KERIC is located nearby the river bank of the river Kysuca, which flows around the city. The area next to the river is often used by people from the city to go for walks or by mothers to walk withtheir children or babies in a pram. It is one of the very few places in the city which can be used by pedestrians. Unfortunately, the surroundings of the river bank is not maintained by anybody and the area is neglected and does not provide a welcoming surroundings for the pedestrians who go there for a walk. There are no facilities there – no playgrounds, sand pits, there are just a few banches to sit at one of the ends of the river bank. Therefore, KERIC would like to organised this short term project to clear the river bank and provide a welcoming space there for the pedestrians. The volunteers will cooperate with the city gardener and clear the river bank under his guidance. They are welcome to come up with own ideas how to improve the surroundings and to provide a welcoming atmosphere for the pedestrians. At the end of the project, the volunteers will organise an opening campaign of the river bank space The way this event will be organised is completely up to the volunteers. .KERIC will provide support for the volunteers to organise this event (contacts, financial sources, facilitations, etc.)

Motivation and EVS experience

STARTING AND FREQUENCY
KERIC started hosting volunteers in 2003. Since then, we have hosted 46 volunteers . We have also sent 45 volunteers . Apart from that, we have coordinated over 60 volunteers for other organisations in Europe and Latin America.
PARTNERS
In 2003 and 2005, the majority of our projects were on bilateral basis, only one was a multilateral EVS project in cooperation with SEE countries - hosting 4 volunteers at the same time for one year (April 2004 to April 2005). All volunteers at this period were from Europe and travelling to Europe.
In 2005, we started cooperation with Latin America - where we have developed stable partnerships which we would like to strengthen further within our sending, hosting, as well as coordinating activies. This partnership is very stable and active up to now.
In 2010, we started cooperation where we plan to send more volunteers in the future. A new cooperation with Africa is planned, and will hopefully start after 2011.
MOTIVATION
Since 2002, through working with volunteers, we have acquired a lot of experience - on personal as well as proffessional level. EVS has become an essential influence shaping the character of our organisation and it has helped to make the people in our region more open and tolerant to foreigners. We honestly believe in benefits of EVS projects and would like to continue in being an active sending, host and coordinational organisation.

Description of the organisation

KERIC is a non-profit youth organisation that works with children, youth and adults from the region Kysuce. We organise educational activities in the field of languages, computers, European awareness and intercultural learning. The main aim of KERIC is to provide space for young people to realise their ideas and to receive education in a non-formal way in their leisure time. Furthermore, we try to provide opportunities forpeople from the Kysuce region to meet foreigners and people of different cultural background generally.
One of the main aims of KERIC is to provide opportunities for young people for intercultural learning and getting to know other cultures and thus becoming more tolerant to the differences of other people. EVS is an ideal way for fulfilling this aim. Volunteers, that are working in KERIC meet children and youth from the Kysuce region during their activities in KERIC and create close personal relations with them. This personal experience of young people is the best way to overcome barriers among different cultures. Furthermore, sending volunteers to other cultures fulfills this aim as well. After completing their EVS project, the volunteers come back full of new knowledge, experience, ideas and relationships. This experience is then transferred to their close family and friends through personal interaction.
Our main activities are:
- creative workshops for children and youth (guitar workshop, European cuisine, juggling, Sunday workshops for children...)
- European voluntary service - sending and also hosting volunteers
- English conversation courses for children, youth and adults
- Conversation courses in French, Spanish, German, Portuguesse..
- Computer courses
- English on skis (winter camp for chidlren and youth)
- Summer camps for children
- Summer sailing
- irregular one-day activities for children and youth (Funny sailing, Building of snow statues, Kericovanie, International Christmas etc and other street activities for children
- Seminars and trainings
- Adventure activities
- Club activities in a newly opened centre Underground

We are not a member of any umbrella organisation.