The volunteer will take part in an EVS group project that aims to increase European awareness among youth in the town of Marche-en-Famenne and to improve a closer collaboration between local youth services. The volunteer will be hosted during the same time as two european volunteers who will work for other local organizations (Mic-ados and Maison des Jeunes). However, the main part of his/her activities will only proceed within the hosting organization, Compagnons Bâtisseurs (CBB).The "association des Compagnons Bâtisseurs" (http://www.compagnonsbatisseurs.be ) is a youth Organization that aims to educate young people to a responsible citizenship.

Its work follows four different targets:

1) To get people responsible,

2) to make people meeting each other, above the cultural, social or mental differences,

3) to help with the construction of non-profit projects,

4) to promote alternative travels.

To achieve these goals, Compagnons Bâtisseurs develops different activities based on volunteering: it sends volunteers on projects abroad (for short or long term), organizes international youth workcamps, campleader training, and leisure activities for disabled people and young people. The achievement of all these activities is possible thanks to a network of 350 Belgian volunteers, 100 foreign volunteers during the holidays and a team of 4 employees, all former volunteers. There are four employees in CBB: Olivier, 39 years, Adeline, 23 years Anne-Sophie, 29 years, Grégory, 27 years. During his/her project, the EVS volunteer will be also in relation with the young people who attends the activities of the Organization. The majority of them are at the age of 18 to 35 years old. Its activities are spread all over in all the territory of the French Community of Belgium. The preparation of the activities is done however at the town of Marche-in-Famenne. The town, located in the South of Belgium (French-speaking part) counts 16.640 inhabitants. It is surrounded by the villages of Hollogne, Waha, Verdenne, Champlon-Famenne, Grimbiémont, Lignières, Roy, Aye, Humain, Marloie, Hargimont and On. It is located in a rural area. The cultural activity offers are not as numerous as in the big cities, but those -Liege, Namur, Brussels- are easy to join by car and/or train (1h30 of journey maximum)·

TASKS :

Activities with Compagnons BâtisseursThe volunteers tasks will consist of assistance in promotion and preparation of week-end activities and international workcamps. The volunteer will be especially in charge of helping disabled people to be integrated these activities.

1) Promotion of CBB activities :

- To prepare and to hold information stands at the Universities and high school of the belgian french Community in order to present the activities of the Organization and to increase young people awareness about volunteering and intercultural exchanges.

- To help with the maintenance of the CBB website (http://www.compagnonsbatisseurs.be )

- To run workshops in schools (about group dynamic, conflicts resolution and intercultural relationships) with an employee of the organization.

2) Preparation of the week-end activities and of the international workcamps:

- To visit organizations who would like to host an international camp organized by Compagnons Bâtisseurs.

- To give a logistic support to the activities: preparation of material, food…

3) Co-animation of week-end and international workcamps/help to the integration of handicap people International workcamps are stays of two or three weeks during which young volunteers, who came from different countries, meet each other and work for an organization or a local community. Work can be very varied : renovation, construction, environment protection, child animation... In collaboration with the campleader, the EVS volunteer will help to maintain a good group dynamic.

IMPORTANT: Compagnons Bâtisseurs works for the correct integration of disabled people in its activities. When a person with handicap will participate in a camp, the EVS volunteer will be especially in charge to help him/her to integrate the group.

4) Activities according to the personality of the volunteer and to his/her desires: The hosting organization really hopes the volunteer will bring it innovation and creativity. Depending of his/her preferences, of his/her desires and his/her capacities, he/she may make a short film or a photo report presenting the organization, create posters or write texts about its activities, to take part in the development and the promotion of an ecological charter that will have to be respected on all the activities of association...

Collective activities with other EVS volunteers : The EVS activity within Compagnons Bâtisseurs is attached to a group EVS project that aims to increase european awareness among youth in the town of Marche-en-Famenne and to improve a closer collaboration between the local youth services. For that reason, some activities will be run with two other EVS volunteers (hosted by Mic-Ados and by Maison des Jeunes). The volunteers will work together especially during special youth events organized once a year in Marche-en-Famenne: Rock festival, Carnaval, youth services open day, end of exams party…. The volunteers will help to the preparation and follow-up of these events. In some occasions, they will hold an information stand presenting EVS program and youth exchange opportunities. They will have the opportunity to organize a "european night" in the local youth house and to present therefore their country and traditions. The EVS volunteers could help in the organization of any further common activity between Mic-Ados, Maison des jeunes and Compagnons Bâtisseurs, e.g. international youth exchange, neighbourhood fest, mini-football local tournament…

http://ec.europa.eu/youth/evs/aod/hei_form_en.cfm?EID=20000091001