” “Widening horizons” “

The European Union, with its “Youth Programme”, promotes formation through an international volunteer service: young peoples between the ages of 18 and 25 may spend a period of volunteer service in another country for a determined period, normally 6 or 12 months. Some of the youngsters involved in the programme have told us their experiences. “The concept of volunteer service doesn’t exist here in Lithuania. No private individual is involved in such activities, only the State. Indeed, the very idea of providing a service gratis is considered a bit stupid. It’s a cultural fact, a different mentality: we don’t have the strong sense of solidarity that I’ve found here in Italy”: Victoria Sinicynaitè comes from Kanaus, a town close to the Lithuanian capital Vilnius, she’s 22 years old and is a graduate in political sciences. She has performed her European volunteer service in Rome, at the Casa Betania. Two other girls, Delphine Daguisé and Isabelle Guin, are sharing her experience: “The background of each of us is different: one comes from the region of Bordeaux, the other from Toulouse; one studied German, the other modern literature at university; one comes from an experience as member of an association, the other from volunteer work… but we have been brought together by this unique experience of discovering ourselves and others, of an association like Casa Betania and of a beautiful city like Rome!”. The same view is shared by Judith Knoche, from Germany: “I met so many people with an urge to improve the world, with so much energy and motivation. I’m happy to have met them, because they have helped me to understand how I can help build a world of peace. I would recommend all young people to undertake an experience of European volunteer service. It helps you to understand yourself better, to widen your horizons and to feel yourself more European”. The European volunteer service can be summed up in three principles. First, it aims to provide an “informal” experience of intercultural learning among the young, to encourage their social integration and active participation, develop their working skills and give them the opportunity to express solidarity with others. Second, it is intended to support the development of local communities; and third, to encourage the formation of new forms of collaboration and the exchange of experience between partners. A European volunteer service project may be defined as an agreement between three partners: a volunteer, a ‘sponsoring’ organization and a host organization. These latter may be NGOs, associations, local authorities or non-profit-making institutions. One of the countries involved in the project must be a member of the European Union. The majority of the volunteer service projects sponsored by the programme are based on a ‘one to one’ relation: a volunteer goes to a country from which another departs for another service. To offer young people with reduced economic possibilities the chance of sharing this experience, shorter periods of service, ranging from three weeks to two months, are also provided. The fields of activity performed by the volunteers are the most varied: social exclusion, campaigns against drug addiction, juvenile delinquency, racism and xenophobia; art and culture; protection of the environment; youth policies; “European conscience”; media and communications; leisure activities. The important thing is that the service be wholly gratuitous, useful to the community and in no case play a role of supplementing a salaried job. The costs of travel, board and lodging and a small sum to cover other expenses are paid by the European “Youth Programme”. The sponsoring organization is responsible for the preparation of the volunteer, maintaining contact during his/her service abroad and helping him/her to readjust on returning home. The host organization is responsible for providing the volunteer’s accommodation and assisting him/her in his/her tasks. At the end of the period of European volunteer service, those in charge of the host project, the assistant of the volunteer and the volunteer himself must draw up a report evaluating the experience acquired. Volunteers who have completed the project receive a certificate issued by the European Commission which is responsible for the “Youth Programme”. A “future capital” project is also planned. It’s aim is to contribute to the funding of projects formulated and managed by young people who have completed their period of volunteer service. For further information, consult the website: www.europa.eu.int/comm/education/youth/program. Chiara Santomiero