Nature of EVS

The training activity took place

in 2 training courses within the project: 1st Slunakov, Czech Republic, 2nd Sermugnano - Italy

organised by Act in Ostrava

July - November 2015

Reference person

Carmine Rodi Falanga

(Co-Trainer)

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Aims & objectives

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 the focus on sustainability and service to ourselves, communities and environment.

● 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).

Target group & international/intercultural composition of the group & team

The group participants of Nature of EVS involved 48 youth workers, trainers, project coordinators and mentors, ex-volunteers.

The program was developed and delivered in an international team of 4 trainers including me and:
Carmine Rodi Falanga - Italy, trainer profile: http://trainers.salto-youth.net/CarmineRodi/ Helena Kosková - Czech Republic, trainer profile: http://trainers.salto-youth.net/HelenaKoskova/ Honza Látal - Czech Republic, trainer profile: http://trainers.salto-youth.net/JanLatal/

Training methods used & main activities

The EVS cycle as the archetypal Hero’s Journey, The Way of Council, community building and experiencing community, learning and challenge, nature as a guide, communication and partnership, storytelling, the role of spirituality and rites in education and EVS, the nature of ‘service’, how to use all this back in our communities and work practices.

Outcomes of the activity

The project was great - read more on my colleague's CARMINE RODI blog here: https://carminerodi.wordpress.com/2015/11/23/nature-of-evs-sermugnano/

Your tasks and responsibilities within the team

Project manager, project coordinator, full time trainer

I developed this training concept together with 3 above mentioned colleagues, our organisation also applied for the grant and managed it.