Intercâmbio Internacional de Jovens "Aim High, Choose Healthy"

O Intercâmbio Internacional de Jovens "Aim High, Choose Healthy" decorreu de 28 de Julho a 4 de Agosto em Lisboa. Aqui fica um testemunho de uma das participantes.

Katerin da Estónia

I participated in the youth exchange "Aim high, choose healthy" during the summer of 2013 and it was a lot of fun! We got to know more about healthy habbits and how to improve one's lifestyle. I got some new knowledge about how to track my physical progress and fat loss with some methods that I had never heard before. We did a lot of group building and fun activities with smaller and bigger groups and I made a lot of new friends from different cultures. Furthermore, we had national evenings of every country that was represented and I learned a lot about the food, music, dance and politics about the other countries that were present. Thank you for an unforgettable week in Lisbon!

Aneta´s Grundtvig Assistantship at Spin

So the last day of my Grundtvig Assistantship is finally here... I knew it would happen, but why did it have to be so soon?!

Well objectively speaking I have been here for 10 months. Some of you might think that 10 months is actually a rather long time, but believe you me not here, not at Spin! Life at Spin (you would think I should probably say work, but it often seems as if I actually lived at Spin) is mostly crazy. You wouldn´t believe how much paperwork has to be processed everyday (and that is on top of actual activities!). I think that there is a piece of paper for every euro-cent that we get in grants! But let´s not talk about that right now, it is a whole different story!

These 10 months have gone by so quickly not because of all the paper, but because it has been a GREAT experience. I think I can honestly say that I have been trying to give my best and to get as much as possible out of my Assistantship. I feel that I have learned a lot, but also that I have contributed significantly to Spin´s activities and current situation. I don´t think I can do it, but let me try and recall what I have done:

1. Youth in Action (YinA) 4.3 Training Course "Communication and Conflict Management for Peace Education" - support staff activities (general assistance to the project manager, some paperwork)
2. Lifelong Learning Program (LLP) Grundtvig Workshop "How to Train Your Pen: Story-crafting and word-bending for novices" - project manager (very challenging! as I was responsible for the whole implementation except for the content, which was the trainer´s responsibility)
3. infospin.a-spin.pt - volunteer selection and instruction as well as actual publishing on the blog
4. Spin´s new website at www.a-spin.pt - also somehow challenging as it was my first time using wordpress.org and I had to create it from scratch!
5. YinA 1.1 Youth Exchange "Our time!" - one of my favorite activities, but also one of the most challenging ones; I wrote and implemented the project almost completely by myself (although with a lot of moral support from everyone at Spin!)
6. YinA 2 EVS sending - I was responsible for all the sending tasks and have been able to prepare and send 6 volunteers abroad to Latvia, France, Romania, Norway, Poland and Iceland
7. YinA 2 EVS hosting/coordinating - I have written one group EVS project for 7 volunteers that is about to start (the volunteers are going to arrive in Lisbon within the first week of September)
8. LLP Grundtvig Senior Volunteering Project - for the first time in my life I had attempted to write a SVP project and guess what? It got approved! AND? It actually was ranked nº 1 in Portugal! Whoa! :) 
9. Portuguese classes for incoming EVS volunteers - I actually am an English teacher (been teaching for about 8 years now) but I also studied Portuguese and Lusophone Studies both in Warsaw (University of Warsaw) and in Lisbon (New University of Lisbon), however this year was my first time teaching Portuguese! 
10. English classes for the local community - I must admit that I love teaching English, so this task was more of a hobby to me! Throughout the year I have had classes with the local seniors and young adults as well as mentally challenged adults.
11. Communication Department - apart from creating the website I was also responsible for all of our communication channels (Facebook, newsletter, blog, Twitter)
12. Information Sessions at Spin - once a month I would get together with people interested in participating in EU-sponsored educational programs and explain to them where and how to start!
13. 0,5% tax donation - Spin has been trying to get accredited for these donations for a few years now, this year my colleague and I have done our best to make it happen and it actually seems to have worked (personal note: diving into the Portuguese bureaucracy was a really interesting but also frustrating experience)
14. Zumba classes - support staff for Zumba classes implemented by Spin twice a week, I loved it!

