Dana 14. prosinca 2022. u Sisku je održana konferencija „Benefits of International Volunteers for your Local Community“ u sklopu Erasmus+ projekta „Rise in Quality“. Ovo je bilo vrijeme posvećeno onima koji rade u području neformalnog obrazovanja i rada s mladima, a žele naučiti što znači ugostiti međunarodne volontere i kako se uključiti. Bio je to ispunjen dan pun prezentacija, rasprava i umrežavanja za sve sudionike koji su nam se pridružili iz cijele Hrvatske.
Dan je započeo toplom dobrodošlicom naše domaćice Sabine Stipanec Grgić iz Udruge IKS, koja je bila prijeko potrebna s obzirom na niske temperature vani. Čuli smo sve o projektu “Rise in Quality” koji ima viziju jačanja kapaciteta organizacija za podršku međunarodnim volonterima, poboljšanja pružene podrške za ugošćavanje međunarodnih volontera i ublažavanja stresa upravljanja volonterima. Međunarodni volonteri unose jedinstvenu perspektivu i novu energiju u organizacije, ali kako bi izvukli maksimum iz iskustva volontiranja, i za volontere i za organizacije domaćine, važno je pružiti kvalitetnu podršku. Projekt je nastao i razvijao se kroz izazove pandemije COVID-a i previranja uzrokovana potresom u Petrinji 2020., koji su samo naglasili stvarnu potrebu za snažnim okvirom podrške za volontere i organizacije koje ih primaju.
Iz Agencije za mobilnost i programe EU pridružio nam se Matija Blaće koji je pružio sve bitne informacije o ugošćavanju međunarodnih volontera kroz program Europskih snaga solidarnosti. Bilo je inspirativnih videozapisa prethodnih volontera, pregleda različitih vrsta volonterskih projekata koje možete pokrenuti, kao i smjernica o tome kako se prijaviti za financiranje. Jeste li znali da ugostiti volontere kroz program Europskih snaga solidarnosti ne mogu samo organizacije civilnog društva – već i privatne organizacije, škole! Matija je svima ulio povjerenje kako je jednostavno i korisno biti dio programa, stoga se veselimo brojnim novim projektima u budućnosti.
Sudionici su zatim imali ekskluzivan pristup dvama novim alatima proizvedenim u sklopu projekta „Rise in quality“. Sabina Stipanec Grgić i Emily Squire iz Udruge IKS predstavile su dva alata:
- Prvi je bio praktični vodič razvijen za organizacije i radnike s mladima kako bi ih podržali u koordinaciji volontera i poboljšanju njihovog iskustva učenja. Ovaj vodič je pun bitnih informacija i iskustava iz prve ruke u rješavanju problema, kao i alata spremnih za korištenje koji će olakšati zadatak koordiniranja volontera.
- Drugi alat je interaktivna platforma riseinquality.eu “Essential toolbox for volunteers” osmišljena da pruži sve informacije koje međunarodni volonteri trebaju imati tijekom pripreme i provedbe svoje mobilnosti.
Sljedeća sesija bila je živahna panel rasprava na kojoj su nam se pridružili lokalni partneri i suradnici Udruge IKS i iznijeli svoje viđenje i iskustvo rada s međunarodnim volonterima. Velika zahvala ide Ivi Toš iz udruge slijepih, Matei Dragičević iz Doma za psihički bolesne osobe i Štefici Roksa iz Dječjeg vrtića Petrinjčica na ljubaznom izdvajanju svog vremena i prenošenju znanja. Zaista zvuči kao da se dobro zabavljaju vodeći aktivnosti s međunarodnim volonterima, ali što je još važnije, korisnici su angažiraniji i otvoreniji za nove ideje i kulture.
Za kraj dana održana je sesija World Caféa, koja je omogućila sudionicima da se kreću prostorijom i posjećuju različite štandove. Bilo je puno pitanja i rasprava koje su lijepo vodile u otvoreni prostor za umrežavanje s početnim iskrama novih projektnih ideja.
Ukoliko niste bili u mogućnosti prisustvovati konferenciji, ali ste zainteresirani ugostiti međunarodne volontere u svojoj lokalnoj zajednici, javite nam se na mobility@udrugaiks.hr.
Projekt „Rise in quality“ financiran je sredstvima EU kroz program Erasmus+, KA2 Strateška partnerstva u području mladih. Sadržaj ovog članka isključiva je odgovornost Udruge IKS.
On 14 December the conference “Benefits of International Volunteers for your Local Community” was held in Sisak, as part of the Erasmus+ project “Rise in Quality”. This was a time dedicated to those working in the field of non-formal education and youth work looking to learn about what is means to host international volunteers and how to get involved. It was a busy day full of presentations, discussions and networking for all the participants who had joined us from all corners of Croatia.
The day started with a warm welcome from our host Sabina Stipanec Grgić from Association IKS, which was much needed considering the freezing temperatures outside. We heard all about the project “Rise in Quality” which has a vision to strengthen organisations’ capacity to support international volunteers, improve support for hosting international volunteers and to ease the stress of volunteer management. International volunteers bring a unique perspective and new energy into organisations but to get the most out of the volunteering experience, for both the volunteer and hosting organisations, it is important to provide quality support. The project was born and developed through the challenges of the COVID pandemic and the turmoil caused by the 2020 earthquake in Petrinja, which only emphasised the real need for a strong support framework for volunteers and their hosting organisations.
Matija Blaće joined us from the Croatian National agency for mobilities and EU programmes, providing all the essential information about hosting international volunteers through the European Solidarity Corps programme. There were inspiring videos from previous volunteers, an overview of the different types of volunteering projects you can run, as well as guidance on how to apply for funding. Did you know its not just non-governmental organisations that can host volunteers through the European Solidarity Corps programme – so can private organisations, schools! Matija filled everyone with confidence on how easy and beneficial it is to be part of the programme, so we look forward to seeing lots of new projects in the future.
The participants were then had exclusive access to two new tools produced as part of the project “Rise in Quality”. Sabina Stipanec Grgić and Emily Squire from Association IKS introduced the two tools:
- First was the practical guide developed for organisations and youth workers to support them in coordinating volunteers and enhancing their learning experience. This guide is full of essential information and first-hand experience in problem solving, as well as ready to use tools that will ease the task of coordinating volunteers.
- Second was the interactive platform riseinquality.eu which is the “Essential Toolbox for Volunteers” designed to provide all the information international volunteers need to have when preparing for and doing their mobility.
The next session was a lively panel discussion where local partners and collaborators of Association IKS joined us and gave their perspective and experience of working with international volunteers. A huge thanks goes to Iva Toš from the association for blind people, Matea Dragičević from the home for mentally ill individuals and Štefica Roksa from Kindergarten Petrinjčica for kindly giving up their time and providing a wealth of knowledge. It sure does sounds like they have a great time running activities with the international volunteers, but more importantly, the beneficiaries are more engaged and open minded to new ideas and cultures.
To end the day there was a World Café session, which allowed the participants to move around the room and visit different stands. There were plenty of questions and discussions which lead nicely into an open space for networking with some initial sparks of new project ideas.
If you were unable to attend the conference but are interested in hosting international volunteers in your local community, please get in touch with us on mobility@udrugaiks.hr.
The “Rise in quality” project is financed with EU funds through the Erasmus+ programme, KA2 Strategic partnerships in the field of youth. The content of this article is the responsibility of the Association IKS.