Zwolle is a historic town in the North East of the Netherlands, close to the German border. Zwolle is an old Hanzecity situated on the river IJssel. It is a city with strong rural ties and has 110.000 citizens.

The Dominican monastery is closely linked and is involved in the society. Typical for the Dominical philosophy is
" Having an open dialogue with people who think differently.
" Searching for what is meaningful and important in daily life-experiences.
" A life style which is going beyond only materialistic values.

The residents of Zwolle also play an active part within the monastic community. Local residents participate as volunteers, within certain workgroups and also as board members.

'T Wasdom is on the second floor of the former laundry and bakery located behind the monastery. It was recently redecorated by the young people who now use it, and set up as a youth centre for those living in Zwolle.

The atmosphere of the Dominican monastery gives the centre a very special atmosphere. Participants are invited to think about their own history and also their future. It may be that even people perceive themselves differently after visiting the centre.

Youth centre 't Wasdom offers the following services and possibilities:
" Youth groups can use the centre as the place where they can meet and make their own programme
" Youth groups and individuals can get coaching from the workers and volunteers at 't Wasdom
" There is also the chance to visit the monastery and to meet and to talk with people from the Dominican community
" There is a walk-in cafe twice a week with teenagers and students where young people eat together and do some activities
" Youth and student exhibitions are also possible.
" Every month there is an opportunity for people to view and react on artworks.
" Inter-religious meetings for students.

Volunteers of 't Wasdom are also involved with numerous other activities. This includes working with young immigrants, working with homeless people and also youth work in youth centres, an recycle shop, a day-care centre for mentally disabled and also youth work in other churches in Zwolle.

There is also a group of international and Dutch volunteers organized by the youth centre through the EVS scheme. These young volunteers get the opportunity to experience the reality of youth work and other voluntary services in and around the city of Zwolle. Their diverse backgrounds, cultures and experiences bring a new perspective to the youth centre. They are actively participating in all aspects of 't Wasdom'. There is also an active exchange of views between Dutch people involved in the youth centre and these EVS volunteers.

The volunteers live in a house together nearby as a little international community. This group of volunteers are also be a part of the Dominican community around the monastery, which is composed of mainly Dutch people.

Proposed activities for EVS volunteers

The Wasdom Youth centre pays special attention to the formation of these volunteers. That means; apart from their volunteer work, there is also time to talk, think and work around themes concerning matters such as religion, society and those around us. One day a week there is a special session where these subjects are relected upon between the volunteers and the youth worker. It is also a time for reflection.

The programme is made by the youth worker, but the volunteers also have an influence about what they would like to discuss. Each week we take time to reflect on what we have experienced and learned. Besides that we make side visits and interview people who might be able to tell us more about what is interesting.

EVS volunteers who become part of the scheme will find themselves living and working in a local community. There will be very close ties in their daily activities between the youth centre and the monastery. There is also the possibility and encouragement to get involved in other volunteer activities throughout the city. The co-ordination of these activities is carried out by the supervisors of the Wasdom project.

1. The goal is to promote intercultural exchange between the European volunteers and Dutch young people
2. The volunteer will get a professional Dutch language course,
3. The volunteer will get a mentor
4. After three months the volunteer gets an evaluation with the host organisation and the mentor.
5. In the last three months there will be time to discuss what will happen for the volunteers in their personal lives after the EVS programme finishes.

In the first eight week there is time to learn Dutch and to get to know the organisation and the city.
Every volunteer get own tasks in the organisation It will take about one day a week. This may include hosting groups who visit the monastary, cooking for youth groups, daily care of the building etc.
The volunteers are the host persons of the youth centre.
Besides their task within the monastary there is also room for new activities according to their interests.
The volunteer wil have the opportunity to get involved in an organisation.
We hope that the volunteers develop and try new activities.

Every volunteer in the group will partake in these tasks within the youth centre.
" Supporting the youth groups which use the centre. This happens two times a week, during evening or afternoon; (3 hours per week)
" Guiding and providing support for the Youth centre-activities for young teenagers (12+). Duties involves group work with participants.(3 hours per week)
" Being the host for the Wasdom-Youth centre; keeping the kitchen, arranging materials for the groups and facilitating bookings (6 hours per week)

Tasks for volunteers in the Dominican monastery

Every volunteer can choose one of these tasks
" Assisting in the kitchen. Preparing the conference rooms and making coffee.
" Assisting in keeping the garden of the monastery (3 hours per week)
" Showing groups around the Dominican monastery (3 hours a week)
" Assisting in building up courses and exhibitions in the monastery (3 hours a week)

Activities volunteers can create in our centre:
" Decorating the building
" Organising an exhibition
" Organising activities for teenagers or students
" Organising a youth exchange

Voluntary work in the local community

Every volunteer shall chose one of these tasks
" Supporting young immigrants; assisting them in doing home-work and helping them in having contacts with bureaucratic institutions
" Volunteering work at the drop-in centre for homeless people; helping at the bar
" Volunteering work at the pop-centre; organising pop-events and build up exhibitions
" Building up a theatre-project with mentally disabled people. Or working in a bakery for the mentally disabled.
" Being a buddy for elderly people, for example having a walk and a talk with them.
" Assisting in an recycle shop
" Doing youth-work activities in one of the church congregations of Zwolle

Volunteers also have the opportunity to work on other activities. These will be defined according to the aspirations and experiences of each individual volunteer. In effect each volunteer creates his or her own programme to suit their needs, experiences and interests.

Volunteer profiles and recruitment process

The volunteer needs to have some experience or strong preference in working with young people.

The foundations of the youth centre has been extablished through the Dominican Monastary and hence there are still very strong ties with the church and its surroundings. Therefore all volunteers should be willing and open to doing voluntary work within a christian environment

We would like to receive a Curriculum Vitae from each of the applicants. A motivation letters shoud also be included. The motivation letters should outline why the participants wants to get involved in the programme and why they want to spend ten months volunteering in our centre.

We usually respond to applications within seven days.
We invite applicants to make a pre-visit to the monsatary and our community.
We then decide whom we shall take on the programme.

Risk prevention, safety and protection

In the centrre we have two qualified youthworkers. They are responsible for monitoring the volunteer and their progress
Our minimum age is 18 at the start of the project.
The volunteer is responsible for his/her own safety but we as an organisation will look after a house and work places. We will have a good look if this is safe environment for them to be in.

http://ec.europa.eu/youth/evs/aod/hei_form_en.cfm?EID=54000219063