A project for a coordinated EVS
Modalities

• Coordinated EVS : what to do ?
• Coordinated EVS : programme
• Ste Marguerite's EVS : practicalities

Coordinated EVS : what to do ?

Four partners in the framework of the EVS :

1. the young visually impaired
2. the sending organisation
• Associazione Disabili Visivi, Italy
• Unione Italiana Ciechi Firenze, Italy
• Views France (GIAA)
• Look National, UK
• Asociatia Nevazatorilor din Romania, ANR filiala Cluj, Roumania
• Polish Association of the Blind, Poland
• Grupo de estudiantes Ciegos, Spain
• Pontes
3. the host organisation - the Ste Marguerite's associations that have introduced a "host express of interest" and have been accreddited by the Bureau Iinternational Jeunesse (BIJ) - Belgian National Agency or the exacutive agency.
4. a coordinating organisation : Views - that has established services partnerships

What has been realised ?

1. Views is coordinating organisation : it has been searching for funding and it has established services partnerships with other specialised organisations for the adaptation of the data processing equipment, for specific training such as active listening adapted to visual impairment; it has recruited young professionals for landmarking the environment in a way adapted to each volunteer's visual impairment, adapting the life places and the material for French courses.
2. 7 hosting organisations from the Ste Marguerite's district have applied to the BIJ for being accredited. They have participated in a session organised by Views aimed at sensibilising them to visual impairment.
3. All partners met at the beginning of May 2006 for a feasibility visit.
4. Views developped common evaluation material for selecting the applicants.
5. Views and its partners are ensuring the promotion of the project in their countries.

What should be done now ?

1. First of all the sending organisations should take contact with their national agency to be told what to do to become a sending organisation : the procedure is quite light - or even none in some countries - but it differs from one country to the other.
2. The sending organisations should then "recruit" young people !! Views can only host a few volunteers at the same time.

How to recruit a young volunteer ?

1. check that the young applicant has a sufficient knowledge of French (elementary level required)
2. tell him/her about the hosting organisations' projects and discuss with him/her in how far one of those projects can meet with his/her personal aspirations : it is important since the EVS can be a basis for developping projects for his/her future
3. tell him/her about the EVS' programme
4. tell him/her about the EVS' practicalities
5. if the young applicant is interested, fill in with him/her the registration forms and send them to Views.

Six weeks after sending the aplications everyone should know whether their application has been successful.

Advanced planning visit

A two-day advanced planning visit is organised allowing the candidate to visit the hosting organisation of his/her choice . The young volunteer will be acccompanied by a member of his /hersending organisation.

The EVS itself

It will start and end on the dates agreed by all involed partners.

After the EVS

Back in its country, the young volunteer will be able to work on his/her personal project with the support of his/her sending organisation.

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Coordinated EVS : programme

• 2 weeks for getting acquainted with the environment
• intensive courses French
• landmarking the environment and reading tactiles maps
• Dayly living activities with an occupational therapist
• a period of half-time work (*) with a holiday included and a half-term evaluation
• At the end of the EVS: evaluation and preparation for going back home.

(*) During the weeks of half-time work a number of trainings will be given :

• 4 hours French a week - with material in braille when necessary
• training to active listening
• training to mindful learning
• training in specialised data processing

Close supervision is ensured by VIEWS.

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Ste Marguerite's EVS : practicalities

Finances

The young volunteers are not remunerated for their work; however :

1. their transportation expenses will be fully reimbursed
2. their accommodation is taken in charge
3. they receive an amount of 200,00 € a month for their food expenses
4. they receive monthly pocket money. The amount is decised by the Belgian national agency. Currently it is 105 euros.

Accommodation : community life

The young people will be accommodated in a house quite close to the center and located in the Ste Marguerite's district in order for them to be autonomous quite rapidly. There are quite a number of small shops in the neighbourhood.

The young people will be housed in individual rooms with common sanitaries (separated for males and females!). Kitchen and living room are common.

Assistance for mobility and daily living activities

During the first 3 weeks one sighted youngster will help them getting around and getting them acquainted with their environment for daily activities. Places will be landmarked (life and work places, neighbourhood shops), reading tactile maps and assistance in daily living activities will be organised so as to allow the young volunteers to access a maximum autonomy. At the end of the first fortnight, an evaluation will be made of their further needs for them to be able to carry on their activities on a daily basis as autonomously as possible.

Supervision

Supervision will be ensured by 4 members of Views' team. The mentor will check together with the young volunteer each week as concerns his/her specific needs.

The work to be done

All the voluntary services will be done in the same so-called Ste Marguerite's district. The young volunteers will be in direct contact with the local population, children to elderly people, from all social, economical and geographical backgrounds. Their main tasks will be welcoming people and listen to them and carry out tasks in the areas of administrative, social, vocational and cultural support.

[ Description of the Ste Marguerite's projects ]   [ Why a coordinated EVS ? ]

[ 1st EVS experience at Views' in 2005 ]   [ Loredana's and Anca's testimonies ]
[ What's up at Views' ? ]  [ Sitemap ]