A. Project environment: profile of the organisation and local community
Krogen is a large institution and its buildings are modern. It has a large courtyard built in glass surrounded by the residents' rooms and common areas. Each resident has his/her own room. The residents have their meals in the common dining room as we consider meal time to be also a kind of therapy.
As in all Danish public institution smoking is only allowed outside.
We also have a garden which is created to stimulate the senses of the residents.
Krogen is placed in a residential area about 10 minutes' walk from the centre of Varde.
Varde is a town of approx. 13.000 inhabitants and it is situated in the West of Jutland not far away from the North Sea. You can travel to the town both by bus and train.
Varde is an old town. Its exact age is not known, but its name occurs in written texts as early as 100 A.D. The city has an abundance of cultural activities and at www.visitvarde.dk you can find more information about the city.

Contact point:
AFS Interkultur is member of the world-wide youth organisation, American Field Service, which has offices in 55 countries. AFS programmes include 12 months high school stay and 5-12 months youth exchange for people from 18 to 25 years of age.
Today AFS is an independent youth organisation with a strong international network (AFS Intercultural Programs). AFS is a voluntary based, non-profit organisation independent of political and religious interest. In Denmark AFS Interkultur was established in 1957 and has today 43 local chapters.


B. Proposed activities for EVS volunteers
The most important work at Krogen is to take care of the handicapped residents. We help them bath, cloth, eat and we also try to teach them to do it by themselves, if possible.
Together with 3 staff members the volunteer will be take care of 7- 8 residents who are in need of high level of care.
A typical day begins at 6:00, when the residents wake up, have their shower and breakfast and go to work or school. In the remaining time before lunch some cleaning and maybe shopping are done.
Between 14:00 - 15:00 the residents return from job and school and between 22:00 and 23:00 the night shift takes over.
The volunteer is supposed to provide help in general to the staff in the daily work at Krogen. She/he will also take part at the staff meetings.
Two of the permanent staff members will be supporting the volunteer. He/she will also be given the same introduction which other new employees receive.
The volunteer will be working in the daytime but will also have the opportunity to do night shifts if he/she would like to do so. The volunteer will have to work during some weekends, but will have time off in lieau at other times.

Lodging and boarding:
AFS will provide a host family for the volunteer. The life in a host family will facilitate the integration in the local community and will accelerate the process of both language and intercultural learning.
The volunteer will be invited to social events arranged by the AFS's local chapters together with other volunteers, exchange students and host families.

C. Volunteer profiles and recruitment process
The volunteer must be interested in working with people. We also expect the volunteer to be openminded and able to speak English on a conversational level.

E. Risk prevention, safety and protection
Krogen complies with Danish safety regulations. The work does not involve any special risks.