Final Report of the Research Seminar "Mobility of young people – Opportunities and obstacles for cross-border volunteering for young people, particularly with fewer opportunities" (European Youth Centre, Strasbourg 11-13 December 2011), a report produced for the EU-CoE youth partnership and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the partner institutions

Keeping the Youth out of Exclusion - The benefits of Volunteering

In the framework of the 2011 European Year of Volunteering and as a member of the EYV 2011 Alliance, the International Juvenile Justice Observatory, through its European branch, the European Juvenile Justice Observatory (EJJO), has launched an awareness campaign emphasizing the benefits brought by volunteering to the youth in situation, or at risk, of exclusion.

Always willing to enhance children's well-being, both Observatories decided to focus on the benefits brought by volunteering to the youth, especially to those in situation, or at risk, of social exclusion.

Hence the European Juvenile Justice Observatory developed an awareness campaign, which details the benefits brought by volunteering to the youth. For instance, volunteering is inter alia an including activity, which helps children and young people feel implicated in their community; it broadens their circle of friends and provides them with practical and social skills that may help them find a job in the future.

Such benefits have been underlined by theories developed at an academic level and practices discerned at a grass roots level. In fact, the awareness campaign developed by the European Juvenile Justice Observatory emphasizes these findings and gives the floor to different stakeholders. Hence, theories developed by academics are exposed alongside testimonies of volunteers, social workers and national representatives. Moreover, a series of NGOs encouraging the involvement of children and young people in voluntary activities are being presented in this campaign in order to underline good practices implemented throughout Europe and foster a greater implication of children and young people in volunteering – as it turns out, NGOs do not always think about engaging children and young people in their activities. Yet, more than the benefits they could receive from the work of volunteers, youngsters can greatly profit from volunteering themselves!

To find out more about this initiative, please go to: http://eyvcampaign.ejjo.org/

Traditional Scout campaign revived

The Scout Association plans to re-launch the campaign that was once very successful. Bob-a-job week, first introduced after the Second World War, became an annual fixture in which boys knocked on doors to ask for work to do and expected a shilling in their fundraising envelope in return. It will be in modern form and will be called Community Week, designed to comply with health and safety laws and to avoid the risk of compensation claims.

Instead of offering to wash cars or mow lawns for a shilling, the new 'community week' will see Scouts offering help to hospitals, care homes or volunteer groups. Around 40,000 scouts are expected to undertake activities. Sometimes there will be tasks carried out for private households in return for a donation to the local scout troop - although with the ruinous level of inflation they would probably hope that the old rate of a shilling would be superseded by something higher.

Probably the greater focus will be on a single project lasting a week and involving the whole group - perhaps polishing items in a museum or doing some gardening for a hospital of care home, or clearing woodland or building work on a local playground. The work will be done for free but residents in the local community who appreciate it will

be invited to give money.

There are 400,000 scouts in the UK - aged from six to 25. There are another 30,000 on the waiting list to join as there is a shortage of adult volunteers. There are 94,000 of them but that isn't enough. 'Modern working patterns make it harder for people to commit to always be able to do a slot like a Tuesday evening,' the Scouts spokesman Simon Carter tells.

Volunteering in Sport - a priority topic for the French ENGSO Youth Member, CNOSF Youth Commission

The European Year of volunteering offered the youth commission of the French CNOSF (made up of all volunteers) a priority topic for the year as volunteering is one of the main pillars behind participation in sports as we know it.

The youth commission thus, made a common reflection on the current situation and needs for both youth and the sports movement today. This brainstorm led to the creation of a tool-kit; "I am a sports person, but also a volunteer in my club" targeted to youth ranging from school students to university. This tool-kit elaborated not only on what volunteering is but additionally, offered an insight into the different tasks and levels a young individual could contribute to. This tool kit is accompanied by a pedagogical support document to be as user friendly as possible. The kit was presented and is disseminated in a variety of meetings and schools sports conferences in the hope to develop an even wider Volunteering Culture in France and Sports.

In addition, the French CNOSF with the youth commission contributed to a full day of panel debates around volunteering during the "volunteering caravane" which traveled around Europe. This day dedicated to sports and volunteering looked at issues around, youth, gender, disability, inclusion and access to volunteering in France and extended the debate to wider Europe. Overall a very successful day which brought, practitioners, leaders and politicians to enter into a trans-generational dialogue around the common barriers and solutions to volunteering in sports in Europe.

Even though volunteering is not a punctual action and demands long term commitment, strategy and initiatives, the focus of a European Year of Volunteering offered within the French Youth and Sport movement a valuable space for both reflection and dialogue.