I think that it may be enough for now. It´s definitely not all, but my memory is short. I still have to write my final report for the Polish National Agency so I will have to recall all the activities either way and will amend this list for sure (let alone the fact that I have left out all my activities at Academia Senior and I would go there once a week!).

This has been a truly enriching experience. I will take every bit of it with me and use it in my future professional life! If by any chance you yourself are thinking of becoming an adult education professional, do consider doing an Assistantship. If you choose your placement wisely, you will DEFINITELY NOT regret it!

Last but not least, thanks to all the people that I have come across this year. You made it a memorable one! 

Aneta

Intercâmbio Internacional de Jovens "Our time!"

O Intercâmbio Internacional de Jovens "Our time!" decorreu de 22 a 29 de Junho de 2013 em Lisboa. Aqui ficam uns pequenos testemunhos de alguns dos participantes.

Alexandra de Portugal

A participação no intercâmbio foi absolutamente fantástica. No inicio tinha receio em participar pelo facto de ter algumas dificuldades em expressar-me em inglês, mas acabei por embarcar neste projeto e ainda bem que o fiz.  Destaco a aprendizagem pessoal, o trabalho em equipa, a partilha e a interação. O intercâmbio permitiu-me melhorar a língua inglesa, conhecer diferentes pessoas e perceber que iniciativas existem nos outros países sobre esta questão da intergeracionalidade.  É de facto uma experiência incrível e uma optima oportunidade de conhecer novas pessoas, países, culturas e de aprendermos uns com os outros. Sem dúvida, recomendó!

Ieva da Lituânia

Firstly, as a group leader, I found this youth exhange very useful. I've learned some new and interesting methods of how to encourage young people to soak up new knowledge, how to make them understand the topic and have so much fun at the same time. As a participant, I realy enjoyed the topic. I was very happy to meet Portuguese seniors. They made me to break lots of stereotypes about old people. I also realised that intergenerational dialogue means sharing. Young people can learn lots of things from the elder generations. But they also can propose their knowledge. Therefore, If you want to get something, you have to give something, too. 

Urte da Lituânia

This youth exchange was the first for me. First when I heard that I'm going to participant in this exchange I was really scared. Because I don't knew how everything will be and what I'm going to do. But when I came I realized that this is the best experience for the future. All discusions,games and activities were all something that for now I can use in my own life. These topics like "generation dialogue","what we can change for olderly people,or what they can change for youngest people" and others are really important for all people. Now I can share my opinion with others and others can say them opinion to me,it is really intresting. I realized that no matter where you from,what your culture,nationality or who you are,you can communicate with all people and share your experience,which can change your and others life.

Nélia de Portugal

International Youth Exchange Our time! During 8 days, we were going to be around 25 people from 5 different countries working in activities about intergenerational dialogue while getting to know each other. It was a great opportunity to improve our skills and knowledge about other cultures and languages and to share our life’s experiences. We all spent 2 days with seniors in Senior Academy of Carnide and it was one of the best moments because they are really active people and they showed us that age is not a barrier. Thanks Spin, It was a great project!

André de Portugal
What a lovely surprise and experience. It is awkward to say that I went on exchange to Lisbon (yes, I'm Portuguese and I study and work at Lisbon) but it was a very enriching experience that I couldn't miss! Be a part of an inter-generational movement, practice English (and Spanish, Lithuanian, Polish, Italian, Português?!) and make new friends are obviously good arguments to convince. They convinced me, I hope someday will convince you too! Btw, SPIN ROCKS! Thank you so much for this unforgettable exchange.

SVE da Catarina em Craiova, Roménia

Already two months in Craiova, two moths that passed so fast that I feel I just arrived yesterday! Not two months of intense work or with a lot of activities but for sure two good months. 

Craiova is a beautiful city, not my dream city but a good one! The people are very nice and generous, always ready to help and also curious about the volunteers: where are we from, what are we doing here, if we are enjoying Romania, why Romania and all the questions that my short Romanian vocabulary let me answer. 

Since the last weeks we went to kinder gardens a couple times per week and there I was surprised in a positive way for the quality of the installations and the education of the children. Kids are very curious about us and it’s amazing how we can develop our Romanian communication skills with little children. 

Last week for the first time we meet some of the children who will be involved in our project and finally this week we started the activities with them. Till now my first impressions about them were very positive and I hope to develop a good work with them! 

Catarina

My experience in Italy!

