Volunteering in Russia

Transcription

1 Volunteering in Russia Youth co-operation centre Passage-Zebra OUR AIMS: - Promotion of cultural diversity and tolerance - Promotion of volunteering and active citizenship OUR TARGET AUDIENCE Young people from 13 to 30 years old: school pupils, students local as well as international. We also actively cooperate with other NGOs (such as Human Rights Movement), educational establishments (local universities, educational and cultural centres) and local municipality (natural preserves, museums and youth centres). OUR ACTIVITIES Sending and hosting long-term volunteers, within EVS as well. Organising international workcamps in Voronezh region and in other regions of Russia Educational extra-curricular activities for teenagers: intercultural learning classes, anti-fascist lectures and actions, international youth exchanges. Seminars and trainings about intercultural learning, voluntary social projects and international exchange programmes. Dear partners, we d like to inform you about our new sub-structure Association InterAction Club which appeared after local re-branding in EVS/LTV, youth exchanges and seminars, as well as further local activities will be organized under the brand of InterAction Club. Activities of InterAction Club are based on active participation of young people and on methods of non-formal education. Since 2004 our organization hosts and sends EVS volunteers. We invite you to be our partners and send volunteers to the projects below. Accreditation Nr 2011-PL-227. Volunteering in Russia is a quite new idea and it needs additional promotion. In comparison to Europe volunteering needs to be recognized and appreciated at all levels of the society. EVS volunteers are invited to be contact persons between NGOs of the region and mediate informational exchange and cooperation between them on the local, regional and international level. They are expected to collect information of local and regional civil society organisation about volunteer vacancies, help in coordination of common projects and promote European cooperation and values in the process of official recognition of volunteer achievements. Learning opportunities for a volunteer: insight into life of an NGO, management skills, Internet tools and media role in promotion of volunteering, international voluntary programmes, Russian language etc. 1

2 Working place of a volunteer is a usual school in a typical Russian provincial city not very privileged school in a not very privileged city district. Teenagers study there usual maths, biology, languages etc The volunteer will work in a school helping to organize a VERY UNUSUAL course about intercultural competencies. The course is based on a modern book, recently written by Russian teachers, social workers and historians. This is one of a few experiments of including such course into school programmer in Russia. The course makes kids develop their independent attitude to historical events and is based on tools of non-formal education, such as role plays, quizzes and simulation games. Volunteers are invited to help a natural preserve and an open air museum situated in Divnogorye - a small village, translated as Wonder Mountains. It is a significant place for the whole region with picturesque landscapes and touristic attractions. Administration of the museum needs voluntary help in looking after exhibitions and territory of the natural preserve (fields, caves, hills and river banks). Project involves local young people with fewer geographical opportunities into social life and fosters their active citizenship. Learning opportunities for EVS volunteers: insight into life of the museum and the natural preserve, artistic work, gardening, handmade, wonderful opportunities to learn Russian. LTV Long-term volunteers are welcomed in the following projects. Volunteers are invited to help a natural preserve and an open air museum situated in Divnogorye - a small village, translated as Wonder Mountains. It is a significant place for the whole region with picturesque landscapes and touristic attractions. Administration of the museum needs voluntary help in looking after exhibitions and territory of the natural preserve (fields, caves, hills and river banks). Project involves local young people with fewer geographical opportunities into social life and fosters their active citizenship. Learning opportunities for EVS volunteers: insight into life of the museum and the natural preserve, artistic work, gardening, handmade, wonderful opportunities to learn Russian. Duration of the project: max. 3 month from May to August (exact dates to be defined together with the volunteer) Financial conditions: 250 EUR per month, which covers accommodation, registration, visa support, Russian language support, non-formal learning opportunities from museum staff, supervision and support from the hosting organization. Volunteers have to cover their food expenses on their own costs (in the village it is around 100 EUR per month). INTERNSHIP Host organisation: Language school LINGUIST 2

