It’s a non-profit organization which operates principally with homeless people, immigrants above all, women victim of domestic violence and youngsters.

Owing to the complex contests where the Service will be carried out, the Organization is looking for a female volunteer aged between 24 and 29, if possible with a degree or a vocation in artistic disciplines.

ACCOMODATION

Flat in  Schio.

The volunteer will have single room and shared kitchen and bathroom.

Project environment
Geographical environment: The project environment will be mainly Casa Bakhita in Schio (VI) a town
in the north east of Italy, in Veneto Region. It’s situated in a lovely landscape, close to the mountains
(Piccole Dolomiti) and surrounded by hills. In Schio there are public library, youth centers, skate park,
pubs, restaurants and several opportunities for leasure time and sports.
Schio belongs to the province of Vicenza and is 26 kilometers far from Vicenza, that is the Chief Town
of the homonymous province. It takes about 30 minutes by train. The train and bus station are in the
city centre. It’s also easy and cheap to arrive in Verona, Padova, Venezia by train or bus.
Schio has a population of 37.444 inhabitants. The territory of the municipality lies between 144 and
1.691 metres above sea level.
Economical envinment: The town of Schio was one of the major European wool manufacturing
centres in the second half of the nineteenth century. Schio was famous for the Lanificio Rossi, a
woollen mill founded in 1817 by Francesco Rossi and developed by his son Alessandro between 1845
and 1898. By the 1880s the Lanificio was a joint-stock company and, with 5,000 employees, the
largest firm in the country. Nowadays Schio is one of the most undustrialized town of the north east of
Italy. In the area there is a number of important centres of companies engaged in the heavy or
precision mechanical industry, in the textile and clothing industry, of goldsmiths, carpentry and joinery,
tannery, agriculture and foodstuffs, ceramics and many others.
Social environment: The mentor will support the volunteer to integrate in the local community, thanks
to meetings organized to present him/her and by the participation of local initiatives and events.
Furthermore the service in the youth centre of the town will help him/her to develop contacts and
friendship with his/her same age people.
The volonteer will be involved in the activities of Casa Bakhita for 30 hours in a week, saturday and
sunday are free. It will be organize some trips in the close mountains and touristic town (Bassano del
Grappa, Vicenza, Verona, Venezia…).
Lodging: Volunteers are housed in rented accomodation. They will probably share a flat or house with
shared kitchen, living room and bathroom, in Schio. They will have their own bedrooms. All utensils will
be provided by Samarcanda. Samarcanda will pay all rent and bills for this accomodation. Volunteers
will be required to maintain clearness in the house.
Food: the volunteers should have lunch at Casa Bakhita and they will receive what they need to cook
the dinner and meals at weekends
Pocket money: paid at the beginning of each month
Linguistic training: 50h (usually 3 months, 4h week) with a private teacher
Internet: for free, at the organisation.

