A. Description of the program: description of the organization and the local community

Describe the environment of the program for the suggested volunteer activities, including the local community where the plan is to be carried out in (e.g. geographical, social and financial environment).
If the hosting will be within a community, state the rules and regulations that are valid for the volunteer as well.

Our organization, "United Societies of Balkans" is located in the city of Thessaloniki whose population today exceeds one million residents and more specifically, in the are of Ano Poli, near the acropolis of the city, in a neighbourhood that includes facilities of schools and cultural units.
Thessaloniki has been and still is a busy, lively coastal city with a long history and tradition. A reason for that is because it has always been a node between the West and East and a trading harbour for many Balkan countries. It embraces many immigrants and cultural groups from many areas of the wider region of the Balkans thus rendering it a colourful mosaic of cultures and trends. More information is available in the website of the municipality www.thessalonikicity.gr

In this variety and multi culturalism exactly, lies the following challenge: to combine all the characteristics, traditions and distinctiveness of its residents, aiming to their peaceful co-existence.

The actions of our organization towards this goal, who are necessary for future generations, are mainly realized locally except for some actions related to the realization of European programs and are held in regions Macedonia-wide.

B. suggested activities for YiA volunteers

as it was stated above our organization, that has completed one year of action, has formed the circumstances as well as the learning opportunities so as to belong in YiA program. Specifically, the organization has these local and international programs going:

" Youth Information Spot

The organization operates every day (09:00-15:00) as a Youth Information Spot. In our office we provide information about European programs (Youth in Action, European Youth Foundation, Leonardo Da Vinci, Groundvig, Comenius et.al), programs the promote European mobility, personal development, the spirit of voluntarism and professional proficiency. Furthermore, trained volunteers provide advice on educational, personal-social and professional issues. Additionally, we provide with material about the European union and the council of Europe so that young people will come closer to the idea of the European union and they will understand the role and the purposes of its creation as well as its function, emphasizing on youth-concerning issues. Finally, the office of the organization functions as a place of free expression and communication.

" Balkan Hot Spot

In our place there is material on the countries of the Balkans such as books by Balkan writers and writers from eastern Europe, historic and photography albums as well as brochures from other cities, towns and regions in the Balkans. Moreover, one can also find leaflets about organizations in other countries and get access to the internet and electronic sources on Balkan related topics or even communicate with young people from all over the Balkans. A future action of this program will be to organize Balkan-languages and tradition courses and the "E-Balkans" whose goal is to create an electronic radio station on the internet and a newspaper online.

" Afternoon workshops

Hosting afternoon workshops: "jewelry making" , "Fairy tale telling", "projecting a film of social content" (emphasizing on Balkan and eastern European directors), "borad and video games competitions/tournament", "Greek traditional dances and folklore" emphasizing on dances and traditions and the similarities of them with the equivalent ances and traditions of the Balkans.

" International programs

In our organization, we also hold international programs in whch our organization participates either as a collaborator or as a host. So far, we have held a training course, funded by "Youth in Action" (3.12/R3/2008/) and we have applied for one more training course from the same program in R1 as well as a Grundvig program. As collaborators we participate in many programs of Balkan organizations with which we are regular partners on issues mainly about intercultural dialogue and human rights. Some of those partners come from the YouthNet network of the Austrian national service of which we are a member. In the scope of carrying out international programs, we will submit new applies in various European organizations (Youth in Action, European Youth Foundation et.al.)

As a continuation of all the above activities, our organization is willing to offer the volunteers the possibility to participate in the following activities through YiA:

At the same time, they will have the opportunity to realize ideas of their own and develop their talents and skills freely. The MANAGERS of our organization will support the idea of YiA by utilizing every possible opportuinity so as the volunteers to gain during their stay, knowledge and skills on program realization on issues in which they are interested and gain, through their participation in various events, experience and knowledge on Greece, its history and civilization.
More specifically:

" the volunteers will help in informing young people daily in our information spot about the programs of the European union and the promotion of "Youth in Action " program in the local society and about other European programs as well.
" The presence of the volunteers will be a live projection and promotion of YiA program and at the same time, an example to learn from and imitate for the young people of the local society.
" The volunteers are able to help in our research for collecting music, books and films that will be added to the existing collection of our organisation and enrich it. Items that will assist in the realisation of the goals in "Balkan Hot Spot" action
" the volunteers will be engaged in the development of the "Balkan Hot Spot" action and the realization of "E-Balkans" where they will take over a whole part of its realisation.
" The volunteers will support the afternoon workshops by giving motivation for new ones, developing and enriching the content of the actions
" the volunteers are expected to design and carry out their one plans of action within the "Youth in Action" program and of course they will help us to manage, organise and realise the programs of our organisation

finally, it is our principle to embrace our volunteers and make them members of our family. Make them feel free to develop all the aspects of their personality.

C. Description of the volunteers and selection procedure

" the members of our organization are experienced in the YiA program and have developed a reliable network of non governmental organizations from Europe and the Balkans. The organisation is also a member of YouthNet network of the Austrian national service through which the members of our organisation have come in contact with other relevant sending and hosting organisations from the Balkans and eastern Europe and have been informed and exchanged views on the realization of the for the program of EVS. Additionally, our members have volunteered in EVS before which gives us the possibility to engage in this procedure, ensuring its proper design and realization.
" The volunteers who will be accepted in our organisation within EVS, will have to be enthusiastic about their participation and interests that will correspond with the actions of our organisation so that they will be benefit during their stay. Even though our organisation is not currently able to host volunteers with special needs, priority will be given to young people coming from countries of the Balkans and eastern Europe as well as to people with little opportunities such as from provinces, or with financial or social problems. The selection of our volunteers will be based on fair criteria, there will be no discrimination and young people from the age of 18-25 will be selected regardless of their educational background.
" For all young people to have the possibility to access EVS and benefit from its opportunities, our organisation will make itself known as a sending and hosting organisation, with a respective, permanent announsement on its website as well as on European websites that are designed for the action of EVS. In addition, it will make references to the local actions that it realises.
D. Special Needs
the young people who will be accepted in our organisation will not be falling under the category of people with special needs. Unfortunately, our organisation lacks the structures and the stuff in order to meet the special needs of these people. However, as mentioned above, priority will be given to young people from the Balkans and eastern Europe; countries which find themselves in a stage of financial and social reconstruction and towards Europe. But that does not exclude young people from the nation-members of the European Union. In our organisation we have volunteers with university education and specialities such as adult education specialist, educators, lawyer specialized in human rights and a psychologist.
E. prevention, security, protection
Our organisation has formed a safe environment without prejudice or stereotypes, free from any racial discrimination. It's our principle to respect the different and to respect any rights (religious, racial, gender etc). The work space is meticulously cared for and secure and this will also be the case for the hospitality premises. The security of the volunteers is our main concern and that is why there is and there will be personal involvement and interest from the side of the regular members of the organisation so as to appropriately formulate the environment where volunteers will work and live. Our regular members will also be constantly present in the work place for constant supervision so as to prevent any incident and overcome any possible crisis. As individuals, the volunteers will be insured by a private insurance company, according to the obligations of our organisation under EVS. As a new organisation we don't have the possibility to employ young people under the age of 18. we hope that in the future we will be able to offer respective opportunities to people of that age as well.