A. Project environment: profile of the organisation and local community

· Outline the project environment for the suggested voluntary activities, including the local community where the project will take place (e.g. geographical, social and economical environment).

· If the host placement is located in a live-in community, please include the rules and conditions that apply also for the volunteer.

The Youth Information Center operates in the framework of the Municipal Cultural Enterprise of Evosmos, whose main areas of activity are the following:
1. Cultural events ( theatre, cinema, concerts, festivals, etc.)
2. Providing support to the local populations through the Social Support Center (counseling, parent groups, information concerning education and employment affairs)
3. Informing youth populations within the municipality on issues which interest them (European exchange programs, education, employment, volunteering, etc.)
4. Educational groups for youths and adults (drawing, computers, music, foreign languages, Greek as a second language)

The primary objectives of the Municipal Cultural Enterprise on issues concerning youth are the following:
1.Activating youths and advocating their participation in on-going events in the city.
2. Promoting diversity and its wider acceptance.
3. Developing a European conscience. Youth Information Center is a program that functions in Evosmos which is an area in the west side of Thessaloniki. It is the biggest city in Greece after Athens.
It has two millions citizens and is placed at the northern part of the country.
Thessaloniki is a city with a remarkable cultural activity.
Because of its geographical position it has always attracted people from several nationalities.
It has an important commercial harbour.
The volunteers are involved in all of the above activities.

Goals - Objectives
The Youth Information Center of Evosmos, has two main objectives:
1. Informing the youth of Evosmos
2. Promoting the socializing process among the youth of Evosmos
The activities used to achieve the above goals are the following:
1.Informational excursions in high schools and places where festivals, concerts, and other such activities aimed towards young people take place (in co-operation with the Municipal Youth Council of Evosmos and the association of former EVS volunteers of Thessaloniki)
2.Art Exhibits (in co-operation with young artists, groups of young people from schools of the municipality of Evosmos, and other volunteer groups from Thessaloniki)
3.Events for children (puppet shows in co-operation with professionals and youth groups that participate in other volunteer organizations of Thessaloniki)

A number of other activities take place in the building of the Youth Information Center in the framework of the Municipal Youth Council, such as:
1.Graffiti groups
2.Internet groups
3.European Exchange Programs' groups and othersYoung people who visit the Entefktirion also get the chance to have instant access to the internet and get help in surfing and searching.
The Youth Information Center places a lot of importance in informing and encouraging youths to participate in all of the above activities.
Also, heavy importance is placed on young people less fortunate than others, or with adjustment problems due to language difficulty, different cultures, and social circumstances.

The initial motives for participating in the EVS program in 1998 were:
1.The challenge to co-exist and co-operate with volunteers from different areas of the European Union coming from different cultures and backgrounds.
2.To examine in which ways and to what extend such a co-existence could ultimately lead to the capitalization of experiences towards the formation of a common European conscience (both on the part of the EVS volunteers and on the part of the employees and volunteers in our organization)
3.Our faith that the co-existence of peoples from different cultures leads towards embracing diversity.
4.Our willingness to introduce a multicultural approach to the activities of our organization.
B. Proposed activities for EVS volunteers

· Describe what you can offer to volunteers in terms of service and learning opportunities.

· Please, explain what will be the role of EVS volunteers in the host organisation.

· Describe the activities in which the volunteers could be involved and the activities the volunteers could create in your organisation. Give examples of typical activities for the volunteers.

1. Assisting in the research of information on a variety of youth related topics in the EU and help creating and discussing new ideas. (20%)
2. Participating in outreach events aimed towards informing and sensitizing local youth populations with regards to our organization's activities, and also European Union programs for young people. These are taking place in the schools, in local festivals in the square of Evosmos etc. (20%)
3. Assisting the members of the staff and the members of the youth council organizing cultural events (graffiti events, art exhibitions etc.). (20%)
4. Assisting the members of the staff producing print materials advertising the events of the Municipal Development Association of Evosmos (posters, information material, leaflets, flyers, invitations). (15%)
5. Assisting in creation and update the website of the project. (15%)
6. Office management. (10%)

The volunteer can also of course use her or his own ideas and knowledge in the work.
Totally new ideas are welcome.
For example some of the volunteers that we hosted were good in painting and some others in decorating.
Their ideas were really nice and their work still decorate several rooms of our Center and organization.

