CARE FOR TORTURE SURVIVORS
EuroMed Youth Programme
E.V.S

Kinisi Ethelonton Service Civil International – GREECE
&
JORDAN YouthExchange Group – JORDAN

Summary of your project:
“Care for Torture Survivors” is a project that facilitates Medical Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims (in short MRCT)’s activities in providing medical, psychological, social and legal services to torture survivors. Moreover, the involvement of international volunteer in our activities is a way of incorporating new insights and ideas from the volunteer’s background, social dynamics, and culture he/she lives in.
MRCT believes that the presence of a volunteer from a Mediterranean country creates a climate of trust and comfort to refugees who need the services offered by the Center because it demonstrates to them a much needed international dimension to their issue. It also provides additional help to refugees to integrate into the Greek society and encourage them to be involved in social activities.
MRCT has already close cooperation with other organizations from other countries, and this experience indicates that such an involvement is useful to improve the work done with refugees.

Host organization : Medical Rehabilitation Center for Torture Victims. http://www.mrct.org .
The Medical Rehabilitation Center for Torture Victims (MRCT) is a Non-Governmental, Non-Profit organisation. It was established in 1989, with the aim of providing medical, psychological, social and legal services to torture survivors. Also, to disclose torture practices and events, perform activities, which lead to abolishment and prevention of torture, organize seminars, conferences, etc. in order to educate and make the public aware of the issue. MRCT is closely cooperating with other organizations (national and international) on the above issues. MRCT is financed from European Commisions’ special fund for rehabilitation of torture victims - budget line B5-813 & B7-70. MRCT is a member of International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT) and founding member of the Balkan Network (BA.N.).

Location : Athens Country : Greece
Start date of service : 01/02/06 End date of service : 31/01/07
Duration months : 12 Months.
Sending organisation : JORDAN YOUTH EXCHANGE GROUP
Country : Jordan.
Applicant organisation : Kinisi Ethelonton Service Civil International (SCI) Hellas. www.sci.gr

SCI Hellas is the Greek Branch of Service Civil International, the international volunteer peace movement that runs volunteer activities since 1920. The activities include (a) international workcamps (b) long term volunteering services (c) trainings / seminars on volunteering and related issues (d) international awareness campaigns.

Project description :
Preparation, contact with the volunteer(s) and follow up
· Preparation: what preparation will be offered to the volunteer(s) before departure? Please indicate the duration of the preparation and the organisation(s) or person(s) responsible for carrying it out.
The volunteer ……………….will received 2 informative sessions about youth volunteering by our organisation JYEG.
· Contact with volunteer(s): please describe how the sending organisation(s) will stay in contact with the volunteer(s) during the voluntary service period.
JYEG will remain in contact with volunteer ………………….. by e-mail and phone. JYEG is planning to be in contact with the volunteer once per month.
· Follow-up: please describe the support available for the volunteer after the voluntary service period (experience sharing, etc.).
After his voluntery experience he will prepare a presentation in our offices in Amman to promote youth exchanges and international volunteering and present his experience in Greece.
On-arrival training
On arrival training will be provided by the Greek National Agency.
Coordination
Kinisi Ethelonton SCI Hellas has a considerable experience with dealing with volunteers since it participates in the YOUTH programme since 2001 and hosts/coordinates and sends volunteers within its network (Service Civil International) since 1984 (in Greece) and 1920 internationally. The Medical Rehabilitation Center for Torture Victims has a small experience with international volunteering through YOUTH and EVS (hosted 1 volunteer two years ago) and wants to concentrate on the service aspect of the programme, whereas SCI Hellas will focus on the practical and supporting aspect.
Volunteer meetings
JYEG will provide a special training ……………………. in relation to youth volunteering, the Youth programme, working with refugees and Greece. In relation to the mid-term and final evaluation meetings for the volunteer will attend the Greek National Agency trainings/meetings.

