Federation of Youth Clubs of Armenia

Transcription

1 EVS ARMENIA Federation of Youth Clubs of Armenia M. Baghramyan Ave. 24B, #2 Yerevan 0019, Armenia Tel./Fax: , Mob.:

2 Federation of Youth Clubs of Armenia FYCA We are comprised of people who are young-souled; who have dreams and believe in the possibility of changing the world to the better; who are, in the meantime, young enough to know everything! Who We Are The Federation of Youth Clubs of Armenia was founded in Today FYCA unites more than 80 youth professional and regional clubs, centers and organizations all over the Republic of Armenia. Our Mission is: 1. Empowering young people 2. Strengthening the civil society through uniting youth clubs Our Principles are: 1. Legality 2. Volunteering 3. Equal rights 4. Self-control 5. Publicity Our Structure The highest body of the organization is the GENERAL ASSEMBLY/CONFERENCE which is called once in two years. The current management is implemented by the Presidium/council managed by the President, while the Executive Body is the Secretariat managed by the Secretary General. The Federation of Youth Clubs of Armenia has regional coordinators in all the marzes (regions) of the Republic of Armenia. Our Symbol The symbol of FYCA is the three-winged triangle which symbolizes movement, sustainability and unity. Our Slogan Open the youth work The programmatic directions are: 1. Information, consultation 2. Development of clubs, open youth work 3. Democracy, civic participation, human rights 4. Intercultural learning, international cooperation 5. Pan-Armenian projects 6. Nature Protection, hikings, healthy life-style, sustainable development 7. Regional integration, tolerance 8. Gender issues, women participation 9. Researches and publications, NGO cooperation

3 10. Voluntary services We organize: 1. Training Courses 2. Seminars 3. Scientific Conferences 4. Voluntary Service 5. Campaigns 6. Festivals 7. Lectures 8. Study Tours 9. Youth Exchange Programs 10. Hikings 11. Exhibitions 12. Camps 13. Long and Short-term Youth Programs What we offer is: 1. Cooperation in the field of a. youth policy development and implementation in the framework of Youth in Action program: -Action 3.1 (TC, ) -Action 2 (EVS) b. youth researches c. effective organization of campaigns d. regional cooperation 2. Experts and trainers, experienced youth workers, partners and contacts 3. Networking International Cooperation FYCA closely cooperates with dozens of international organizations, and is a member of the Federation of European Youth Clubs, Youth Express Network, Youth and Environment Europe, National Youth Council of Armenia, World Armenian Youth Network (WOSTAYN), and has a pretty amount of foreign partners. Our Achievements The Federation of Youth Clubs of Armenia owns the biggest youth e-group which is used to distribute recent information in the youth field. During the last three years FYCA has implemented the highest amount of international youth programs affording opportunity to hundreds of young people to participate in training courses, seminars, conferences and forums, as well as other short and long-term youth programs.

