Dates: 1. 12. 2016 – 30. 1. 2017
Venue: Kayseri, Turkey
Programme and action: Erasmus+, KA1, European Voluntary Service
Participants: The volunteers have to be at the age of 18-30 years old, interested in youth issues, willing to get involved in communicating with young people, having team spirit, be responsible, creative, curious, open-minded and with good competences in using computer, internet, social networks
Volunteer: Radka Poulová
Please read the infopack and timetable.
Participating countries: Czech Republic, Lithuania, Romania, Spain, Slovakia
Something about the project: It is composed as a short-term EVS, International Youth Activities Centre Association (IYACA) is the hosting organisation. They ‘want to form a youth activity in which youth can exist as they are, act in concert affect the society and activity that is innovative, creative and sustainable. We want to form this organism with the youth leaders who agree with or respect to each other, make decisions, design and perform together.’
Proposed activities for the volunteers: The volunteer will serve and do his/her activities mainly in the IYACA but he will be involved also in the other activities that take place in the other places; such as, high schools, universities, youth center etc.
Volunteers will be involved in the following activities:
- To prepare International Youth Bulletin;
- To give basic information about youth activities in universities: European youth opportunities;
- To update website of the youth center (Facebook page and databases);
- To participate in every special events organized by the Youth Center;
- To participate in the meetings in high schools;
- To manage on the web radio programmes;
- To participate in every special events organized by the Youth Center;
- To participate in street forums;
- To organize English conversation clubs;
- To organize intercultural activities.
Project report: I have participated in a short-term EVS project „European Youth Dream“ in a Turkish organisation IYACA, in the city of Kayseri, close to famous Cappadocia. The aim of this organisation is promoting volunteering and international youth co-operation, organising leisure activities for the local youth, and teaching English to them. I spent there two months in total: December 2016 and January 2017.
I got a room to live directly on the first floor of the association building, together with a shared kitchen and bathroom. Unfortunately, the other volunteer cancelled her stay at last minute, so I was the only foreign volunteer for the entire duration of the project.
My activities consisted mostly of teaching English conversation, both to high school students at a local high school (twice a week) and to university students directly in our association (once a week). Apart from that, I was also writing a blog, creating a newsletter, administering social media of the organisation, and organizing youth leisure events in co-operation with local volunteers. I also participated in a week-long international youth exchange, which my organisation held in a nearby city.
During the project, I definitely improved my adaptation skills, cultural learning and understanding. Besides, I improved my teaching skills, interpersonal skills, time management and social media skills. I definitely recommend the EVS experience to any young person.
Radka Poulová
