EVS on-arrival Training for Volunteers in Ukraine

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EVS on-arrival Training for Volunteers in Ukraine Khadzy-Sala, Crimea, 15-19.10.

1 EVS on-arrival Training for Volunteers in Ukraine Khadzy-Sala, Crimea, Introduction / Programme framework / Day-by-day programme / Evaluation Reporter: Yaryna Borenko Khadzy-Sala-Lviv, October

Introduction Dates and venue: Khadzy-Sala, 15-19.10.

2 Introduction Dates and venue: Khadzy-Sala, Trainers: Andriy Donets, Yaryna Borenko Number of participants: 10 The group The session was addressed to 10 volunteers in EVS projects (5 women and 5 men), coming from Poland (6), Italy (1), France (1) and Germany (2), and having started their activities in January-February. 6 volunteers conduct their activities in frame of one project. Working language: English List of participants Name Hosting organisation Sending organisation 1 Pavel Sygnovski Donetsk Youth Debate Centre One World Society, Poznan, Poland 2 Marta Paniu Centre fro Youth Cooperation, Gdynia, Poland 3 Anita Rog Vinnytsia Regional Centre for Polish Schuman Foundation 4 Katarzyna Kaczynska Information Kreatyv 5 Krzysztof Cychowski Academy of Ukrainian Youth, Lviv Fundacja Kultury Duchowej Pogranicza 6 Anna Pielecka 7 Aurelien Haurd Centre for European Initiatives, Sumy AVRIL - Association pour la Valorisation des Rivieres et les Initiatives Locales, France 8 Lorenz Waiditschka Verein für Jugendhilfe und Sozialarbeit e.v., Germany 9 Fabio Calzolari Consorzio Solidariete Sociale, Italy 10 Kristin Mietsch Reformatus Church Eseny CVJM Deutschland The venue The training took part in small hostel in Khadzy- Sala village near Mangup alp of Crimean Mountains, 20 km. from Bakhchisaray. 2

3 Programme framework The aim of the training - to provide basic information about EVS in Ukraine - to support volunteers within their projects - to facilitate the volunteers adaptation to a new cultural environment - to set up the learning & action plan for EVS - to find answers for questions about EVS - to meet other EVS volunteers - to discover Crimea and have fun together Topics covered - EVS philosophy - EVS as learning process - Roles, rights and responsibilities of EVS actors; - EVS support system; - Intercultural Learning; - Technical / practical issues; - Multiculturalism of Crimea - Youthpass THE PROGRAMME Breakfast Breakfast Breakfast Breakfast Arrival Team Building Exploring Area Ukraine and Ukrainians / Steps of Intercultural Learning Trip to Khersones and Sevastopol Departure Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch Getting to know each other Intro into the programme Group integration Volunteering / EVS projects - Review Active Discovery EVS as Learning Process Youthpass Dinner Dinner Dinner Dinner Integration Evening Free Evening Reflection Round Questions Answers Evaluation 3

4 Day-by-Day Programme Day 1 Getting to know each other The whole group arrived in afternoon and the training started with introducing to the OAT concept and programme and getting to know each other. After interview exercise and small integration games the participants expressed their expectations and suggestions to the programme content. Expectations round - results - To share experience - To assist if necessary - Check Black Sea - To meet different volunteers - To know something about different EVS projects - Go hiking - Share experience - I hope I will not regret 17 hours in train and 4 hours for waiting for it - Swim in Black Sea - Play the guitar with Kristine - I expect this training to be a good time with nice people - I hope the weather will be good - To see Crimea - Having fun - Meeting interesting people - Have a party - Knowledge - Brotherhood - To know each other more - Explore the nature / mountains After exploring of OAT aims and detailed programme the group contact had been set; the group integration followed in informal evening atmosphere. 4

5 Day 2 Team Building / Exploring Area The team building activities started with electric line exercise. The grouped spent 1,5 hours to fulfil the task. After debriefing the group was involved in the next team building exercise (the telegraph), focused on nonverbal communication. As final step of team building the participants, divided in two groups, got a task to draw the map of area around the hostel and to find out interesting facts about nearest village, landscape, social life and history. Volunteering The session started with input What is volunteering for me?, divided in 3 steps: 1) Individual reflection on - What is volunteering for me - What is volunteering for my hosting organization - What is volunteering for local community I m working 2) Writing down the most important reflection points into learning diary 3) Discussing the topics in 3 groups and presenting to the plenary. Outputs of the session: Volunteering for me: - Meeting the people - Amazing, experience - Want to be a teacher, the greatest one (I wish stick to my desire) - Having no ways a 5 ways, no limits a 5 limits - I love sharing knowledge among people - Formiess - Discoveer a new country and new culture - Vote for me - Pasta - Toilet paper - Chocolate cakes - Learning the language - Adventure - New people - Learning (on my ways, lifestyle, culture, history, politics) - Have a fun - Explore the landscape of the country, travelling - Chance to do something new / different - Long trip - New conditions - To know different culture and mentality Volunteering for organization - Just help - Not just a place, home - Meet and try to understand the other culture - Bring new ideas - Interesting and different persons - Open the minds of the local people Volunteering for community: - I have one voice: my students - Occasion to study Polish language - Opportunity to meet foreign student - Made them more happier - New experience - New chance to speak with native speakers - Learning and understanding better different culture, people 5

EVS project review Participants were asked to paint flags of projects and present them to the plenary.