Spin gave me the opportunity to go to Italy in March to attend the Training of Intergeneraions.

This activity happened on 13 to 19 of March, in Lecce, in the South of Italy. I went with my colegue and a member of SPIN, Aneta.

We were 22 persons from different countries of Europe. I met people from Cyprus, Greece, Sweden, Italy, Estonia, Hungary and Romania.

The training was about the Intergenerations, what activities and projects could be done. And another goal for us was setting up partnerships.

So along the days we were practicing  discussing the theme and looking for other ways, other activities and opportunities that we could give to the young people and older people of our communities.

The experience was awesome, I learned a lot about other countries and how was the social work and if the inter-generational activities were important for their society.

VulcanicaMente was the NGO that lead this training and the people from the organization were really good. We worked together, we walked together, we also spent together all the time outside the formal program, wow! We even made pasta together and that was an example of inter-generational activity, working with the senior as they taught us to make pasta.

In six days I learned a lot, met new people, I have a new perspective on the inter-generational activities, new projects and new ways to make people come together.

I want to thank you, SPIN and Aneta, for this opportunity I had the chance to do new things and learn new ways to give a better quality of life to people.

Thanks SPIN, Aneta, VulcaniacaMente!

Marta Mateus

Grundtvig In-Service Training "Us and the Others. Photography and Multiculturalism"

"Us and the Others..." is officially recognized by the Lifelong Learning Program of the European Commission (PT-2013-117-003). The EU LLP Grundtvig grant will cover all expenses: accommodation, board, training and travel costs. Apply now! (grants not available for the Portuguese)

Find out more info in the course presentation.

Send us the pre-registration form to intercambios@a-spin.pt.

Deadline for registration: 24th April 2013

My first months in Lisbon

By now I have stayed in Lisbon for two months. These two months have been full of joy, happiness, fear, excitement, adventures and new experiences. And this is what EVS is all about.

For me Lisbon has always been something dreamy and somewhat unreachable. Even now, from time-to-time I find myself discovering the fact that I am really here. I am here and doing exactly what I want to be doing.

Volunteering in culture area is beyond perfect for me – I was lucky enough to get exactly the project that I hoped for. And even struggling with my portuguese adds some spice, no-one said it was going to be easy. Of course, this project is not only about Portugal itself with it’s difficult language, it’s also about the people in it. Until now I have met people from places so far that it’s even hard to imagine the odds of ever meeting them under such circumstances in the first place. And this fact increases enormously the value of this experience.

So all-in-all I can only say good words about my first impressions on taking part in this adventure. Everything is new, unusual, exciting and eye-opening – and I can’t wait to see what the next months will bring me!

Katrina

Grundtvig Training course: LINK UP !

The training analyzes the two-way relationship between environment and human beings seen as mutually reinforcing components of a global sustainable development.

The key-concept of the course is to “link up” ecology to urban development, social justice to economic growth,  environmental protection to fundamental freedom, nature to global society.

Let’s link up Ecology to Human rights to find out a new sustainable development!

LINK UP! is officially recognized by the Lifelong Learning Programme of the European Commission. 

The EU LLP Grundtvig grant will cover all the expenses: lodging, board, training and travel costs. Apply now! (grants not available for Portuguese)

Find out more info in the course presentation. 
Send us the pre-registration form to intercambios.spin@gmail.com 

Deadline for registration: 26th April 2013

One photo, one word, 5 years!

Dear friend, how is everything going?

We are very proud to announce that the Spin Association has reached 5 years of life! We are excited about it and are getting everything ready to fully celebrate our anniversary throughout 2013…

If you have participated in at least one of Spin’s activities (EVS, Youth Exchanges, Training Courses, Workshops, Workcamps, Internships, etc.), we wish to thank you for being part of our NGO!

With your participation in our projects you have contributed to shape what Spin is at this moment!

Therefore, we wish to highlight your contribution and your participation through a short video! We would like to ask you to email us one representative photo of your experience with Spin as a participant, trainee, volunteer and also one word that can sum up your time with us.

We will collect everybody’s feedback and create a video, which very soon you'll be able to watch in all our communication channels (website, Facebook, YouTube).

Thank you very much for your support and your participation!

Looking forward to hearing from you and receiving your most representative photo and word (email: geral@a-spin.pt)!

