A. Project environment: profile of the organisation and local community
· Outline the project environment for the suggested voluntary activities, including the local community where the project will take place (e.g. geographical, social and economical environment).
· If the host placement is located in a live-in community, please include the rules and conditions that apply also for the volunteer.Banska Bystrica (80,000inhabitants is the center of culture, education and administration of Central Slovakia. Is the site of Matej Bel University, University of Art, also has a large amount of secondary schools and training institutions. There are a lot of shopping centrers and many cultural activities and treatt events to take part in. The town is beautiful and historical; there is much to explore and learn. There are commercial cinemas, the professional Puppet Theatre, the Opera in the town. No only traditional folklore festivals and concerts frequent, but choral and classical music, permanent expositions and the temporary exhibition of museums, and galleries should not be overlooked. Banska Bystrica is an important site for sport and outdoor facilities. JUNIOR is easy ro reach for children, students and the public. The most of our activities take out of JUNIOR. We cooperate with schools, non-governmental organisations, municipalities in the region.We will be pleas pleased if the volunteers take part in the assistance and preparation of the organisation of activities. We organize competitions at: natural sciences, human rights, foreign languages, sports at regional level for children and youngsters; trainings, semminars, workshops, youth exchanges and summer camps.Youth Information Centre provide information and counselling services for young people in the field of legislation, psychology, social matters, health and economy, possibilities of studying abroad, travelling, season works etc.The wolunteers will work with the regular staff. They would help organising leisure time activities depending to their interest. It can be: seminars, discussions, a cinema forum, entertainment for children, workshops, language conversation, summer camps, creating, preparing and planning international youth exchange project. The volunteers can help with development of not yet existing activities. They will have time for their own project.

B. Proposed activities for EVS volunteersThe volunteers share a flat which is about 20 minutes within walking distance from the town centre. Lunch for extra money for other meals. There is a kitchen in the volunteers' flat where they can prepare meals. Shops and restaurants are close-by (a 5-minute walk).

Language training - Slovak language learning is an essential part of the intercultural learning process in this EVS project. The first two weeks after arrival, the volunteers will be given intensive language training. Later on, they will have Slovak lessons for 4-6 hours a week. During the first two weeks, the volunteers to get to know their new environment, they will also decide, what kind of workshops they want to organise. The mentor will met with volunteers regularly to check on the progress, to see of there are any problems.

The mentor is supported by staff of JUNIOR. Besides, the volunteers receive any training, necessary to fulfil their tasks. We would like to help the volunteers in building their confidence, find friends among Slovaks, gain new knowledge about the country and compare their experience with ours. By hosting volunteers we can give a local work at an international level, which will be an added value to our work. The host organisation will help the volunteers in the local community not only in the working area also for the life in community. The stress will be put also on the ICL aspect and team work, which can help developing their personality. There will be an opportunity for young volunteers develop their communication skills, to gain different kind of knowledge of various subjects, including the culture and history of Slovakia, richness of our nature, the system of education, sign language, work with disabled people. The volunteers will participate in an on-arrival and midterm training organised by National Agency.

The volunteers and the JUNIOR staff will regularly meet to evaluate the EVS project, reflect upon the past week, comment and suggest some improvements. Any personal problems will be dealt with immediately.

Tasks of volunteers:
§ Organising creative workshops for children and young people. Volunteers will choose activities according to their personal interests and preference
§ Preparing and running EU workshops for children. The volunteers will present the information about EU, the Youth in Action Porgramme, the EVS activities in a non-formal way as well as organise informal games and quizes about European countries and short games to fight prejudice aganist minorities or peopleanyhow differen
t§ Assistitng during sport and language competitions, taking part in irregular JUNIOR activities such as youth exchanges, trainings, Karneval party, ...
§ Working with mentally hadicapped adults:drawing lessons, dance, body care, cooking, ...
§ Working with children from gypsy and socially disadvanteged families: clubs for children and youth (activities about drug abuse, family live, puberty, leisure time activities, distributing old clothes)
§ Handicrafts as an afrernoon club at school for mentally and plysically handicaped children and cildren from the socially disadvantaged families or with children in the hospital
§ Help the young people visiting Youth Information Centre (YIC) finding the information they need, answering their questions and helping them find information in the internet.The volunteers will start this activiry after an introduction period which will anòllow them to get acquainted with the information material, the way it is presented an with the research tochniques.
§ Collecting information on a variety of youth related topics (for example Working Abroad, Travelling, Studying, Jobfinding| and help with presenting it in an attractive way (on paper, Webside, exhibitions)
§ Reaserching an updating information material, making leaflets and posters to make the children and young people aware of the programme, helping to create prometional materials

