The First Week + Important Info

Hello again. I'm writing from Hungary now. I arrived at exactly 8 days. It's been 3000 KM of pure adventure. I didn't know the people, the city, the house, the cultural environment, but day by day everything started to get clear and clear, familiar, saying hello to people is becoming like an regular thing, i know them and they know me. It's a good feeling. The colleagues are all very nice and helpful. The office where i'll give support is close to my house and the office has also very good conditions and workspace.
It's been a joy to visit this wonderful country, which i admire so much.

I will put more information down reggarding the EVS program:

As i said in the previous post EVS is a volunteering service in Europe. I will give a more short presentation about what is this program which is part of the Youth In Action program.

- The Youth In Action Program is a EU's mobility and a non-formal education programme targeting young people aged between 13 and 30 years old.
- It's directed for Education and Culture and it has 31 National Agencies.
- It's open to youth in all the EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway and Turkey.
- With certeain restrictions the programme is also open to Partner Countries from EECA Region (Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Russian Federation and Ukraine).
- The main objectives of the program will be to develop solidarity, tolerance and mutual understanding between young people in different countries.
- To promote young people's (European) citizenship and to contribute to developing the quality of support systems for youth activities.
- Promote European Cooperation in the youth field.

The Youth In Action Programme is structured as followed:

- Action 1 - YOUTH FOR EUROPE
- Action 2 - EUROPEAN VOLUNTARY SERVICE
- Action 3 - YOUTH IN THE WORLD
- Action 4 - YOUTH SUPPORT SYSTEMS
- Action 5 - SUPPORT FOR EUROPEAN COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF YOUTH
- The YOUTH IN ACTION program started in 2007 and its valid until 2013.

Im participating in the ACTION 2 aka EVS.
- An EVS project supports transnational voluntary service of young people aged 18-30 (exceptionally 16-30).
- Its a "Learning Service".
- It works according with the values and objectives of the Youth in Action Program in general.
- Its implemented through legally established organiyations.
Takes place in an other country than the volunteer's country of residence.
- It is non-profit and unpaid.
- Can take place in various areas of activity, but must represent a clear European or international added value.
- Must include contacts with the local community.
- It's not a job substitution.
- The duration must not exceed 24 months, including preparation and evaluation.
- It also should have the minimum duration of 2 months and maximum overall duration of 12 months.
- It envoltes a partnership between three actors: A volunteer, a sending organization and a hosting organization.

Sometimes people have the wrong reasons about being in part of a volunteering service. For this to be cleared i will tell what EVS is not:

- Occasional, unstructured, part-time volunteering.
- An intership in a enterprise (it's only in a non-profit accredited organizations).
- A paid job and must not substitute paid jobs (you will have tasks and support the colleagues with everything they do in their working day life).
- A recreation or tourist activity (dont worry because you can travel anyway :)).
- A language course (but you will learn a new language for sure).
- A exploitation of cheap work force as before and during yout EVS you will have access to all its rules such as to know your rights and your duties.
- A period of study or vocational trainning abroad.
- Simply a funding scheme, but a quality model of transnational voluntary service.


Next time i will post partners obligations and important things about the project.