Hugs,

Spin’s team

EVS Vacancy at ART Telheiras in Lisbon, Portugal

Associação Spin, acting as the coordinating organization, is currently looking for two EVS volunteers for the May, 1st deadline.

Hosting Organization: Associação de Residentes de Telheiras (2011-PT-33)

Coordinating Organization: Associação Spin 

Project name: Arting Telheiras

Activity start date: 1st September 2013

Activity end date: 28th February 2014

Vacancies: 2

Application deadline: 31st March 2013

Application consists of: CV and project-specific motivation letter

Application sent to: evs.art@a-spin.pt

Who is Associação de Residentes de Telheiras?

ART – Associação de Residentes de Telheiras, is a Telheiras (Lisbon neighbourhood) resident’s association which exists since 1988 and its aims are to foster the neighbourhood’s development, influencing political decisions, promoting social activities, and having a positive direct and indirect impact in the environment. 

ART has 3 different kinds of actions: 

- Regular activities: tai-chi, guitar classes, choir, amateur theatre, yoga, painting… 

- Intervention groups: solidarity, transition (discussion and intervention about environmental impact), elderly in action (regular and punctual activities to the retired population) 

- Events: festivals, blood donations, lectures, diverse workshops. 

ART works mostly with residents from the neighbourhood of Telheiras but not only, as it promotes many and diversified activities, the target group vary from children to elders. Our staff is mostly formed by volunteers and consists of 5 elements from the board from 23 to 65 years old; Also 3 part time volunteers in the secretariat (one of them is almost full-time based retired teacher who has more than 35 years of teaching experience); and other volunteers coordinating each activity. For the whole description of the tasks proposed to the volunteers, please read the full call for volunteers.

Who we are looking for?

Art Telheiras would like to host pro-active volunteers, aged 18-30 years, who bring their own ideas and opinions and that are able to jump into this journey that is a neighbourhood association with energy to collaborate with actual projects but also create new ones. It is not required to have any particular degree of formal education, the project is open to all volunteers who show to have interest in social and environmental actual and practical issues and are willing to be part of the process of change in the course of nowadays society tackling against isolation and environmental negligence. In this selection process, we will give preference to applications from volunteers who are interested in arts and organization of cultural shows, who also enjoy being involved in production and communication tasks as well as in field work.

Special remarks about Selection procedures (please read carefully):
- read the full call for EVS volunteers very carefully;

- mention the name of the project in the subject of the e-mail;

- add the contact details of your Sending Organization to your e-mail;

- applications sent after the deadline will not be considered;

- send your application to evs.art@a-spin.pt, applications sent through other communication channels will not be considered;

- we only accept complete applications that contain all the required documents;

- as we expect a high number of applications, keep in mind that if we do not get in touch with you until April, 10th it means you have not been selected this time;

- only selected volunteers will be contacted and invited for a brief Skype interview.

Finally in Lisbon! - Loles

Excitement, joy, new people, new home, tiredness…these are just a few concepts that can express my first days here in Lisboa.

I’ve been abroad for long periods before and, I know that the beginnings can be a bit tough. But I’m also know that time flies so I have decided to enjoy every moment from the first second!

It’s been a long way to arrive here, and for me “here” means in the EVS program. I started to hear about it 8 years ago so it’s always been on my mind to participate. And last year, everything seemed connected to start the “long” process to apply for an EVS program. Last September I was accepted for volunteering in Spin and in December the Portuguese National Agency sent its OK to the project. That means I had two months to get ready to Lisboa, to learn a few Portuguese words and to imagine how the experience would

These few days here have been like a small and exciting adventure where even to be able to get the correct bus or metro, to speak a few Portuguese words with the supermarket cashier has been a triumph.

I’ve also had the time with my flatmates- and at the same time, “EVSmates”- to discover a bit of the charming of Lisboa, and all thanks to our mentor that it’s meant to be our first Portuguese friend, although he is Greek!, but he knows almost everything about history and cultural activities in the city.

Still I haven't had the time to unpack all my stuff but once I’m putting my friends and family pics on my rooms walls, and once I’m getting the library and the Minipreço cartão I’ll feel like at home! I feel willing to discover a new city and a new way of life!

Loles

Novo vídeo da Spin!

