A. Project environment: profile of the organisation and local community
The Ribeiro Region is the most western of the province of Ourense, in the only interior province of the independent community of Galicia. It limits to the West with the province of Pontevedra, to the North with the territories of the Carballiño and Ourense, whereas to the east and the south is the region of Celanova.
There are ten city councils in the region, Ribadavia being the capital with 19 km2 and a population density of 286.7 hab/km2. It concentrates the main administrative, commercial, public and private services functions, and by its location it has been traditionally the centre of the communication network of the Region with the outside.
The medieval villa of Ribadavia is the capital of the historical region of the Ribeiro, where the famous and mythical wine so praised by kings and poets from unmemorable times, comes from.
In the past it was point of contact of diverse towns and civilizations, this makes Ribadavia a villa of great cultural tradition in Galicia. Centre of important celebrations and international events, throughout the year, the capital of the Ribeiro is a dynamic cultural place.
Its historical centre has been declared of Cultural Interest, is has traditional network of medieval "rúas" where taking a walk becomes a pleasure for history lovers. A route full of surprises like the castle of the Sarmiento, the Jewish District, the museums or numerous churches of different times and styles. Surrounded by a varied landscape of vineyards and suggestive brooks, Ribadavia is a live museum full of history.
The geographic situation of the Concello de Ribadavia confers it a central position between Vigo and the city of Ourense. This central position is not limited to the South of Galicia, but it extends to several of the most important localities in the north of Portugal, as it is the case of Braga and Chaves.
The advantage of this central position is that it allows an agile communication with the cities of Vigo and Ourense. Very soon, when the construction works for the motorway between Ourense and the capital of Galicia are finished, this central position will be reinforced with the North of Galicia.
The existing product specialization in the Concello de Ribadavia associated to wine production of the highest quality is a potentiality that must be taken advantage of in all its magnitude.
The quality associated to the wine of Or Riberio Origin gives this brand an image that is being used in other productive activities.
One example is the association between the wine and the tourist development, in conjunction both variables will contribute to improve the image of Ribadavia as a tourist destiny, offering a distinct product from other competing localities.
Rivadavia has unquestionable tourist attractions like its Historical Centre and also counts on great promotion opportunities through cultural and ethnographic events.

B. Proposed activities for EVS volunteers
TASKS OF THE VOLUNTEER
The volunteers, together with the personnel of the Youth Information Centre, will compile a file with information for young people from local associations and with a news summary. This file will be published every fortnight in the form of a news paper. The volunteer will also help in the organization and execution of campaigns for change from the Centre. The schedule of the volunteer will be from 09:30 to 14:30. Five times per week the volunteers will attend a Course of Spanish Language that will take place in the house of the culture of Ribadavia. During the first week, the volunteer will receive a tour of the city and the region, so that they can begin to discover the local culture and the most emblematic sites. During their stay, the volunteer will have the opportunity to attend courses organized and funded by the City council, as well as trips organized by local organizations. During their stay the volunteers will have the support from a mentor, who will help the volunteers in his tasks and personal life. As the region of Galicia is rich in traditions and history, several trips and visits to different sites, will be organized in the most significant dates.
The tasks of the volunteer are of support to the professionals who work full-time in the Center, as well as of cultural activities, like in the guided tour of the city of Ribadavia.
Support with the Youth and Tourist Information Service of the City council of Ribadavia.
The volunteer will help in the design and the editing of information documents on activities and services of the Youth Information Centre: drafting prospects and other documents, information on local youth meetings or training courses. The European volunteer will help with the areas related with European mobility, searching for new European partners, and in inductions of the new volunteers. The volunteer will be formed to help in the elaboration of projects, activities, etc…The main task will be supporting the professionals in the aforementioned tasks. Percentage of the total: 25 %..
The volunteer will also collaborate in the Youth Information Centre, informing and advising young people in several subjects like: available funding, and other activities. The volunteer will sometimes do some office work (like answering the telephone, editing documents, etc.) 15 %.
The volunteer will contact people from his or her country to build a small data base to be used for starting youth projects or new European projects (international Exchanges with other countries and European Voluntary Service): 15%.
He or she will visit youth centres and schools to talk about the experience of being a European Volunteer, and to promote the participation of the young people in the Program. 20 %.
The volunteer will help the expert in charge of the project "The Intercultural Workshop": offering information, showing audio-visual documentaries and other materials, describing his or her experience as a volunteer as well as his or her own culture, language, food, etc. 10 %.
The volunteers will take part in activities of socio-cultural animation in rural areas with children and young people, theatre, environment, local magazine, recreational projects, environmental trips, courses, new technologies, rural development, rural tourism. 10 %.
He or she will help in the tasks of information to the young people who come to the Youth Information Centre (10 %).
The volunteers will attend the meetings to asses his or her work, cultural visits during week-ends, meetings, seminaries, etc. (5 %)

Example of a weekly timetable:
morning evening
Monday From 10 to 14 hrs.: Youth Information Centre ( C.M.I.J) From 16 to 17 hrs.: Spanish lessons
Tuesday From 10 to 14 hrs.: Tourist Information Centre From 16 to 17 hrs.: Spanish lessons
Wednesday From 10 to 14 hrs.: Hose of Culture from the City Council of Ribadavia
From 16 to 17 hrs.: Spanish lessons
From 17 to 18 hrs : Galician lessons
Thursday From 10 to 14 hrs.: Youth Information Centre ( C.M.I.J) From 16 to 17 hrs.: Spanish lessons
From 17 to 18 hrs : Galician lessons
Friday From 10 to 14 hrs. : Visit the 2 Secondary Schools of
Ribadavia, to inform and advise young people.
From 16 to 17 hrs.: Spanish lessons

The volunteers have access to the following sports facilities: tennis court, gym, sports schools, football, basketball, handball, volleyball, indoor football….They also have the chance to join the music school if they wish.
Holidays
The volunteers are entitled to a month of holidays.

C. Volunteer profiles and recruitment process
The selection process will be done according to the following criteria:
Age of volunteer: our preference is for older volunteers , since they have less opportunities (around 30 years old). The adaptability to live in a rural environment, as is the region of the Ribeiro.
Ability to work in a team.
Capacity to be relate to young people, since our project is based on Youth Policies.
Interest in other cultures, in our case this is very important, since Galicia has deeply rooted culture and traditions.
Ease to travel, in our project are there are several mobility programs a year.
In the selection process three current EVS volunteers together with the person in charge of the Youth Information Centre take the decision unanimously.
The only essential requirement that we have, is that the sending organization offers guarantees of serious work and a positive attitude towards the cooperation with our organization, so that the work that both we must carry out for a satisfactory voluntary service is fluid and effective.

D. Special needs (if applicable)
The Youth Information Centre of Ribadavia can now host volunteers with less opportunities. By this we mean people coming from underprivileged cultural, geographic and/or socio-economic backgrounds.
Our office counts on a coordinator trained in this field (Manuel Araujo Montero) that has raised the awareness on dealing with people with less opportunities in our offices.

E. Risk prevention, safety and protection
As a public organisation OMIX complies with all the health and safety regulations to provide safe environment for the volunteer and of the supervision, security and protection of children if the volunteer was between 16 and 17 years old.

http://ec.europa.eu/youth/evs/aod/hei_form_en.cfm?EID=30000827831