The program DOBRO and its projects are supported with European Solidarity Corps - Volunteering Activities program that helps young people to travel abroad and participate in volunteering projects.
The European Solidarity Corps (ESC) is the new European Union initiative which creates opportunities for young people to volunteer or work in projects in their own country or abroad that benefit communities and people around Europe.
The European Solidarity Corps (ESC) is the new European Union initiative which creates opportunities for young people to volunteer or work in projects in their own country or abroad that benefit communities and people around Europe.
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Why do a voluntary service abroad?
- Get to know a new culture and mentality
- Language development
- Self-confidence and independence
- International contacts and new friends
- To develop social work-skills and gain direction for future career
- Learn more about the church and different work environments
- Get a larger view of the structure of society and social problems
- Chance to reflect on own culture and values
- To become aware of European thought
UNDERSTANDING OF VOLUNTARY SERVICE
Volunteers help and meet physical, mental and spiritual needs with respect for each individual's basic human rights. They recognize, respect and follow the directions of the host organization staff and the local supervisor(s). They adapt their expectations and lifestyle to the local community within which they serve. Volunteers are respectful of the communities, cultures and faith traditions within which they serve.
Learning objectives for volunteers
A core of the program is dialogue and empowerment through service therefore we put stress on candidates who are:
There must be a structure…
Volunteers help and meet physical, mental and spiritual needs with respect for each individual's basic human rights. They recognize, respect and follow the directions of the host organization staff and the local supervisor(s). They adapt their expectations and lifestyle to the local community within which they serve. Volunteers are respectful of the communities, cultures and faith traditions within which they serve.
Learning objectives for volunteers
- Personal and spiritual development;Intercultural learning;
- Ecumenical learning;
- Awareness of social and political responsibility;
- Faith journey;
- Workplace skills;
- Increased capacity to communicate and work in group situations;
- Help in deciding about life and career orientation.
A core of the program is dialogue and empowerment through service therefore we put stress on candidates who are:
- flexible and mature, with a open mind;
- willing to work with elderly, physically or socially weak people; or work with children and youth;
- willing to learn a language (Slovak) needed for the work;
- willing to know different cultures and stay for required time (11 months) in Slovakia;
- able to develop new programs in the placement and to take the initiative of organizing these programs;
- open and willing to learn from the others and at the same time ready to offer her/his abilities and skills as a contribution;
- willing to respect a cultural diversity together with the fight against racism and xenophobia;
- open and willing to be in a group of volunteers reflecting on their experiences together;
- able to live simply in a flat with other volunteers, sharing a room (or in a family);
- open not to have a comfort like at home respecting other people with their condition, abilities and faith;
- willing to get some basic practical experience related to future work in placement before she/he starts a service;
- willing to disseminate and exploit gained results; intermediate English language skills.
- social competencies;
- a positive attitude towards multiculturalism.
There must be a structure…
- About 35 hours working time per week
- Pocket money
- Health and casualty insurance
- Accommodation
- Holidays (2 days per month) + public holidays
- Language course
- Supporting seminars (before, during and after the service)
- Travel costs (to and from the host-country)
- 11 months service from 1st September - 31st July (some placements 12 months)
Experiences from volunteers…
- "Boosted my humanistic characteristics and made me realize what the social work stands for."
- "You really can change people lives and is not about doing great things like the heroes in films -most of the times is about only having a moment with someone in need, helping or just listening being humble."
- "Everything I discovered here in Slovakia will stay in my mind no matter where the wind of fate will lead me in the future."
- "A region in Slovakia is called the “Slovak paradise”. This name is applicable to such a year of volunteering."
- "The big change that I noticed was that I became more confident in new situations and new places after having a year of experiencing the extreme of these things."
- "I noticed many changes in myself over the year of my service, and since I have been back. After adapting to another culture I think I learned to be more flexible and open to new or different things."
- "I learned how to cook Slovak food, and came home and have been sharing it with everyone! “
- "I think throughout the year my faith went through difficult times, but ultimately became stronger because of the new experiences."
- "Slovaks are very accepting and hospitable people."
- "I think that I grew a lot during my year in Slovakia. I became more self-confident and got to know more my limits and my gifts."
- "I grew in my faith because I tried to find my own point of view."
- "A challenge was to understand people around me, to find out why they react the way they react."
- The next stop in my life was volunteering in Bratislava. In a glimpse of an eye, I found myself part of the EVS in Slovakia and everything went from wrong to right, smelling Danube’s odour and intensive night perfumes. Halfway here and I am already experiencing the positive effects which rush through the veins of my existence. Boosted my humanistic element and made me realize what the notorious patience of Job stands for. From Roma children in Petržalka until demented people, life is a constant struggle for human rights and emergency for providing unconditional social work.
- Maybe you can think that volunteering in Bratislava, or living in Bratislava, or actually being in Bratislava for any reason doesn’t constitute the best possible plan. To be honest, I thought exactly the same… Until I saw the city at night, when the lights of the several bridges and the castle were reflected on the river… That river that gives such magical charms and the city surrenders to its visitors, offering its secrets to everyone open to uncover them... The famous writer Hans Christian Andersen already said it in 1841 “Bratislava inhabitants want me to tell them a fairy-tale, why you want a fairy-tale if your city is already one?” I always thought that doing voluntary service is such nice way to share your time and knowledge with others and to be useful to the society, but I never realized how important it is, until now that I’m actually doing it. You really can change people lives and is not about doing great things like the heroes in films -most of the times is about only having a moment with someone in need, helping or just listening being humble. Because in this spinning world, many people just need to stop for a while, look around and understand that they are not alone.
- Like the immigrate birds, EVS volunteers leave their countries to discover a new horizon in their world. Spreading your wings can seem a little bit frightening initially, but if you suppress your misleading biases and prodigies, you will discover an extraordinary, once every lifetime, experience. Helping others is also helping yourself. I live in the capital, Bratislava, and everything I discovered here will stay in my mind no matter where the wind of fate will lead me in the future.
- A region in Slovakia is called the “Slovak paradise”. This name is applicable to such a year of volunteering. Paradise because of its lots of work experience. Paradise because of its endless fun. Paradise because of its big adventure. Paradise because of its occurrence in a foreign -unknown before- country. Paradise because of our evolving with independence personalities. Paradise because of meeting so many new friends and people around the globe. Enjoy Slovakia in all its facets!