Vejam aqui a maravilhosa prenda de aniversário oferecida à Spin pelo nosso voluntário Ângelo! Parabéns ao Ângelo pela iniciativa e também à Spin (pois no final de Fevereiro fizemos 5 anos)!

Aproveitem e partilhem com os vossos amigos! :)

Take a look at the wonderful birthday present that our volunteer Ângelo has made for Spin! Thanks to Ângelo for his great idea and Happy Birthday to Spin (we are 5 years old)!

Enjoy! And don´t forget to share the video with your friends! :)

EVS in Alūksne, Latvia

I'm the new volunteer at ABJC: a 24-year-old Portuguese girl called Clarissa. After finishing my master's degree I wanted a little change so I applied to the EVS program. I wasn't counting on being selected, for there were 6 candidates. When they selected me I packed my bags to move soon to Alūksne:). Because of Ilze and Levan I must say I felt welcome here before actually arrived ;).

I left my home in Válega (Portugal) at 8h45am and I arrived at Alūksne last Wednesday at 3 in the morning. It was supposed to arrive at 1am but I spent over an hour inside of the plain in Zurich's Airport, due to snow :|.

Ilze was already waiting for me at Riga's airport, then we came by car to this town. I wore a few layers of clothing so I didn't feel cold. That was the first time my feet experienced the sensation of walking in the snow. I paid attention to the sound of it, it was brand new!

So far I realized some things:

- people don't greet each other with a kiss in each cheek as where I come from;

- when it snows people don't use an umbrella and I wondered about that, so Liga told me that's because they already have a lot of things to carry (we always have one when it's raining, where I live we have no snow);

- it's possible to be kind of amazed with not understanding almost anything of a language. In this situation the use of gestures while asking for directions really works for me and for the ones I ask;

- there's snow everywhere, it's almost like a big brush painting the landscape.

For now my main goals here are to learn the basics of Latvian language as well as the culture of the country, and to develop some projects within the community by combining different backgrounds. Probably the biggest challenge will be to discover how to engage people. ^^

Clarissa 

Último mês em Lisboa - Marietta

During my studies I learned many things about Portugal: it’s history, geography, what it’s climate is like but no teacher or book could teach me what I have learned and experienced during these nine months I have spent in Portugal.

From time to time this project was very challenging but I would do it again without hesitation. I met amazing people both in- and outside Spin, I visited gorgeous places and cities, I experienced a new culture and I learned a lot. These things are worth all the difficulties one encounters moving to a foreign country.

I still remember my arrival to Lisbon and how nervous I was about my new life. Now, after nearly 9 months I can say that I was very fortunate and I feel truly blessed for being selected for this project, and for being given the opportunity to be a part of this amazing team. I have learned a lot from them that surely will prove to be very useful in my future career.

 I would like to take this chance to thank each one of them for providing us this amazing opportunity, for making us feel so welcome throughout our stay, and for always being there for us.

I really enjoyed my stay in Portugal. Lisbon has become my second home and I already feel saudades for it.

Marietta Móré

Vídeo do SVE no Nepal

Este vídeo foi realizado pela nossa voluntária SVE Sara Segurado durante a sua experiência no Nepal em 2012.

E tu? Não queres fazer o SVE? :)

Let´s do it! - selection results

Dear EVS Candidates,

After a long and hard process, we have managed to pre-select the candidates for the "Let´s do it!" EVS project at the Horas de Sonho Cooperative (2013-PT-5) and the Mãos do Mundo Association (2013-PT-3)! We have sent e-mails with further information to the pre-selected candidates today.

Between January 18th and 22nd, we received about 300 applications from enthusiastic candidates coming from all parts of Europe! They were all interested in becoming 1 out of 5 EVS volunteers hosted by Horas de Sonho and by Mãos do Mundo. We had the pleasure of reading some wonderful motivation letters and really impressive CVs and we must say that it was extremely frustrating having to choose just some out of so many worthy people! We would like to congratulate the pre-selected applicants who were contacted by e-mail earlier on today. However, the worth of a successful applicant is increased by the worth of those who didn't make it! We wish all the best to the non accepted applicants and, based on their applications, we are sure that they will not have difficulties finding a great EVS opportunity fulfilling their goals!

Thank you all for your kind interest and don't stop chasing your dreams!