The volunteers will be involved, according with his/her abilities and interests, in these service:
- Casa Bakhita
- Socio – cultural animation service
These are not omogeneus services, in fact they are addressed to different target group. But we do
believe that it will be a great opportunity for the volunteer to have different kind of experiences to
enrich their competences and to guarantee a more various intercultural experience. So, according
with the interests and the competences of the volunteer, the working programme proposed could
have some variations.
Service and learning opportunities
All the activities in which the volunteers will be involved are conducive to gaining an in-depth
knowledge of social work in Italy, particularly working with a very difficult and challenging target group.
Working alongside professional staff in this area produces the opportunity for volunteer to acquire this
knowledge first hand though in a structured and supported learning environment.
The volunteer will have these learning opportunities:
- basic social work skills – working with disadvantaget people in Italy;
- how to be an active member of the local community;
- a deep knowledge and non judgemental understanding of the needs of the homeless;
- how to support someone who is very vulnerable;
- how to interact and integrate in a new culture;
- how to develop their comminication and listening skills, in italian;
- competencies about professional boudaries between vulnerable people and helpers;
- gain a basic understanding of social work in Italy.
Generally a wide range of soft skills that will help them in their future careers and with their
employability.
Role and activities of the EVS Volunteer:
The role of the EVS volunteer is to support the people at Casa Bakhita, by acting as advocates and
role models encouraging them to engage in the training and life skills opportunities that are available.
The EVS Volunteer is fully integrated into the small staff team and are expected to attend staff
meetings and contribute where possible. They will be invited to any central events and included in the
training--provision.
The volunteer are expected to work at 30 hour week including any language training, meetings and
activities in the youth centre. Possibilities include a range of activities as engaging residents in training
courses, art and crafts, accompanying a resident to a doctors' appointment, running a language
course in their own language, befriending new residents. All the activities will be around promoting
independence in a group who are currently dependent. Whilst with us we also encourage volunteers to
find a their secondary project as well as supporting them in developing their own project, thereby
improving their organisational and development skills. This also gives the volunteer a greater
opportunity to be part of the local community and also to develop new skills and help, and meet, more
local people.
Youth in Action Programme – Action 2 - European Voluntary Service Expression of Interest Page 11
Therefore, volunteers will have the opportunity if for example they are particularly interested in
cooking and wish to run a cookery course in the house, with the full support of the staff team and their
mentor.
The wide variety of these tasks will enable the volunteer to develop their informal mentoring skills,
active listening and giving of structured support to vulnerable people. We also ask our EVS volunteers
to encourage the beneficiaries to feedback to our about our services and to lead a participatory
culture.
The idea of involving EVS Volunteers is that it is felt that European Volunteers could add a new
dimension to the training and development of the Casa Bakhita programmes, and also could offer a
new element to delivery to disadvantaged people.
Each volunteer has the possibility to negotiate with their mentor exactly what will be included in their
weekly activities. The rest of the volunteers time on the project, not spent interacting with residents,
will be spent on structured project duties, similar to the rest of the staff team. This may include
reception and administration tasks, group and individual work with the residents.
The volunteer will be involved also in the activities of the youth centre. It provides specific services for
young people that include: information about opportunities for leisure time, counselling and
employability work, volunteering and peer education, as well as schools based services for the local
community. EVS volunteer, according with their interests and competences, will be asked to
programme his/her own project such as counselling and meetings about EVS, workshops, counselling
about tourist opportunities in his/her country.
We only try to suggest a weekly programme to give an idea of the activities.

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

9.30 - 10.30 Equipe YOUTH CENTER YOUTH CENTER

10.30 - 11.30 Casa Bakhita Equipe YOUTH CENTER Casa Bakhita YOUTH CENTER

11.30 - 12.30 Casa Bakhita Equipe YOUTH CENTER Casa Bakhita YOUTH CENTER

12.30 - 13.30 Lunch/casa Bakhita Lunch/casa Bakhita Lunch/casa Bakhita Lunch/casa Bakhita Lunch/casa Bakhita FREE FREE

13.30 - 14.30

14.30 - 15.30 Casa Bakhita Casa Bakhita Casa Bakhita Lunch/casa Bakhita Casa Bakhita

15.30 - 16.30 Casa Bakhita Casa Bakhita Casa Bakhita Lunch/casa Bakhita Casa Bakhita

16.30 - 17.30 YOUTH CENTER Casa Bakhita Casa Bakhita Lunch/casa Bakhita Casa Bakhita

17.30 - 18.30 YOUTH CENTER

18.30 - 19.00 YOUTH CENTER Team session

Hours per da 6,5 6 6 5,5 6 30




According to our internal regulations for volunteers there is a "step by step" programme for
volunteers: First the volunteer will gain an insight into working methods, internal procedures, rules and
regulations. There is a "traineeship" and the volunteer will assist in all different working fields.
According to his/her former experiences, interests, strengths and potentials the volunteer will be
invited to take over responsibility for special tasks.
There will be regular evaluation meetings with the head of the youth-centre and the volunteer will be
given instructions and feedback then. Every Tuesday is team session and reflection.


