France: ESC: Intercultural Education, Youth & Community Engagement

About the local hosting organization

Association Community is located in the north of France in a small town called Arques. “Working for and with the community” is the driving creed for all our actions. Our core values are solidarity, human dignity and togetherness and our main aim is to understand the needs of the people who approach us and act in their best interest. Cooperation and sharing are pillar concepts for our organisation and this is why we are constantly looking for new opportunities of collaboration with other local or international institutions. In this sense, Association Community is a living space, full of resources, where a dynamic and competent team aims to support everyone at their own pace and according to their expectations. Driven by strong human values, we are committed to welcoming people of all ages, religions and social backgrounds. We work in particular for and with people in vulnerable situations, mainly youth, for whom we are developing customised support approaches. We collaborate thus with local and international partners, in order to give them the means to (re)define their lives and / or professional projects. Presently, our association focuses on activities which are centred on multiculturalism and international cooperation, environmental issues and ecological awareness, health and healthy lifestyle, digital literacy, sports. Focusing on non-formal learning methods, our workshops are mainly held under the guidance of our staff (experienced youth workers) who create and facilitate activities on specific topics, trying to offer their public real learning experiences. The activities of the association are structured on three different sectors of intervention: - Local Solidarity and Sustainable Development Department – covering all actions related to the sustainable development of our community; - Social Cohesion Department – engaged in helping and empowering the underprivileged and striving to create a strong web of support and a sense community belonging; - Youth Mobility and International Cooperation – aiming to give an international dimension not only to our association but to our community as well and to spread concepts such as international solidarity and cooperation. Within these three main areas of interest we are developing a wide range of activities that cater for a large audience (children, youth, adults and seniors). Among the activities that we propose to our public we may count: Sophrology, Digital Workshops, African Drums Lessons, Hip-Hop, English Classes, Cooking Workshops, Intercultural Workshops, Sustainable Development Workshops, Hand Crafts Workshops and many others. Moreover, wishing to offer a wider range of personal and professional opportunities to our local youth, we aim to make them aware of the existence of international mobility programmes. Most of the young people who attend our association come from underprivileged families, being generally excluded from mobility programmes for several reasons: lack of information, lack of awareness on the benefits of an experience abroad, fear of leaving home, lack of support and follow-up, etc. For this reason we believe that it is necessary to implement actions in this direction, in particular by raising awareness on the intercultural component from an early age in order to help young people broaden their mindset to new perspectives and develop their skills. Regarding this, we believe that the European Solidarity Corps programme is the piece of puzzle that matches and completes our vision on our local and international long-term solidarity project.

Presentation of the programme

Join our community centre in France as one of four ESC volunteers and help promote intercultural learning, inclusion and active citizenship. You will work with children, teenagers and senior citizens through non-formal education activities. During the after-school programme, you will organise "Discover the World" workshops, bilingual arts and crafts activities, bilingual sports games and musical activities to help children learn English in a fun and interactive way. You will also lead English workshops, present your country and culture in local schools, support digital literacy and memory workshops for seniors, and take part in community outreach to promote our activities. Volunteers are encouraged to develop their own projects and share their talents, culture and ideas within an international and supportive team. Beginning the 31st of August - minimum 6 months

About the accomodation

Accommodation: You will live in a lovely shared house with other volunteers (2 or 3), located just 10 minutes’ walk from the association. You’ll have your own private bedroom. Transport: You will be provided with a bus subscription and a train discount card for regional travel. Health Insurance: You will be covered by the ESC program insurance, and we recommend obtaining a European Health Insurance Card before departure. Financial Support: The association will help you open a French bank account, where you’ll receive your monthly food allowance and pocket money (around 400€ per month).

About the leisure activities

Participation in both the arrival training and mid-term training is expected. If additional training sessions for both employees and non-employees are organized, it will be offered to the volunteers the opportunity to participate if they would like to. French class are delivered every week by the Red Cross in the association premises.

Requirements

The Participant profile: We are looking for motivated, open-minded and enthusiastic volunteers aged 18–30 with previous experience working with children through youth work, education, summer camps or other non-formal learning activities. An interest in intercultural learning, community engagement and non-formal education is essential. Volunteers should be able to communicate in French, as most activities are conducted with local participants and require regular interaction with children, families and senior citizens. They should also be comfortable communicating in English, be willing to share their culture and traditions, and actively participate in team life. Creativity, initiative, adaptability and a positive attitude are highly appreciated.Deadline: