Il Portico association is located in Dolo (VE), a town with about 15000 inhabitants at about 15 Kms from Padua and 20 from Venice. It is reachable by bus (bus station is 10 minutes far from the center) and by train (Venice and Padua stations are linked to all major Italian cities). Dolo, together with other Riviera del Brenta towns (Strà, Fiesso d'Artico, Mira and Mirano) is sited in a precious cultural environment that favours cultural tourism to famous Venetian Villas. In Dolo there are bars, restaurants, theatres and cinemas, and above all during the summer many cultural festival and local fairs take place.
The association centre is located in a typical venetian villa of which it has had the usufruct by Padua Caritas.
The centre is structured in order to offer different services:
- It's a host community for people in need
- It has aggregation places (rooms, bar, garden) for the local community
- It has a music hall and a recording studio for music groups
The association can host several volunteers, two of them can live in a place only for them (a wide room and a bathroom) and share the common rooms (kitchen, dining room, garden) with other guests. The other volunteers can be hosted by the families of other volunteers. In the center the presence of operators and/or volunteers is assured all the day long.
Alcoholic drinks and drugs are not allowed since they are not only prohibited by Italian law but also they could endanger guests and volunteers.
The volunteers will plan and discuss other rules with their tutor.
As it has been described, the association has different projects in which EVS volunteers can be involved and give help
During the first period the volunteers can come into contact with association activities and the foreign language. Only in a second time they will they be completely integrated.
In practical terms the volunteers will take part to the following activities:
-daily tasks: lunch preparation, cleaning, shopping
-help in the organization of free time daily activities (weekly meetings, Sunday trips, sojourns, parties, cultural laboratories)
-"Eurodesk office": the volunteer helps in the PLD Eurodesk management, by updating data, writing newsletter and promoting the office.
-Involvement in "Nuovi Cont@tti" project: the volunteer helps the operators in the activities of youth aggregation centres
-Involvement in sojourns organized by the association with people in social desease
-Help in the administrative tasks of the association: registration, leaflets and promotion.
The association organizes promotional initiatives (in schools and local fairs) of its activities and the opportunities for young people, as for example the National Volunteer Service and EVS. The volunteer will present EVS, his help is fundamental for anyone who wants to take part in this experience.
The association has been involved in the creation of A.P.G. Riviera and Miranese Youth Policies Committee and it collaborates with local authorities and associations. Volunteers are involved in a very developed local network so that they have the opportunity to know the social reality in which they operate and at the same time they bring their personal store of knowledge and the cultural baggage of their country.
According to their curiosity and will volunteers can propose their own activities coordinating them with other operators and specific projects. Some volunteers proposed for example artistic workshops for the youngest members of the associations or parties to present the Nation.
The volunteer is always supported by the operators of the association with the aim to reach personal autonomy so that when going back to his country he can take advantage of the acquired competences.
The possibility to host people from different countries and therefore with different culture and habits is very important for our association because it represents a cultural exchange.
Volunteers will be involved in two trainings, a linguistic and a specific one for the project.
The volunteer is employed for a maximum of 30 hours for week. Timetables are planned week by week according to the activities. Specific need wil be discussed with the tutor.
All the activities are thought to help the volunteer to improve his competences and acquire new ones. At the same time it is an occasion of formal and informal learning.
Considering activities specified and according to European Commision key competences, used for Youthpass compilation, the volunteers have the possibilities to acquire the following competences:
-"learning to learn" (during the service the volunteer is stimulated to develop new learning through formal and informal learning occasions). Interpersonal, intercultural and social competences (through relationship with guests and memnbers of the association, and the exchange of his cultural background) Civic competences (the contact with a different culture and with associations of other European countries consolidates the awareness of being European citizens). "Enterprise" (the volunteer is spurred to propose activities according to his interests or personal actitudes)."Cultural expression" (since lack of italian language knowledge creative comptetences will help volunteers to find different means of communication. Personal competences and abilities are useful to organize activities). "Mother tongue and foreign language communication" (volunteer learns a new language through daily dialogue with foreign people and language courses. Furthermore he is asked to speak in his mother tongue with whom is studying it (linguistic Tandem). "Mathematic competences" (supporting administrative tasks in the association management)."scientific competences" (personal knowledge can be broadened by courses and practice). "computer competences" (volunteer can use the association pc and other instruments).
We are looking for a volunteer who is flexible and adapts himself to the different situation he can be involved in.
He has to be aware of living and working with people suffering of personal problematics.
Selection will be by cv and letter of introduction later the volunteer and sending organization will be directly contacted by email.
Thanks to its experience with people in need and according to its aims, the association can host disadvantaged EVS volunteers.
Professional competences of operators will help volunteers to carry out the service successsfully and according to their abilities.
Unfortunately the association center cannot host volunteers suffering of motor disability because there is no lift to the first floor where there are the bedrooms and toilet.
It is therefore necessary that the volunteer is able to climb stairs independently.

The association center and volunteers bedrooms complie with Italian safety measures, safe workplace is assured.
In the center the presence of operators and/or volunteers is assured all the day long and they can be always contacted by Evs volunteers
There will be a tutor for the organization of activities and as reference for any necessity.
Constant presence of association members makes volunteers feel in a safe atmosphere.
The association collaborates with many youth local organizations, therefore volunteers get in touch with many young people of the same age.
"Familiar atmosphere" of the community keeps volunteer in positive relationship

http://ec.europa.eu/youth/evs/aod/hei_form_en.cfm?EID=42000497022