NATURE OF EVS

Nature of EVS is a training course which aims to explore the potential and depth of European Voluntary Service (EVS) as a journey for personal transformation and complex growth of all the actors involved, with a focus on sustainability and service to ourselves, communities and environment. FOR WHOM? Nature of EVS is a training course for 24 ex-volunteers, youth workers, trainers, project coordinators, mentors and National Agencies staff, who: - are involved in work with EVS volunteers, - want to deepen their understanding of the nature of EVS as a life journey and a service, - want to reflect on the impact EVS can have on their life, and on how they can capitalize it, - are ready to explore and reflect on these topic in an experiential training course, in a community setting and in closer contact with nature - are able and ready to work in English, - feel the call to work on the objectives mentioned below. OBJECTIVES: ● To understand how complex the story of EVS can be, making connections with human life, natural cycles and traditional mythology. ● To explore how community life and the spirit of service can be beneficial tools for all actors involved in EVS. ● To create space for networking and sharing positive stories about EVS and their meanings for different participants. ● To experience personal strengths and shadows as EVS actors, to learn from them and get inspiration for future work. ● To collect useful tools and motivation for developing EVS into a meaningful and sustainable experience in participant's realities and their communities KEY PROGRAMME ELEMENTS: We will have a fresh look at the EVS cycle, drawing inspiration from elements such as the archetypal Hero’s Journey (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monomyth), The Way of Council (http://www.heartsource. com/council/way_of_council.html), community building and living in community, learning from challenges, nature-based education, communication and partnership, storytelling, the role of spirituality and the presence of personal ceremonies and rites in education (and life). We will create a space to reflect on how to use all this back in our communities and work practices. The training course is based on non-formal education and experiential learning. We invite participants with different levels of experience (from EVS veterans to newcomers and ex volunteers), and a substantial part of the programme will be based on sharing experience and exchange of good practice and inspiration. We want to create a positive and pleasant moment for sharing, evaluating and reflecting in the busy life of EVS project coordinators, trainers, mentors and volunteers.