Staff and volunteers in the host organisation:
Total number of staff in the host organisation : 9
Number of staff and volunteers directly involved in the proposed EVS project : 1
Number of national and international volunteers already working in the organisation : 20
Local community
The headquarters of SCI Hellas and the MRCT are in Athens, Greece. Athens is the capital of Greece, with a impotrant refugee and immigrant community. The office of SCI Hellas and MRCT are in the centre of the city with easy access for the refugees and clients of the Centre.
Objectives and motivation
The Medical Rehabilitation Center for Torture Victims (MRCT) is a Non-Governmental, Non-Profit organisation. It was established in 1989, with the aim of providing medical, psychological, social and legal services to torture survivors. Also, to disclose torture practices and events, perform activities, which lead to abolishment and prevention of torture, organize seminars, conferences, etc. in order to educate and make the public aware of the issue. MRCT is closely cooperating with other organizations (national and international) on the above issues. MRCT is financed from European Commisions’ special fund for rehabilitation of torture victims - budget line B5-813 & B7-70. MRCT is a member of International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT) and founding member of the Balkan Network (BA.N.).
MRCT is placed in the centre of Athens, and it is very easy to be reached by public transport.
Volunteer tasks

The “Care for Torture Survivors” volunteer will help the specialized staff to communicate and share discourses with the beneficiaries. The volunteer’s work will take place in the headquarters of MRCT mainly. The working schedule will be six days per week (i.e. Monday to Friday), with flexible working time (61/2 hours per day), depending on the needs and the circumstances. It should be noted that the majority of the beneficiaries are from Arabic countries and so the presence of an Arab volunteer is expected to be very supportive for the refugees and their families.
The volunteer will assist in the following activities.
Interviews with refugees and their families. This step is the preparatory phase for evaluating the needs and estimating the actions MRCT should undertake for supplying rehabilitation services. At the same time, the volunteer will assist in the maintenance of the old cases. It is estimated that it will involve 75% of the work in aggregate however it may vary on a day-by-day basis.
Coordinate and organise activities for children and families. A very important feature of the volunteer’s work will be to organise activities with the children and families of the refugees. Such activities may involve organisation of games for the children, accompanying them to the theatre, cinema etc. It is estimated that it will involve 25% of the work in aggregate however it may vary on a day-by-day basis.
Recruitment
The Volunteer should speak fluently English (or Greek) and Arabic/ or Farsi/ or Kurdish/ or Turkish (in order of preference).

Practical arrangements for the volunteer
· Food: Please describe the arrangements for the volunteer.
The coordinating organisation will arrange for the volunteer to give them money to buy their own food and ensure they have access to facilities to prepare it.
· Accommodation: Please describe the arrangements for the volunteer.
The coordinating organisation will find adequate accommodation for the volunteer.
· Language training: Please describe the language training available to the volunteer during the project.
Volunteers will receive language training (formal or non-formal) throughout their stay, arranged by the coordinating organisation.
· Training and support: Please describe the on-going training and personal support of the volunteer.
The mentor will meet regularly with the volunteer to check on his/her progress and help solve any problems. They will also ensure ongoing support for the volunteer.
Volunteers will be given any training necessary for them to carry out their tasks.
Efforts will be made to help the volunteer integrate into the local community. The volunteer will have the chance to socialise with european volunteers who participate in other projects coordinated and/or hosted by Kinisi Ethelonton SCI Hellas. It will be an enriching experience both for the Med volunteer and the Europeans.
Volunteers will attend the on-arrival training organised by the National Agency or host organisation as well as nationally organised mid-term meetings.



Technical Information
Voluntary Service

Eligible: non-profit organizations, local governments, individuals
Age of Volunteer: 18 – 25 years
Duration of Project: 6 - 12 months (shorter periods considered)
No job substitution, No routine tasks, Minimum administrative work

Financial Support:
Travel: 100%
Sending Organization: 480 euro + 18 euro / month
Volunteer’s Allowance: 140 - 220 euro / month depending on country.
Hosting Organization: 480 euro + 300 euro / month (organization responsible for food and shelter)
Exceptional costs (e.g. visas, permits, arrangements for volunteers with special needs): 100%
On-arrival Training: 800 euro