You know that time before the sun comes up, when the moon is a fish again, swimming in the ocean?
That is the time, our ancestors tell us, when the Morning Star is released from her dilly bag on the faraway island of Baralku.
Behind that Morning Star trails a feathered string, tying her to her home, holding Barnambirr low in the sky. (Australia, Central Arnhem Land)
I deeply respect the cultures where people are able to live in harmony with nature and with each other. In our society, there is too much to own, and nobody will be really themselves. European Voluntary Service gives young person an opportunity to grow up in his/her emotional-social level and get many new competences. When entering a new environment, a person starts to see the world from the outsiders' point of view. He needs to wider up his world views, being flexible, motivated to new challenges and open minded to learn new ways of life.
Erich Fromm has written a book called „To own or to be", there he has pointed out some patterns what people in the capitalistic society follow, and therefore are kind of blind in there senses and even the language and use of words and meaning of words have changed in a way that people are turned towards to objects, also become object to someone. For opening up our mental realm, it is very important to see the world and communicate with people all around the world. Life can be real adventure; it all depends on your attitude.
Behind every culture, every person, every travel, lies a story of some sort. There is magic in every day because there is creation, curiosity and fantasy. The powers are of every one of us, and only the right key will unlock the treasure. But people nowadays look at the clock, the time is ticking, there is no room for dreaming any more, only pleasure. I think that every culture has a music, resonates which unlocks the gates of its inner universe. EVS is a mutually beneficial process, where everybody gains from getting to know the other's culture. No matter how you call it, some fundamental truths are the same for all of us. Spiritual field of energy is one, although the social system, geographic, weather etc. are very different. The Youth in Action programme offers young Europeans the chance to make a real difference to the world - and to their own lives - through the European Voluntary Service.
The European Voluntary Service (EVS) provides young Europeans with the unique chance to express their personal commitment through unpaid and full-time voluntary activities in a foreign country within or outside the EU. In this way, it seeks to develop solidarity, mutual understanding and tolerance among young people, thus contributing to reinforcing social cohesion in the European Union and to promoting young people's active citizenship.
Open to all young people aged 18 to 30, EVS is a true ‘learning service'. Beyond benefiting the local communities, by participating in voluntary activities, young volunteers can develop new skills and, therefore, improve their personal, educational and professional development. Volunteers can benefit from specific training throughout the activity and agree on their expected learning outcomes, processes and methods in advance. Their learning experience is formally recognised through a Youthpass. Participation is free for the volunteers who also get board and lodging, insurance cover and an allowance for the duration of the project. Special conditions apply to encourage the participation of young people with fewer opportunities. For instance, they can participate as of the age of 16.
European Voluntary Service is valuable in so many ways and has strong meaning of changing the mentality of future world. Participants (host organisation, volunteer and environment) can gain many benefits.
Personal benefits: Young person can grow - emotionally, socially, get new competences, learns how to express oneself freely and communicate with others. Young people learn language skills, intercultural awareness, intercultural communication, solidarity, respect, tolerance and conflict transformation, while also reflecting upon their own country's culture and values. Through their engagement in youth activities, young people acquire very valuable soft skills that cannot easily be acquired in formal Education. Rather than learning ‘hard knowledge' from text-books, young people ‘learn by doing' through peer education methods and voluntary work for example. Due to the participatory nature of the activities, young people take responsibility for their own learning and engage actively in the process. Youth activities provide ‘real life' situations that cannot easily be reproduced in a classroom. Learning takes place in specific contexts and is therefore more meaningful. Through their interaction with other people and the local environment in youth activities, young people learn very valuable ‘soft skills' such as interpersonal skills, people management skills, teamwork, self-confidence, discipline, responsibility, leadership skills, planning, project management, organizing, co-ordination and practical problem solving skills.
Educational benefits: "Young people who have left school early or who are in precarious situations in society could benefit from non-formal education as a second chance that could have a strong impact in their lives".
Cultural benefits: Outsider can tell new things about the entering culture, also when the outsider goes back to its homeland, he brings a new knowledge with him. Reflections are always multilateral. Youth activities that take place in international contexts which provide the opportunity for intercultural learning, by sharing their ideas with people from different countries, young people develop a sense of belonging to a larger world beyond the national boundaries of their home country. The content of such exchange programmes also encourages young people to reflect on common values such as human rights, freedoms, peace and equality.
Employment benefits: A recent study states that "the best passport to employment for young people is a specific bundle of attributes, particularly certain Skills and Attitudes. This bundle is the most important asset a young person can have when seeking a job. It is as important as formal qualifications".
Society benefits: Non formal education is essential for the personal development and life-long learning of individuals. The inadequacy of civics' courses in further and higher education institutions to ensure active citizenship among young people is also symptomatic of the need for complementary non-formal education methodologies where the skills and competences necessary to be an active citizen in society are acquired.
Entrepreneur benefits and proactive approach: "Non-formal education could empower young people....to set up their own projects, step by step, where they are at the centre of the educational activity, feel concerned, have personal interest, find strong motivation, get self-confidence and as result, develop capacities and skills by doing."
The inner universe and the way of how we are favourably inclined defines how we interpret and sense the world. Our horizon will open up while communicating with other people and cultures. People gain new competences, skills and knowledge. Hosting organisation gets cross cultural reflexion and cooperation and understanding between the people and different cultures. Society has stronger and more active citizenship and young people have more proactive approach to their lives, some of them can become entrepreneurs. And the main value about the European Voluntary Service is that it is done by the means of free will, a young person can make decisions, motivate and lead oneself up. Today's youth is the future of tomorrow leaders. It is our choice to transform the values of the life and create the better and more democratic world.
European Commition - Youth: http://ec.europa.eu/youth/youth-in-action-programm... (2010-05-05)
Euroopa Noortefoorum (2003). Policy Paper on Youth organisations as non-formal educators - recognizing our role. COMEM 0618 - 03 - lõplik.
Vastu võetud liikmete nõukogu poolt, 21.-22. november 2003, Rooma (Itaalia)
Rothmans, Art of Aboriginal Australia, Art of Pall Mall Canada Limited: Education Library.
‘The Attributes of Youth: Young People, Education and Employability', Andersen Consulting, p. 10.
"T-Kit on Social Inclusion", Council of Europe and European Commission Partnership, p.39.
