LET'S START

We decided to start new section in our blog which is EVS SENDING, here very soon you will find posts and stories of future EVS volunteers that we are currently preparing for few different projects we are partners with :)

It has been almost a month since Joao Miranda left Lisbon for his EVS in Dresden, Germany. We are hoping everything is great out there and Joao is improving his graphic design skills in Jugend- Kulturprojekt e.V.

Olga and Joao after preparation meeting:)

Besides project in Germany we found volunteers that will go to Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia and we are still looking one person for a project in Spain and one in Italy, if you are interested in finding more informations go to our website

Signing the EVS agreement with Miguel that is going to Estonia

Some time ago we organised EVS info day to gather all interested in European Voluntary Service that are seeking for more information, it was harder that we thought because still the idea of EVS is new to a lot of people, but that's why our office is always open for volunteers to come and talk, the same as Luzia and Ana did: 

Thank you for great meeting

Besides helping in finding the project for volunteers and sending them it is very important for us to be  present and supportive during the whole EVS period. EVS besides being the greatest adventure of your life is a well big changing process and it is good to have someone to talk to and share your thoughts :) 

For everyone that is interested in EVS please do not hesitate to send us an email: sve@checkin.org.pt and we will help you starting your big adventure :) 

Beijos,

Olga.

Maio on the way!

Olá a todos e bom dia :-)

Here I am once again, it is time to write the blog, and write down lots of eventssss we are living :-)
Well, what happened in the last month? Plenty of things, that's the right answer!
After our training course in Beja (where Check-In was the host organization) and the mid-term evaluation in Braga (a training that is mandatory for everyone that is doing the EVS programme), we came back to Lisbon and...we didn't stop, of course :-)
We went to discover the wonderful beach and side of Caparica, that is half an hour by bus from Lisbon. Even if it was raining all April long, we were pretty lucky and our weekend was full of sun :-) we had a great weekend with our organization, with the team, members and great people, from sharing new ideas for the upcoming future, to have a nice dinner together, with a special chef, our Margarida :-)

Sunset na Costa de Caparica, 30 April '16

Then, the start of May and so, you expect that finally summer is coming, yeah but not in Portugal ahah :-) rain again, the sun is so shy in here :D then, the first week of the month my family came and visit me, it was nice to act like a ''proper'' tourist guide in the city and in the surroundings :-) so, we went to Belém (it is always the right moment to go there and eat a fresh pastel de nata in the best spot for it), Cascais and explore even a bit more, just three days but full of travels and things to do!

Here and there in Lisboa :-)

It was also nice to go and take a look at Cascais, nice city on the coast, 40 minutes by train from Lisbon; could you understand why? :-)

Cascais in afternoon version!

So, beside being tourist guide in Portugal, we also going on with our work about the international projects, since Check-In organization is partner in a lot of upcoming Erasmus plus projects, and so we organized a preparatory meeting for the training course ''EuroACTive'' that is going to happen in Serbia these days; it is always great to meet with motivated people ;)

Training course ''EuroACTive'' preparatory meeting, ON!

Aaand, summer is coming so we need to be more sporty ''mode'', that s why I started to go and run and doing sports :-) last weekend I went and took part in the ''colour run'' in Cascais (actually Carcavelos beach to Cascais and back): even if the sun was still hidden, we had a colourful evening with nice people and run...and, at the end, apple cake...the best way to recover your energy after sports, it is recommended in each diet, sure ahah :-)

Colour run, super team :-)

Big hug and let s get ready for the summer, hopefully will come soon :-)

Super abraço

Nico, Lisboa

19.05.2016

                   

