Friday, June 26, 2009

How To Clean A White Leather Sofa

Testimony of Margot on her EVS in Barcelona

"I travel a long time and I always wanted to live abroad. Settle, discover a city with its inhabitants and Secrets and especially no more than a tourist.

As part of my studies (communication and web publishing), I've never had occasion to go: too expensive, few opportunities, unparalleled field abroad ...

dint Research the mobility of young people, I came across the concept of EVS: a mission of inclusive development, a support of the European Union, a mix of cultures and volunteers and especially a great opportunity to live a unique experience! After meeting

Manuella Portier and defined my project, I applied to several tasks including one in Barcelona which lasted one year. He was working with the founding Iwith.org that develops websites for NGOs.

The adventure began when I attended the initial training of volunteers in France. For four days, we exchanged and shared our experiences on intercultural relations, the European identity, our fears, our doubts, but also our expectations and motivations regarding the EVS.

I am in Barcelona for one month and time passes at an incredible speed. I started my project I am working with a volunteer in Hungary. The atmosphere is very open and exchanges are simple. Officials of the foundation are listening to our needs and always patient when I can not speak English!


I share an apartment with volunteers Hungarian, Italian and French. The atmosphere is very European. I am constantly cradled between cultures and languages.

I also received training on arrival to familiarize himself with the host country. I was with the volunteers of Catalonia, Principality of Valencia and the Balearic Islands. It was very interesting, I found the same themes in France as well as more specific workshops to the Catalan culture (cuisine, history, cinema). However, the language and the various nationalities overthrew the deal and continued my way to deepen intercultural Europe.


I really found the project that suited me: a pleasant living environment, the feeling of being useful, the ability to speak and learn foreign languages (in my case the Castilian and Catalan ) and especially dynamic that drives our incredible group of volunteers!

I am aware of the uniqueness of the EVS and how lucky I am and why I want to share this experience in sustainable. "

Margot, voluntary Barcelona.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Manipulating Data To Aid Interpretation

URGENT: looking for young EVS in Armenia

If you want a change of scenery and experience a different culture, treat yourself to a European Voluntary Service in Armenia from August 20, 2009 20 February 2010.

experience very rewarding six months in the region of Lori!

Your mission? Promote the European Youth in Action Programme and the European Voluntary Service for young people in the region, conduct during French and / or craft workshops and art, helping to organize European projects in the program Youth in Action, etc..

If you're interested, thank you for the contact Manuella Portier 01 39 52 36 21 as soon as possible!

Friday, June 5, 2009

What To Do For A Swollen Bruised Face

Forum Franco-Germano-Polish Youth in Warsaw

Twenty-five young Parisians between 15 and 19 years, members of the House of Europe and the Yvelines Regional Council of Young, had the opportunity to participate in the Forum Franco-Germano-Polish Youth (formerly the Parliament Franco-Germano-Polish Youth) held this year in Warsaw, Poland from May 4 to 9 On site, the French have found 50 other young Germans and Poles.


The theme of this meeting was " Think youth participation in public life in an innovative manner "and was part of the European Year of Creativity and Innovation in 2009.

The objectives of this meeting was to find innovative ideas to encourage young people to participate in public life and promote international cooperation between young people of the three partner regions: Ile-de-France, the Land Brandenburg and Mazovia .

Young participants were invited to divide into four working groups in which they had imagined - with the help of a team of 3 facilitators Polish, French and German - a realistic and feasible at local, national, European or global, to be held more or less simultaneously in their three countries within their school or their community. To help them in their thinking, they also were presented with a comprehensive educational kit. The initiative is at the heart of the pedagogical principles of this project because young people will build their project themselves. Each workshop is composed of an equal number of young people from 3 countries and languages of communication are both French, Polish and German participants have benefited a rich cultural experience. In their workshop, students have spoken, debated, discussed their ideas through brainstorming sessions, role plays, simulations, etc.. These methods of learning and working non-formal youth have lead to concrete proposals they have exposed to a panel of representatives of institutional and political capitals of the three regions during the plenary session of the Senate of the Republic of Poland.


Thus, the group working on youth participation in local dimension proposed to present an exhibition in three parts on how people see their own region. The 9 panels completed (3 per region) would be presented from November 16, 2009 during the International Day of Tolerance in Warsaw, Paris and Potsdam.

The second group has proposed a project of political education to be held in 2010 in schools in France, Germany and Poland. This is welcome experts and politicians to educate young people about the operation and the positions of political parties so that young people can vote with full knowledge of the facts. This draft would then
extends to the entire national territory.


The third group has proposed a race to popularize the European elections and increase voter turnout. This race would be held in Potsdam, Paris and Warsaw June 6, 2009.

Finally, the fourth group proposed "The word is freedom - 24h for freedom of expression." These connect for 24 hours on the importance and fragility of freedom of expression. This project would take place from 25 to 26 September 2009 and would use different communication techniques, such as lectures in schools, fundraising, videoconferencing between the 3 regions, role-playing in the street, posters illustrating the freedom of the press in the world. Apart

workshops, young people also participated in many activities, such as International Night, watching a film about young in Belarus followed by a discussion of a treasure hunt in the heart of Warsaw , a tour of the house of Frederic Chopin in Zelazowa Wola, debate at the European Commission Representation in Warsaw, theatrical performance in a contemporary art center, etc..