Project environment:

Imagina, the Youth House of Alcobendas, promotes and organises training and information activities for youth in the town aged between 14 and 30 years. As part of our policy of providing opportunities of participation in international programmes, we have been hosting EVS volunteers who support us in our work for several years. This project includes hosting 6 volunteers for 9 months (October/2008 - June2009). Volunteers will mainly participate in activities in the Youth House, but also in related institutions (Library, Refugee Hosting Centre) in Alcobendas. This gives us the opportunity of giving organistions and youth collectives and individuals first hand information and a living model of the virtues of such a training and vital experience as this one. Volunteers will, therefore, integrate in the day-to-day activities of the Youth House to collaborate in the promotion, diffusion and organisation of activities, directed mainly to youth.

Alcobendas is located to about 15 km to the north of Madrid, counts on a population of 100,000 inhabitants and a very dynamic social and economic structure. It has an important industrial and business centre which employs a lot of people of Alcobendas. Regarding services, the City Council of Alcobendas is one of most outstanding ones of the Community of Madrid, with over 1,000 public employees and a large number of social, cultural and sport services for the citizens.

The youth population of Alcobendas is undergoing a fast transformation since the past years. When we began to receive volunteers EVS, in 1997, there were very few young immigrants, and therefore, their impact upon the local population was very little. Nowadays that situation has changed. The presence of immigrants is important among youth. It is important to have this into consideration when planning intervention activities for youth. We want to take advantage of the presence in Alcobendas of EVS volunteers to promote the integration of young immigrants.

PROJECT’S DESCRIPTION

The International Program Office offers all type of information to young people about European Commission’s Youth Program. OPI is the place where young people can get to know all actions of the European Commission’s Youth Program.

OPI organizes its activities and collaborates with other European organizations within the frame of this Youth Program. It means that OPI realizes youth exchanges, seminars, send and host european volunteers, organizes workcamps, etc.

OBJECTIVES

• To impulse and offer international programs for Alcobendas young people.
• To attract the public’s attention and give advices about international programs, intercampus and voluntary services.
• To open young people mind providing activites to go abroad.
• To improve young people skills by offering opportunies to learn languages and learn about other countries culture.
• To enlarge the number of the international contacts and members to encourage the International Youth Program.
• To coordinate the local organizations which are taking part in International Programs.

MAIN ACTIVITIES

• Supporting the OPI by giving attention to youngster requests about international projects.

• Elaborating a monthly newsletter with info about international activities related to us.

• Being in charge of Eurodesk daily managing and keep it updated.

• To stand and intermediate between him/herself, the other volunteers and the EVS responsible person.

• Carrying the main tasks concerning our Workcamp Season.