Green Volunteering - Info Pack by Nikolas Christofi

“Green Volunteering” Agros- Cyprus 20-30 of April 2012

YOUTH IN ACTION Action 1 - Youth for Europe Sub-Action 1.1 - Youth Exchanges

‘‘Green Volunteering’’ AGROS - CYPRUS

Info Pack

“Green Volunteering” Agros- Cyprus 20-30 of April 2012 Summary of the project: The multilateral youth exchange “Green Volunteering” will take part in Agros, Cyprus from the 20TH until the 30th of April 2012. Our 10 partner countries are Bulgaria, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, Greece, Croatia, Belgium, Poland, Slovenia, Portugal and the total number of participants is 60. The main objectives of this project are to raise awareness of one’s own identity and culture and to cross borders to other traditions, languages and mentalities by involving actively with groups from other countries. One important part will furthermore be the addressing of prejudice in all kinds of situations and how to fight it. Through activities including group work, outdoor activities, interactive lectures, quizzes, games and workshops, the participants will find out more about the factors that may separate us (like nationality, mentality, sexual orientation, background, etc.) and learn how to benefit from this diversity instead of seeing them as obstacles. By getting in touch with the other participants, they will broaden their horizons and improve mutual understanding within Europe.

The main focus of the Youth exchange will be environmental protection and raising awareness about sustainable development through voluntary action. The aim is to raise awareness about environmental issues and explore the possibilities to act toward sustainable living culture. By exchanging their own experiences on this youth exchange, participants will get first-hand practice in intercultural learning. We believe that “Green Volunteer” will be an effective way to achieve understanding for the cultural diversity in Europe. From sharing personal cultural backgrounds to sustainable living culture. The impact however will not be limited to the Intercultural learning process only but also it will provide basic knowledge for recycling, by creating products from nature material that is free to make and can be placed on the market. The participants will be working together towards a result in a form of exhibition prepared together with the local youth from Agros which rarely has opportunities to interact with other European youngsters. One of the outcomes of the YE will be list of recommendations for volunteer green projects. The recommendations will be designed in form of check list for environmental protection and sustainable living that youth workers should take into consideration when organizing projects in future. All the groups will live together during 10 days sharing all activities and daily shores together. The methodology will vary from watching movies, debates, rolplaying and creative activities. Of course there will be included mutual presentaions and workshops to get to know each others culture a little bit better.

“Green Volunteering” Agros- Cyprus 20-30 of April 2012 Given the importance of making people realize that we are all members of a large family called Europe, we intend to contribute to making young people aware of their European citizenship. Basic purpose of our project is to promote cultural diversity by developping the intercultural learning. We aim to understand the lifestyle and social backround of each country by looking into the problems and the way of life of youngsters in the Mediterranean EU Countries. The project seeks the diversity of ideas, opinions, ethical awareness, and cultural differences of the participants in a unique framework of experience and activities. We shall look for similarities and differences between us. We also aim to familiarise ourselves with each other’s culture, to learn about the educational system in these countries and acquire new experiences and cultural knowledge. We are very interested to get to know how young people spend their leisure time. Our activities shall include seminars and working groups related to art, culture and education. Those activities involve discussions, workshops, lectures and evaluation in order to create a strong interaction between the youngsters of the participant countries. Aim: The working methods and non formal education techniques that will be used for the success of the goals include workshops, PowerPoint presentations, movie and documentary projections, knowledge tests, research from the actual participants, opinion exchange, a range of games which will provide better understanding of the subject, role games, debates and reverse lecture practices. The exchange will take place in Agros village (www.agros.org.cy) and will last 9 days in total, including the arrival and departure days. The number of participants comes up to 60 European youngsters, including group leaders from 10 different groups. In addition, the activities include lectures of the respective theme by experts while in the same time visits to various authorities and organizations like Cyprus Youthboard.

The youth exchange project has the following aims and objectives:  To promote volunteering for natural protection  To learn how to make something out of unusual natural materials and to reduce, reuse and recycle  To present intercultural learning by working, creating and cooperating together  To help the participants in their personal, social and professional development that leads to better self-esteem when they will be confronted to new experiences, attitudes and behaviors Other Aims of the project: We also aim to      

to valorise the intercultural learning and intercultural dialogue concepts by transferring them into practical activities; to valorise the creativity and the innovation potential of the participants; to promote the cultural diversity of the European space using the traditional custums as a tool; to facilitate the integration of young people into society and encouraging their spirit of initiative, their participation; to raise the intercultural competences; to support the development of youth organisations from participating countries or and to frame them in partnerships and projects within the “Youth in Action” Programme;

“Green Volunteering” Agros- Cyprus 20-30 of April 2012  to give young people with fewer opportunities or isolated access to the mobility and non-formal education  to promote a better understanding of the diversity of our common European culture and shared heritage as well as of our common basic values;  to come up with a common result of our work: the final show, based on valorising the common roots and the creativity of youngsters in imagining

Main objectives  To become acquainted with the concepts of concepts of culture and identity and discuss different views  To exchange good practices of youth organisations on intercultural dialogue  To discover approaches of strengthening intercultural dialogue through education, conflict prevention, youth work, institutional processes, etc.  To define the next steps of youth involvement in the civil society  To understand non-formal education, exchange experience and good practice;  To foster the idea of European citizenship and the values and principles of the European Union;  To promote the Youth in Action Program as a useful tool for intercultural activities and  To strengthen youth networking and create a safe environment for the participants to develop new ideas about future projects TIME: APV MEETING Arrival: March 30, 2012 Departure: April 01, 2012

YOUTH EXCHANGE Arrival: April 20, 2012 Departure: April 30, 2012

THE VENUE: VENUE OF THE YOUTH EXCHANGE: The youth exchange will take place in Agros village its 45 kilometers away from Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus. The accommodation will be at the centre of the village in 4 beds rooms, TRAVELLING TO CYPRUS: In Larnaca, it is the international airport of Cyprus. As Cyprus is an island, all the participants have to take the airplane. Please try to find the cheapest flight to Larnaca. Attachment you will find the maximum price per country. For sure we will have volunteers to guide you, so please sent us as soon as possible your travel details. When you arrive in Cyprus, we will pick you up from Larnaca airport and bring you to Agros

“Green Volunteering” Agros- Cyprus 20-30 of April 2012 APV MEETING: An Advance Planning Meeting (APV) will take place between 30 of March until 01 of April 2012. The meeting’s goal is to ensure that all the necessary requirements are taken into consideration in order to guarantee the successful development of the project. The duration of the APV will be 2 days (travel days excluded), and it will be monitored by a leader per group. The preparation meeting is of crucial importance for the success of our Youth Exchange. During this phase, the group leaders will agree on the common theme and the agenda of the Youth Exchange. We will reflect on division of tasks, programme of activities, working methods, profile of participants, practical arrangements (venue, transfers, accommodations, support material, linguistic support). TRAVEL COSTS: About the APV meeting (30/3- 01/4 2012), The organisers will reimburse 100% of your travel costs from your home city to Agros, Cyprus. About the Youth Exchange (20-30 of April 2012) The organisers will reimburse 70% of your travel costs from your home city to Agros, Cyprus.

APV MEETING: MAX. TRAVEL COSTS

Advance Planning Visit – travel costs Please note: only cheapest means of transport/fares are subject to reimbursement. Promoter

Number persons

Associacio Alba

TERRa photo agency. The John Paul II Catholic university of Lublin

Povod

Municipality of Preveza Joetz vzw Know and Association

Can

Means of transport

From

Costs

Spain