Knowledge Builders 3

Project Title: Knowledge Builders 3
Period: 01.10.2015 – 30.06.2016 (9 months)
Location: Bucharest, Romania
Hosting Organization: Young Initiative Association (Accreditation number RO-2012-82)

The Young Initiative Association is a Romanian educational non-governmental, non-profit organization that organizes and promotes projects in the fields of youth and education. We were founded at the end of 2009 and we strive to provide young people with development opportunities for a society that is becoming more and more competitive on a global scale. We have a very wide selection of projects and activities which can surely appeal to a large number of potential EVS volunteers.

Find out more about our Association by reading our English presentation page at www.younginitiative.org/english

We intend to apply for Erasmus+ funding at the February 1st deadline in order to develop our EVS programme Knowledge Builders, which had its first two phases between 2013-2015.

What will you do as a volunteer?

There are several positions you can apply for:

- 3 volunteers will work mostly with institutionalised children aged 0-10 and with highschool students (non-formal teaching skills are very much appreciated)
- 1 volunteer will be involved in promoting the voluntary sector from Romania and not only and he will write articles in English for Blogunteer.ro (a national blog about volunteering) (blog wiriting skills are very much appreciated);
- 1 volunteer will work in the Communication & PR Department and he will be in charge for organising events in order to better promote the external image of the Association (event management skills, writing skills and public speaking skills are very much appreciated);
- 1 volunteer will work on the International Relations Department and will be engaged in establishing new partnerships, providing support for outgoing participants to European mobilities etc (knowledge about European Union’s funding programmes’ is very much appreciated)

At least 50% of your working time will be allocated to the above tasks according to the position that you will fill, and you have the option of filling the other 50% with a selection of the activities below.

Based on your learning needs you will create together with your mentor a Personal Development Plan (Learning Roadmap) and you will be able to CHOOSE from the following activities:

- Organise daily or at 2-3 days intervals educational activities for institutionalised children, such as: literacy, reading, animation or IT workshops; These activities can be organised in 2 centres;
- Organise cultural workshops and events for institutionalized children and for young people (i.e students) where they will present their culture (the workshops can concentrate on language, songs, movies, food etc.);
- Organise larger-scale activities for children, such as festivities, field trips, contests, new types of workshops;
- Administrative support for the staff;
- Integration in one of the departments of our organization (i.e human resources, public relations and marketing, fundraising) and actively contributing to its activity;
- Organise workshops and free events for young people in BiblioLounge, our center for youth;
- Cooperate with the Blogunteer.ro team and write blog articles telling the stories of volunteers and projects from the area;
- Participate or organize local fundraising activities/events;
- Participate to trainings and different events of our organisation;
- Learn Romanian and more about the Romanian culture;
- Prepare and launch a new project in the Association, with the help and guidance of our staff, including learning how to apply for funding under the Erasmus+ framework;
- Organise workshops, debates etc. for young people (i.e high school students) in Bucharest on a large array of themes related to their profile and knowledge, including European Citizenship and international dedicated days (Education Day, Teaching Day, Non-Formal Education Week, Volunteering Day);
- Help develop Bucharest`s Volunteering Center, operated from 2014 by our Association, by organizing events that promote volunteering, offering the required information to interested citizens, improve the processes, communications, maintain the EVS Chapter of the Center for potential EVS Volunteers in Bucharest;

Total volunteering positions available: 6 volunteers (mainly from EU Programme Countries)

You should apply if:

- You have a strong interest in some of the activities presented above and would like to actively engage in a long-term learning and development project;
- You are creative, dynamic, put a lot of passion in what you do and want to take things to the next level in a foreign country;
- You are between 18 and 30 years old (candidates over 24 are especially encouraged to apply);
- You are a citizen of a Erasmus+ Programme Country;
- You have not participated in a long-term EVS project before (more than 2 months);
- You know English at a level that will allow you to engage in conversations and express your ideas freely, both verbally and in writing;
- You have a Sending Organisation from your home country;

Young people with fewer opportunities are strongly encouraged to apply, especially those in unemployment. Please specify this in your cover letter.

Financial conditions:

- Accommodation will be provided by the Association; The whole group will stay in a rented apartment in Bucharest (3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, living room, kitchen);
- You will receive a meal allowance of €120 – €130 every month;
- You will receive a general allowance of €60 every month (fixed rate for Romania);
- You will benefit from a local transport allowance of €15 monthly;
- All project activities costs will be covered from the grant;
- All apartment utilities will be paid for by the Association (water, heating, electricity, WiFi Internet);
- International travel costs will be covered by a fixed rate that varies by the distance in km determined by the European Commission (e.g €180 under 500km, €275 between 5000 – 1999 km, €360 between 2000 – 2999 km)
- You may benefit from a one-time €150 allowance as linguistic support for improving your English OR Romanian;

Note: For reference, the minimum wage in Romania is €180/month. Considering that volunteers receive more than this sum and all utilities plus rent are being paid for, the money should be enough for covering living costs.

Testimonials from our ex-volunteers:
https://creativebuildersofknowledge.wordpress.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fa721VtYouQ

Do you think you meet the conditions? Then take the challenge and apply!

How to apply?

Your application pack should consist of:

- Curriculum Vitae (CV) in English, in your preferred format (you can be creative);
- Cover/Motivation Letter, which should contain at least: why you wish to join the project, how does the project fit with your needs, what activities you would like to do in Bucharest, if you fit in the “fewer opportunities” criteria and why, details about yourself (passions, hobbies etc.);
- Information about your Sending Organization;
- Optional: You may attach presentations, videos, photos, collages, if you think they can bring added-value to your application (as long as they are made entirely by you);

The application pack should be sent only by email to info@younginitiative.org no later than January 20th. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a Skype interview.