We offer to the volunteer the possibility to take part in a language course. She/he can choose between German or French. 

It will be necessary that he/she can talk and understand a bit of German.

A first stadium of the volunteer´s work is characterized by active watching and participation. During the first months the volunteer should gain an overview about the functioning of the youth work in the South of the German Speaking Community of Belgium to obtain a concrete picture of his/her future working field. Moreover, the first part of the EVS project contains the collection of information about the culture of Belgium and local characteristics (e.g. multilingualism and trinational region). This can take place in form of internet research and visits at the local tourist information, media centre and public libaries.
Furthermore, she/he will make first contacts with other volunteers staying in German Speaking Belgium at this time to exchange experiences about European Voluntary Service with the aim of being able to promote the EVS to young people in the German Speaking Community of Belgium in the future.
Of course and especially during this period the volunteer will have a mentor on his/her side to get the needed consultation and support.

The second place where the volunteer will work is the Jugendtreff "J" (www.jugendtreff.be). The Youth Centre "Jugendtreff 'J'" in St. Vith is an institution, where young people aged between 13 and 25 years from the area of St. Vith can spend their free time. The German word "Jugendtreff" means youth meeting place, so it shall be a place where youth can meet. The Centre is open Wednesdays between 2h and 10h p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays between 4h and 11h p.m. The Centre offers an internet- and computer room, rehearsal rooms for bands, billiards, dart, party games; a handicraft room, a TV-room…
The opening hours are one of the volunteer's jobs. The purpose of the opening hours is not only to offer youth a place to spend their time but as well to bring them in contact with values like social behaviour, mutual respect, respect towards material, to take responsibility (some will be involved in opening the centre and all of them are responsible to keep the "Jugendtreff" clean..), self-confidence….

In general, a working week takes 4 days:
TUESDAY
9:00 - 17:00: forward information to local young people about EVS, the EURO<26 youth card, concert tickets and events, organizing and realizing concrete events and ouwn projects (JIZ)
WEDNESDAY
14:00 - 20:00 implementation of collected information and developed ideas by planning own projects/workshops (Jugendtreff "J")
THURSDAY
9:00 - 17:00 forward information to local young people about EVS, the EURO<26 youth card, concert tickets and events organizing and realizing concrete events and own projects (JIZ)
FRIDAY
17:00 - 23:00 implementation of collected information and developed ideas by planning own projects/workshops (Jugendtreff "J")

The second period of the EVS stay contains the development of concrete projects. Those projects can be realised in form of thematic workshops, animation, lectures or performances and should be focussed on explosive subjects. It is up to the volunteer with which contents those projects will deal and how she/he wants to inform the youngsters. The realisation of these projects implies the complete organizational work from the planning up to the evaluation. This means:
- renting of location;
- sending of invitations;
- public relations: writing press articles, leaflets, giving interviews at the local radio stations;
- coordination during the event: be contact person for the public and the team colleagues; make sure that the time schedule is kept;
- cleaning up, return rented material;
- evaluation in form of discussion with her/his colleagues and the summing up of the experiences and results in form of a short report.
All this of course implies a constant assistance and support by the mentor and team colleagues. If necessary, depending on her/his knowledge, the volunteer will of course have the opportunity to participate in relevant trainings.

As soon as the volunteer settled in the new surrounding, another task could be to organise little activities that are part of the normal day life in the centre: for example little competitions (table-soccer, billiards, table-tennis…), video evenings, cooking workshops, handicraft workshops, information evenings… These activities don't have to take place during the regular opening hours. When planning activities it is important to take notice of the interests of the visitors of the centre.
Besides that the "Jugendtreff" organises projects where all youth in the German speaking community can take part and not only the regular visitors as for example exchange projects, a small music-and arts festival, a stand on the summer market, to purchase a skating rink, HipHop workshops,… There are no limits set for imagination! Planning such a project could as well be a task of the volunteer.

Furthermore, the volunteer should stay in contact with other volunteers staying in our region to inform local people about the "European Voluntary Service" but also to inform interested young people who already have concrete plans participating in the EVS. Within this period, the volunteer´s work is focussed on her/his own initiative and independent work by using the information gained in the first period of his/her EVS stay. A constant assistance goes without saying.