We would like volunteers who have an interest in working with homeless people. We advertise the
vacancies on www.samarcanda.progettozatterablu.it website and get many applications through this or
EVS Database website.
The EVS coordinator arranges a short list those young people she thinks have a true interest in our
field of work and she gives this short list to the Casa Bakhita team of educators. The staff team at the
project then meet to go through the applications and then they select 3 candidates that they would like.
Then EVS coordinator approach (by phone) the volunteers in order of preference from the project
selection to see if they are still available for our projects and process from there.
In our EVS roles it is very important that the volunteer is matched as well as we can, a young person
who is not interested in this difficult client group will find it a very difficult placement. Because of this we
try our best at selection stage to invite people who have an idea about what they will be expected to do
and the people we work with.
Skills wise we do not have any specific requirements apart from basic English language and feel that
an enthusiastic person who is interested in working with our beneficiaries does not need any prior
training, though someone who has at least met this group before or done some sort of youth work will
be better equipped when they arrive but we will not exclude those who haven't.
We are going to train our staff and EVS coordinator on their roles and responsibilities so as to ensure
a good experience for the volunteer but also to avoid job substitution. We welcome applications from
volunteers with fewer opportunities.

In order to ensure quality learning and welfare standard of EVS for each volunteer we will be able to
host 2 volunteers at the same time. We will prefer volunteers from different countries.

We are open to host volunteers with fewer opportunities, mainly geographical, cultural, social and
economical disadvantaged, because we consider that our organisation is able to integrate and promote
social and personal development to volunteers and give them support according their needs.
Our youth workers have many years of experience and the team and projects (Sociologists, Social
workers, Educators, Social Assistant…) will help and be available to give any support to the volunteer,
directly or indirectly, for the good achievement of the EVS projects and promote learning opportunities.
Our organisation cannot host disabled volunteers because we don't have the human and physical
infrastructures needed.

Samarcanda has the means and experience to give the most suitable support to volunteers.
The tutor will meet regularly with the volunteer and the work supervisor with the aim of understand
possible difficulties, risk and crisis situations, in order to act and support , preventing serious situation
that could lead ti usuccessful projects.
We intend to support and give a good environment in the work field in the different aspects during the
stay in the project.
The tutor will be always present anytime the volunteer need, in any case there will be week meetings to
evaluate, make plans and understand how the volunteers is feeling day by day. So we will respect the
ideas and feelings of the volunteer, in the way that if something is not comfortable in any aspect; we will
try to correct immediately. The meeting could be important moments also to prevent crisis and problems
situations. Anyway the volunteers will not work alone, they will share workspaces with others members
of Samarcanda, people with whom they can develop friendship and also get support. The mentor will
build a good and trust relationship, able to develop an open and equal structure where the volunteer can
discuss everything.
Contacts will be established regurarly with the sending organisation in order to involve partners in the
volunteer’s activity development process, to promote his/her integration.
About the accomodation we will certify that there are good conditions for living and a good house
environment. We think that the autonomy of the living conditions is an important education aspect of the
project, but we will support the volunteers also in practical situations. Finally when he/she will arrive give
him/her access to the emergency number (police, fire department, hospital, tutor and president of
Samarcanda).