4 The staff of FYCA is professional and has prestige outside the Republic of Armenia; it has been awarded prizes and certificates of honor during its activities. PROJECT ENVIRONMENT: Yerevan is the capital city of Armenia the main administrative, economic and cultural centre. Its population is more than 1mln. The weather there is cold in winter time and hot in summer. It is beautiful, green city and it is overpopulated especially in summer, when many tourists visit the area. In Yerevan the volunteer can find cafa s, bars, night clubs, libraries, many shops, supermarkets, cinemas, museums, theatres, universities, parks, etc. Next to the city there is an international airport named by Zvartnots. Gyumri, Vanadzor, Hrazdan, Ejmiatsin, Ararat, Armavir, Kapan, Ashtarak, Ijevan, Yeghvard, Sevan, Spitak, Yeghagnadzor, Sisian, Aparan, Chambarak, Masis, Martuni, Vayk, Gavar, Nor Hachin, Jermuk, Noyemberyan, Abovyan are the regional centres and towns outside of Yerevan where FYCA member clubs are functioning and FYCA volunteers can visit them for meetings, seminars, trainings, etc. The main office of Federation of Youth Clubs of Armenia (FYCA) non-profit, non-governmental organisation is situated right in the centre of Yerevan city, next to National Academy of Sciences, President s House and Parliament. The organization is easy reachable by public transportation. The atmosphere in the office is warm, friendly and hospitable which ensures comfortable working environment. FYCA has branches/offices and member clubs in all 10 regions (marzes) of Armenia; 11 professional-oriented youth clubs are functioning in FYCA main office in Yerevan. There are more than 250 young members in the organization between 15 and 35 years old. The youth clubs are divided by topics, no age limit. The topics/clubs are as follows: - Healthy lifestyle (sport and health club), - The country in my eyes (cultural club), - Restart the Nature (environmental club), - Flies (club of mass media), - Help me to help others (fundraisers club), - Flexible hands (club of creativity and hand work), - Clubs of foreign language speakers (Different clubs where young people are gathering to speak in English, French, German or other languages), - IT club TUMO (club for computer lessons, web design), - Golden apricot (club for young film-makers), - Let s Gender (club dealing with gender issues), - Ov-ga-ga (hiking club). By the initiative of FYCA volunteers can be created a number of other clubs in FYCA. All the clubs consist of years old nearly 25 active youth. The clubs are open every day from midday till 6:00 pm. except Saturdays and Sundays and during the national holidays. The operating office of the organization is for the staff, but the organization has 5 separate rooms for the activities of the clubs and one conference hall for the general meetings. The youth in the clubs meet 2-3 times a week in separate working rooms with hour duration or sometimes meet outdoor to implement their initiations. All the clubs have their responsible persons who are very experienced, skilled and motivated. Long and short term EVS volunteers usually live in flats with other volunteers and share domestic facilities with them. But each volunteer always has separated room, because it s important to have privacy. Volunteers are provided with necessary kitchen equipment and bed-linen. Volunteers can use internet at the office of FYCA; some volunteers flats also provided with internet connection. Both short and long term EVS volunteers in Armenia have 70 EUR of pocket money a month and FYCA provides them with 80EUR for food monthly as well, also volunteers get money

5 for local transportation necessary for the project. (The average salary in Armenia is 200EUR per month). Every volunteer no matter s/he is Armenia for long or short term activity has a mentor from local youth speaking English, Russian or volunteer s native language on the level enough to communicate. There is also a supervisor for each EVS project whom volunteer meet every week to discuss the project. Volunteers are provided with AXA medical insurance and can get a medical support in Armenian clinics. FYCA organises also Armenian language courses for volunteers. The working day of volunteer is 6 hours; 30 hours per week. Volunteers have right to take part in FYCA projects, local youth activities, to have vacation during the project. With the support of SALTO EECA volunteers are participating in Onarrival and Mid-term trainings with other EVS volunteers. Optionally FYCA consults volunteers about opportunities to travel in Armenia and the Caucasus region during the holidays. PROPOSED ACTIVITIES FOR EVS VOLUNTEERS: The EVS volunteer can join FYCA eleven Yerevan youth clubs and be involved in the activities that they will implement. The EVS volunteer can join the FYCA youth clubs, partner organisations and structures and be involved in the activities that they will implement in FYCA. The volunteer will work hand in hand with the FYCA staff in a variety activities related to the daily tasks of the concrete youth club or project. The volunteer will be treated the same as staff members and will be given a real say in project activity and development. The important is only enthusiasm and a commitment to get involved during the project. We expect also the volunteer to take up and initiate own activities; any support necessary will be provided by FYCA. We expect this to develop in course of time, according to how comfortable the volunteer feels, when he/she will learn the language, etc. The volunteer would develop a concept together with the staff how to transfer his/her knowledge, skills, hobby or talent to the project. The main goal of volunteer work is the promotion of youth international projects of non-formal education, intercultural learning for local youth, development of youth work programs among youth clubs, involvement of big number of Armenian young people into civil society, youth activities and initiatives. The volunteer will organise different activities for different groups of youth as well as help the staff to organise non-formal educational activities. Concrete tasks to do will be discussed together with the volunteer during the preparation period and at the beginning of the project. The volunteer will be introduced to the organisation background and activities, partners, legislation, approach of methodological techniques in projects and other information relevant to the volunteer's future activities. Full training in every field will be given. The volunteers learning and service experience will be documented and get recognition by making use of the YouthPass tool and issuing a certificate at the end of the voluntary service. The long and short term EVS volunteers (group EVS) will fulfill their EVS activities in one of the clubs of the organization in Yerevan city: - Healthy Lifestyle, where the EVS volunteers can organize various sport activities and competitions with the young members of the club, - The Country in my Eyes, where the EVS volunteers can take photos, organize exhibitions, theatre performances with the young members of the club, - Restart the Nature, where the EVS volunteers can take part in ecological activities such as planting of trees, flowers, environmental actions with the young members of the club, - Flies, where the EVS volunteers can share their interesting articles with each other and illuminate the current news and activities of youth clubs and other organizations with the young members of the club also the EVS volunteers may write articles for the FYCA website on the activities they had active participation,

