We organized an international training course with study visit elements entitled “ESC Gathering” – Let’s develop good quality and stronger partnership in the European Solidarity Corps volunteering.

A total of 28 organizations from 21 EU and non-EU countries participated in the training course, with their selected participants representing QL accredited organizations in the roles of ESC volunteering project coordinators or mentors (in supporting and/or hosting and/or LEAD organizations). Specifically, these participants came from the following countries: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Georgia, Egypt, France, Montenegro, Czech Republic, Italy, Kosovo, Germany, Poland, Greece, North Macedonia, Slovakia, Serbia, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine. During the participant selection process, we strived to emphasize a balance of participants from EU countries and the three Partner Regions: SEE/Western Balkans, Eastern Partnership countries, and Euromed. The range of participating partner organizations, their focus, and their experience with ESC volunteering projects were truly diverse, bringing variability, innovative approaches in working with international volunteers, and a wide range of knowledge, skills, and experiences, including examples of good practice. We are grateful for this unique opportunity to connect so many socio-culturally and thematically diverse organizations and participants on the topic of ESC, with the aim of supporting the development of competencies needed for the role of ESC coordinators, their cooperation, and focusing on the process of finding common values and mutual understanding, openness, creating a safe environment, and trustworthy partnerships for future ESC projects.

We were surprised to receive a large number of applications during the search for suitable training participants, far exceeding our participant limit. Based on clear, transparent, and pre-established criteria, we selected a group of participants matching the required profile. At the same time, we worked with a “waiting list” where we placed a certain number of participants, according to the needed countries, who had the required profile for this type of training but could not be selected due to the limited number of places.

Despite the significant diversity and large number of participating organizations/participants, the group remained stable throughout the entire duration, with no significant changes or the need to replace participants. We targeted the invitation at coordinators and mentors of ESC projects with previous experience in ESC projects, as well as newcomers – organizations that are starting with ESC volunteering projects and have recently obtained QL accreditation. As a result, all organizations were able to contribute informed insights and observations from working with international volunteers and their involvement in Solidarity Corps p.

ESC Gathering – Let´s develop good quality and stronger partnership in the European Solidarity Corps volunteering

Project ID: 2023-1-CZ01-KA153-YOU-000139818

Start Date: 01-07-2023

End Date: 28-02-2025

Project Page: Search – Erasmus+ (europa.eu)

Topics:

  • International relations and development cooperation
  • Quality and innovation of youth work
  • Key competences development

Coordinator:

Asociace neformálního vzdělávání, z.s.

Partners:

Project Booklet

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