February 1st, 2011 - October 31st, 2012Project overview:FOR W(holesome) A(ctive) R(ural) D(evelopment) gathers 10 volunteers from 7 different countries for a period of 9 months, to spend a rather challenging self discovery and personal building experience. The project aims both towards social and personal grow of volunteers and beneficiary target group along with organizational and community sustainable development by bringing added value to existing activities and implementing new ones which stimulate the intercultural learning process, encourage active participation of youngsters, especially those with fewer opportunities and strengthen the international partnership.The project aims both towards volunteer social and personal development, providing them with opportunities for intercultural learning, new skills and abilities development, multilinguism and European Awareness as well as organizational and community development encouraging youngsters participation in local communities, promoting European Active Citizenship and encouraging local and international partnership.
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DESCRIPTION
FOR W(holesome) A(ctive) R(ural) D(evelopment) gathers 10 volunteers from 7 different countries for a period of 9 months, to spend a rather challenging self discovery and personal building experience.
The project aims both towards social and personal grow of volunteers and beneficiary target group along with organizational and community sustainable development by bringing added value to existing activities and implementing new ones which stimulate the intercultural learning process, encourage active participation of youngsters, especially those with fewer opportunities and strengthen the international partnership.
Location: FOR.W.A.R.D. shall be implemented in Gorj Counties in the following sites:
- Gorj county: Novaci, Baia de Fier, Rovinari, Bumbesti Jiu, Musetesti.
The project objectives:
- Stimulate the intercultural learning process and enhance the European Awareness and Active Participation within the hosting communities from Gorj and Dolj County.
- Provide the context and the opportunities for all volunteers to develop both personally as well as socially by acquiring and improving new skills and competences as well as boost their self-confidence.
- Increase tolerance towards different cultures by learning and accepting the cultural differences.
- Contribute to the community development by boosting the participation and active involvement of young people in their local communities.
- Encourage the participation of youngsters with fewer opportunities
- Widen and strengthen the partnership and co-operation relation in between all project promoters
Methodology:
The first month is dedicated to the cultural and technical accommodation of the volunteers, training and coaching:
The first week upon arrival all volunteers will undergo a capacity building programme. The programme will focus on volunteers skills development in terms of project management and non formal education methods. Furthermore, technical information regarding accommodation, food, working methods, financial aspects , etc will be clearly explained.
The next two weeks the volunteers will have time to discover the communities where the next nine months will stay and do specific activities.
The next week of the month through trainings and planning meetings all volunteers will make an activity schedule for the next 8 months helped by ARDR team.
The remaining 8 months will focus on personal and community development, during which the volunteers will get actively involved in developing non formal educational activities with the youngsters from Bustuchin and the neighbouring communities.
Food
Food will be provided in the first and the last week from the first month by the staff of the guest house. The volunteers will help with the preparation of the meals, serving and cleaning.
For the next 8 and 1/2 months buying and preparing the food is to be the sole responsibility of the volunteers. For preparing the food the volunteers will have free access to an equipped kitchen.
In the case of volunteers staying in host families a solution will be to serve meals with the family.
The hosting organization will provide each volunteer with a monthly food allowance from which they shall cover the alimentation costs. The allowance is enough for insuring a very good living standard (being much higher than the amount and average citizen from the region spends for food). However the allowance will not be enough for ensuring every day eating in a restaurant or bistro.
Transport
The local transportation costs of the volunteers necessary for the activities implementation will be covered 100% by the association from the project budget.
The international transport of the volunteer from his/her home to the site of the project shall be covered 100% - two ways (Economy flight tickets and/or 2nd class train tickets).
The personal transport of the volunteers (local, national or international) will be not in the responsibility of the association.
Language training
Due to the importance of communication with the people from the hosting communities (most of them can not speak any foreign languages) will be of crucial importance for the volunteers to learn the Romanian Language at a good speaking level.
The volunteers will have the responsibility to attend all language courses according to the schedule as well as to make every effort in studying and learning the language.
The Coordinating Organizations will arrange for Romanian Language Courses on weekly basis for as much time as the volunteer will need. The Romanian language lessons shall be provided by experienced language teachers. The content and structure of the language courses will be projected together with the volunteers, taking into consideration their learning abilities and needs.
The language courses will be provided free of charge for the entire period of the EVS project.
The costs of the language training is to be covered by the organization.
Pocket money
Each volunteer is entitled to receive a 60 Euro monthly allowance - pocket money, which they can spent as they choose/want.
Activities
The project aims to involve the volunteers as promoters and multipliers in order to spur European
Awareness and active citizenship and establish bridges of communication in between sites in their home country and the areas they are established.
All the activities will be developed in 3 dimensions: personal development, development within the host organization and community youth development.
The volunteers will be charged with designing, organizing, and implementing, in conjunction with local counterparts and youngsters from their hosting communities, a variety of activities such as:
- sports events
- environmental activities
- group games
- thematic workshops
- youth camps
- walks in the cities, visits to different sights and events
- theatre and art creative workshop
- music and dance
- cultural awareness and learning activities, etc.
- all volunteers will get the opportunity to get involved in other national and/or international programmes and activities developed by ARDR during the EVS Service.
