4SAIL

Some youngsters that have the opportunity to go abroad for a short term EVS are hardly motivated to take this chance. They seem not interested in spending a month in another culture. Due to their living situation, bad experience in school they might have low self esteem. Are scared to go ‘into the unknown’, to a place and country that they do not know and where another language is spoken. The main idea behind this partnership building activity is that these young people will have the opportunity to meet other potential volunteers and build relationships. This will motivate them to make the step for volunteering abroad because the ‘unknown’ has a face and a name. The aim of the training is that the youngsters will make concrete plans for a short term evs for this summer 2012. Youthworkers or mentors that are directly involved in hosting and sending can build solid partnerships and can make sure that ‘their’ young people are safe and taken care off while being abroad. During 4 days, an international group of youth workers/mentors will focus on building reliable partnerships using intercultural learning methods to discover and discuss the needs of their young people. They will be able to present their project and find a possible volunteer. The young people will focus on making friends and exploring possible volunteering projects. The activity is based on methods and approaches within the non-formal education field. Why on a ship? Young people have to work together and can make friends. Youth workers have to work together as well, which gives them a start to talk about responsibilities and expectations in partnerships. The ship is small and it takes effort to live and work together and that is a good basis for further exploration in that theme. By the end of this partnership building activity, participants have:  Knowledge about EVS and responsibilities of promotors.  Exchanged information about their projects where volunteers can stay and work in.  Defined needs of youngsters with fewer opportunities on evs and exchanged experiences.  Know how to make a safe project together relating to hosting young people.  Build partnerships and made agreements about hosting and sending their young people preferably for summer 2012.  Have discussed and reflected on active participation and volunteering within a European context.  An understanding about the significance and possible outcomes of non-formal learning approaches.  Have an understanding about teamroles and teamwork.