The World Scout Jamboree

40,000 Scouts from all over the world gathered at the 22nd World Scout Jamboree held at Rinkaby near Kristianstad, in southern Sweden. Volunteer staff has been preparing the site for several weeks, with a full complement of ten thousand Scout volunteers from every continent.

The host for the Jamboree, the Guide and Scout Council of Sweden, has selected a theme of "Simply Scouting." Participants experience traditional scouting activities in a 10 day program such as pioneering (building with logs and rope) as well as experiencing the Jamboree with new media such as social networking. The camp programme is based on three main concepts: meetings, nature and solidarity.

The World Scout Jamboree is the premier Scouting event in the Scouting movement and takes place every four years. The event can be compared to the Olympic Games given the number of participants, the significance of the event to worldwide Scouting and the massive preparation necessary to make such a huge event go smoothly. This is the biggest youth event ever held in Sweden, both for the number of youth in attendance and the number of participating countries.

Up to 1500 of the volunteers have taken more than a month to build the camp. The remainder of the 10,000 volunteers necessary to make the camp work arrived on 25 July, 2011. With the arrival of the participants on 27 July, from about 150 countries, the Jamboree takes on the character of a sizable city with all the facilities in place. However, the best way to describe the event is a massive celebration for two weeks enjoying the fun and the shared values of Scouting.

Empowered with tools to take home to be better global citizens, Scouts were participating in interactive activities where they are learning about global issues. At night the Scouts explored a forest having to think about their abilities, make choices and live different realities. Perspectives are changing as Scouts see the world as a small child or what it means to be old while reflecting on what it means to be whom they are. Other Scouts were learning not just about themselves but about people from all over the world. The have contemplated what makes them think as they do and whether they are really the same as everyone else, as well as how much each has in common with people from throughout the world. Another opportunity has been to explore the diversity of our planet and experience the dance of the elements. Discovery of how much their actions can affect their world and the things they can do to help improve and sustain our world is challenging the Scouts.

During the Jamboree, two people from each contingent will get an opportunity to go offsite and be part of a "United Nations simulation", where they are representing their own country. The topic of the day is "Global Warming" and the participants will discuss and make resolutions on the personal responsibilities of scouts as well as resolutions recommending the WOSM position at the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP17) later this year.

Challenges to explore different world faiths and learn how much in common each faith may share are encountered daily. Scouts were experiencing first-hand the ability of distinct faith communities to co-exist peacefully and learn how to live in tolerance and harmony. At the Jamboree Forum, Scouts hear outstanding keynote speakers discussing topics of global importance such as the role of Scouting in eradicating poverty and how Scouting is itself a Forum for interreligious dialogue.

One of the most exciting new features of this Jamboree has been "Camp in Camp" where Scouts have been heading out into the Swedish countryside, joining Swedish Scouts to experience "Simply Scouting" the Swedish way staying out over night before returning to the Jamboree location. A few lucky Scout troops had the pleasure of camping with H.M. King Carl Gustaf of Sweden. Another highlight of the Jamboree has been the "Safe from Harm" conference on preventing child abuse with keynote speaker H.M. Queen Silvia of Sweden.

A global campaign, "Messengers of Peace" has been launched at the Jamboree. Scouts have learned of the contributions of Scouts worldwide to global peace and are trained to expand their own local impact.

Another key concept that marks Scouting at the Jamboree is giving. Scouts from the more wealthy countries donated their tents and gear to Scouts from less advantaged countries. Many had contributed to the One World Solidarity Fund which enabled more that 500 less well off participants to attend the Jamboree.

The closing ceremony on 6 August marked the spirit of the Jamboree, specially designed to reflect one of the greatest values of Scouting: solidarity. With a spirit of celebration and togetherness, the Scouts will return home charged up for scouting and ready to take on the challenges of their world at home and abroad.

Several thousand Scouts have each committed to provide over 100 hours of community service when they return home, and a total of over 250,000 hours have been committed. With around 1,120,000 hours devoted to the organisation of the Jamboree by around 10,000 volunteers, Scouts have proven their commitment to the European Year of Volunteering 2011.

More about the 22nd World Scout Jamboree is available from www.worldscoutjamboree.se

Cub Scouts Pack into Parliament

A group of Cub Scouts and their Leader visited Westminster on 7th June for Parliament's first ever Cub pack meeting. The event was part of The Scout Association's drive to promote the benefits of volunteering to adults.

Various MP's joined them to volunteer for the day and see first-hand the benefits that volunteering has on the life of adult Leaders present. Many of the Leaders at the meeting were recent recruits to Scouting, having joined up over the past two years.

Among those taking part was scout leader Jenny Thorp, who said volunteering with the scouts helped launch her career as a teacher. She said: "When I decided to change career paths and become a teacher the skills I'd developed in scouting were key to getting a place on the Graduate Teacher Programme."