Weekend work is occasional. Extra hours can be compensated. During the summer holydays we have Summer Daily Camps. The volunteers will be the member of staff responsible for the program, technical backgroun of the activities and for running of the camp in general. We also offer to our volunteers to bring and put forward their own ideas and opinions about activities. We provide them some space to share their previous experience and to do their own project.

Working time will not exceed 30 hours a week. Overwiew activities of the volunteers: 60% work directly with children and youth, 20% language lessons, 10% team meetings, preparation to comming programmes and activities, 10% helping to create promotional materials, correspondence with the organisations abroad.
Suggestion what a day could be like:

9:00 - 10:30 language lessons to learn Slovak language/work at schools to promote Youth in Action Programme and EVS; conversations, motivating children to learn foreign languages through games

11:30 -12:30 work at the office - staff meeting once a week; making leaflets and posters; set up activities; correspondence with the partners organisations abroad; collect, process and update information and material on a variety of youth related topics; developing of own project, …

12:30 - 14:00 lunch, free time

14:00 - 17:30 work with children and young people - creative workshops (for example: environment - environmental games, setting up of exhibitions, discussions about actual themes) ; school clubs (handicrafts, games); discussion club for young people (discussions against the racism, intolerance, about drug prevention, way of life etc.); work with disabled children or adults (drawing, painting, dance, handicrafts); afternoon in Youth Information Centre - talking to and assisting the youth that visit YIC, making a nice welcoming atmosphere, leading simulating discussions, giving the information; participation in activities organised by staff (sport and language competitions, trainings, info meetings, seminars, …); work with gypsy children and youth (educational and leisure time activities); language school (conversations); helping future Slovak volunteers in their preparation for EVS; intercultural sessions (the volunteers will speak about their county, show videos or photos, cook the national dish, teach national dances and songs)

The volunteers will have weekends off. If they take part in activities during the weekend, they will have extra time off.

C. Volunteer profiles and recruitment processWe are looking for persons who are social, innovative, like to work with children and young people. The volunteers should be open-minded and able to contribute own creativity and ideas. Some common English is good starting point.Individual interviews should be led by the sending organisation, to assess the volunteer profile and background. Sending organisations should be able to understand if the candidate shows symptoms of personal or social problems. If there will be adequate match-making between the volunteer profile and the tasks he/she has received acceptance for an EVS placement.

E. Risk prevention, safety and protection
§ Volunteers must attend a pre-departure session
§ Volunteers should be aware of their rights and duties
§ EVS candidates are adults and legally responsible of their actions
§ Volunteers must always know in advance the person they can turn to in casa of problems
§ Volunteers cannot leave for some days without informing their mentor/superisor
§ Volunteers should be well informed before their departure on the political and security conditions of the country where the will be going
§ A mentor should be able to detect the signs which show that the volunteer is feeling uncomfortable and be able to react in an appropriate manner
§ Mentors and supervisors will be available 24 hours a day and easy to reach
In terms of prevention and emergency measure, the person responsible for the project:
- take the necessary measures for first-aid, fire-fighting and evacuation of volunteers, adapted to the nature of the activities
- arrange any necessary contacts with external services, particularly as regards first-aid, emergency medical care, rescue work and fire-fighting.

http://ec.europa.eu/youth/evs/aod/hei_form_en.cfm?EID=68000161101