to improve planning and implementation of quality volunteering programmes focused at local communities by achieving the following action results and outcomes in support of overall aim and specific action objectives.
•Working with young people with fewer opportunities, their beneficiaries, and volunteers on volunteering and its qualitative management•Developing further and support existing local volunteering infrastructures (volunteers Hubs) through a cross-sectoral approach •Planning and implement awareness raising campaign on promotion and values of volunteer work in local communities•Sharing best practices, exchanging “know-how” and establishing bridges of closer cooperation with various stakeholders
Volunteering is a very important activity for youngsters to whom they can acquire additional knowledge and competencies, which will increase their opportunities in the labor market.Volunteering is a very important activity that has proven to be very useful during a pandemic Volunteering is a tool for social change/fosters youth participation. Therefore the project was very important for the future of youngsters in partners countries and offered mixed alternatives for youth workers,partners,youth
<< Background >> Volunteering is a very important activity for youngsters to whom they can acquire additional knowledge and competencies, which will increase their opportunities in the labor market.Volunteering is a very important activity that has proven to be very useful during a pandemic Volunteering is a tool for social change/fosters youth participation. Therefore the project was very important for the future of youngsters in partners countries and offered mixed alternatives for youth workers,partners,youth << Objectives >> •Working with young people with fewer opportunities, their beneficiaries, and volunteers on volunteering and its qualitative management•Developing further and support existing local volunteering infrastructures (volunteers Hubs) through a cross-sectoral approach •Planning and implement awareness raising campaign on promotion and values of volunteer work in local communities•Sharing best practices, exchanging “know-how” and establishing bridges of closer cooperation with various stakeholders << Implementation >> All partners have designed a set of activities that provide target groups with information, knowledge, support, and skills necessary to create and put in practice quality volunteering infrastructure and programs for benefit of local communities and especially disadvantaged target groups which all partners of the consortium work with. The HUB was opened in 15 high schools, and the project was realized at the international and local levels for each country. << Results >> Existing Volunteers Hubs are further developed and advanced, now we have 15 more HUBs in 5 countries;Implemented various volunteering activities focused on increasing of quality of life of local communities &improve their status and inclusion in society;Volunteering is properly promoted with a direct positive impact on the development of youth work;Toolbox which is created previously now is translated into 5 different languages and can be found online The website and database are active.