Slovenia: ESC: Volunteering in Social, Educational and Community Programmes of Društvo Eksena

About the local hosting organization

Association Društvo Eksena has been running a program for children and youth aged between 6 and 18 years old in Šentjur. The program Daily Centre for children and youth Eksena is available every working day from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. during school holidays. Its main goal is to offer a safe environment to children, who would like to develop its own competences and self-worth and on the other hand meet and socialize with other children. The program is based on a respectful, tolerant and inclusive approach. Main activities include organized activities for gaining social competences, activities for spending quality leisure time and activities for teaching children how to take responsibility for learning for school. During school holidays the program offers several activities, such as sports activities, visiting museums, galleries, educational events and creating in the field of music, art, photography, craft etc. The program also offers individual counseling for children and youth who deal with challenges and obstacles in every day's life. Personal counseling enables them how to successfully confront with issues in order to overcome them and consequently this brings them happier and more tolerant life and relationships. The program includes the inclusion of local community and other public and local entities. There are app. more than 40 children included in this program.

Presentation of the programme

NGO Društvo Eksena carries out three main programmes: Eksena Daily Centre for Children and Youth, Eksena Psychosocial Counselling Programme, and Eksena – Dementia, Hand in Hand. Volunteers may be involved in all three programmes or focus mainly on one programme, depending on their interests, experience and agreement with the hosting organisation. In the Daily Centre, volunteers support children and young people through creative workshops, educational activities, games, sports, homework support and activities that strengthen social skills and inclusion. In the Psychosocial Counselling Programme, volunteers help with preparation of materials, spaces, awareness-raising and community activities. In the Dementia programme, volunteers support workshops and social activities for elderly people, people with dementia and their relatives. Volunteers work only in a supportive role, under the guidance of staff and mentors.

About the accomodation

You will be accommodated in a flat close to us. You will have your private bedroom and share the kitchen, bathroom and other spaces in the flat/house with other volunteers. As an ESC volunteer, you will receive health insurance, monthly pocket money for food and other expenses. Volunteers have international health insurance and travel to the volunteer location is covered to a certain amount. In addition, the hosting organization will give the volunteers pocket money allowance once a month. Local transport : local bus / free bike hire system (provided by municipality).

About the leisure activities

NGO Društvo Eksena will appoint a mentor for volunteers. The mentor will provide personal support to the volunteer, and will be available in crisis or conflict situation and support volunteers in various situations and assist with self-directed learning, including Youthpass. The supervisor will support volunteers’ in work related tasks. Upon arrival the volunteers will receive an introduction and on-arrival orientation, description of community and project and customs. There will be daily language learning opportunities. We offer inclusion activities and additional support.

Requirements

The Participant profile: - knowledge of intermediate English - interest in actively using and creating content on social media channels - excited about international mobility experience - interested in holding various workshops in our activities- communicative, open, motivated, creative, self-reliant, enthusiastic, eager to learn and to share knowledge/skills and enjoy working with children and youth and/or elderly people - willing to participate actively in projects and activities - open minded and be ready to live in a rural setting and open to cultural differences and intercultural learning - volunteer with fewer possibilitiesDeadline: 01/08/2026 16:00