EVS Training East-West Dialogues 2017

East-West Dialogues is a partnership building and EVS quality improvement training which is supported by a grant from the Dutch Erasmus+ National Agency. The training aims at setting up high quality EVS projects in which partners from Western European, Eastern European and partner countries cooperate.

After excellent reviews of the 2016-edition of this training, we will organize it again in 2017!

This training is intended for organizations with basic knowledge about the Erasmus+ programme and EVS projects. The training will help participating organizations improve and professionalize in all stages of EVS project management: from volunteer recruitment and preparation to mentoring, risk management, crisis resolution and tools for evaluation, dissemination and impact increment. he programme is intended for both hosting and sending/coordinating organizations.

This intensive networking programme will involve participants from at least 10 different countries. Participants will not only get to know each other, but also receive hands-on advice on improving EVS project management, volunteer recruitment and preparation, expectation management and crisis resolution. During the programme, participants will together develop a Quality Improvement Toolbox, consisting of practical tools and templates for drafting partnership agreements, activity agreements, recruitment of volunteers, mediation, mentoring and evaluating EVS projects.

Experienced application reviewers will give key advice on drafting the best applications with the highest chance of success.

Participants will be selected with the aim of enhancing and supporting the cooperation between organisations from Programme Countries and Eastern Partnership countries. In addition the training wants to stimulate the creation of new project ideas and the development of activities quality.

Objectives
•To provide information about the Erasmus + Programme in the field of youth and especially EVS and the new Strategic EVS and EU Solidarity Corps.
•To improve the quality of all stages of EVS project management
•To get to know possibilities of cooperation between Programme Countries and Eastern Partnership countries within the Erasmus + Programme.
•To develop the necessary knowledge, skills and attitude to organise a successful EVS project with a special focus on youth participation.
•To bring together people working with youngsters in order to create new project ideas of EVS projects within Key Action 1 of the Erasmus + Programme.

Participants
This training course brings together 28 EVS project managers and/or tutors working for accredited EVS organisations. Participants come from Programme Countries and Eastern Partnership countries.

Applicants should fulfill the following criteria:
• represent an EVS accredited organization
• have some experience with Erasmus+ projects and EVS projects in particular.
• have some experience in youth work/local youth projects in their country;
• are ready to improve and expand their activities in the frame of EVS.
• have good English language communication skills (level B1 or higher)

Programme elements
3-days training course:
• Erasmus + Programme presentation with special focus on cooperation with EaP countries within Key Action 1 projects;
• How to recruit motivated participants
• How to involve participants in the shaping of project activities?
• Working with youngsters who are not in employment or education. Giving marginalized groups a chance in EVS;
• EVS Project Management and application writing;
• Crisis resolution and risk management;
• Intercultural learning in EVS;
• Dissemination & project evaluation;
• Creating equal and sustainable parterships

During our TC we will use non-formal education methods encouraging participants to active participation and planning future projects.

7 December 2017 is arrival day
8 December 2017 - Programme Day 1

08:30 – 09:45 Breakfast

09:45 – 11:00 Setting the stage

• Introduction of the programme
• Learning objectives of participants
• Get to know eachother games
• Short presentations of all participating organizations

11:15 – 14:45 Workshop 1: Volunteer recruitment & preparation

During this workshop we will discuss how organisations recruit and prepare their volunteers, and how they select their partner organisations. This workshop will be held in a role play format.

After lunch, we will do a walk & talk in small groups in the beautiful surroundings of the hostel, discussing the different expectations that sending/hosting and coordinating organizations may have of EVS volunteers in their organizations (Workshop 2)

15:00 – 16:30 Dutch National Agency

Presentation

• Application writing
• New type of EVS projects: strategic EVS
• Using the Youthpass in your EVS projects

16:45 – 18:00 Networking drinks with former EVS participants

During this informal networking session, accompanied by drinks and Dutch snacks, we will discuss best practices for guidance and mentoring of volunteers, and the role of the mentor in the guiding process.

18:30 Dinner

9 December 2017 - Programme Day 2

10:00 – 12:00 Workshop 3: Crisis resolution

In this workshop, we will practice different types of crisis resolution strategies. We will split in smaller groups to work with three actors on responding to the needs and problems that volunteers may encounter in different phases of the project.

13:30 – 15:15 Travel to Amsterdam and city walk in Amsterdam

15:15 – 17:00 Visit to EVS hosting organizations in Amsterdam.

Workshop 4: EVS Project Activities – Making EVS a meaningful learning experience for volunteers and organisations

During this workshop we will discuss how organisations can create valuable learning experiences for their volunteers.

10 December 2017 - Programme Day 3

09:30 – 12:00 Workshop 5: Impact, dissemination and evaluation EVS

During this workshop we will discuss the ways in which EVS experiences can have the largest impact and the different ways in which EVS experiences can be disseminated and evaluated. We will use a brainstorming format to come up with innovative ways of dissemination to improve our applications.

12:00 - 14:30 Working on a toolkit.

14:30 – 16:30 Informal networking and working on future projects (with feedback from experts)

17:00 Closing Ceremony

Applications are accepted at https://eastpackers.nl/vrijwilligerswerk/east-west-dialogues-2017-application-form/