Volunteering for community development

The main objective of the project is to involve 2 young people from different countries for a better understanding of interpersonal solidarity and social responsibility that goes across all age groups and is not limited by any political, cultural or social border.

The young people will integrate our teams of animators and youth workers in 2 different projects: youth office (working with teenagers aged 10-15) and post-kindergarten activities (working with children aged 3-6). Depending on the participant's profile, we could either integrate 1 volunteer in each project for the whole project length, or have them experiencing both (half of the project in each setting).
Since these activities take place mostly in the afternoon period, volunteers will also be supported to manage a toys' repair café which takes place in 2 mornings per week, bringing together ESC volunteers and local volunteers, especially retired crafty locals. In this workshop, we collect damaged toys through donations, repair them and resell them in the community, using the earned funds to support local children facing economic difficulties. The remaining mornings will be used for language learning, self-reflection and personal projects.

Overall, by joining the project, volunteers will be offered several opportunities for personal growth and learning, they will also learn to value collaborative work, creative work and the power of relationships to accomplish goals when working with children and teenagers. Ultimately, it aims to promote intercultural competences, global identity, tolerance and the appreciation of difference for a more conscious, inclusive and cooperative world. The project also aims to inspire the local youth to pursue their self-development through volunteering and intercultural experiences, which is extremely important in a small town like Lousã, where non-formal education and less “standard” paths are barely considered, as well as promote its recognition among families and local community in general.