A. Project environment: profile of the organisation and local community

Iwith.org is an international foundation based in Nyon (Switzerland) and Barcelona (Spain) with beneficiaries in 4 continents.
La mission statement of Iwith.org is to promote information and communication technology as tools for solidarity and improvement in society.

Our main objectives are:
* Help non profit organisation with New technologies, in order to :
o reduce costs
o so they can communicate better
o so they become more efficient
* To promote communication between organisations:
o so they share resources
o so they share ideas
o so they can join efforts instead of duplicating them
* Approach New Technologies to Civil Society:
o improvement the management of information in internet without any technical training
o promoting open source tools.
o because we believe New technologies should be a part to the need of the organisations and not the other way round.
* To Promote New Technologies as a useful and positive tool:
o so organisations are not apprehensive about them.
o so that success can be applied immediately
o because we relieve they are only a tool and it is only how we apply them that makes them good.

* To create a Network of experts in information technology:

o because training is the first step to bridge the digital ridge.
o because knowledge has no owners
o because we relieve in sharing what we know.


Activities and projects running at present: In Iwith.org we are working in projects for first level organisations, among which are:
World Commission on International Migrations http://www.gcim.org/
Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC) http://www.gnrc.ne.jp/
EAPN European ANTI-POVERTY NETWORK FROM TEH CANARY ISLANDS http://www.eapn-canarias.org/
United Nations Institute for Training and Research http://www.unitarny.org/
Catalan Organisations of Social Action (Entitats Catalanes d'Acció Social) http://www.acciosocial.org/

We also work in communication and development projects like:
Xarxanet http://www.xarxanet.org/xarxanet/arees/projeccio_exterior
Dof Guatemela(Democratización Digital de Guatemala) http://campus.democratizaciondigital.net/

Human resources in the organisation:
Our team in Barcelona is made up of 7 professionals with the following functions: Resources Manager, Ab core Manager, Communication Manager, Webmaster, Technical Development, International Relations and Web Designer. It's a young team living services to NGOs.

Local Community:

The project takes part in the offices of the organisation in the Gothic neighbourhood of Barcelona- historical centre and heart of the city. In this part of the city the main activities are economic, touristy and cultural. But there is a large number of people that use this area as residence as well a s immigrants. It is a well communicated neighbourhood.

Sharing the premises with Iwith.org is the Communitarian Meeting Point linked to the Idealistas.org Network.


B. Proposed activities for EVS volunteers

The communication project TIC has two aspects both centred around communication in NGOs and the use of information and communication technologies.
On one hand the volunteer will collaborate with the promotion of " the communitarian Meeting Point" coordinated by idealistas.org.
On the other, the volunteer will collaborate with the communication team Iwith.org to circulate information on our projects.
The communication in with.org is mainly in 4 languages, which is a reason why interacting with international volunteers is of great value for our organisation.
Typically the European volunteers contribute their international vision to the communication actions, taking part in the design and execution, they will translate short texts, write small contributions for the web page, forums and blogs, and relate to other volunteers. In none of the activities mentioned will the volunteer replace employees.

1.Basic tasks of the volunteer:
The planned timetable for the volunteer is from 11.00-14.00 and from 16.00-20.00 Monday to Friday. There is a small kitchen in the office so it is possible to have lunch there.
The volunteers will be ascribed to the communication area, and will work together with the person in charge in the selection, editing and publishing of contents and news in different web sites managed by Iwith.org, like :
http://www.iwith.org/ www.bocatics.org www.abcore.org/ http://campus.iwith.org www.3inter.cat
http://campus.democratizaciondigital.net/ http://www.xarxanet.org/xarxanet/arees/projeccio_exterior
The volunteers will follow up the whole process of writing up and circulating press notes and contacting the media.
They will also collaborate with the team managing the Communitarian meeting Point, taking part in interviews with associations, NGOs, volunteers, etc… and collaborating with its promotion.
The computer tools they would be using do not require any specific training and in any case the volunteer will receive basic technical training on arrival.

2 .Experience for the volunteers:
The volunteers that take part in the project, will acquire apart from specific training, the skills to communicate and relate in the scope of NGOs.


C. Volunteer profiles and recruitment process

The candidates should be between 18 and 30 years old. We will value an interest in social issues, new technologies, civic solidarity and intercultural relations. We are looking for with ability to work as a team and serious.
Our objective is also to host volunteers from different countries simultaneously, to create a multicultural and multi-linguistic dimension, and we will try to have a gender balance.
To circulate information on our "vacancies " we will use our network of communications with European organisations. We will also publish them in the voluntary site "EVSWorks". The official database of the Programme is also a way of getting interested candidates, who contact the organisation directly, although it contains no information on the vacancies.
The deadline for the applications for our placements is usually one or two months after publishing the vacancy. The coordinating organisation pre-selects a small number of volunteers, while the last decision is taken by the hosting organisation alter a telephone interview with the candidates. The results of the selection will be transmitted to all the candidates.
Our intention it to collaborate with all the sending organisations with which we have establish a trust relationship, to insure the positive outcome for the EVS.


D. Special needs (if applicable)

We do not rule out the possibility of hosting a volunteer with this profile, as long as he /she is motivated and aware of the functions in the project.


E. Risk prevention, safety and protection

The workplace where the volunteer will carry out his activity will be an open space office, recently redesigned which complies with all the security at work laws. There are no work tools or objects that could represent a risk for the volunteers.
The flat where the volunteer will live is also equipped with all the commodities, and the volunteer will receive instructions about the use of the appliances and about any risks he/she could run in their daily life. The figures of the two mentor will be crucial to make the volunteers feel safe and protected during their projects. The person in charge of their tasks in the project will do everything possible to provide them a good integration to work. On the other hand the mentor of the coordinating organisation, will do everything possible to help the volunteers with the integration in the local community, will explain the practical aspects useful in daily life and will have at least two weekly meetings with the volunteer. For any urgent matter the mentor will always be available and can by contacted by mobile phone. Good communication with the mentors is the best way to prevent conflicts during EVS. In addition we rely on the experience of 8 years in different EVS projects for the design of out work and conflict resolution plans.

http://ec.europa.eu/youth/evs/aod/hei_form_en.cfm?EID=30000912902