Kindest regards,

Spin´s Staff

spinLX - selection results

Dear EVS Candidates,

After a long and hard process, we have managed to pre-select the candidates for the "spinLX" EVS project at the Spin Association (2012-PT-21)! We have sent e-mails with further information to the 11 pre-selected candidates today.

It was a real challenge to go through all the 150 applications we received for just the two vacancies we can offer at the moment. During the selection process we came across some great applications and simply great people. Unfortunately we are only able to host two more volunteers. If you have not been pre-selected for our project, please do not worry or resign! We are sure that among all EVS projects in Europe you will find the one meant just for you!

You might also be interested in knowing that we are currently looking for 5 EVS volunteers for our two local partner organizations. For more information, please read the calls: Horas de Sonho and Mãos do Mundo. The deadline for applications is on January, 22nd (this Tuesday!).

Kindest regards,

Spin´s Staff

EVS vacancy at Horas de Sonho (Lisbon, Portugal)

Associação Spin, acting as the coordinating organization, is currently looking for two volunteers for the February, 1st deadline.

Host: Cooperativa Horas de Sonho (2013-PT-5)
Coordinator: Associação Spin  (2012-PT-21)
Project name: Let´s do it!
Activity start date: 1st June 2013
Activity end date: 31st May 2014
Vacancies: 2
Application deadline: 22nd January 2013
Application consists of: CV and project-specific motivation letter
Application sent to: sve.horassonho@gmail.com

“Horas de Sonho” is a social solidarity Cooperative working in the field of children’s attendance. The organization is settled nowadays in Carnide where the administrative office and almost all Departments are based, however, their area of work includes all the Lisbon city. The organization´s mission is to provide support to families especially through children’s social babysitting. The target group are mainly children aged 2-4. You can watch videos (in Portuguese) about Horas de Sonho here and here.

Generally, the volunteers will: 

• provide information about Horas de Sonhos’s projects to local people and new associates; 
• search and collect information as well as answer to requests for information through other channels of communication such as website, blog, facebook and others; 
• collaborate in updating the Association’s website with contents; 
• give support to daily management and simple administrative procedures of Horas de Sonho’s projects, both indoors and outdoors; 
• one of the volunteers will help out primarily at the Community Center and the other at the Community Store. 

For more information on the tasks proposed to the volunteers, please have a look at the full call for participants.

We are looking for volunteers aged 20-30, open minded, eager to learn about new cultures and lifestyles, as well as to participate in the proposed project activities with the local community. It is not required to have any particular degree of formal education, but to have positive and proactive attitude, show tolerance, flexibility, motivation and enthusiasm. In this project, age and maturity are important due to direct work with children and families in the neighborhood. We encourage applications especially from youngsters who already have some experience in working with children and are willing to know more in depth the work developed with families from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Special remarks (please read carefully):

• read the full call for participants
• we only accept complete applications that contain all the required documents
• the subject of your application e-mail should be "Community Center" or "Community Store" (depending on which one you would prefer to help out at)
• add the contact details of your Sending Organization to your e-mail
• we can´t consider applications sent after the deadline
• send your application to sve.horassonho@gmail.com, applications sent through other communication channels (Facebook, Youthnetworks, etc.) will not be considered
• due to the high number of candidates, we are only able to contact the short-listed candidates (in order to invite them for a brief Skype interview)
• all the other candidates will be informed about the selection results by January, 26th through our blog.

EVS vacancy at Mãos do Mundo (Lisbon, Portugal)

Associação Spin, acting as the coordinating organization, is currently looking for three volunteers for the February, 1st deadline.

Host: Associação Mãos do Mundo (2013-PT-3)
Coordinator: Associação Spin  (2012-PT-21)
Project name: Let´s do it!
Activity start date: 1st June 2013
Activity end date: 31st May 2014
Vacancies: 3
Application deadline: 22nd January 2013
Application consists of: CV and project-specific motivation letter
Application sent to: sve.maosdomundo@gmail.com

“Mãos do Mundo” (Hands of the World) is a Youth Association dedicated to sociocultural animation and psycho-social support. They are committed to supporting others in building up a network of affection and mutual support that will make it possible to break barriers and face life obstacles. The organization´s main aims are to promote and provide social and cultural animation and psycho-social support for the community of Carnide (a neighborhood of Lisbon).