3 Location: Voronezh - a city with 1 million inhabitants, 20% of population are students. Term: October 2013, min. 3 max. 12 months Project: Language school invites a native English speaker for teacher assistant job. First weeks will be dedicated to get involved in the local teaching system and to assist current teachers in leading classes of speaking. Independent teaching practice monitored by a tutor starts after 4 weeks. After the internship course the school provides opportunity to get a Cambridge certificate of teaching English (TKT) or a certificate issued by the school. Accommodation: provided for free in a shared flat. Separate room, shared bath and kitchen. YOUTH EXCHANGES We are looking for partners interested in one of the below mentioned ideas: host a youth exchange with teenagers (age 14-18) on topics of intercultural learning, prevention of racism and discrimination. Methods of the approach to the topic can be art: singing, dancing, painting, modern forms of artistic expression. explore a topic of RURAL DEVELOPMENT or RURAL TOURISM as a Youth Exchange or Seminar or Partnership Building Activity. Participants: years old participate in a Partnership Building Activity about INTERCULTURAL EDUCATION for youngsters The summer school of Russian language takes place in Divnogorye village 17/08-31/08/2014. Participants will explore rural life of Russian village, they will get in touch with local artists, archaeologists, young historians and international volunteers. The programme will be practically oriented. Classes can run in decorations of the real Russian market, on the local train station, in the shop etc. After the school pupils will get the essential knowledge of orientation in Russian environment. They will know how to buy in shops and markets, how to book a train ticket, how to organise their travel. Surely they will immerse in the real life of the Russian province, learn its traditions and all day life. The course is targeted on development of communicative skills, improvement of speaking, enlargement of practical vocabulary and on cultural understanding of Russian values, traditions and customs. It is a great start before you plan your travel over Russia. Classes will be daily 3 hours a day. On the weekends excursions and sightseeing is planned. Living conditions: tents! Participation fee 180 Euro. It covers food expenses, accommodation, salary to the professional teaches. INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTARY CAMPS 2014 Organisers provide visa support to the volunteers. We send invitation letter for the period of the camp and complete all formalities of the official registration after your arrival to Russia. Volunteers from UK, Denmark, Switzerland and from non-eu countries should apply min 10 weeks before a project starts or carry all risks concerning your visa on your own. In our camps international volunteers will always meet local volunteers. Each camp has 2 local group leaders. Volunteers don t work more than 30 hours per week. We also provide cultural programme, excursions and cite seeing. Volunteers, who are eager to visit Moscow or St.-Petersburg, have to plan it before or after camp days we don t plan visits to cities further than 200 km away from the camp location. 3

4 Camp: PZ-01 Summer camp NATIONS Type of project: FAMILY CAMP Dates: Group size: 3 international families, 15 Russian families Participation fee: 220 euro (2 family members). More family members? Request information from organizers. Age: from 3 years old Project: Summer camp project NATIONS organized by children and youth association ISKORKA ( takes place in the forest area 30 km away from the city Voronezh (European part of Russia, 500 km to the south from Moscow). The project successfully runs since 12 years. It is an integrative project: families with kids with disabilities also take part in it side by side with other families and kids. Organisers had a positive experience of hosting international animators in previous years, that s why they have decided to make the camp open for international families as well. The idea of the camp is to enjoy diversity, to grow up and to spend time together parents and children. Usually having rest together for parents and children means sacrificing one s interests. In order to make pleasure for kids parents go to a playground organized especially for kids. When parents want to enjoy their free time, usually they prefer time separated from kids. Having rest and fun together is a rarely happening moment, which both side remember lifelong. Activities: The project proposes pleasant and creative time both for children and parents. They will have a chance to take part in open air workshops, swim in the river, compete in sports, sing songs next to the bonfire, play games and immerse with the magic of summer pine forest. Activities will be proposed together by parents and team of animators. Children of organizers are participating the same camp, so the atmosphere is really integrative, creative and friendly. Nations puzzle is the topic of the next summer term. Participants will learn to appreciate cultural diversity. Each folk of the world has brought its uniqueness to the common diversity. Participants will learn to discover the uniqueness, they will become great artists, invent know-hows and just be different. They will become a part of common development process. Location: The camp is situated in suburbs of the city Voronezh- the capital of the Central Black Earth Region of Russia. The city is located 500 km to the south from Moscow and has very good connections Moscow-Voronezh via railway, busses and planes. Voronezh also has international airport with flights to certain cities: Munich, Istanbul, Yerevan etc. The natural preserve area is around 1 hour bus ride from the city. The transfer of volunteers will be organized from Voronezh. A representative of the host organization will also meet volunteers in Moscow and help them to find their way to Voronezh. Accommodation: All participants of the family camp live in tents. Water for shower will be heated from the sun, the river is 15 min walk (swimming is allowed ONLY at certain hours and EXCLUSIVELY under control of adults), toilets are very simple (of the latrine type). Drinking water is available. Tents and mattresses provided. It is important that you bring warm clothes and warm sleeping bag, especially for night. Food: 4

