EVS Study Visit to Armenia and Georgia 2013

Date and Venue

The Study Visit "EVS Argonauts" will take from 16th February till 24th February 2013 (Saturday 16th morning is arrival day, start of the activity with lunch at 13:30 and Sunday 24th since early morning is departure day).

Aim

Study visit “EVS Argonauts” aims to allow a group of EVS coordinators from programme countries and National Agencies officers to discover reality of European Voluntary Service in Armenia and Georgia. 

Programme elements

• Visits to the EVS organisations in Armenia (Yerevan, Gyumri, Vanadzor) and Georgia (Tbilisi, Ozurgeti region, Zugdidi);
• Fair of organisations;
• Discussions about specificities of the EVS cooperation with EECA region;
• Meetings with local EVS coordinators, volunteers at their service as well as EVS mentors;
• Discussions with youth and volunteering policy makers and experts;
• Short job-shadowing opportunity;
• Georgian and Armenian enhanced cultural experiences;

Participants

Study Visit will bring together 24 EVS coordinators representing accredited EVS organisations from Programme Countries as well as National Agencies' officers.

Participants profile:

• Representatives of the EVS accredited organisations from Programme countries (hosting and sending) or Youth in Action National Agency officers;
• Have interest to develop EVS cooperation with partners from Caucasus;
• Able to communicate in English;
• Ready to actively participate in preparations and whole duration of the activity;

Importants

Working language: English

Visa: Georgia is visa free country for all Youth in Action Programme countries; Armenia is going to abandon visa regime for citizens of all EU and Shengen countries from 10th January 2013, still valid passport will be required to enter. Citizens of Croatia and Turkey can receive visa sticker automatically in the Yerevan airport.

Team of organisers

The team will be composed by SALTO EECA officer as well as Danish National Agency representative(s) as well as local logistic supporters.

Financial Conditions

• The lodging, board and local transportation of EVS coordinators during the study visit will be provided by organisers;
• Due to TCP regulations, the board and lodging of NAs officers needs to be covered by their offices; Participating officers will receive a request for payment after the activity (of about 500 euro per person);
• International travel costs of participants will be covered by relevant National Agency on its own principles;
• Participants are requested to cover by themselves the costs of any insurance;

Application procedure

The applicants are requested to fill in the on-line application form by 13th January 2013! The selection will be carried out by the team of organisers, based on the criteria specified in the "participants profile" section. The applicants will be informed directly about the selection results by 27th January at latest.