A. Project environment: profile of the organisation and local community
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TOGETHER asbl is a non-profit organization involved in empowerment of local communities through non-formal education (art and circus, non-verbal communication and expression, intercultural learning, experimental and experiential learning, international youth exchanges, meetings, workcamps and workshops) of young people.
Together believes in inspiration of community members towards active participation?in the community and its development based on values like peace, tolerance, mutual learning and solidarity. For these reasons organization involves in its activities international young people who contribute with their knowledge and skills but also with cultural diversity.
Regular activities of Together are: preparation and participation in youth exchanges on local level and abroad, organisation of trainings, organisation of local youth projects for small communities in the region with focus on active citizenship, organisation of information meetings about promotion of non-formal educational possibilities for young people, contacts with organizations abroad, etc.
The main project on the local level is called "Think Mobile!". It includes various exhibitions, information points, meetings, debates, etc. about Europe and possibilities of young people in it.
Together asbl is active in city of Metz but also in the Lorraine region. Metz is a city of 300 000 inhabitants situated in the North-East of France. As each big university city, it offers lots of possibility for entertainment, meeting new people, sport activities as well as cultural facilities. It is located in France, close to German, Belgian and Luxembourg boarder, what offers interesting possibilities to visit neighbouring countries.
Together is a partner with Europe Direct Point, situated in ADEPPA in the city of Vigy. Using the possibilities of educational and merchandising materials helps us to make the activities more visualised and attractive for local people (e.g. we have a possibility to give small gifts as a prize for participation in games, quizzes and so on). Vigy is a small community located 25 km from Metz. There are 6 000 inhabitants in Vigy- community is not big but cosy and its advantage is location between the big city and the nature around.


B. Proposed activities for international volunteers
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Volunteers will work in the organisation as assistance with local youth workers and other local or European volunteers.
If needed (in the case of short-term EVS, for example), there will be an additional person in charge, responsible only for the volunteers. In this case, also the system of reinforced mentorship will be normally applied, in co-operation with sending organization. APV will be organized to make sure that the project suits the volunteer and to provide adequate facilities for special needs of volunteers.
Volunteers will be part of the team from the very beginning of the project. The activities that they will take part in are:
" Promotion of local activities of association (web page info, posters, flyers, visits to schools, other organizations and institutions)
" Promotion of European awareness and explaining the possibilities of youth in Europe (Europe Direct Point)
" Assistance in contacts with local authorities and actors for projects (partner youth organizations, university students, secondary schools, clubs etc)
" Assistance with international youth exchanges projects as well as support for trainings and seminars
" Presentation of the organization during local fairs, meetings, debates and other events
" Assistance with "Think Mobile!" project that is developed from "Mobile Community Centre" - a minibus with the volunteers and youth workers, going from village and village and offering activities for children and young people. The new project includes informational exhibitions, meetings, debates, etc. organized mostly for young people, living in the areas where there are no or not enough activities provided, and where European awareness is really low. The tasks of the volunteers in the project will consist of:

a) technical preparation of the stand, decoration, painting, equipment
b) regular participation in team meetings- creation of the programme for children and youngsters. Meetings will have structure of workshops. Co-ordination of the programme with the team of local volunteers and new comers volunteers
c) regular visits in the villages and communities in all phases: preparation (agreement with the authorities for venue and form of the performance), event itself and post-visit (thank you and evaluation as well as follow up)
d) promotion of the events - making publicity, posters, www

apart from that the activities will also include:

" documentation from the activities of association (taking pictures, making films, newsletters, webpage, etc)
" language preparation
" realization of personal ideas and project with assistance of the project coordinator

If some of those proposals will not be adequate to volunteers capacities- less demanding tasks will be proposed. Volunteers can get participate in activities proposed by hosting organisation- international projects that bring added value to the community, actions and promotions as well as propose something new on the social field. They will have a chance to learn how to manage international project, how to became active citizen on the local level and how to deal in work and life in intercultural society.

The volunteers will work 35 hours a week from Monday to Friday, approximately from 10.00 to 17.00. The language training will be included to the working hours. Saturday and Sunday will be free days. If the volunteers will have to work during the weekends, they can take these days off during the following working days. Besides, the volunteer will have 2 days of holidays per month.
Learning opportunities for the volunteers:
" Get to know the language
" Get to know NGO sector and work in international field
" Get to know the social programmes in France on local and national level
" Work with professionals from many fields (creative arts, fundrising, social workers)
" Get to know traditions and history of this region
Volunteers will be always supported by hosting organisation to apply their own proposals. They will have a chance to get responsibility in activities proposed. Otherwise they will be "assistants" it means they will be included in the activities of organisation and will help in every day activities, but they will not be substitute of regularly paid workers. The volunteers will have a chance for development of their personal project that they should realize during their EVS with assistance of host organisation.

The volunteers will bring an added value to the project.

The both - multiculturality and interculturality - are very important and serve as the one of the reasons why this programme was chosen by the association.

The volunteer will bring an additional value to the project during the various key moments of the organisation and also in the everyday tasks. He/she will assist the working staff by his/her experience, motivation, and just simply the external point of view that can be applied to the activities of the team.

C. Volunteer profiles and recruitment process
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We are interested to host a volunteer who will be able to bring an added value to the project.

We wish that he/she is a real volunteer and feels interest in the project and that he/she develops the dynamics of the project that will bring an added value to the working team and also to the inhabitants of the district.

Young person has to have a sensibility to adapt in the multicultural environment, and aim to be a volunteer in the structure by hosting the children. The ability to find common language with children is also important.
The one year projects will favor the better integration.

The basic skills of French will help to integrate better, but are not obligatory.
The computer basic knowledge will also be a great help, as well as the knowledge of some education activities.

D. Special needs (if applicable)
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Our project is open for the both - long-term and short-term volunteers. We will support the young people with fewer opportunities (disabilities, less-priveledged social, economical, geographical, etc. backgrounds and so on).
We will do our best in order to find solutions to the problems that could appear and to favorise the adaptation of the volunteer. We will open the doors to our project to the young people with less opportunities. If it will be needed we can also organise an Advance Planning Visit for the young person before his/her arrival. We will also provide a reinforced mentorship for the volunteer if needed.


E. Risk prevention, safety and protection
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Risk prevention and crisis management is very important in this project, especially when it concerns the short-term volunteers. Several consultations will take place already before the EVS. The volunteer will be carefully match-maked to the placement, his/her needs will be analysed and everything will be planned before.
The responsibles from sending and hosting organisations and the family of the volunteer will be in regular contact. It will be possible to contact anybody of them in any time in case of a problem.
The tutor will give his full personal support to the volunteer. The mentors have previous experience and are prepared for this work. In case of problems, we have also contacts for specialists and we will try to solve problems and minimise the risk.

http://ec.europa.eu/youth/evs/aod/hei_form_en.cfm?EID=14000712224