Ania (Lviv): is working for community with people with mental disabilities, making workshops and other activities,

Pawel: is teaching Polish, providing speaking club with English students, ecological project, cooperates with

6 EVS project review Participants were asked to paint flags of projects and present them to the plenary. After this exercise participants filled in and explored questionnaire My experience with and in my hosting organization. Flags: Lorenz: Works in schools: preparing School Eurovision Contest, having some lessons on German culture, politics, history etc., working with children and providing theatre workshops, is going to introduce language workshops. Ania (Lviv): is working for community with people with mental disabilities, making workshops and other activities, also working in psychiatric hospital. Her activity is aimed to help these people to spend time. Pawel: is teaching Polish, providing speaking club with English students, ecological project, cooperates with ecological organizations in Donetsk. Katarzyna (flowers flag) the same project with Anna. It was difficult to start with Ukrainian, till now the main activity is to teach Polish. Ania (Vinnitsa): is teaching students Polish language. The hosting organization provides lot activities for young people, and she is participating in (as tolerance campaign and Polish club). 6

Aurelien is working in organization, with European clubs, he can do what he wants in the

Fabio: the are no difference between teachers and students.

The students also teach him Russian. Books are from Italy.

most of them are Hungarian. She spends 5-6 hours per day with the group of 30-35 kids.

preparations for workshops), provides Polish speaking club with students and teenagers.

7 Aurelien is working in organization, with European clubs, he can do what he wants in the classes; prepares something for Eurovision contest with his schools. Fabio: the are no difference between teachers and students. He is teacheing Italian language for high school students and in the school. The students also teach him Russian. Books are from Italy. Christy: is working for reformatory community children garden; children are 3-5 years old, most of them are Hungarian. She spends 5-6 hours per day with the group of kids. Marta: is working a bit in office with 2 other volunteers (translations, presentations, preparations for workshops), provides Polish speaking club with students and teenagers. Krzysztof: Works as Ania for community of people with mental disabilities. The people he works with have their own way of thinking, he tries to communicate with them, provides also Polish and European clubs,. 7

8 Firs experience. questionnaire results Satisfied with welcome from organization: Good/well welcome (8 voluneers), it was o.k. (1), bad/no welcome (1) Satisfied with language of communication: Well - 5 (Polish, English, a bit Ukrainian); satisfied - 2; very satisfied - 3 (Ukrainian, Polish, Russian) Language training: yes 9; not yet 1. Satisfied with tasks: 50% (should be more complicated), 60% (2), 70% (2, I think it should be better if I have more tasks and more things to do; I could like to spend more time in place and with kids), 100% (4) What are the tasks? - European culture / awareness - Teaching a foreign language - Teaching about own country - Work with children in schools - Organize and participate in projects - Help our coordinators / HO with projects, 2 - Have a language club (teach my native language), 4 - European club, 3 - I teach teenagers and student - In the future maybe some projects - Nothing in hosting organization - I like to work with kind - Working with kids with mental disabilities Starting to work on own project - Now, I m working on my own ideas - No, not yet, 5 - Yes a movie club - Yes, 3 Valuation of working time and tasks - Partly structured (3), flexible/partly structured organized (6), chaotic/partly structured (1) Satisfied with the organization of work - Yes (9), yes mostly (1), Happy with accommodation - Its o.k. (7), super (2), not at all (1) 9 volunteers live with other volunteers in a rent flat, one volunteer live alone in a house.- 8

9 Day 3 Intercultural Learning This session was a short introduction to intercultural learning and realities in Ukraine, starting with personal relation leading to general conclusion on intercultural learning and integration. First the participants were asked to thing individually about what had them surprised/shocked in Ukraine and present them shortly. After that they worked in 3 small groups trying to find the reasons, why these impressed things exist. After presentation of group work a plenary discussion on the point What helps me to understand other culture had been provided. Session outputs: 1. What impressed me (positively / negatively/ whatever) in Ukraine? Individual work - Marshrutka - Lenin monuments - Toilets - People are very kind - Trash on the streets - People in age after 20 are living with their parents - Cheep alcohol / drugs - Luxusory cars - Himeless dogs and cats - No hot water during 24 hours - Heave metal music - Dirty areas - Platscarta - Snow in the middle of October - The people are everytime late 2. What could be the reason / why it is so? 3 groups - Ecology everyday culture public communication 3. What helps me to understand other culture? - To meet native people - To talk to local people - To watch TV - Drinking and talking - To find English speaker - To learn language - To travel - To learn history - Try to be flexible - To be open-minded - To be aware of won culture - To compare 4. ICL explanation input on stages of intercultural learning 9

