SKE AVGOROU: The volunteer program "More Steps to Solidarity" has been completed - See the results (IMAGES)

SKE Avgorou, requested and implemented the Volunteer Program, MORE S.Te.P(S) TO SOLIDARITY, which lasted 18 months, from 01 August 2020 until 31 January 2022.

The Program Grant was made by the European Commission and concerns the period 2021-2027.

The Volunteering Program MORE S.Te.P (S) TO SOLIDARITY implemented in the framework of the European Solidarity Body Program and has as aim to promote support and solidarity with fellow human beings through teamwork, mainly through volunteering, by strengthening the commitment between young volunteers and the organizations involved.

Specifically, his goals were the following:

• Providing equal opportunities for participation and action to as many young people as possible from European and non-European countries selected in order to contribute to the daily activities of the organization, thus supporting the groups of those served (children and the elderly).
• Development and improvement of their skills and abilities in matters related to the contribution / participation and organization of various activities, thus giving the opportunity to the participants to become creative but also flexible in matters of culture.
• Promoting solidarity as a value, to vulnerable groups of the population, such as infants, children and the elderly.
• Development of the spirit of solidarity and acceptance between the participants and young people from the local community.
• Development and improvement of their personal identity but also increase of their employment opportunities in the European labor market.
• Development of networks and contacts between the participants, all partners and the communities in which the young people are active in order to exchange culture, cultural diversity, multilingualism and good cooperation in the field of European programs for Youth and Education.
• Improving the learning ability of the participants by acquiring skills, abilities and behaviors, through non-formal learning activities, and their recognition with the issuance of the Youthpass Certificate, which includes in detail the learning benefits gained by the participants through their participation in the Program and their involvement in the local community.
• Ensuring the best possible recognition of the Youthpass Certificate, and promoting it through dissemination and utilization activities as a tool of Certification of skills and competencies through non-formal learning.

The Program was divided into 4 Four months and in each of the four months they participated 3 Volunteers from different countries. A total of 12 volunteers from Italy, Georgia, Portugal and Hungary participated.

The selection and sending of volunteers to the Organization was done in collaboration with the support organizations which were:

• The Associazione Culturale Eufemia APS from Italy.
• BITISI from Georgia
• PROATLANTICO from Portugal.
• MAGYAR ONKENTESKULDO ALAPITVANY from Hungary. , with whom we have already collaborated in other previous programs.

The volunteers lived in a house in the center of the community of Avgorou, which was rented by the organization through the grant of the program.

For their travels in the community they used bicycles or pedestrians, while for their travels outside the community they used the city buses.

The organization had set mentor for the personal support of the volunteers and their smooth integration into the community. It was the link between organization and volunteer to address any issues that existed between organization and volunteer.

He was responsible for their education through non-formal learning such as workshops, games and activities.

The program coordinator was responsible for the program of volunteer activities and the smooth operation of the program, communication with partner organizations, and issues that mainly concerned the management of the program.

Program activities

• The volunteers participated in the programs of the organization, Nursery A, Nursery ΄B, Elderly Service Center and Seniors Club.
• They participated in these programs on a daily basis from Monday to Friday, implementing various activities always in collaboration with the heads of each Department.
•  In the kindergartens they helped the teachers in almost all the activities. They participated in the organization of games, feeding, construction, gymnastics, music, etc. They had the opportunity to carry out their own activities with the children, always in collaboration with the teacher, such as foreign language lessons, cooking, intercultural lessons, etc. Handmade toys were to blame. for children on wheels and painted them.
• They accompanied the children from the Children's Club during the summer months to the swimming pool for swimming lessons.
• At the nursing home, they organized activities for the elderly, such as raffle, bowling, and arm and leg exercises. They helped with serving, cleaning the space or even in office work.
• At the Elderly Club, the volunteers helped with the preparation of the breakfast, the serving, the cleaning of the area. They participated during the summer in the gymnastics at sea where they accompanied those served at sea for gymnastics. They provided foreign language courses to the staff, each in their own language, whenever possible. They took painting lessons, and participated in craft activities, helping the elderly with construction.

All the volunteers with their participation in the program had a lot to give but also to receive, like all the rest of us who participated, project managers, partners, staff and the community in general.

Results of the Program

By participating in the program most of the volunteers learned how

1. To think more logically and come to conclusions
2. To find solutions when faced with difficulties or challenges
3. To design and implement their learning skills and to be independent
4. To express themselves creatively
5. To develop various ideas and try to implement them
6. To see the value of different cultures,
7. Work in a team
8. To plan and organize various activities.

Furthermore

1. They gained more confidence
2. They knew better about their strengths and weaknesses
3. They developed the ability to adapt and act in new situations
4. To think and analyze information and judge it
5. Be more tolerant of the values ​​and behavior of others
6. Be open-minded and curious about new challenges.
7. To be more interested in what is happening in the world in general.
8. To make decisions
9. They are better able to discuss multiculturalism in Europe and understand European identity.
10. They have become more interested in tackling racism and xenophobia
11. And they are more willing to express their views to others and to defend them.
12. Also thanks to their participation in this program many of them have expressed the view that it helped them in their subsequent course for work or education.
13. They have also obtained the Youthpass Certificate, which is an important tool that recognizes the non-formal learning abilities and skills that each volunteer has acquired by participating in the program and can use it in their CV to be hired for a job or for his education.

In closing, we should mention that all the participating organizations have gained extensive experience in both the management and the implementation and completion of the program.