6 - Help me to Help Others, where the EVS volunteers can make fundraising in local and international level and by the achieved funds they can help the children in the orphanages, kindergardens or socially needy families or just assist the other clubs in organizing of youth activities, - Flexible Hands, where the EVS volunteers can make different creative things by hands or share with own creativity with others such as embroidery, carpeting, felting, wood art, and drawing with the young members of the club, - Clubs of Foreign Language Speakers, where the EVS volunteers can organize different foreign language courses according to their background and knowledge and teach all the interested young people, organise discussion on different interesting topics in English, French, German, Russian, etc. - IT club TUMO, where the EVS volunteers can organise computer courses for youngsters, help the club members to create own web-pages, blogs, etc. - Golden apricot, where the EVS volunteers can join Armenian young film-makers and promote modern art, - Lets Gender, where the EVS volunteers can explore and discus gender equality issues in modern European society, - Ov-ga-ga, where volunteers can make hiking, trips in different parts of Armenia, to make a hiking map with the help of local youth clubs. By the initiative of volunteers can be created new clubs on other topics. In a case of wish FYCA will host disable volunteers for short term duration between 2 weeks to 2 months. The typical tasks for the volunteer in FYCA will be: - to prepare and make presentations, organise different promotion actions, work with local volunteers; - implement activities to decrease the level of unemployment within young people as well as activities for developing skills for having better chances on the labour market; - to raise up the interest of the local community towards the need of protection of Human rights; - to make cultural life more, educate young people as responsible citizens; - to promote gender equality/issues in own creative ways; - explore the possibilities of cooperation between Armenian and foreign youth, NGOs, schools and universities; - to organise English (or other) language courses and discussions for children and youth, organise tours for children in the nature and lead as a guide trying not to damage the environment; - to help FYCA during the preparation and realisation of local activities and community development projects; - to help in creating and updating the web-sites, upload news and pictures, internet research on youth and voluntary service issues; - to help in creating and managing a youth club or an initiative; - to create and maintain FYCA youth club database, other office related tasks such as filing and archiving; - to visit different youth clubs, take pictures and organise exhibitions; - to assist in development of promotional materials, posters and booklets for youth. Besides the above mentioned tasks the volunteers may write articles for the FYCAs website on the activities they had active participation. They will also participate in the campaigns of promoting the concept of EVS and disseminating the Youth in Action programme in different institutions and NGOs, assist in writing projects and further implementing them. With all

