A.
Schwäbisch Hall has around 35,000 inhabitants. It is situated between Nürnberg and Stuttgart near the motorway A6. The economic structure is dominated by agriculture, trade and banking (a big building society). The town can offer a wide range of cultural events, e. g. the open-air theatre in town.

B.
The volunteer should assist the team in their daily work. He should accompany the handicapped people to courses at the adult education centre, organize with them their leisure time, help them in using public transportation, etc. The volunteer will support the handicapped people in their every-day activities and offers his assistance with the personal hygiene.
The volunteer will participate in the everyday life of an institution of integrative support. She/He will learn about how to develop and live individual programmes aimed at forstering our clients' independence. Additionally the volunteer can learn more about different views regarding mental handicaps prevalent in our society and learn to deal with them.
In the context of this frame, the volunteer will have opportunites to develop and implement own projects
They will be accompanied by our staff members. We once for example had a volunteer who co-organized a group travel. Other volunteers arranged theme or folkloric evenings about their home countries.

C.
The volunteer should above all be open to working with disabled, elderly people. Previous experience is not necessary and it is more important that they are interested in the work and willing to get involved in this type of work. Communication is very important in our work. The volunteers should be receptive to the needs of our occupants and introduce their knowledge and experience from their homeland.

D./

E.
During an EVS problems could arise. In the practicethe strategy of solving smaller problems firstly in the project proved of value. The tutor as well as the closest colleagues play the most important role. By regular conversations between tutor and volunteer we are informed in time about the problems and can help to discuss them and give assistance. VIA e.V. interferes first of all by phone. If the problems become more complex a VIA - coordinator visits the hosting organisation and works as (neutral) mediator between volunteer and hosting organisation. At this time the sending organisation has been informed about the situation. In addition the German National Agency offers a professional accompaniment of the volunteers at the seminars.

http://ec.europa.eu/youth/evs/aod/hei_form_en.cfm?EID=6001602601