As Mãos do Mundo has three different target groups and works with several different projects, we have divided the tasks and activities of the volunteers in three different categories, namely:

1. “1 Gesture… 100 Missions” project
2. Music project “Children and Juvenile Choir”
3. Communication and Image of Mãos do Mundo

For the description of the tasks proposed to the volunteers, please read the full call for participants. 

We are looking for young motivated volunteers aged 18-30, open minded, eager to learn about new cultures and lifestyles, as well as to participate in the project activities in the local community. It is not required to have any particular degree of formal education, but to have positive and proactive attitude, show tolerance, flexibility, motivation and enthusiasm. In this project, the capacity to work in a team will be highly appreciated (both within the hosting organization and with the local partners in Carnide). We encourage applications especially from youngsters who already have some experience in volunteering or in working with children, youngsters and elder people and are, at this moment, available to commit to a long term experience of volunteer work abroad and willing to know more about the work developed in psycho-social animation sector in a special community of Lisbon, Carnide.

Special remarks (please read carefully):

• read the full call for participants
• we only accept complete applications that contain all the required documents
• mention the name of the project in the subject of the e-mail
• add the contact details of your Sending Organization to your e-mail
• mention the project category you are applying for in your application
• we can´t consider applications sent after the deadline
• send your application to sve.maosdomundo@gmail.com, applications sent through other communication channels (Facebook, Youthnetworks, etc.) will not be considered
• due to the high number of candidates, we are only able to contact the short-listed candidates (in order to invite them for a brief Skype interview)
• all the other candidates will be informed about the selection results by January, 26th through our blog.

Leonardo da Vinci Internship in Turkey

A Marta passou 3 meses em Kayseri na Turquia a fazer um estágio Leonardo da Vinci. Leiam aqui o artigo que escreveu sobre a sua experiência para um jornal local! Podem também ler a brochura informativa!

My name is Marta. Strange name, you may think?! Yes, it is not Turkish, I am from Portugal. Through project ‘Fast Forward’, hosted by the Portuguese Spin Association for the Exchange, Training and Cooperation among Peoples in Leonardo da Vinci Action from European Union Lifelong Learning Programme, I was the lucky chosen to do an internship at Kayseri Youth Center Association for three months.

So what do I do? As a sociologist and a social and youth work enthusiastic, I work on local and European projects related with youngsters. I was even luckier to have not one but three workplaces: Talas Youth Center, Kayseri Youth Center and Kayseri Youth and Sport Directorship. This allows me to get to know better this beautiful city, its different transportation systems (and all that is included, from getting lost to observing people), the city dynamics and how it is organized. Professionally, this enables me to understand more about the diverse phases of the full process related to youth and sport development and its activities. I could also verify that there is more than one way of working and managing tasks in the similar activity with different resources and distinct people that share the same cultural background. And of course, more people to know – absolutely marvelous people that are always ready and willing to share a lovely word, tasty food and the traditional Turkish tea with me – and fascinating personal and professional stories to discover!

Every time I can, I encourage youngsters from different ages to speak with me and improve their English (and also give some support with their homework), since it is our only way to communicate with each other – did I mention before how bad is my Turkish?! Usually they are very nice, curious and interested in me and my culture but also very motivated and active in showing me Turkish culture. It is a truly enjoyable and reciprocal learning, for both – I hope.

Besides the daily-life at the different workplaces, I would like to highlight three special and occasional moments of this professional adventure. In October, I was part of, as staff and as participant, the International Youth Exchange ‘Culture Occurs in Kitchen’ with other young people from Romania, Slovakia, Spain and of course Turkey. In November, I was part of the organization team and the project facilitator of an International Youth Exchange called ‘European Toy’ with youngsters from Bulgaria, Poland and Turkey. The big visible project for the month of December was a local one called ‘World has a Meeting at Talas: International Intercultural Exchange’ – one afternoon dedicated to the exchange between the cultures present in Kayseri.

We invited all foreigner residents to share their culture with us alongside Turkish people and culture! 15 countries accepted our challenge and we all understood, one more time, the advantages and the challenges related with cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue.

It is almost over, less than one week to go but like I always say, so far so good! I am very grateful for everyone that I met so far for facilitating this big challenge that is to get to know this peculiar culture and way of living that is so different from the Portuguese – and my personal one.

Marta Correia