YOUTH
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YOUTH
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Motivation and EVS experience
Samarcanda projects are aimed at socially excluded people and in particular youth, homeless, women
victims of domestic violence, or those at risk within their local communities. We haven’t hosted
international volunteers in our service yet, but we have a strong ethos of volunteering, in fact we have
volunteer programmes to enable local individuals to become involved with the work of the organisation.
The EVS programme aims to develop the skills of the volunteers whilst simultaneously enabling
Samarcanda to offer a more multifaceted approach to our service. By adding a European dimension to
the volunteer programme we feel that our residents and working practise has greatly benefited from
new cultural experiences.
As indicated in the Council recommendation of 20 November 2008 on the mobility of young
volunteers across European Union “special attention” will be given “to young people with fewer
opportunities”. According with our mission we are mainly interested in the involvement of this target
group to give them more opportunities to have an intercultural experience, to develop abilities and
competences useful to increase the capability to play an active role in his/her own life, both as more
consciousness citizen and as worker with a greater employability capacity.
Furthermore we do believe that to develop solidarity and promote active citizenship and mutual
understanding among young people EVS represented a non formal education methods really effective,
assured a long term experience that involved deeply the volunteer and it’s really influent in his/her
attitudes.
Finally the EVS volunteer will bring an important contribution in the local community, in fact he/she will
“represents” a new culture that will be known thanks to specific initiatives with the objective of fighting
against stereotypes and xenophobia, promoting respect, tolerance and equality as priorities of the
“Youth in action programme”.
At the same time, EVS promotes among other youngsters the curiosity about exchange programmes
and it can help motivate them to participate in intercultural and international activities.
Samarcanda joins Progetto Zattera Blu.
Progetto Zattera Blu is a social cooperative, founded in 2003 in Schio (VI), in Veneto Region in the
Province of Vicenza.
Its history started in 1993 as “Zattera Blu” a cooperative created to promote the values of justice and
equality and to guarantee the same rights to every minors and youngsters with fewer opportunities and
disadvantaged people. It worked in the north part of the Province of Vicenza (Alto Vicentino).
“Zattera Blu” is been divided in three different autonomous social cooperative in 2003 to be able to
satisfied the needs of the local communities with more effectiveness:
- Adelante in Bassano del Grappa;
- Radicà in Calvene
- Samarcanda in Schio;
They are independent organisations but they share projects and the same values and goals.
In 2003 Progetto Zattera Blu was founded as well with the main aim to project complex and innovative
initiatives in partnership with Adelante, Radicà, Samarcanda.
Progetto Zattera Blu is specialized in different services as training, counselling and projecting in the
social fiels. It works as a consortium (even if it isn’t officially established) and in partnership with the
other cooperatives. They elaborate together new “answers” (projects) to support disadvanced people.
So the presidents of the 4 different cooperatives meet regularly one time in a month to promote
projects and share ideas and initiatives.
Progetto Zattera Blu and its cooperatives have a great experience in working with youth and minors
with great attention with people with fewer opportunities.
The promotion of the active citizenship was one of the mail topic of our project addressed to youth,
mainly by voluntary activities and training of volunteers in schools, youth centres and with informal
groups, also with youngsters (ex) offenders.
All ours youth workers has a deep experience as tutor or mentor of youth volunteers and they have
regularly specific trainings.
We have mainly been working only at local level, so we are going to add a new European dimension to
our projects and services. Specifically we are interested in the implementation of activities that: foster
young people young people’s sense of European citizenship and help them to understand their role as
part of the present and future Europe; reflect a common concern for European society, such as racism,
xenophobia, drug abuse..; debate the founding principles of the European Union: liberty, democracy,
respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law.
We do believe that by EVS we will be able to guarantee to a huger target group of youth a non formal
education experience and, at the same time, to promote the value of the voluntarism, social
responsibility and solidarity. Our interest is to work in partnership in hosting, sending, coordinating EVS
projects and developing events, cultural initiatives with volunteers to spread information about
European voluntary service.

