"Krystina Strakova und Katerina Chrastova supported the work of the Socio-cultural center ""Die VILLA"" for 12 and 11 months in Leipzig / Germany. They accompagnied the paid workers through their daily (media)pedagogical work, through events, putting into practise their weekly offers, school projects and punctual actions and continuously overtook own responsibilities.Objectives of all parties were cultural exchange, international networking, strengthening the cultural and creative potentials, increase commitment. The awareness and understanding of other cultures and countries was strengthened and also the view towards an European identity (as well on the part of the villa and its visitors) as well as civic involvement and sense of public benefit.Within all the activities of the two volunteers - among other things, helped in organizing the language evening or the open stage in the youth event area, at media workshops and in creating further own projects - the volunteers became increasingly independent, expanded their organizational skills, creative skills and improve their language skills. All this enhanced their employability in the European labor market and enriched them personally as well as the VILLA.Volunteers exchanged with the staff, other volunteers and visitors in everyday life, brought their culture of origin, learned about the local culture and networked with each other.The socio-cultural center ""Die VILLA"" lives from the active participation, interests and ideas of all. Dealing with the young volunteers was therefore participants- and the process-oriented; within a large supply of possible activities they could choose those that matched their interests and learning fields and try it under professional guidance.Volunteers brought their new knowledge, experience and networks after their return. Host organization and sending organization also gained a reliable partner for future cooperation in the EVS range."

Alter Nativa is a civic organization that term presence in the field of rural development in the eastern Slovak village Brdárka and its surroundings.. The main objective of the educational activities in the form of practical activities and active dissemination of information sustainable living and permaculture. Volunteers in this EVS project were actively involved in projects and activities of Alter Nativa NGO connected with the long-term programme Centre of the Alternative Lifestyle. The majority of activities took place in the local community of mountainous multicultural village Brdarka and its surroundings. The duration of the project was 24 months and it involved 3 volunteers from France. The length of activities of the volunteers was twelve, four and eight months. The main aim of the project was practical education and application of theoretical information about sustainable lifestyle available on our courses and in the renewal of uncared orchards.Volunteers were actively involved in both theoretical and practical activities. They have built structures of the Centre of Alternative Lifestyle. The activities of the project included ecological planting, young trees grafting and renewal of uncared orchards. The seasonal outdoor activities also included assistance in building small natural structures around the village and reconstructing the exterior clay plaster in traditional way by using nature friendly techniques. One of their responsibilities was to take care of a community garden next to the house they lived in and to realise the design created for this public space.Volunteers also participated in organising public courses on organic/natural agriculture (Permaculture) and took part in few hand-craft workshops.

"In the past, our association has been involved in eco-friendly construction, and we have been able to expand our activities to the local community as well. The ecosoft project has two objectives: It has given volunteers the opportunity to engage in ecosystem life and, thanks to their presence in the ecosystem, to bring ecosystems (and EDS volunteers) together with local residents through project activities, and thanks in particular to this collaboration managed to develop the ""ecological"" direction of the local community. We supported the local community in environmental activities, building the village through natural materials, and highlighting the possibilities of natural construction. The project was long-term for 12 months and was attended by 2 volunteers from the Czech Republic. It was originally also one of Latvia, but he did not think of taking the volunteer. These volunteers have fulfilled the condition of being interested in natural construction. The main activities included: Activities related to ecosystem life, activities related to natural construction, activities related to the care of a permaculture garden, activities related to the welfare of the local community, assistance to local neighbors, etc. EDS volunteers have acquired skills and knowledge from various areas of natural construction, horticulture or animal husbandry, as well as experience in community life and active citizenship. The volunteers have enriched not only the ecosystem, but also local neighborhoods and local communities, thanks to their presence as well as project activities that included, for example, restoring bus stops or cleaning illegal dumps, or learning traditional crafts by local craftsmen. Eventually organizing and participating in rural markets. The municipality has been informed that they are volunteers within EDS, so local people have learned about the importance of Erasmus +. Thanks to our project activities, we have developed cooperation with the local community and have spread the idea of ​​natural construction and self-sufficiency among the wider public."

