Project environment

A. PROJECT ENVIRONMENT

The volunteer will be working with the staff of SPW, cooperating with current participants of the projects coordinated by SPW
as well as Polish young people doing their voluntary service for SPW. Activities designed for the volunteer take place partly in
SPW’s office. The work will also require visits to host organisations coordinated by SPW located in or near Warsaw, meetings
with other EVS volunteers and events in the city. What is more the volunteer will be working with previous EVS volunteers both
foreign and Polish via internet or phone.
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland with 1.7 million inhabitants. It is the seat of numerous governmental offices,
embassies and consulates, universities, cultural institutions, non-governmental organisations and many more. As a city of
students and young, active people it offers hundreds of cafes, restaurants, pubs, clubs and other places among which everyone
finds something suitable for him/her.

B. PROPOSED ACTIVITIES FOR EVS VOLUNTEERS

SPW offers the volunteer involvement in interesting projects of great importance for SPW. For the volunteer it will be an
opportunity for self-realisation and developing creativity, own initiative as well as social and organisational skills. Thanks
to work with experienced staff the volunteer will have a chance to gain and/or practise numerous practical skills (preparing
questionnaires, creating publications, using office tools, coordination of a project and volunteers’ work, work in a team,
cooperation with specialists such as a graphic designer or an editor). The volunteer will work in a multicultural environment and
take part in events organised for other EVS volunteers, which gives him/her a possibility for intercultural learning.
The volunteer will be supporting SPWin carrying our activities promoting international voluntary service with attention to special
occasions such as the European Year of Volunteering 2011. For instance the activities related to EYV 2011 focus on two
themes: documentation of SPW’s history in the framework European Voluntary Service and organisation of the International
Volunteer Day, which will be the main event to celebrate EYV in SPW. Engaging the volunteer into activities mentioned above
will ensure that their formula is attractive for other young and active volunteers.
The volunteer will be involved in preparing publication about EVS volunteers which SPW has hosted in its projects and sent
abroad since 2001. Tasks related to this project include:
-to work out a questionnaire for volunteers on such topics as evaluation of the project, impact of EVS on their lives, further
involvement in voluntary service etc.,
-to establish contact with the volunteers via internet and carry out the survey (to collect and process data),
-to help create and produce a publication about the volunteers in cooperation with SPW’s staff, a graphic designer and an
editor,
-to help distribute the publication.
The other activity, which the volunteer will be involved in, is organisation of the event for the IVD 2011 taking place on 5th
December. Tasks related to this event include:
-to work out a concept of a happening promoting voluntary service in cooperation with EVS volunteers participating in other
projects coordinated by SPW,
-to plan the event and its preparation and coordinate the project,
-to carry out the happening on the IVD together with SPW staff and EVS volunteers,
-to promote the event using different media (internet, magazines, flyers etc.),
-to make documentation of the event and its preparation (photography, video etc.) and prepare a brochure.
In the following years the volunteers will be involved in other actions promoting international voluntary service. In every case
his/her tasks will include PR activities (preparing brochures, flyers, newsletters and reports; utilizing social media outlets such
as blogs or facebook etc.), communication with media and cooperation with other EVS volunteers. The volunteer will also have
a chance to implement own ideas.

C. VOLUNTEER PROFILES AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

The ideal candidate for SPW’s project is an active, creative, communicative and outgoing person ready for challenges. He/she
should possess good organisational and social skills and good knowledge of English. Interest in media, PR and organising
events will be an advantage.
Recruitment process will be open to all young people willing to undertake proposed activities. The volunteer will be selected on
the basis of an application, opinion of the sending organisation and phone interview.
We are open to cooperate with sending organisations of any type.

D. NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS HOSTED

2

E. SPECIAL NEEDS

We are open to host volunteers facing economical and geographical difficulties. Recruitment process of volunteers with fewer
opportunities will be conducted in very close cooperation with the sending organisation to create appropriate conditions for the
volunteer. The volunteer will be strongly supported by a mentor, host and sending organisation.

F. RISK PREVENTION, PROTECTION AND SAFETY

The volunteer will be living in a secured area, which guarantees safe and friendly environment. At the beginning of the service
the volunteer will be trained on hygiene and safety at work by a staff member.
Right after arrival the volunteer will participate in a preparatorymeeting organised by the host organisation, where safety issues
and possible crisis situations will be discussed. The volunteer will be under constant care of his/hermentor and EVS coordinator
to ensure quick support in case of problems, conflicts and crisises.
We do not expect hosting volunteers under 18 years old.
Program „M³odzieÿz w dzia³aniu”
http://mwd.org.pl
Strona 6

Motivation and EVS experience

SPW can boast several years of active experience in European Voluntary Service. Annually the organisation conducts projects
for 10-15 foreign volunteers and 12-15 Polish volunteers. Since 2001 SPW has hosted over 110 volunteers in its projects in
Poland and has sent over 50 young people abroad to a great number of countries in Europe, Asia, Latin America and Africa.
In our opinion taking part in EVS projects is a unique opportunity for young people for self-development and gaining new
practical skills. We consider voluntary service programmes as an excellent form of maintaining international contacts, fostering
youth exchange, allowing the participants to fight cross-cultural barriers, developing bonds of long lasting friendship and
engaging in the intercultural dialogue.
Hosting volunteers is a perfect opportunity for increasing visibility of EVS projects carried out by SPW and promoting voluntary
service. At the same time it will be a great chance for them to participate in interesting projects and develop many new skills in
such relevant areas as PR, media, organising events and project coordination.

Description of the organisation

Stowarzyszenie Promocji Wolontariatu is a vibrant Polish non-governmental and non-profit organisation, active in the field
of voluntary service and particularly committed to international youth exchange programmes since 1993.
SPW organizes voluntary programmes in Poland by running about 20 short-term projects during the summer and handles
international exchange of approximately 350-400 volunteers each year (incoming - 150, outgoing - 200). SPW also hosts
and sends Mid-Term and Long-Term volunteers in the frame of various programmes. Our regular events include trainings for
mentors and leaders as well as information meetings and promotional activities for volunteers and our partner organizations.
The association cooperates with organizations from more than 100 countries situated all around the globe. All of them are very
active in promoting voluntary service projects in their countries.