2011 is to be the
European Year of Volunteering. With this
year the European Commission underlines the key role volunteers and voluntary
organisations play in different ares of European society today. Don Bosco Youth-Net ivzw is such an
organisation. We are a network focussed
on non-formal youth work which brings together more than 17.000 volunteers in
13 EU member states. Don Bosco Youth-Net
ivzw is part of the worldwide Don Bosco Movement which involves a multitude of
this number of volunteers catering for youth in different settings (youth work,
schools, boarding houses, special youth care, sports, ...). Cornerstone of the work of all organisations
involved in the Don Bosco movement is our specific pedagogical approach. This is grassroots approach which motives
young people through education (formal, informal and non-formal) in growing
into active citizens and establishing social change especially for the poorest
of young people. One of the main tools we use for this is volunteering.
This project aims to be a
celebration of Don Bosco organisations of the “European Year of
Volunteering”. The project tries to
bring the EU viewpoints on volunteering closer to the volunteers and voluntary
organisations involved in the Don Bosco Movement. As such we aim to add a European dimension to
the work they are carrying in various local communities.
For this project we put forward
following objectives:
Bring together volunteers who are active in
local communities at home, and those who are active abroad inside and outside
the European Union.
Identify the impact roles volunteers active in
our organisations have on the communities in which they are active
Identify challenges volunteers and voluntary
organisations are facing in carrying out their work
Set-up an indepth discussion between volunteers,
voluntary organisations and policy makers on the challenges volunteers are
facing carrying out their voluntary work
Increase the involvement of young volunteers in
decision making process of their local organisations
Develop tools to support volunteers in further
developing their voluntary engagement (guide to project funding, accreditation
of NFE, promotional materials, ...)
Ensure a democratic, participative approach towards
volunteers throughout the whole project
In the preparation process of this EU year a ‘Study on volunteering in the European Union’ has been published. This study does not only offer an interesting overview on the different cultures which exist in the member states when it comes to volunteering, but it also focusses on the main challenges and opportunities which volunteers face within the Union. In other terms, this study describes the context voluntary work is presently performed in. Therefore we will use this study as a theoretical framework for the project.
In the explanatory memorandum,
which was part of the proposal for the council decision on the European Year of
Volunteering, the commission writes: “Volunteering
is a core expression of civic participation and democracy, putting European
values such as solidarity and non discrimination in to action and contributing
to the harmonious development of our societies”. These core values of the European Union are
identical to the christian values on which are the basis of the voluntary work
of our partner promoters. Therefore we
are confinent this statement demonstrates the work our volunteers are doing in
the local communities at home or abroad.
However in carrying out their voluntary engagement they are facing many
challenges. This project facilitates a
discussion on these challenges both on local as on European level. Moreover, we are asking our volunteers to
take action through the project to tackle these challenges.
A little bit further in the memorandum the commission
writes: “Volunteering ... both contributes
to the social cohesion of society with the results it achieves and the bonds of
solidarity it creates and it helps the volunteers themselves by boosting their
skills and personal development. These
... benefits make a real contribution to the EU’s social agenda, which aims to
create more opportunities for EU citizens, improve access to quality services
and demonstrate solidarity with those who are affected negatively by change.” Also his citation is close to the principles
of our partner promoters and volunteers.
In all our voluntary activities we have a strong emphasis on the
learning process of the volunteers. We
do this through offering young people different opportunities to volunteer
adapted to their educational development.
Through our voluntary work we aim at creating a more social society,
especially for those most in need. By stressing
on the similarities we have with the European Union on this matter, the
participants will become aware of the European dimension of their voluntary
engagement.