Planned to coincide with National Volunteers' Week, the event saw a collection of MPs work with twelve adult Leaders from around the country to help twenty-eight Cub Scouts enjoy a range of activities. Activities included setting up a camp and going on an indoor expedition.

Read more at The Scout Association website http://scout.org.uk/news/388/cub-scouts-pack-into-parliament

The International Social Innovation Competition for Naples is open.

 

Working in partnership with local organisations and Unicredit Foundation we have identified 6 challenges in Naples such a villa confiscated to Camorra - the criminal group - to be turned into a profitable business for the community, and called social innovators to submit their solutions.

All innovators are eligible including public and private, profit and not for profit institutions, organisations and enterprises from across the world. This is an opportunity for everybody if interested in taking a challenge for the good of society testing his/her skills and creativity on a difficult ground as Naples.

An international jury will evaluate the applications and proclaim 6 winners at the international conference taking place in Naples on 21 - 23 September.

The winners will receive 10'000 € each one to transform the idea into a project working in partnership with local partners. The organisers will fundraise for the entire budget to implement every project they deem effective and sustainable.

To apply please here

Please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for any enquiries.

Are you running a project in which people are helping others via the Internet? The 'Discover e-volunteering' Competition is just for you! Hurry up – there are 6 days left to join the Competition, win prizes and show Europeans how much good they can do in the Web!

 

E-volunteering is volunteering conducted via the Internet. Free Web counseling, forming assistance and self-help groups, promoting partnership, searching for information, or on-line language courses are among many examples of e-volunteering. Through this Competition we hope to show their diversity and to encourage all Europeans to undertake social activity in the Internet!

All organisations from the European Union cooperating with volunteers through the Internet may take part in the Competition. The application form is available on the website: http://www.e-volunteering.eu/competition/ . The deadline for submitting the applications is July 31, 2011.

The Competition will consist of the following stages:

• May, 25 – July, 31, 2011 - Call for appliactions
• August, 22 – September, 5, 2011 – The Competition Selection Committee selects 9-12 best projects
• September, 12 – October, 12, 2011 – On-line voting
• November 2011 – Final Gala in Warsaw

Attractive financial awards for the Competition winners are funded by the Polish Fundacja Orange (1st prize) , Fondation Orange from France (2nd Prize) and Intel Technology Poland Ltd (3rd prize). The total sum of prizes in the Competition is 6 000 euro.

'Discover e-volunteering' is the only competition, both in Poland and in Europe, which aims at honouring and promoting the most interesting projects concerning the co-operation of non-governmental organizations with the e-voluntaries seeking to help others via the Internet.
It has been also chosen by the European Commission as one of the flagship projects of the European Year of Volunteering 2011.

Detailed information on the Competition, the Regulations, and promotional materials are available on the website: http://www.e-volunteering.eu/competition/

For more information please contact:

Patrycja Rokicka

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Marzena Kacprowicz

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The European edition of 'Discover e-volunteering' is organized by the Good Network Foundation and Fundacja Orange, in cooperation with Competition Partners. The European edition of 'Discover e-volunteering' competition is pursued under the project 'Values ​​and activities of volunteering and e-volunteering' co-financed by the European Union. The European Union is not responsible for any content generated by the project.

Does your organization co-operate with volunteers seeking to help others via the Internet? Don't wait till the summertime and join 'Discover E-volunteering' Competition now! Attractive prizes are awaiting for the authors of the best e-volunteering projects.

All organisations from the European Union cooperating with volunteers through the Internet may take part in the Competition. The application form is available on the website: http://www.e-volunteering.eu/competition/ . The deadline for submitting the applications is July 31, 2011.

 

The Competition will consist of the following stages:

• May, 25 – July, 31,  2011 - Call for appliactions
• August, 22 – September, 5, 2011 – The Competition Selection Committee selects 9-12 best projects.
• September, 12 – October, 12, 2011 – On-line voting.
• November 2011 – Final Gala in Warsaw.

Detailed information on the Competition, the Regulations, and promotional materials are available on the website: http://www.e-volunteering.eu/competition/

For more information please contact:

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The European edition of 'Discover e-volunteering' is organized by the Good Network Foundation and Fundacja Orange, in cooperation with Competition Partners. The European edition of 'Discover e-volunteering' competition is pursued under the project 'Values and activities of volunteering and e-volunteering' co-financed by the European Union. The European Union is not responsible for any content generated by the project.

New stockshots are now available to add to the ones launched earlier in year by the Audio Visual team at the EC. The volunteering stockshots feature volunteers from the EYV 2011 Alliance organisations and can be used free of charge by anyone during 2011 and beyond.  Get the first stockshots and the script here, 2nd release here and the script here. The 3rd and final editions can be found here and here.