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New centres for Europe's young people
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Many countries have developed youth centres for their own young people. Most of these serve particular neighbourhoods or particular groups of young people. Some may have a regional or national role. Some have an inter-cultural or international character. All can play a part in giving young people a greater sense of being European, and world, citizens. Such youth centres can simulate a harmonious Europe so that one day it will exist.
What is a Youth Centre for Inter-cultural and International Learning?
A youth centre which consciously promotes intercultural and international understanding has a number of key features:
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It uses participatory methods and non-formal learning;
It deliberately engages in international and intercultural exchange and learning;
It promotes awareness and encourages the development of Europe's diverse cultural identities; |
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It shares the Council of Europe's values of universal human rights and pluralist democracy;
It seeks solutions to such problems as xenophobia and racism. |
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EUROPEAN NETWORK OF YOUTH CENTRES FOR INTERNATIONAL AND INTER-CULTURAL LEARNING
The Council of Europe
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EUROPEAN VOLUNTARY SERVICE |
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The European Network of Youth Centres, ENYC, wishes to implement EVS projects among its member organisations, some of which are experienced with EVS, others are new and keen to develop it.
This EVS co-operation will be the occasion for this European network (15 organisations in 13 countries) to exchange young EVS volunteers, and, through this, reinforce the co-operation among them and the inter cultural dimension of their work. Those young volunteers will also play the role of multiplier in the hosting country and in the sending country (each member organisation is networked in its own country) in promoting the themes of international youth work.
The Objectives of this EVS co-operation are to:
Support the inter cultural dimension in local youth work.
Support youth participation.
Give the chance for young people from the entire network to participate in mobility projects.
Transfer know-how on youth matters & stimulate cooperation between members of the network.
Promote intercultural tools and the mobility programs of both the Council of Europe and the European Commission
Promote the ENYC activities.
Support local cooperation between non-formal and formal education systems.
The coordination organisation, the ENYC network, will delegate the technical management of the EVS projects to an the EVS operational office, which will be based at the Youth Center of the County of Corinthia.
This EVS operational office consists of 3 staff members: one youth worker responsible of adminstration, one responsible for financial matters, and one coordinator/ trainer - all experienced in management of inter cultural projects in general, and EVS in particular. This staff team will be responsible for the following tasks:
- Administrative questions,
- Support and advice for the implementation of the EVS projects: creation of the expression of interest (when needed), selection and preparation of volunteers, implementation of the EVS activities (on-line support and follow-up of the EVS mentors, examples of activities, crisis management).
- Training of the volunteers,
- training of the staff (EVS mentors)
- evaluation of each EVS projects
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