7 necessary help of FYCA staff the volunteers will have chance to organise own pilot project. The main learning outcomes for the volunteer will be the development of social skills, also his/her self-confidence and motivation will also be improved and he/ she will have a chance to become more independent and mature, standing on his/her own feet, managing her/his personal and professional life, -the volunteer will gain abilities for team work and to be actively involved in the decision making process, if they are active and willing to develop their organizing skills they can take all the responsibility on organizing activities, for example concerts, exhibitions, workshops, youth party, picnic, youth forum or an intercultural exchange projects, -understanding the dynamics of different cultures, lifestyles, to communicate in a foreign language and in foreign context, to recognise that tolerance, flexibility and patience are key elements for intercultural understanding. VOLUNTEER PROFILES AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS: We are looking for volunteers who, first of all, interested in making social service and have to be ready to face difficulties in social adaptation in the new country with different culture. The volunteer has to love to work with young people and be ready to find contact with people with different background and abilities in communication. Our projects are open for any young volunteer candidates between the ages 18-30, from Program Countries, regardless of their origin and background, ethnic group, religion, sexual orientation or political ideas, who are willing to attend to the proposed activities and to the whole duration of the stage: - motivated to continuously develop other young people, as well as themselves in the field of non-formal education, through indoor and outdoor activities; - willing to learn more and apply the principles of non-formal education and service learning in the benefit of young people; - be able to work 6 hours per day besides Saturday and Sunday and ready to promote European culture; - having a strong interest (not necessarily experience) in the field of experiential, non-formal learning and working with youth in the different clubs of the Hosting Organization - FYCA; - be responsible for his/ her actions; - motivated to develop good communication and social skills; - good English/Russian language skills are required, - learning Armenian language. The following principles also stands at the base of the mutual development of those involved EVS project: 1. The community's participation and involvement 2. Strengthening community members 3. Enhancement of local resources 4. Strategic approach of local needs 5. Sustainable development 6. Promotions of voluntary services 7. Respect for the local customs and traditions 8. Political and/or religious neutrality 9. Responsibility concerning interventions 10. Permanent learning 11. Transparency of the comminatory development process 12. Respect for diversity 13. Promotion of equal chances 14. Promotion of partnership between the interested stakeholders.

8 The EVS vacant placements will be announced by FYCA to all project partners; it will be published in respective websites and newsletters. All volunteers applications will be collected and in cooperation and consultation with sending organisations the final decision will be taken. RISK PREVENTION, PROTECTION AND SAFETY: There are different theoretical models, curves and lines trying to visualize the emotional process a volunteer might be passing through during and after the EVS activity period. Usually just a few weeks after arrival, probably the most important and critical phase occurs the phase of cultural shock. The confrontational period starts and the first emotional low phase is a reaction to the absence of familiar patterns of communication and social interaction. Note that lack of knowledge of the language of the host country may amplify these feelings. In the phase of cultural shock, the personal support from the host organization (and in particular the person in the role of mentor) is crucial. In a way, the development of the rest of the stay depends a lot on the joint ability of the volunteer and the host organization to overcome this beginning phase. In addition to support around practical issues, the emotional and social wellbeing of the volunteer will be supported by the mentor and by the staff of the organization/club if needed. The staff of FYCA will also ensure ongoing support for the volunteer, not only during work, but in the integration to the local community and cultural life as well if problems emerge at the workplace. The mentor and the EVS coordinator will ensure that the volunteer feels safe and secure in both their living and working environment and will also ensure that he/she knows the correct routes of problems solving and crisis management, as well during the outdoor activities the local volunteers will be responsible for the volunteer to protect him/her outdoor accidents, as well the Armenian language trainers will help the volunteers to learn Armenian language to overcome the language barrier and to avoid future misunderstandings. Each risk regarding the volunteer such as outdoor activities or introduction of the EVS volunteer to environment and the society will be individually solved. In order to prevent home sickness risk the hosting organization will provide the volunteer with the Skype which will give the volunteer to be in regular contact with the family and friends. The volunteer is not a professional worker and s/he will not substitute paid members of staff. The volunteer will have shared responsibilities while s/he develops and his/her skills grow during the project, but he/she does not have sole responsibility for any activities and s/he will always be under the supervision of staff members. SPECIAL NEEDS Volunteers with fewer opportunities will be assisted by the mentor, supervisor, project coordinator and other local volunteers on daily basis. Persons with fewer opportunities will be given a chance to learn something new about the Hosting Organization, youth club and the country of Armenia as well to share their own skills and experience. First the volunteer will be informed of the activities in detail, how to implement them, what kind of assistance will be given to him/her during the project, and who will assist him/her besides their mentor. All this will represent an excellent opportunity to gather experiences, which could be used after the EVS stage is over, for future employment. FYCA will try to involve the volunteer with fewer opportunities to participate in different outdoor activities, to build social contacts if required. As well with the local volunteers s/he will be given an opportunity to participate in themed projects, trainings and seminars, promoting ideas of sustainable human development, environment protection, and active democratic citizenship. S/he will have the opportunity for regular meetings, where it will be possible to talk about his/her experience and problems, to

