The “Département du Calvados” is a local authority (the Counties are the 3rd level of administration in France, after the State and the Regions) with approximately 3000 employees. Its main compulsory areas of responsibility are: health and social services, county roads, secondary schools, rural capital works, environmental development and sustainability, culture (departmental lending library and archives) and fire safety. The Department is also committed to a proactive policy in the fields of sport, education, tourism, access to culture, twinning and European exchanges... The Département du Calvados is twinned with 3 European regions: Devon (Great Britain - 1971), Lower Franconia (Germany - 1986) and the Province of Treviso (Italy - 2007). In order to implement the different actions of opening up the citizens of Calvados to Europe and the world, the elected representatives of the Département decided in 1991, to create the "service des jumelages" (twinning office), which has become the “service Actions éducatives, Citoyenneté, Europe” (department for Educational Actions, Citizenship, Europe). It animates a network of 165 twinning committees and 203 twinned municipalities by proposing information meetings, cultural events, thematic workshops, training sessions, newsletters… and also provides financial support to municipalities and twinning committees and help them to carry out their projects (school, youth and citizen exchanges, Europe related educational projects, hosting volunteers, language courses...). It also carries out different actions in the cultural field for secondary schools pupils (formal education), in partnership with the National Education : - “Speak 14” programme (language assistants from different countries raise the awareness of cultural differences), - financial support for school exchanges with foreign countries, - support for setting up and running Europe clubs (Europe related workshops in secondary schools), - Europe Day with a different theme every year , - “gaze into the mind of 15 year olds” and “Inter’Act Tour” programmes (part of the Bayeux Calvados war correspondents' award to raise young people's awareness of current political events), - support for the "Mobiklasse" activities (promotion of the German language and culture). The Department of Calvados and its Lower Franconia (Germany) 35 years partner developed and initiated different activities and projects in favour of a better mutual understanding and the spreading of the European idea: • Sending and hosting volunteers (for 24 years) • Seminars for elected representatives and technicians in various fields • Meetings of representatives of youth organisations to encourage multinational youth exchanges • Youth exchanges • Exchanges of cultural actors • Training courses for young amateur musicians in the partner region • Support for municipalities, associations, youth centres, schools,… which search for a partner. Target groups are the citizens of Calvados, especially: • Young people from 6 to 30 years old • Associations (twinning committees, youth clubs) • Youth organisations • representatives of municipalities / group of municipalities • Teachers and representatives of the National Education

Epron is located in Normandy, in Caen urban area. The volunteer will : - Help local residents become more aware of Europe ; - Raise awareness on healthy and eco-responsible lifestyles ; - Create and animate activities in the social (citizens and families of Epron) center, the youth centrer (3-17 years old) on a regular base ; - Create and animate activities in a middle school in Caen (close to Epron) and help with the valorisation of Erasmus+ mobilities, when requested ; - Help with the preparation of local events (ex. Christmas market or Festvert, a local eco-citizen festival) - Assiste the twinning association in charge of the city's French-Spanish cooperation (twinning).

Accommodation : private room in an appartment shared with 2 other ESC volunteers, located in Hérouville-saint-clair Caen (about 20 minitess from Epron & Caen city centre - 30 minutes from the sea). Transport : a local public transport card and a bike is provided, and car-pooling opportunities to reach the missions' sites. Other : Epron is a city that has more than 20 organisations proposing leisure and sport activities, and are on easy access from all Caen city centre services.

- Participation in an arrival and mid-term formation concerning ESC volunteers, proposed by the French National Agency - Participation on training courses, proposed by Europe Direct thanks to a partnership wiht the Départment, on the thematics of Europe, citizenship, democratic life, etc. and different educational practices (academic, adapted and non-formal education).

The Participant profile: We are looking for a curious, dynamic and resourceful participant, who is interested in sustainable development and eco-friendly practices. To be comfortable with the missions, the participant should also be creative, adaptable, at ease in public and enjoy intergenerational exchange, especially activities with children and young people. The knowledge of French is not obligatory, though appreciated, as it could help the volunteer and allow the activities run even more smoothly.
Deadline: No application deadline

The project is implemented under the European Solidarity Corps Programme, financed by the European Commission.
The participating organisations have to be mindful of these needs as they are responsible for providing a respectful and trusting hosting environment. At the same time, the organisations participating in the initiative devote a great deal of time, energy and resources to set up a high-quality activity; they should therefore expect that European Solidarity Corps participants show a similar level of respect for the local communities and the people that are directly concerned by the activities (https://youth.europa.eu/solidarity/mission_en).
What do we provide ?

• Training before and after the project
• Health insurance during your project
• round-trip travel reimbursement
• accommodation and food
• pocket money
• language course
• Return Week-end
• Youth Pass and SVI international Volunteer passport

Before applying for this volunteering project, you need to enroll yourself at European Solidarity Corps Platform (https://europa.eu/youth/solidarity_en) and specify your European Solidarity Corps Participant Number (PRN).
This organisation holds a European Solidarity Corps Quality Label.
Contact the ESC coordinator at +32 2 888 67 13 to get more informations.