"The EVS project ""Home for Hope"" implied an EVS framework envisioning a volunteer-centred program for personal and professional development within the Homes for Hope shelters, established by ""Hope For Children"". The shelters are accommodating more than 45 minors who have suffered abuse and/or exploitation and provide interdisciplinary and holistic services aiming to guarantee integration in the host country, seek durable solutions deemed necessary depending on the child’s circumstances and provide legal, social and psychological support and educational activities.Context & Background: The present program enabled the volunteers to be exposed and engaged in an intercultural learning experience within a non-formal education setting by developing an individual learner’s plan (with personal and professional).Objectives: The project aimed to foster mutual understanding between young people from different countries; develop their transferable skills as solidarity and promote acceptance among young people, develop key transferable skills to the participants; promote participation amongst youth and develop an understanding of the European/international pressing social issues amongst youth.The main theme of the project was “Vulnerable Children” as well as the issues that surround unaccompanied minors such as social exclusion and discrimination. The volunteers worked closely and in collaboration with the staff of the shelter and supported their work, as well had the opportunity to take initiative to organize extra activities to promote participation amongst this group.Duration: The EVS project lasted for 12 months and 5 volunteers (there were 6 volunteers in total but one Italian volunteer stayed only 4 months and then came a second one for 6 months) were selected for the project from France and Italy.Work approach: Based on the principle that an engaged and motivated volunteer has a stronger potential to influence and creates an impact on the target groups and the society, the volunteers through their active involvement in various aspects of the shelter and a participatory methodology implemented by the staff team, frequent mentoring and supervision, as well as national and in-house trainings, developed key transferable skills (communication, initiative and decision making, teamwork, leadership). Their responsibilities included: facility tasks as daily provision of care for the minors including nutrition, hygiene, clothing, training/education, entertainment; assisting the staff in the effective protection of the minors, performing activities for integration into the host country, cultural activities and support with their homework as well as creative organisation of extracurricular activities such as games, sports, and excursions as well as taking initiative and creating workshops with a learning complementary value."

There is a growing amount of people in Europe, who are marginalized from the mainstream society. This is not only a tragedy for the individual, but is also a serious challenge for each society and thereby the European community at large. Vulnerable young people, coming from difficult social backgrounds are particularly at risk in this respect. In Scandinavia as well as in several other European countries, there are many different support systems in place for children and young people under the age of 16 or 18. However after the age of 18 there is very little support and a young person who has spent several years of his/her life in an institution need special preparation to get a good start to enter into independent life successfully. The project is based on this need, and it's purpose is to create an innovative 2 months training program, which would increase practical and overall life skills for young people aged 18-25, who come from difficult backgrounds. Many of these young people have experienced neglect, alcohol/ drug abuse and other social difficulties. The main idea is to engage the volunteer to work by what we call “Best Buddy” method. This means, that volunteer will be continuously working with 1 young person. The volunteer would mainly focus on this one youngster, making sure there is a well prepared schedule with various practical and educational activities to prepare this person for independent living. We plan to recruit a team of 4 international EVS volunteers, aged 18-30, which means, that they would all together work with 4 youngsters, using “Best Buddy” method. In the period of 6 months, the youngsters will swap 3 times, in order for our volunteers to carry out 2 months training program 3 times. In total we plan to include 12 youngsters to take part in the training program developed by our organization and EVS volunteers. The objectives of the project are: -developing different kinds of life skills, especially practical, for the vulnerable young people -raise their level of responsibility -provide career guidance, by exploring the interests and strengths of the young person -provide them with information about career opportunities -introduce the youngsters to different cultures, increase their tolerance and open mindedness -improve their English language skills -develop healthy habits of the young person -increase awareness, understanding and tolerance within local community about the youth we are working with The main activities and tasks of the volunteer: -spend time with young vulnerable person, while organizing and doing meaningful activities, such as practical work, outdoor and sports activities, educational workshops, etc. -organize practical training and other activities to improve life skills of young people from difficult backgrounds -cooperate with local community and include the vulnerable youth in several activities and events -encourage and assist the the youth they work with to carry out their own initiative -show a good example and raise interest of these young people of such topics as environment, different cultures, European citizenship and participation, etc. We expect that the EVS volunteer will gain valuable experiences in working with young people and especially with young people who have faced many challenges in their lives.
Being a “Best Buddy” means to make yourself available to be a good friend, sensitive to the needs of the young person and able to place appropriate expectations to promote development.
The EVS volunteer will develop interpersonal skills such as listening, be observant to others’ interests and strengths, develop trust and meaningful relationships.
Organizational skills; planning and organizing relevant and meaningful activities, mobilize participation and be able to adapt according to circumstances.
Reflect on own performance and openness to share experience and receiveand give good advice and guidance. We expect that the Young people” (Target group”). Will gain a foundation whereby they are better prepared to meet the challenges of starting independent life.
This includes life skills training such as learning a healthy life style, having interests, taking part in a community.
It also includes trying out different job skills, aiming at being more clear about own strengths and interests. Create a good CV and explore realistic job options and job seeking skills. The wider impact of the “Best Buddy” project is to raise a better awareness of the challenges facing young people, leaving the “care system” to start independent living.
The desired impact would be to inspire communities at all levels to place more emphasis on supporting these young people in constructive means to actively include them in the community. With the result that less young people end up as marginalized citizens.

