1. Can volunteering be a means for better employability and active inclusion of vulnerable groups?

2. Objectives of the session: - Acquire a common understanding on volunteering; - Get familiar with current and future European policy volunteering frameworks; - Introduce learning aspects of volunteering supporting the employability of vulnerable groups;

3. Understanding of volunteering: Question: What comes to your mind when I say a “volunteer”?

4. Volunteers: are people of diverse groups including all races or ethnicity, gender, age, disability and religion undertaking a wide range of tasks in conditions meeting the following principles: - Undertaken of a person’s own free will and motivation ; - Without seeking financial gain; - Address human, social or environmental needs and concerns; - Is often carried out in support of a NGO or community-based initiative; “Policy Agenda for Volunteering in Europe - P.A.V.E.”

5. A volunteering activity: Volunteering activities are undertaken by volunteers. The activity is undertaken for a non-profit cause and does not replace paid staff. “Communication on EU Policies and Volunteering”, 2011. “Volunteering is promoted as an activity of interest of the Republic of Serbia and the public interest itself which contributes to the active participation of the citizens in social processes and the development of a more human and equitable democratic society of equal opportunities, and improve the quality of life of citizens. “Law on volunteering” Republic of Serbia, 2010.

6. The difference between volunteering and work & internships in Serbia: - “The internship is not included in the volunteering activities” - “It is forbidden any kind of volunteering that replace working under the law on work” “Law on volunteering” Republic of Serbia 2010.

7. Importance of volunteering: - 80% of Europeans citizens feel that voluntary activities are an important part of democratic life in Europe; “Eurobarometer Num. 273”2011;

8. Different kind of volunteering: - 25% of Europeans (EU) are estimated to be involved in volunteering; Where? - Volunteering in an organization; - One off events (time by time / occasional volunteering); - Outside the framework of an official organization; The main areas for a voluntary work: - 24% volunteer in a sports club or a club for outdoor activities; - 20% volunteer within a cultural, educational or artistic organization; - 16% charitable or humanitarian organization; “Eurobarometar 2011.

9. Developing competences through volunteering ? The main benefits of voluntary work are: - Strengthening social cohesion was mentioned first by 34%; - Strengthening the fundamental values of solidarity’ by 25%; - Personal fulfillment and development of volunteers scored 25%; - The acquisition of knowledge & integration into working life 22%; - The economic value of the voluntary sector to the EU was mentioned by 12%; In accordance with Eurobarometar research, 2011.

10. Benefits: Community level: - Develop people’s social values (tolerance for example); - Increase sense of belonging in the community; - Citizens builds social innovative projects based on the needs of the community;

11. Individual level/competences: Gain different skills and competences and develop personally & ly and professionally: Softs skills: Teamwork, Communication, Conflict transformation, Intercultural competences, etc; Practical skills: How to organize and implement projects, How to communicate in local community, build partnerships and other practical things; Knowledge: Depending on the area where the volunteering takes place; Create space for a wide range of people to work together, thus enhancing social inclusion ; Networking: An important step for future employment chances;

12. Example: people with disabilities - Disabled people are two to three times more likely to be unemployed d than non-disabled persons; - They are more likely to be unemployed for longer periods and face higher risks of losing their jobs than non-disabled people; - At present, 78% of disabled people are totally excluded from the workforce. Most of them are obliged to depend on welfare grants to survive and as a result, their income is considerably lower than that of non-disabled people; - Barriers preventing access to the employment market are most of the times based on misconceptions and judgments on a person’s abilities; - There is a need to foster legislation to promote positive action in the labour market; “European Disability Forum” 2013.

13. Volunteering and employability of the vulnerable groups: suggestions! Recognize a link between volunteering and employability; Whilst volunteering should not be seen as a replacement for employment the capacity of volunteering to provide innovative responses to this common challenge should be recognized and supported; Volunteering during unemployment should not be the reason for losing social benefits such as unemployed benefits and social security benefits;

14. Examples of the projects enhancing employability of vulnerable groups: Balkans: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Osmijeh; European Union: - Certification of volunteers competences in NGOs; - Reveal project

15. Recognition of volunteering experiences: Volunteering is an outstanding source of learning and a contributor to personal and professional development; It important to recognize volunteering as a source of non- formal and informal learning in the form of qualifications or recognition of skills;

16. Europass: A system, composed of five tools, aimed to make skills and qualifications clearly and easily understood in Europe; - making communication easier between the jobseeker and the person offering a job; - facilitates the mobility of people in training and employment; - brings transparency to the comparability and recognition of qualifications at European level. http://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/

17. European Skills Passport and Europass Experience : The European Skills Passport is a portfolio of documents, uniting all Europass tools. A new tool, Europass Experience, will be introduced in 2013 to enable citizens to record the skills and competences they have acquired in various settings, either through work-like experiences (internships, summer jobs) or through volunteering.

18. Useful policy documents: Policy Agenda for Volunteering in Europe “P.A.V.E.” http://www.eyv2011.eu/images/stories/pdf/EYV2011Alliance_P AVE_copyfriendly.pdf “Erasmus for all” http://ec.europa.eu/education/erasmus-for-all/ “Europe for Citizens” http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/citizenship/index_en.php “Law on volunteering” of Republic of Serbia http://www.paragraf.rs/propisi/zakon_o_volontiranju.html http://www.eyv2011.eu/images/stories/pdf/EYV2011Alliance_P AVE_copyfriendly.pdf http://ec.europa.eu/education/erasmus-for-all/ http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/citizenship/index_en.php http://www.paragraf.rs/propisi/zakon_o_volontiranju.html

19. CEV European Volunteer Centre The European Volunteer Centre (CEV) is the European network of more then 80 national, regional and local volunteer centers and volunteer support agencies across Europe. Through our network we work together to promote and support volunteering through advocacy, knowledge sharing and capacity building & training. www.cev.be www.cev.be

20. Can volunteering be a means for better employability and active inclusion of the vulnerable groups? YES!

21. Contact me personally at: markopaunovic1981@gmail.com For further information on volunteering: cev@cev.be Thank you for your attention! markopaunovic1981@gmail.com cev@cev.be