Service Volontaire International

About the local hosting organizationAssociazione InformaGiovani is a no-profit organisation founded in 2001 with the following aims: - to promote human and civil rights, with particular attention to the right to information and participation of young people; - to protect social interest, with particular attention to students and young people; - to promote active citizenship, in particular among disadvantaged young people and at risk of social exclusion, and promote youth empowerment; - to promote local and international volunteering as a tool for non-formal education, active participation and social inclusion. The association pursues the mentioned purposes through two main fields of action. 1. Social voluntary work. The association regularly carries out projects that intertwine the themes of volunteering, legality, social inclusion, sustainable development and media education. For several years we have specialised our activities on the issues of social inclusion, involving NEET participants and unemployed young people, young migrants, young people with sensory disabilities, and young offenders in probation period. Over the years, the association has managed numerous international projects in Italy and other European countries, within the "Youth in Action" programmes ("4.3 - Training and networking of operators active in youth work and youth organizations", and "4.6 - Partnership"), "Erasmus Plus" (Key Action 1 - Mobility of Youth and Youth Workers; Key Action 2 - Cooperation for Innovation and Exchange of Good Practices, Capacity Building in the Field of Youth; Key Action 3 - Support for Political Reforms, Civil Society Cooperation: Youth Sector), Daphne III, and "Europe for Citizens". In particular we have been regularly implementing: - European Voluntary Service / European Solidarity Corps projects both as coordinating, sending and hosting organisation, involving more than 100 young volunteers both in short and long-term projects; - training courses and seminars for youth workers, social workers, teachers, juvenile justice workers, aimed at promoting international volunteering as a tool for social intervention and on the themes of interculturalism, group management and leadership, media literacy and critical thinking, digitisation of youth work; - international youth exchanges under the "Youth in Action" and Erasmus + programme; - restorative justice activities through voluntary work and international mobility for the social inclusion of young people in the penal area (in collaboration with various territorial offices of the Department for Juvenile Justice); - international workcamps in Sicily and Italy, addressing local community needs related to environment and sustainable development, public space renovation, creativity and arts. 2. Information activities. InformaGiovani carries out an intense activity of youth information through its multimedia tools. In fact, the association manages: - the content of two web pages (www.informa-giovani.net and www.campidivolontariato.net) and a regular newsletter to disseminate information on job, training and learning opportunities at national and EU level, volunteering and international mobility opportunities, thematic news related to the work in the youth field and EU programmes/policies; - three Facebook pages (@associazioneinformagiovani – general profile of the association where news about job, training, volunteering, calls, awards are posted; @Campidivolontariato – specifically dedicated to international individual and group volunteering mobilities; @EUNetworkIG – dedicated to international initiatives implemented by IG and its EU partners); - Youtube channel (https://www.youtube.com/inforgiovani) with a total of over 50,000 views and a Twitter and Instagram account; - Issuu profile (https://issuu.com/inforgiovani), where publication and output in the field of youth work are shared. Moreover, InformaGiovani organises meetings and info-days in local youth centres, schools and public spaces to promote volunteering and active citizenships, mobility opportunities and European Programmes for youth. Finally, InformaGiovani manages an information desk located in a property confiscated from the mafia obtained in concession by the Municipality of Palermo. In the information desk, we provide consultancy on Erasmus+/ESC programmes, orientation and support to young people about mobility and volunteering opportunities, we implement events on topics of interest to young people, training and preparation to international mobilities.

Presentation of the programmeCirco Pace e Bene is a cultural association based in Milena, Sicily, founded in 2015. It works with vulnerable groups through cultural, artistic and educational initiatives and manages the Magazzino Culturale, a community space for local activities and events. Volunteers will support the preparation and implementation of the 6th edition of MiFaSol | Milena Festival Sociale (11–14 June). Before the festival, they will help clean and regenerate community spaces, organise materials, arrange furniture, and set up areas for workshops, exhibitions, discussions and performances. During the event, they will welcome participants, assist with the practical management of activities, support technical and logistical needs, help with food preparation and service, and contribute to documentation through photos, short videos and social media content. Volunteers will be directly involved in the daily coordination and smooth running of the festival.

Local accommodationVolunteers will live in a basic apartment, with all the essential facilities for daily life, but very simple in style. They will sleep in shared rooms with 3–4 beds, divided by gender. The volunteers, divided into groups and working in shifts, will take care of the management and cleaning of the house and the Magazzino, and they will prepare meals in a common kitchen. All meals will be prepared and eaten in a common room in the Magazzino.

About the leisure activities possibleOn-Arrival training, mid-term evaluation and final evaluation will be conducted by InformaGiovani.

RequirementsThe Participant profile: Volunteers should like the idea of living in a small town and experiencing collective life. Volunteers should enjoy working in a rural community and participating in cultural and social events. Interest in manual work, event organisation, and teamwork is recommended.
Deadline:

Extra info about the projectThe 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.

Price descriptionProjects from the european commission are free for volunteers

Info