Greece: ESC: YOU COMPOSE: Supporting Communities in the Aristotelis Municipality – Stratoni

About the local hosting organization

"U.S.B." was founded in Thessaloniki in 2008 to promote youth mobility, voluntarism, sports and society's sensitisation around social issues and human rights.United Societies of Balkans (USB) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization based in Thessaloniki, Greece working in the field of youth mobility, participation and facilitating youth awareness about social issues.It was founded in 2008 by the inception of a group of active young people who wanted to address the social issues which affect the youngsters in the Balkans and Eastern Europe. The vision of the organisation is the promotion of youth mobility, youth involvement and participation, voluntarism and human rights.Activities:Key areas of the organization’s activities concern the defence of human rights, the organization of youth related projects such as youth exchanges and training courses, which can bring young people from Balkans and Europe together, and the organization of local interventions, seminars and multimedia productions. It envisions a global and inclusive society, where citizens are equally empowered to contribute in the shaping of a world with less prejudice, discrimination and other forms of injustice.U.S.B.’s objectives and values are actualized in the society and the needs of the youngsters by:• Promoting the values of non formal learning, voluntarism, active citizenship and democracy for the creation of a better future for the European youth;• Promoting human rights, solidarity and respect for diversity amongst youth and the society;• Involving minorities and immigrants into youth activities;• Building healthy cooperation bridges between countries of the area of the Balkans and Eastern Europe with the rest of Europe;• Using New Media and Citizens’ Journalism methodologies to encourage youth expression, to raise awareness about Human Rights and to promote intercultural dialogue;• Utilizing arts as a tool for the cultivation and expression of youth;• Locating and multiplying the special cultural attributes of our societies;• Breaking down prejudices and stereotypes among the European countries and amongst youth.Networking:United Societies of Balkans has been a member organization of FERYP(Forum of European Young People), UNITED for Intercultural Action, Salto-Youth, Thess Network-regional NGO network(coordinator), Anna-Lindh Foundation(co-head of the Greek National Network), Youth for Exchange and Understanding(YEU International), Butterfly Dreamer and DYPALL(Developing Youth Participation at Local Level).United Societies of Balkans since 2008 has implemented and involved in many local and international activities, based on formal and non-formal education, by trying to underline the important role of experiential learning and non-formal education and to include tools and methods of the non-formal education to the mainstream education. Especially, under the new frame of “Erasmus+” the need of the society for the recognition of the non-formal education and the benefits that are coming through it is more obvious than ever.The organization has a very rich experience in organizing international youth activities and gives the opportunity to local youngsters to meet and interact with other youngsters from Europe. It has implemented successfully more than 40 youth and other projects about many different subjects, having hosted more than 2,600 youngsters in Greece. The organization’s target group is youth between 16 to 30 years old, regardless of their educational, cultural, ethnic, etc. background and its activities are always based on the needs and interest of them and the society. Therefore, it has developed a very diverse and rich experience in youth work, having worked in different topics that have advanced its expertise in human rights education, intercultural learning, gender related issues, new media techniques, entrepreneurship, ecology and many more.Moreover it has been involved in more than 1000 youth projects and has prepared and sent around 2,000 youngsters abroad to youth mobility projects. It tries always to give priority to youngsters with fewer opportunities, such as, Roma, LGBTI, immigrants, living in rural areas, from broke families, etc.USB is also a very active organisation in the field of EVS. Since 2009 it has hosted 180 volunteers in projects of 10 months and has sent 30 volunteers abroad. The main tasks of the hosting project are connected with the new media and EVS volunteers run a web radio, e-television and e-magazine (Balkan Beats).More information about the experience of the organization and the projects that has realized in the past can be found at www.usbngo.gr/en

Presentation of the programme

Team will operate in the villages of Aristotelis Municipality for 50 days. Supported by USB and hosting organisation “Aristotales”, volunteers will promote inclusion and provide learning opportunities and positive outcomes to young people facing economic, social and geographical obstacles. Activities include:- Organise educational and leisure activities for children and youth of the rural area. -Co-organise and participate to workshops to build up digital skills, related to digital content creations and storytelling- Events to promote the protection of the environment, such as beach cleaning and promoting green values -Organise workshops, campaigns and actions to promote environmental protection, composting, recycling, sustainability and eco-friendly waste management practices among the villages. -Create and operate compost points, which local communities can use and benefit from in the future. -Organise a youth event on the occasion of International Youth Day on August 12

About the accomodation

Organisation will provide a newly renovated apartment in the village center in Stratoni, which includes 2 rooms, living room, a fully equipped kitchen, 1 shared bathroom, 1 laundry room, front and back yard. Each volunteer will share their bedroom with 2-3 more ESC volunteers. The volunteers will be responsible for their own meals. The volunteers will receive individual food allowance and pocket money, at the beginning of each month, to cover their personal needs.

About the leisure activities

Task-related training

Requirements

The Participant profile: Volunteers will have to be 18-30 years old and be genuinely interest in the project. Main aspect during selection will be their motivation to join and contribute in the activities. At least a basic English language level is required, for volunteers to have at least one communication language to be used in the field or in case of need or emergency. Volunteers need to be motivated about this topic. Having a background or knowledge in project’s topics would be a valuable asset, but not a prerequisite. Volunteers need to also be ready to engage in some more “physical” tasks as part of the activities, as they would have to contribute in open activities in the communities, in places such as local parks, to implement beach cleanups and organise sports tournaments. Regarding the inclusion of people with fewer opportunities, USB will guarantee safety and support for the participation for youngsters facing obstacles, thanks to its long experience of working with people from socially vulnerable groups. Working program will be 4-6 hours per day, from Monday to Friday. In some cases, volunteers may be asked to work in weekends for some events, for example for the implementation of some event or workshop. If this happens, they will receive extra free days to use later on. Applicants should know that participation throughout the whole 50 days activity period of the team they choose is mandatory. Applicants must also be aware about the 12 month limit rule applying for participation in ESC activities.Deadline: 25/06/2026 23:59