1. “Harnessing new ICT’s as a means to ease the job inclusion of visually impaired youth” EBU Youth Seminar Bratislava, Slovak Republic 7th – 8th November 2009

2. “European volunteering projects for and with young visually impaired people” Loredana Mirela Dicsi Visually Impaired Education and Work Support (VIEWS International)

3. Objectives of the workshop Get aware with terms like: volunteering in general, EVS, Youth in Action Get aware with terms like: volunteering in general, EVS, Youth in Action Introducing briefly some programs that offer volunteering possibilities in Europe: Youth in Action with Action 2 and Civilian Volunteering Service Introducing briefly some programs that offer volunteering possibilities in Europe: Youth in Action with Action 2 and Civilian Volunteering Service Sharing experience from the volunteering field Sharing experience from the volunteering field

4. Working Methods Presentation of an 11 minutes film Presentation of an 11 minutes film Discussions Discussions Debates Debates Homework before the seminary Homework before the seminary

5. Materials “A Different Point of View”, film by Anca David from Views “A Different Point of View”, film by Anca David from Views Users Guide of Youth in Action Program, Action 2 Users Guide of Youth in Action Program, Action 2 Volunteer’s Guide, optional document Volunteer’s Guide, optional document Presentation of Views Activities Presentation of Views Activities Powerpoint presentation Powerpoint presentation

6. Homework Questions to reflect on: Why do you want to be an EVS volunteer? Why do you want to be an EVS volunteer? What do you know about EVS and what would you like to know more? What do you know about EVS and what would you like to know more? To which country would you like to go? For how long? To which country would you like to go? For how long? In what kind of project would you like to work (environment, work with children, office work, etc.) In what kind of project would you like to work (environment, work with children, office work, etc.) Would you need any assistance during the EVS time? If yes, what kind of? Would you need any assistance during the EVS time? If yes, what kind of?

7. Homework for those who were volunteers If you were an EVS or another kind of volunteer please prepare a half page document and indicate: Where have you been a volunteer? (the country) Where have you been a volunteer? (the country) The period of your volunteering The period of your volunteering What was your project? What was your project? What kind of assistance did you get? What kind of assistance did you get? What did you get from the experience on both personal and professional plan? What did you get from the experience on both personal and professional plan?

8. Plan of the Workshop Introducing ourselves (first name and the country you are coming from) Introducing ourselves (first name and the country you are coming from) Presentation of volunteering programs (reference to the homework questions) Presentation of volunteering programs (reference to the homework questions) The film The film Reactions, sharing experiences Reactions, sharing experiences Questions and answers from both sides Questions and answers from both sides

9. European Voluntary Service (EVS) What is it? What is it? Who can participate? Who can participate? Duration of a project Duration of a project What kind of project can I do as an EVS? What kind of project can I do as an EVS? How can I become an EVS? How can I become an EVS? What are the benefits? What are the benefits?

10. European Volunteering Center What is it? What is it? Who can participate? Who can participate? How long lasts a project? How long lasts a project? What kind of project? What kind of project? How can I become a volunteer? How can I become a volunteer?

11. The adapted EVS Preparation before the project: the application form for the grant the application form for the grant discussion about the special costs: mobility courses adapted documents, white cane etc. discussion about the special costs: mobility courses adapted documents, white cane etc. Advanced Planning Visit: visit of the Host Organization and the project visit of the Host Organization and the project visit of the flat visit of the flat evaluation with the mobility, daily living officers, and the mentor evaluation with the mobility, daily living officers, and the mentor

12. The Adapted EVS During the project: reduced working time 20 to 22 h / week reduced working time 20 to 22 h / week During the first 2 weeks: intensive: mobility courses mobility courses daily living courses daily living courses language courses language courses

13. The Adapted EVS During the project: Mobility courses Mobility courses Mindful learning classes Mindful learning classes Daily living courses Daily living courses Personalized reinforced mentorship Personalized reinforced mentorship Computer classes if needed Computer classes if needed Adapted city tours Adapted city tours Adapted documents in braille, large print or digital format Adapted documents in braille, large print or digital format

14. The adapted EVS We have 4,5 months or 9 months projects We have 4,5 months or 9 months projects We encourage the autonomy of the EVS We encourage the autonomy of the EVS Our volunteers work as all other volunteers Our volunteers work as all other volunteers Thanks to the mobility courses, the daily living courses, the appropriate assistance offered in the beginning and the support during the whole project, they can go by themselves to work, do shopping or to their leisure activities Thanks to the mobility courses, the daily living courses, the appropriate assistance offered in the beginning and the support during the whole project, they can go by themselves to work, do shopping or to their leisure activities

15. Questions for a future reflection In case we have the time, we will answer or discuss these questions: Is volunteering a first step towards employment? Is volunteering a first step towards employment? Did my volunteering experience help me to get a job? Did my volunteering experience help me to get a job? Was my experience as a volunteer a support to do my job better? Was my experience as a volunteer a support to do my job better? Am I more prepared for a first work experience than someone who didn’t do volunteering? Am I more prepared for a first work experience than someone who didn’t do volunteering?

16. My contacts Name: Loredana Dicsi Name: Loredana Dicsi Email: dicsi_loredana@yahoo.com Email: dicsi_loredana@yahoo.com address: Views International aisbl Rue en Bois 104, 4000 Liège Belgium address: Views International aisbl Rue en Bois 104, 4000 Liège Belgium Phone: +32-4-224-7016 Phone: +32-4-224-7016 Fax:+32-4-224-7015 Fax:+32-4-224-7015 web-site: www.views.be www.viewsintl.eu web-site: www.views.be www.viewsintl.eu