My pathway to a volunteering experience

Content

Welcome to your pathway to a volunteering experience!
This learning playlist consists of a range of activities which aim to lead you step by step to the volunteering opportunity of your dreams!
﻿The value of international youth-work: In the first opportunity you can discover the value of youth work. A volunteering service is closely related to the topic and therefore it´s useful to know about it. 
﻿Volunteering experience: What is that? In the second activity you can explore what a volunteering experience is if you don´t know yet. We especially want to introduce you to the European Solidarity Corps, which is funded by the European Commission. 
﻿Is it the right track? In the third activity you get the opportunity to check yourself. Is a volunteering experience the right track for you? 
﻿Find your perfect match! The fourth activity helps you to find the perfect match: the volunteering experience of your dreams!
﻿Tips and tricks to your application: In the fifth activity we offer you tips and tricks to a hopefully successful application. 
﻿My application: You are ready to apply? Earn a badge doing so in the sixth activity!
﻿My successful participation: And finally it´s time to tell your own story of your volunteering experience in the last activity! 
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This playlist is created by Cities of Learning, an international network of youth organizations. We want to encourage people to use the many opportunities that are out there. 
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Activities to complete

Complete the following activities, earn badges and you will see your playlist progress updated

The value of international youth-work

Optional

20 minutes

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Volunteering experience: What is that?

Mandatory

20 minutes

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Volunteering experience: Is it the right track?

Optional

20 minutes

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Volunteering experience: Find your perfect match!

Mandatory

20 minutes

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Content

There is an endless amount of volunteering opportunities out there waiting just to be found by you! But there are some more suitable to you than others. Take your time to find just the right one! This activity will help you knowing what you need to look for. 
“The key to success is to choose a volunteering opportunity that matches your skills, interests and availability. Once this is clear, you can start your search for a quality volunteering opportunity.”
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Side note: In this activity we want to focus on the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) funded by the European Commission. But there are other private organizations also organizing volunteering services. Find more information at the end of the text. 
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Set your goals: Try to answer the following questions: 
1 How much time do I have?
2 weeks to 2 Months: then a team ESC would be the right thing to consider.
2 to 12 Months: an individual volunteering opportunity would be wise to chose.
2. What fields would you like to work in?
Would you like to make an impact against climate change or express your feminist side with the right organization?
Who would you like to work with? Are you good with children, other rather elderly people? Would you like to help refugees or people with disabilities…
3. What are you skilled in?
Are you an expert in organizing small events and doing administrative tasks? Are you a social butterfly, who enjoys playing around with children? Or do you rather use your hands helping at an organic farm?
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If you are not sure what you are looking for you can take the European Solidarity Corps quiz!
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Where to find an opportunity: 
The European youth portal offers a database with organizations looking for volunteers. There you find information on how to contact them. You can also explore the endless list of ESC opportunities and apply directly through the youth portal once you signed up in the youth portal. 
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As already mentioned above, there are other private organizations organizing volunteering services. 
Eurodesk has set up an online quiz to help you find the most suitable volunteering opportunity for you. At the end, some programmes and organizations are introduced to you. 
Here are some interesting organizations and databases with information and offers for volunteering besides the ESC: 
﻿Service Civil International: volunteering for peace 
﻿WWOOF: a worldwide movement linking volunteers with organic farmers and growers
﻿Eurodesk: the website provides general information about volunteering and helps to find the right opportunity﻿﻿
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Resources

European Youth Portal: How to choose a good volunteering opportunity

Get activity badge

Volunteering experience: Match finder! Get this badge

Earners of this badge reflected, what kind of volunteering they are looking for and what they expect. They explored the opportunities given through the ESK program and decided what they want to apply for. 

You have to finish all tasks to get the badge

Tasks

Task no.1

Evidence verified by: one activity organiser

Think about the questions from the activity description. How would you answer them? Write us your answers here using key words. 

Task no.2

Evidence verified by: one activity organiser

Now find your perfect match: sign in on the European solidarity Corps platform and explore the website of the ESC. Look for opportunities, that you can imagine yourself doing and you are exited to participate in. Tell us which ones you want to apply for (e. g. title and art of volunteering).
This may take a while, but don´t rush and take your time. This might have a big impact on how you will spend your future and decide how much you can enjoy your volunteering experience!
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Volunteering experience: Tips and tricks to your application

Optional

20 minutes

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Volunteering experience: My application

Mandatory

15 minutes

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Volunteering experience: My successful participation

Optional

Unknown duration

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Skills

ESCO

#brief volunteers

ESCO

#encourage volunteers

ESCO

#help volunteers

ESCO

#inform volunteers

ESCO

#involve the volunteers

ESCO

#involve volunteers

ESCO

#recruit volunteers

ESCO

#manage personal lifelong learning

#Applying non-formal learning principles in programme design with emphasis on youth-centeredness, transparency, democratic values, participation, empowerment, and social transformation

#Knowledge of assessment practices in non-formal learning

#Knowledge of the values and key principles of non-formal learning

ESCO

#briefing volunteers

ESCO

#arrange charity activities

ESCO

#help volunteers

ESCO

#encourage volunteers

ESCO

#inform volunteers

ESCO

#application method

ESCO

#encourage cultural diversity

ESCO

#advise on careers

ESCO

#accord help on self management

ESCO

#achieve optimal time-critical decision making

ESCO

#foreign languages for careers abroad

ESCO

#counsel on career

#Acknowledging the experiences of others

Activities: 7

Started: 4

Completed playlist: 0

Time to complete: 1 hour 55 minutes

Organisers

Network of Cities and Regions of Learning

Badgecraft hosts this platform and develops it together with leading educational organisations. The European Union's programme Erasmus+ granted co-funding for building the first version of this platform. Contact support@badgecraft.eu.