"ONEWORLD- EAST""ONEWORLD- Cafe"" , ""ONEWORLD- CULTURE-Cafe"" and „ONEWORLD-EAST (EVS)“, are a continuing series of projects that began in 2015. These projects bring together young people from Europe, Ukraine, and Russia, providing a platform and environment where contradictions and disagreements can be discussed, where friends can meet, and where enemies can reconcile. In this framework of cultural sharing, stories can be expressed, music and songs can be sung, films are made, acrobatics performed, meals shared, and coffee and tea drunk together in communion. The first leg of the project was held in southern Siberia in Russia from 22.02-22.03.2015, where 3 groups composed of youth from Russia and Germany built the basic material structures for the Mobile Cafe in the next leg of the project. These consisted of a Yurte in a light bamboo style, a small log cabin, furniture and other interior pieces for the cafe (5 Tachtui). The setting was a beautiful lake landscape in the eastern Saiyan mountains. The participants had overland trecks with snowshoes and skis, learnt from traditional art oriented craftsmen and gained valuable survival knowledge of the wild from local hunters. The various groups lived in traditional houses and in a Mongolian Yurte with a stove-oven. The project ended with The One World Cafe opening and official cultural event, ran together with the locals with whom they bonded and created strong friendships.Structure: 21 Day youth Exchange (01.03-21.03.2015)Participants: 20 + 3 RU; 20 + 3 GEProject Coordintation: Grüner Grashalm e.V. / InterraIn the second part of the project in August 2015, the One World Cafe held its first tour in Russia. The participants of the Project completed any necessary construction for the Cafe and toured around the Krasnoyarsk region through villages and youth clubs in the cities. They initiated small cultural events, interacted with local youth, and met the participants for the future legs of the project.Structure: 21 Day youth Exchange Project Coordintation: Deti Taigi / Interra / Grüner Grashalm e.V.Timing: 03.08.-23.08. 2015The third leg of the project in September 2015 was a tour of the The One World Cultural Cafe through the Cities in the Forest Region of the Karpatan Mountains in West Ukraine. Engagement with locals was achieved through Circus, Street Performance art, clowns, music, and good coffee and tea. The Cafe interacted with local social/youth workers who were interested and engaged in personal projects based around subjects of peace and intercultural conflict management. The next part of the project consisted of a Vision Quest in the same area, after which there was a basic training in the competencies of Democratic cooperation methods, historical backgrounds, and a planning session for the follow up projects. We taught and practiced the Northern American Indigenous “Way of Council“ as well as methods of Non-Violent communication, and we intend to go on by giving support to local youth initiatives by aiding in a school project and assist in the running of the Mid-East Festival. Structure: 10 day Training Course + 10 day Support Work 01.05.-20.05. 2015.Participants: 5 (RU, UA, D, PL, CZ) x 4 = 20Project Coordination: Grüner Grashalm e.V. / Green Cross UA / Khata Maysternya UAActuell now:From January 2016, 3-4 EVS volunteers from Ukraine, EU neighbor countries and Russia are needed to join the project. With their practical abilities they will help to further build and coordinate the project, bringing input from their local cultures and life experience. Along with their German colleques, they will also run 3 youth leadership trainings within 2016.In the Fourth leg of the Project in 2016, we will invite these youngsters and youth-workers from Russia and Ukraine to Germany for a two week workshop teaching how to create and run individual youth projects in their home countries. We will teach group leading competences, skills and methods for intercultural relation and adventure pedagogical actions, and project management and fundraising. This leg of the project will give the final quality educational fertilisation for the fruition of the participants learning and application of knowledge for the potential of creating future projects. Finally one chosen project will be brought into fruition and implimented immediately.Structure: Trainings CoursesParticipants: 5 UA; 5 RU ; 5D; 5 PL; 5ROWith this line of projects, we want to build the fundaments and bridges for the fruition of cooperative youth projects which move beyond ideological and nationalistic barriers and create the opportinity for continuing future actions and projects."

The general purpose of the project is to increase interest of young people in the European integration and European issues by supporting educators and youth workers in providing accurate materials and tools to show how the European heritage and values are linked to particular fields of knowledge the young people are being taught at schools. Our project thus brings forth the idea of creating new materials in form of a simple manual, updated by good practices from Poland, Germany and Romania. By identifying common challenges and specific problems in each country through critical approach towards European integration and issues in school curriculum we will engage educators, youth workers and young people to work on materials addressing the EU – the concept of integration, its demography, history, cultural and natural heritage as well as its institutions, competences and specific actions. Two training courses for educators and youth workers as well as one blended mobility for youth will be organized and constant work with local working groups will be conducted. In order to encourage deliberate learning processes inclusive and interactive methods will be used.In a participatory way, engaging educators, youth workers and youth, a manual on European education suited to the partners’ environments and needs will be created, tested, implemented and disseminated. In a long-term perspective the Manual aims to become a permanent resource for comprehensive European education in schools and youth-work. The project will therefore enhance the interest, critical approach and willingness of youth to participate in democratic and civic life of the European community by understanding it better.

"<< Objectives >>With the ""Beacon of Values” project, we wish to create and develop a tangible, transferable tool that will be used mainly by educators and youth workers in schools, educational institutions and NGOs, to create courses aiming to promote, communicate and enhance active citizenship and common values in every day life, in order to formulate attitudes and skills to combat xenophobia, racism and discrimination, using creative, innovative and non formal education methods and activities.<< Implementation >>The project activities we plan to implement are the Project Meetings(Kick-off, Midterm, Final), the Training of Multipliers and the Local Workshops, that will directly involve approx. ?? people in the education and youth work sector.The project will focus on non-formal learning methodology, placing the participants in the center of the learning process, relying on their interest and motivation for a profound and multi-level learning approach and emphasising their own responsibility for learning.<< Results >>The end results will be the Curriculum for the Training of Multipliers in 4 languages, the Tool Box and 15 youth workers and educators trained as multipliers. We expect that the project will have the effect of a continuous stimulation of learning and evolving. Moreover, we plan to create a chain of exchange in terms of expertise, skills, ideas and perspectives in the field of youth education, as the participants will act as multipliers of the project in their home countries and local communities"