Ana going to Slovenia :)

Hello everyone,

My name is Ana Proença and I’m about to embark on my EVS adventure in Velenje, Slovenia. 

Out of the blue I found myself at my last year of School and started to wonder about my next step. Should I pursue a Masters? Start to work? Take a year off? It was time to evaluate the several scenarios.

Going abroad for one year while doing volunteer work was something that I had dreamed of for quite some time, yet I always thought that I couldn’t afford such experience. I couldn’t be more wrong when I found out about EVS, an incredible program that I hadn’t heard about before.

First meeting in Check In with Olga- coordinator of EVS

  

At the moment I am feeling a mix of emotions: saudade (yes, already), excitement, nervousness, utter happiness and so on. 

But so far the biggest challenge prior to departure will be packing! I guess I will be forced to only take with me the simple bare necessities! 

A few days ago, I had with some other volunteers a pre-departure training and it was a great opportunity to exchange fears and doubts, as it is okay to feel nervous and even a little bit afraid. Through the training it made me realize that we are all in the same boat and I’ll get the chance to meet others along the way who are too.  

Signing the Activity Agreement - it is offical

Looking forward to arrive in Slovenia next Monday!

Ana    

PRE-DEPARTURE TRAINING

Being an EVS volunteer and working in coordinating EVS projects makes you reflect even more on the process itself and it affects (in a good way) preparation of the volunteers. 

Having small trainer experience I decided to prepare a one day pre-departure training to the future EVS volunteers that Check In is sending for projects.

Working mood :)

Before designing the training I asked all future hosts organisations what preparation do they expect and based on this and my experience in what preparation I got before I prepared the training that was based mainly on those topics: 

● Erasmus+ programme, European voluntary service, non- formal education

● Concept of volunteering 

● Rights and responsibilities of different actors in EVS project (Volunteer, SO, HO, CO)

● Learning objectives on personal and proffesional levels (including Youthpass)

● Motivation and expectations on own volunatry service

● Self – initiative

● Intercultural learning and individual learning process 

● Cultural shock and support system during EVS

● Practical issues (How to use the Insurance (CIGNA, European Health card), traveling, security etc.) 

● Linguistic support - OLS or local course

● Conflict management during the EVS 

● Follow up activities after project implementation phase

All the training was very easy going, the volunteers were very active and they shared a lot about their projects, expectations and fears towards moving to another countries  They were so well informed already about all the practical issues that I think they would do great without me :)

I think a good preparation (of sending organisations and by volunteers itself) it is a 50% of project success. I am very happy I could be involved in this process and assist volunteers in their future journeys. 

I had a lot of time to reflect about my own project and the fact that is ending soon, it is time for evaluating my competences and qualities that I gained during this year and start thinking about new adventures :)

With the amazing and brave volunteers :)

Beijos

Olga.

Ola,


This month we've celebrated Santo António -patron of Lisbon. This time Lisbon offer a full of entertainment activities and street parties.The main activities are in concentrated in the tradicional
neighbourhoods from Alfama to Castelo.
Before going to Alfama we have met in Martim Moniz to find out more  about Santo Antonio his life and history. It turned out that the quiz was not so easy :)After with knowledge about Santo Antonio we colud proper start  our amazing night in the colorful streets of Lisbon :)


                                        

Love Lisbon :)

One of the best part of festas Santo António is eating sardinhas :). First time I tried grilled sardinhas in Portugal and were very delicious.I dont know how many I ate :)but for sure it was a lot !

Sardinha

Crowded street it is sign that the festas is there. Life concerts ,people dancing  in the street ,tradicional pimba music. It is essential of  magic nights in Lizbon.If you have the  energy after the festas head out in the early morning sunshine to walking through the now deserted streets of Portugal's capital.

festas in Alfama

Of course, I cannot say anything about Euro 2016 :).Portuguese people love football.The biggest fun zone is in Praça do Comércio .There you can feel football fever.! Good atmosphere and many emotions :)
Portugal is in semi-finals! Congratulacions and good luck for the future match :)

Praça do Comércio

                                                                           




Justyna