10 Active discovering The next session had been conducted in Crimea Mountains and old city of Bakchisaray (former Sallatchik village). This activities has been organized in cooperation with local organizations and 30 Crimean students participants of local seminar on democracy. For integration volunteers and students have been mixed in 5 groups to participate in an exercise. Than the whole group climbed to the hill, jumping through the caves, having a walk through ridge and went down through canyon to the valley were they were organized in 2 groups for the quest. The routs leaded through the hills, caves, ancient Roma settlements, Christian orthodox monastery, Karaims fortress and old Tatars building from centuries. This activity was supported by members of Top-Kaya Association of Bakhchisaray. After coming back we had short debriefing. Day 4 Trip to Khersones and Sevastopol A trip to old Greek city Khersones and Sevastopol: walking through see-front promenade, shopping, visiting Aquarium and sightseeing. EVS as learning process / Youthpass The participants got short input about Youthpass. At first a short reflection on EVS as learning process proposed, when everyone announced some ideas on How we can learn?. They were also provided by EVS Action plan hand-outs and asking to reflect and design their action plans individually, on hand-outs table or to put in learning diaries. The learning plans and objectives have been explored and discussed in evening session. We can learn by: - Thinking, listening to the others, observing, reading, praying, travelling, drinking with other, interviewing people, walking, speaking, watching, speaking, taking workshops, drawing, playing, doing pantomime, hiking, swimming..., making party After reflection short introduction into Youthpass had been done. The participants were asked again to mark their learning experiences in learning diaries and bring them to the Mid-Term Meeting. 10

11 EVALUATION Looking forward a letter to myself The participants were asked to write a letter to yourself in the middle of February, which they will receive on the MTM. My feelings during this training final round Filling in the evaluation questionnaires Evaluation questionnaire: 1. How much did this training fulfil your expectations? Set some examples please. - It was o.k., especially practical approach, friendly and non-formal atmosphere; - I m 99% satisfied; - I learn about Ukrainian culture, when the others wrote what impressed them; - Discover Crimea; - My expectation of seeing the region are fulfilled well, nut I haven t learned new games and about possibilities how work with the children; - It s fulfilled my expectations fully, I expected good atmosphere, to learn about EVS and required some answers and it happened; % - problem solving themes, intercultural dialogue, non-formal teaching; - Almost completely. It was some theory, some practise and some trips around the Crimea; - 99% because I don t rise number 100% and perfection things J; - I would wish to have excursions and group work; - In some part training fulfil my expectations, especially the possibilities to see places I had never seen before. 2. How much has this training been a learning process for you? Examples? - I learn a lot about Youthpass, this was great - It has been learning process especially through discussion with other people from different countries; - Connect to other people. I can say something in English. I can say my opinion!!! That was important. - I ve learned the most from people at this training; - We said our opinions about Ukrainian culture/developments, figuring out how to solve some problems in an intercultural situation; - I learned something about EVS and history of Crimea, also about other cultures while talking with people from different countries; - There were learning process, but it could be better I think; - Discovered that I love: Crimea and Black Sea and share our experience in Ukraine; - Learned how to cooperate with other people; - I understood better my EVS, my role as volunteers, tasks, what I could do to achieve something during my EVS; 3. What was the most interesting point for you during this training session? - Cultural training, trips, outdoor exercises, - Trip to Sevastopol and mountains; - Learning Polish words J, to meet others and share our experience in Ukraine; - Trip through the mountains; - Outdoor tasks (2); - We worked as friends, young people among young ones; - Trips to mountains one on myself, second during training session; - Electric line game - Hiking in canyon 4. What did you missed during the training? - Nothing (4) - Conflict resolution for Children - Maybe sometimes food J and cups J - More active trips and meetings with Ukrainian volunteers; - Hot water, food; - Food - To use language, I can tell everything! 11

12 5. Please rate from 1 to 5 the following elements and preparation stages of the training course (5 - the highest, 1- the lowest) # Stages Rating 1 Information and contacts with trainers before training 3,5 2 Training programme 4,1 3 Group atmosphere 4,7 4 Common activities 4,6 5 Trainers level 4,5 6 Quality of hand-outs and materials 4,2 7 Food and accommodation 4,7 6. Other comments - I would like to have next training somewhere near Kiev; - Thanks for training, there was a time when I can thing about task and goal, because sometimes people are so busy and they didn t think when they earlier went from project For example I. - It was so short, but really great time I think trainings like this should be organized more often. - Thank you for training! Reporter: Yaryna Borenko Lviv, December

Mid-term meeting of EVS Volunteers in Ukraine

Mid-term meeting of EVS Volunteers in Ukraine Yaremche,27-30 January 2008 Content: A. Framework of the meeting B. Program overview C. Day-by-day program D. Attachments Report prepared by: Olena Yaremko,