5 Meals will be provided by a canteen in individual packs and there are no special meals for vegetarians. Leisure: Excursions and day trips will be organized to natural preserve and open air museum Divnogorye, to the neighbor towns and to the city Voronezh additionally before or after camp days. Additionally participants can swim without any limitations, go fishing, hiking and take sunbaths! Camp: PZ-02 Wonder Mountains Type of project: CONS/ART Dates: Group size: 8 (4M+4F) Age: Project: The project is for adventurous volunteers who prefer to spend their time deep in the life of a different country. This particular experience provides volunteers with an opportunity to live in rural life and nature in a Russian village. This village is still a center for cultural and artistic life in this region. This unique place village Divnogorye can be translated as Wonder Mountains. The village is situated next to a natural preserve. It includes findings for scientists of different areas (archeologists, ornithologists, geologists and architects). A river, high chalk hills as the border of ice age period and a breathtaking view of the valley brings to this place artists, pilgrims (because of a monastery of the Russian orthodox church nearby) and nature lovers. InterAction Club is renovating its summer house in the natural preserve of Divnogorye. There are 2 village houses, which are used in future for international camps. Volunteers of this year will prepare the place for future camping and both houses for future accommodation of international groups of volunteers. Work: There will be a lot of manual work, work in the garden and construction. Volunteers will have to take care of the garden, repair some parts of the house, of the gates and make some outdoor and indoor decorations. Artistic part of the camp will consist of restrauration of old furniture, painting, exploring local patterns of ornaments, decorating the house in traditional original rural style. We invite volunteers who are able to carry out physical work, carry heavy objects, or skilled in carpentry. There will be opportunities to implement creative ideas of volunteers who work with wood, handmade, paintings, pottery. Location: The project will run in the most beautiful place of the Black Earth region of European Russia in the Open-air museum and natural preserve Divnogorye (which can be translated as Wonder Mountains ). This place is surrounded by villages, the next big city ( inhabitants) 5

6 named Liski. It takes 30 min by train or 1 hour by bus to reach it. A night train from Moscow brings volunteers directly to Liski. Meeting places for volunteers: Moscow and Liski. Accommodation: Volunteers will live in tents. Water for shower will be heated from the sun, the river is 15 min walk from the host house, toilets are very simple (of the latrine type). Volunteers will cook for themselves on the electrical oven. Drinking water will be taken from a dwell. There will be 2 local camp leaders, who will support volunteers with practical issues. On weekends volunteers will go sightseeing. In case of bad weather there is an opportunity to use the neighbours house. Tents and mattresses provided. It is important that you bring warm clothes and warm sleeping bag, especially for night. Toilets are outside and they are of latrine kind. There will be summer showers with water heated by the sun and banya - Russian type of sauna. Food: Volunteers will cook for themselves on the electrical oven or on the bonfire. Leisure: Excursions and day trips will be organized to natural preserve and open air museum Divnogorye, to the neighbor towns and to the city Voronezh. Additionally volunteers can swim without any limitations, go fishing, hiking and take sunbaths. If you are interested by one of these projects, do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected] or check our website out: 6