Ola,

we are almost in half of our EVS journey,at the end of april we took part in mid term training in Braga.. Through the tasks we got to know more about EVS and this was also a good opportunity to get to know new people.This time we talked about what we have done during our project,learned about methods and project implementation and  what plans we have after the EVS. Diffrent people with diffrent ideas.We shared our experience.It was really inspiring training! :)

mid term training

one of our activity

In one of the sunny weekend we had the meeting of partners in Costa da Caparica.We shared
experiences and knowledge ,we talked about the present and planed the future of Check-in. After planning there was a time for exploring beautiful beach in Caparica.The tradicional portuguese dinner was prepared by our amazing chef Margarida .Bacalhau was delicious! :) Cant't wait for your  pasta during Italian dinner in Check in.

brain storming

Our activity -team bulding .  Thank you Margarida father 's for organizing interesting activities! I enjoyed a lot :) .Besides it is  always nice to move on open air.          

sunny Caparica

                                        

 Let's see whats  another weeks will bring to my fantastic adventure! J         

                                   

Portugal spring time version

Olá nice people :-)

Every time I come back here, I realized that another month or even more is over; it is almost May, I can't believe that I came last October in here, someone deleted some months? Ahah :-)
Well, let's start from the end of February, where we had the chance to go to Braga for our on arrival training and it was a nice chance for discovering even more about the EVS programme, meet cool crazy people from different countries and, of course, travelling a bit in the north of the country ;)
Well, not only Portugal but also Galicia, the north-west of Spain, where with my super collegue Olga we were to meet our great Paula :-) what an amazing weekend, look at this picture:

View from Paula's city, Galicia (Spain)

So, are you still sitting? Just join us and come with us for the next trip in the north of Spain, let's go and meet our amazing Paula :-)
Then, the training course was very nice and great, after that I had the chance to spend few days in Rome, since I needed to solve some stuff with the wonderful bureaucracy, but I was able to spend few days and relax, taking some sun, eating ice cream and relaxing a bit :-)
PS just for make you aware of what I m talking about... :-)

Let's go, no more questions :-)

Then, March was full of events and activities, and then I spent Easter time on the beach, Carcavelos super one ;) very cool, the weather wasn't so warm but still, when you have the Ocean in front of you, organizing a pic-nic and the sun that comes out from the cloudies, yeah it is cool the same :-)

Carcavelos beach, 27 March 2016

And then it is already April, the second part of the month :-) yeah, why don't come back to Beja and exploring Alentejo region in spring time? Check-In organization was the portuguese host partner for the project ''Greentrepreneurship'', where we had the chance to meet and work with people from 4 different continents! It sounded amazing, and actually it was :-) you never stop learning, and grow every time more :-) and, as well, we learned new skills and tips about being ''green'' and respect the environment, that is the most important thing :-) here we are:

The amazing group from all over the world :-)

So, since now it is almost time to have coffee break, you are welcome to join me and let's go a drink a galao together ;) big hug if you were able to read all the post and didn't give up before, you have got a drink when we meet :-)

Abraços

Nico, Lisboa
20.04.2016

Intensive time

Ola,

I am Justyna ,new volunteer in Checki-in association. Taking a decision to leave everything what you have and take a deep plunge into something unknown is never an easy one. I took such a decision, left my job and decided to take one-in-a lifetime to opportunity to do my EVS in Lisbon. I am here almost two month.These months went by so quickly. 

cooking together

 
March was a polish month in Checkin. Intercultural JantarINho started this month. We cooked together polish ,kazakh and azerbaijani dishes, we exchanged our culinary talents , we explored our national cuisines,we had a lot of fun during preparation of dinner :) .  After the dinner we presented a few interesting facts  about Poland and Kazakhstan culture.

Schedule of training

Last week I went for on-arrival training in Braga .I spent there very productive time by learning more about EVS and youthpass with great people from different projects and organisations.I took part in different useful activities. New friends ,new ideas and energy to create my own path in EVS journey.

Team in Braga

In meantime we had time to explore Braga.:)

Porto by night

amazing sunset

After the Braga I went to Porto with my friend Linara. It is a highly atmospheric place with good vibes.View from bridge by night is amazing . We were there only two days , I will come back to Porto for sure.