Volunteer Management Enhanced (VOLU.M.Enhanced)

We start from the belief, proven by more than 10 years of field experience in volunteering management, that offering opportunities for organizations to build capacity concerning Volunteer Management Skills is essential for a quality implementation of international volunteering projects (focused e.g. on the European Solidarity Corps Programme - ESC). Based on this - three long-term partner organizations (EJBW, Weimar, Politistiko Ergastiri Ayion Omoloyioton, Lefkosia and Pro Vobis, Cluj-Napoca) proposes regularly sequences of trainings focusing on different aspects in volunteer management and different target groups. 

The trainings are developed as a result of our common experience since 2015, from the era of European Voluntary Service (EVS) up to European Solidarity Program (ESC), aimed to achieve common ground and understanding on volunteer management issues, mentoring skills, professional development regarding youth workers key competences, based on the ETS Competence Model for Youth Workers. They are further targeted at creating a community of practice and peer support among the implementers of European Volunteering projects. 

We are offering youth workers, volunteering project coordinators, mentors of volunteers actively involved in ESC & other (support) staff of ESC hosting & sending organisations of (international) volunteering projects the opportunity to join the following Learning Activity: 

 VOLU.M.Enhanced | 28.04. – 04.05.2025 | Cluj-Napoca (rural area nearby) | Romania 

Aims 

• Facilitate Professional Exchange and Self-Assessment Create opportunities for youth workers to engage in self-assessment, share experiences, and collaboratively address unresolved questions with fellow professionals. 
• Foster Personal and Professional Growth Enhance the personal and professional development of youth workers by promoting self-reflection and a deeper understanding of the needs of youth and volunteers. 
• Strengthen International Cooperation Build an open platform for connecting with partner organizations, encouraging international collaboration and the exchange of best practices in volunteer management, particularly within and beyond the European Solidarity Corps framework. 

Objectives 

• Support Competence Development in Volunteering Management Equip youth workers with the skills and competencies needed for their contributions to be acknowledged and recognized, focusing on the specific area of volunteering management. 
• Enhance the Quality of Volunteering Projects Improve the implementation and impact of volunteering projects to ensure that young volunteers' experiences are meaningful and enriching. 
• Promote Non-Formal Education and Methodology Advocate for the use of non-formal education methods among youth and adults to foster learning, creativity, and engagement. 

Expected outcomes 

• Participants will share personal experiences and achievements related to international volunteering (focused primarily on the ESC context). 
• Increased understanding and appreciation of the importance of quality planning in volunteering management and its practical implementation. 
• Familiarity with the ETS Competence Model for Youth Workers as a foundation for personal and professional development in youth work. 

Accommodation & food are provided from evening of arrival day to morning of departure day.  The accommodation and venue for the training is at “Pensiunea Valea Paradisului”, Strada Principală 121H, Comuna Măguri-Răcătău407365, Romania (https://valeaparadisului.ro/). 

Erasmus+ Youth Programme countries

English

We are aware of the difficult financial situation of many people active in the field. Nevertheless, we see the offered events as a quality experience concerning venues, tools and activities and therefore as aunique opportunity for personal learning, professional development & networking which should be,beyond the received funding from European taxpayers not “for free”. Further, asproviders of civic education, focusing as well on topics as (global) social justice, we decided to disrupt the vicious system of underpayment of people active in the field of (international) youth work & education, who dedicate their lifetime & energy forcreating quality learning experiences by offering fair payment for their work (e.g. as free-lance trainers, facilitators or support staff). Therefore, a financial contribution from each participant is required upon individual situation & decisionper event:

• You are a e.g. pupil, student, unemployed person or a volunteer -reduced fee: 25,00 EUR
• You are e.g. freelanced youth worker / trainer etc. -standard fee: 50,00 EUR
• You are e.g. a person in job/employment -solidarity fee: 75,00 EUR 

In case you are not able to afford the fee,please contact us for individual solutions.

We will reimburse the travel costs on the basis of the cheapestpossibilities, e.g. second class railway tickets, economy class flights etc., within the provided limit, from place of residency to the venue of the activity and return, based on the rates of the “distance calculator” of the European Commissionhttps://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/de/resources-and-tools/distance-calculatorand related regulations as follows:

• 10-99 km: 28,00 EUR
• 100-499 km: 211,00 EUR
• 500-1999 km: 309,00 EUR
• 2000-2999 km: 395,00 EUR
• 3000-3999 km: 580,00 EUR

Green travel can be applied upon previous request & information.