VOLUNT - HERE

The economic crisis first and the immigration one then that Europe as a whole is facing, meant that many volunteering organizations were born in these years aimed at responding to new emerging social needs within the European countries.
Volunteering has become a vital component in the development of each country; it works with specific characteristics and values that identify it among all the other realities of the non-profit sector.
However, while in some parts of Europe it is well structured and involves a large number of people, somewhere else instead, it is struggling to grow especially regarding youth participation.
According to a recent survey, In Italy only the 6% of people aged between 18 and 29 years habitually carries and continuously volunteering while the 65% have never considered this possibility. It is also worrying the fact that the number of young people interested in volunteering tends to be lower than in the past and is lower than that of adults.
These figures evidence the existence of 3 significant issues:
For young people to find a social identity, and thus belonging to the community to which they live;
For volunteering organizations to involve young and ensure the replacement of its members;
For local communities to solve social problems if not addressed through a concrete commitment by its residents.
The project “ Volunt- here” wants to address these 3 main subjects through a Study Visit and a Youth Exchange.
The Study Visit will consist in:
- visiting the different volunteering organizations present on the hosting territory;
- examining the visited organizations, sharing opinions and make proposals for improve their activities;
- exchanging best practices and find out ways for promoting and boosting the volunteering among young of the participants countries

The Youth Exchange instead will be an opportunity for young people to interact, sharing and experiment volunteering activities, foster their feeling and involvement in social care.

Aim: foster young people's participation in volunteering, underlining its importance for the sake of the whole EU.

Specific objectives:
• To develop in young people a sense of responsibility and active citizenship
• To Encourage the recognition and enhancement of the work of volunteers among families, schools and public institutions
• To Foster the social inclusion, dialogue and cohesion between relevant stakeholders of a local community
• To share best practices existing in the various experiences of the European Union
• Contribute to economic and social growth within European countries through the volunteering.