9 discuss his/her fears in a relaxed atmosphere. The FYCA is able to host up to 4 EVS volunteers at the same time. The organisation is interested to organise short-term EVS group projects for one group of up to 12 EVS volunteers. The organisation is also interested in work with volunteers with fewer opportunities such as: social, geographical and economic obstacles, educational difficulties, cultural differences, disability as well as other post-conflict areas. Motivation and EVS experience Youth and the children are the future of the democratic society. They are people who are young in their hearts, spirits and minds, who still believe that they can change the world for better, who are young enough to know everything. Volunteering is one of the most effective instruments for young people non-formal education! Through volunteering young people acquire new knowledge, skills and competencies. At the same time, being exposed to intercultural challenges and new personal experiences, they expand their horizons, learn more about themselves and grow as human beings. But not only do volunteers themselves benefit from volunteering. The volunteers work and services contribute to society as well as to concrete communities, organizations or projects in need. Many organizations have experience with, or are already aware of the importance of volunteering. Many of our important projects are supported or even run by volunteers that have put their efforts, work and commitment together with you. They are driven by the wish to express their solidarity, contribute positively, actively participate and learn by doing. They involve our organization in various types of activities, including recruitment, selection, training or personal support of volunteers. These activities can support the growth of our organization; create a new spirit, new areas of work, possibilities and challenges. Federation of Youth Clubs of Armenia was founded on the 10th of November, 1999 by uniting several youth clubs. More than 80 regional and professional oriented youth clubs, centres and organisations from all over Armenia are united in FYCA. Our organization has the biggest youth e-network in Armenia. FYCA is a member of international youth organizations and networks such as European Confederation of Youth Clubs, Youth and Environment Europe, Youth Express Network, National Youth Council of Armenia, World Armenian Youth Network, Caucasus PEACE coalition, Young observers network, etc. Within the framework of Youth in Action program, FYCA has been able to develop mutually enriching partnerships with different youth organisations in Europe. Among the most challenging voluntary service projects are international voluntary service projects. In such projects where an organization sends volunteers to other countries, or hosts volunteers from other countries, the biggest challenges are of an intercultural nature. International projects need to be very well prepared because of the intercultural challenges and geographical distances involved. Also, they bring great benefits and open new prospects for sending and host organizations alike. We work for the integration of young people into the country s social life, encourage a responsible attitude towards the challenges, and support the creative thinking and the will for finding new ways of personal and social realization. FYCA main aims are: to empower open youth work, encourage active involvements of young people in their community and civil society, to develop youth information, counselling and research, intercultural learning, sustainable human development, active democratic participation. The supreme leading organ of FYCA is the General Assembly covered once

10 two year and elected delegates from FYCA clubs take part. The current leading organ is the Presidium and executive organ is the Secretariat. Ex-EVS volunteers are involved in FYCA s managing organs. Seminars, trainings, youth exchanges, volunteering programs, camps, and campaigns are the main activities of FYCA based on the methods of non-formal education. FYCA organizes a number of regular activities in member-clubs both in FYCA office and in the regions: - counselling and training on NGO legislation and work, Building international cooperation and partnership, Club management, Project management, Strategic planning, Training methodologies - educational activities in Human rights education, Intercultural learning, Leadership, Cooperation and Networking, Training of trainers, Gender issues, Democracy and electoral systems, observation missions, etc. - provides information on activities, events, trainings on local, regional and international levels, Youth policy implementation, Funding opportunities, Programs offered to youth, etc. FYCA is one of active youth organisations involved in developing volunteerism in Armenia on local and national levels. FYCA has hosted EVS volunteers since 2006 and implemented more than 10 EVS sending and hosting projects each year. The EVS program enables us to reach out and increase the participation of young people with fewer opportunities. By active involvement in European Voluntary Service, FYCA wants to offer young people in Armenia and beyond to develop as culturally sensitive, socially responsible, publicly active learners who can make a positive impact in society.