Werkteam B.E.T.A - Volkshilfe Tirol
EuroMed Youth Project – EVS
Wörgl (Austria) June 2007


Dear JORDANIAN Volunteers,
We are searching for a volunteer for a EUROMED – European Voluntary Service project.


Project type Long-term
Location Wörgl (Austria)
Host organsition Werkteam B.E.T.A. - Volkshilfe Tyrol
Partnership The host project is open to working with any partner
Theme 1 Social exclusion (in general)
Theme 2 Youth policies
Target group 1 Youth and children
Target group 2 Unemployed

Project environment
"Werkteam B.E.T.A." is one of the 10 institutions of the VOLKSHILFE Tyrol organization, which exists for over 60 years, working in social affairs.
The main task of Werkteam B.E.T.A. is qualifying young people between 16 and 24 years for work. Nearly all of these teenagers attended special schools and are delayed in their development than average teenagers.
Skills which are taught include working with wood and metal, responsibilities of a caretaker, gardening and simple office duties. All these activities focus on the most realistic job situations, sometimes they even work for real companies.

All youngsters are employed for one year within the Werkteam and get the possibility to mature and acquire qualifications for the job market. After this year they should be employed by companies where they have done a practical training during the year.
Their timetable is from Monday to Thursday (8:00 a.m. - 4 p.m.) and Friday (8:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.)

As most of these teenagers have never been abroad the chance of talking and getting into contact with a person from another country is a great chance for fostering their intercultural understanding.
Local environment: Wörgl is a town with 12000 inhabitants and offers a wide range of cultural activities; shopping facilities and entertainment. The capital of the province Tyrol is only half an hour away by train. Besides the fantastic environment the whole area is a paradise for all sports-loving people.
Werkteam Beta is just in the center of the town.


Tasks
Werkteam B.E.T.A. deals with teenagers with special needs. As most of them are drop-outs, have attended special schools, yet achieved only poor school marks or very bad reports, they face difficulties in getting a job.
The idea to host a volunteer is that we would like to bring an international dimension to our work with youngsters. They have not a lot of access, interest and possibilities to participate in the international context. Our young people are thinking mostly in local or regional dimensions. With a European volunteer we hope to open their minds and making them interested in other cultures. If there is a chance we would empower them to get or to deepen their knowledge of foreign languages in a setting in which for them it is possible to gain.

Main idea is to be with the youngsters, a person they can talk to, a person who is interested in their work and they can share with.
There could be many approaches to work with our young people. Tasks of the international volunteers could be to talk to the teenagers, help them with easy work, especially when using the computers (e.g. writing CVs, job applications…).

Furthermore they could accompany the youngsters, in particular if they are working outside, and when they go on excursions or if they go to a job interview.

They have the chance to cook with the participants.

On a social basis the volunteers could learn to be a kind mediator if conflicts between group members occur and search for a persons they can rely on.

As most of the teenagers have some problems in integrate themselves in a social environment, the volunteers should also be a helping hand in learning matters like these.
If volunteers have awareness for gender problems they are most welcome to implement such issues in their daily work as well.
It is important to mark out that the volunteer is working in a team of professional staff and will get any support needed to have a successful time in the Workgroup B.E.T.A.

Developing own ideas
Our daily work is to support and to empower young people to use their resources. We would like to invite the volunteer to develop and present their own ideas. Projects can be of different kinds and can either happen spontaneously or be long-lived.
In this area there are no limitations of the volunteer's ideas and imagination. Their skills, interests and projects can be offered to the youngsters and the local community.
The participating hours for volunteers are 30 hours a week and include free time from Friday lunchtime until Monday morning. (This might give them the chance for being included in local community, for sightseeing, visiting friends or traveling around at weekends).

Percentage of Tasks:

10 % administrative and organization work
05 % evaluation and team meeting
50 % participating on daily program
20 % concrete outside activities
15 % realization of own project


Target group
We are searching for a person who is open, friendly and interested to communicate and listen to everyone. The volunteer should be interested in working with young people. There are no considerations related to gender, religion or linguistic skills.
Special needs

Interested???
Then send your CV and motivation letter as soon as possible to office@earthinternational.org . A.S.A.P before 28.09.2006

European Voluntary Service – Technical Information

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%
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%