The YOUMOVI project combined the efforts of relevant organizations from 5 European countries (BG, UK, CZ, HU and IT) to create a 24-hour accessible free on-line learning application (YOUMOVI aпp). The aim of the project is to increase the level of youth workers' digital and professional skills, related to using on-line resources to inspire young people for active citizenship and participation in the society. Short movies have a significant place in today's youth culture, as they grab the young person’s attention and are powerful means of communicating ideas in a user-friendly and comprehensive way. The YOUMOVI app equips youth workers with an innovative resource to apply in their key task - to improve the overall awareness of young people on the topic of: “Active Citizenship and Participation”. The YOUMOVI project is directly linked to one of the key youth-specific Erasmus+ priorities, i.e.: promoting quality of youth work.The project's duration is 18 months and the main activities were grouped into 6 work packages, covering all main processes such as management, preparation, development, testing and dissemination.The main project AIMS are:- to raise awareness among young people as to the active citizenship and active participation in society;- to equip youth workers with the right set of competences in order to be able to develop and sustain active citizenship mindset among young people;- to increase digital integration in youth work.The main project OBJECTIVES are: - to conduct a in-depth research on how to integrate short movies and mobile learning apps use in youth work at national level;- to develop and test a youth short movies mobile learning app;- to conduct an extensive international dissemination campaign to promote and ensure sustainability of the YOUMOVI results and impact.The main results and impact levels can be grouped as follows:* For the project target group (youth workers): raised awareness as to the benefits of audiovisual resources in handling complex challenges on personal and professional level; improved knowledge on active citizenship and participation topics; improved knowledge using mobile app technology for learning; improved skills for working with digital devices. * For the project partners: increased volume of transnational cooperation and exchange of good practices; raised awareness and improved skills in multicultural communication; improved skills in international project work; improved base of organisational know-how in the field of youth work and learning app development and application. * For other stakeholders: increased visibility of youth workers and their importance for handling complex challenges young people face; intensified dialogue on national level on pressing challenges like youth workers professional development; increased evidence base for policy making in the field of youth.

"Ungdom og Fritid is focused on reaching different kinds of youth at risk, and youth in general, age 13 – 25, through differentiated services and dynamic youthwork. Efforts are made in order to decrease and prevent risk factors, and more general; working on young peoples rights - regulated by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child – by transforming approved youthpolicy into concrete actions. The organisation consists of a number of different units since 01.01.2007: - Health service for young people, - Street work and individual guidance, - Youth clubs and leisure centres, - Service and support of NGOs, - Housing and guidance for young people formerly protected by the child care system, - Support and guidance of young abusers. In addition to the units above, Ungdom og Fritid consists of four Volunteer Centers (Frivilligsentraler) situated in different parts of the city; Hinna-, Storhaug- , Madla and Eiganes/Tasta Frivilligsentral. The Volunteer Centers of Stavanger coordinates and mobilize voluntary work in different parts of the city and are locally organized meeting places and arenas for interpersonal and cultural encounters. Eiganes and Tasta Voluntary Center serves as coordinator for EVS projects in Ungdom og Fritid. Regular activities in Ungdom og Fritid are multifaceted and move from social work, to health care, youth- and culture work. The staff counts 63 full time employed social workers, nurses, youth/culture workers and managers of the Voluntary Centers. In addition there are about 50 part time employed youth workers. • The project environment is located in different geographical areas and public youth arenas in Stavanger: a) Bekkefaret, Tasta, Gausel and Hundvåg bydelshus/youthclubs b)Frivilligsentralene. c)Metropolisa) Bekkefaret, Tasta, Gausel and Hundvåg bydelshus are three different community- and leisure centers/youth clubs consisting of a wide range of activities, courses and measures. Even though they are situated in different parts of the city, they still serve the same purpose. They are mainly targeting youth at the age of 13 – 16. There are a large number of people, organizations, etc. who frequently use the centers. Their main focus is performance and expressions related to music and art. c)Metropolis.• The role of EVS volunteers in our organization: - promote inter-cultural learning is a basic role for the volunteers. Our attitude is that inter cultural learning is important on different levels in the organization and the society in general, and the volunteers will play a key role in this matter. - The volunteer will be integrated as an equal team member in the staff were he/she is located. This means that the volunteer will have one permanent and basic team from the start to the end of the project. The volunteer will further on work with a number of relevant teams and employees across the organization, and also in close partnership with the other volunteers. This structure will give the volunteer a role as both an ""idea-entrepreneur"" and a role where he/she follows up different culture activities and actions run by the basic team. Supervision concerning the different roles will be secured. • Examples of activities: The volunteers are expected both to adapt to on-going activities and create new activities at the centers. When it comes to describing practical work tasks and activities for the volunteers, basic keywords are: 1) Development 2) Facilitation, 3) Organizing various cultural youth activities and 4) social work. 1) Development: We are constantly developing new projects, evaluating and approving ongoing activities. The volunteer will get to plan and create new events, and to take ongoing projects further. 2) Facilitation: There is a constant need to facilitate the different activities at the centers, making sure that equipment for each activity, workshop and event are up to date and present. 3) Organizing:Organiszing events and activities involves both work and time. Key words describing some relevant tasks are: - PR; production and distribution of posters, fliers, advertisement, etc. – Recruitment; reaching out to those who might be interested in the activities, using tactical recruitment in some areas. – Building work groups prior to the events and coaching them towards deadline. – Budgeting and charting costs and equipment. 4) Social work: Working with people in general from the age of zero to old age. Conducting activities that promotes healthy living and social equality and positive integration. Other examples of activities are: - Planning and participation in a youth exchange, e.g. in partnership with organizations in the volunteers home countries . - Coaching youth groups and small projects for youth during school holidays. E.g. sports as skating, football, climbing and nature walks. - Participation in cooperative activities across school- and leisure time activities. – Caring for elderly people. –Planning and conducting activities at different Volunteer Centers."