Progetto Zattera Blu and the other cooperatives have the objective to establish a new local agency
called “OPEN DOORS” finalized to promote EVS in the Province of Vicenza in the north part
specifically, by informing, counselling and training youth, in fact in this area there aren’t organisation
specialized in it, yet. We met regularly to share values and goals of this new service that aims to make
all youngsters more aware about the EVS, its priorities and opportunities. We wrote a “values and
objectives chart” of this new agency.
The contact point of “Open Doors” agency is in Calvene (VI), where Progetto Zattera Blu is settled, but
mainly the initiatives will be realized in schools, youth centres, parishes, ensuring that the largest
possible number of young people benefit from it.
We do believe that working in partnership will make us able to bring an added value to our EVS
projects at different level:
.. educational: we will be able to involve volunteers in a grater number of training courses, they
will be invited in the different training organized from the cooperatives;
.. social/intercultural: we will be able to create a local group of EVS volunteers that:
guarantees a peer support; increases young people's positive awareness of other cultures;
supports dialogue and intercultural encounters with other young people from different
backgrounds and cultures;
.. impact: at local level the presence of several EVS volunteers helps to prevent and combat
prejudice, racism and all attitudes leading to exclusion; develops sense of tolerance and
understanding of diversity.
Description of the organisation
Samarcanda is a non profit organisation, founded in 2003 in Schio (VI). Its mission is promoting human
dignity, solidarity, sustainable development, citizen's and youth’s participation.
Its main target group are homeless people, women victim of domestic violence and youngsters.
To reach this main goal, Samarcanda has been working with local communities with specific objectives,
such:
- reinforce action to fight against poverty and violence;
- develop solidarity and tolerance between youth;
- promote intercultural dialogue and peace.
Samarcanda provides 4 main services:
- temporary residence for homeless people (Casa Bakhita)
- safe shelter for women victim of violence (Casa Janela)
- socio – animation service (youth center, youth projects)
- administrative services and training for non profit organisation
CASA BAKHITA – homeless shelter
Casa Bakhita is a homeless shelter, a temporary residence for homeless people. It is located in the
citycentre of Schio (VI) and open to anyone, without regard to the reason for need, age and gender.
The shelter also provides meals to eat; furthermore people can stay all day, except for work, school, or
errands.
Casa Bakhita develops empowerment based "wrap around" services in which clients are case managed
and supported in their efforts to become self reliant. The practice is based on empowerment models,
where instead of "warehousing clients", "participants" are empowered to become agents in their own
futures and destinies. Such models tend to focus on assisting participants to access their rights while
fulfilling their responsibilities as citizens. People are permitted to stay for a maximum of 20 days, but it is
possible to get this period longer, depending on the specific needs.
Casa Bakhita also provide other services, such as a job seeking skills training, job training, job
placement, support groups, art and craft (it usually refers to specialists).
Casa Bakhita gets part of their funding from local government entities and foundations. It can host 15
guests and the staff is composed by 6 educators, 1 social assistants and 1 sociologist.
CASA JANELA –Safe shelter for women victims of domestic violence or women with children in a
difficulty period of life
It is a small shelter, whose aims is to provide support and help for women (and their children) who have
experienced physical and sexual violence or mental harassment. Casa Janela offers for a maximum of 4
woman both safe shelter and a range of counseling services, adopting a rights-based approach that
promises to build the self-confidence of beneficiaries so that they are able to determine their own future.
The comprehensive service includes legal, psychological counseling and basic economic support
through the coordination of a multi-disciplinary team (social workers (4), psychologists, police, and
lawyers).
The team of social workers (2 people, female) organizes specific tutoring programmes for each
beneficiary to help them to know all the services of the town so that they will be able to find a job, use
public transports, enrol children at school, utilize health services…
Youth in Action Programme – Action 2 - European Voluntary Service Expression of Interest Page 7
SOCIO – CULTURAL ANIMATION SERVICE
Samarcanda have a specific area of socio – cultural animation.
We do believe that within socio-cultural animation animateurs work with people and groups so that
they participate in and manage the communities in which they live. The following definition is taken
from a Report of the European Cultural Foundation in 1973.
Our objectives are to enable young people to:
- find out and develop their own needs, interests, possibilities, confidence and trust
- learn to act in a self – determined and responsible way
- play an active role in their community as European citizen
- reduce prejudice and stereotypes
- experience the enrichment of a variety of culture
- learn how to deal with conflicts
The animateurs work also in a YOUTH CENTRE, in the city centre of Schio, inside the building of the
Municipality but they managed the service with the support of 2 public workers. The youth centre provides
specific services for young people that include: information about opportunities for leisure time,
counselling and employability work, volunteering and peer education, as well as schools based
services for the local community development and community education and learning. Animateurs aim
to help develop individual and group ability to to participate in and to manage the social and political
reality in which they live.
The team of socio – cultural animateurs are composed by 5 people, 3 male and 2 female.