A typical day could be:
The volunteer comes to our Center in the morning (10 a.m.).
She/he will work for 6 hours/day.A normal weekly schedule for the activities of the young volunteer is:
Monday:
a. Meeting to plan the weekly work program(10 -11 a.m.),
b. Assisting the members of the staff producing print materials advertising the events of the Municipal Development Association of Evosmos (11a.m. - 12.45 p.m),
c. A small break for half an hour,
d. Assisting in creation and update the website of the project (13.15 - 14.30 p.m.),
d. Meeting with the youngsters of the Youth Council discussing and organizing their activities (14.30 - 16.00).

Tuesday:
a. Participating in outreach events aimed towards informing and sensitizing local youth populations with regards to our organization's activities, and also European Union programs for young people (10 - 13 p.m.),
b. A small break for half an hour in the Youth Center,
c. Assisting in the research of information on a variety of youth related topics in the EU (13.30 - 16.00).

Wednesday: The same schedule as Tuesday.Thursday:
a. Assisting the members of the staff producing print materials advertising the events of the Municipal Development Association of Evosmos (10 - 12.45 p.m.),
b. A small break for half an hour,
c. Meeting with the youngsters of the Youth Council discussing and organizing their activities (13.15 - 16.00).

Friday:
a. Assisting in the research of information on a variety of youth related topics in the EU (10.00 - 11.00).
b. Assisting in creation and update the website of the project (11 - 12.45 p.m.),
c. A small break for half an hour,
d. Assisting the members of the staff and the members of the youth council organizing cultural events (13.15 - 16 p.m.)
The volunteer will have the chance for a coffee break or go for a quick lunch.
She/he will work from Monday to Friday.
The volunteer will never work alone, but always under supervision and guidance.

The volunteer will have adequate training in the following sessions:
1. Use of internet.
2. Use of Microsoft Office.
3. Organising a cultural event.
4. Producing printed material with a PC.
5. Greek language lessons (for two months at least).
6. Working in a team.

The volunteer in her/his free time, can participate in outings and events hold by other organizations, such as Thessaloniki Voluntary Work group, which deals with volunteering and disabled people or Arcturos, which deals with environmental topics, etc.
Great emphasis is placed on the smooth introduction and the adjustment of the volunteers in the local community and the larger society of Thessaloniki, always taking under consideration the wider European dimension of the program.
She/he will have the opportunity to participate in the excursions and events of other local organizations.
She/he will have the opportunity to attend aerobics, gymnastics or traditional greek dancing classes according to her/his interest.There will exist always contact with the mentor, even in leisure time when help and support is needed.

The weekends are free for the volunteer. Holidays (2 days per month) and days off can be arranged flexibly


C. Volunteer profiles and recruitment process

Please describe the profiles of volunteers you would like to receive in your organisation. Include information on how you ensure an open and transparent recruitment process as well as the overall accessibility of EVS to all young people. Consider further information about the type of sending organisation you want to cooperate with. This information can help the match-making between volunteer candidates, sending organisations and your organisation.

The Volunteer should be willing to work with young people. She/ he should be flexible and work in a team. A basic knowledge of Greek language will be helpful but not necessary. Interest of using computer as a tool foir work (MS office, Internet) is necessary for the volunteer .

D. Special needs (if applicable)

If your placements are open to hosting volunteers with fewer opportunities, please provide information about the competence, experience and infrastructure and (human or other) resources available in your organisation to accommodate and support them.

E. Risk prevention, safety and protection

Please describe how you will guarantee a safe living and working environment for the EVS volunteers, how you will prevent risks and crises and how – in the case of EVS volunteers aged 16 or 17 – you ensure appropriate supervision, child safety and protection.

http://ec.europa.eu/youth/evs/aod/hei_form_en.cfm?EID=34000132701