On Saturday (September 5, 2020) EU SOLIDARITY CORPS organized an event for initiative youth in Utrecht. Young people from different youth organisations were given space to develop their ideas and think about a Solidarity project they would like to implement in their communities.
Solidarity Corps program advisors helped the youngsters to think about different valuable projects which can benefit their communities in the Netherlands. The activities of the event were implemented in non-formal methodology so that the youngsters learnt a lot, not forgetting about having fun in the frame of energizers and teambuilding activities.
If you are an initiative youngster, eager to make positive changes in your neighborhood and volunteer for a great Solidarity idea or just want to join our projects, please contact us and join our friendly group.
Here are the projects you are welcome to join!
Volunteer for Newspaper
In the frame of this project we are going to volunteer for an online non-profit newspaper facing difficulties in human resources/volunteers. In a challenging journalistic environment we will work with each other and create interesting and actual articles/reports in 2 languages (Dutch, Armenian). (The group will be couched efficiently to start the project and will have coaching support during the project as well. So you do not need to have a journalistic background at all).
Improving the quantity of articles in Dutch we would like to not only support the newspaper to be more active in the community but also we eager to motivate young people living in the Netherlands to be involved in the newspaper's life. This project will give you space to learn new tools, meet new interesting people and experience ourselves in the new environment. We will have fun and improve our knowledge together.
The volunteers will get EU certification which they can attach to their CV while applying for any job.
Dutch for Kids
There are lots of expats and refugee families nowadays in the Netherlands. Most of the kids from such families either go to international schools (in case of expat families) or are having difficulties with learning Dutch. Kids who do not speak Dutch but live in the Netherlands for years feel uncomfortable and not confident out of their international communities, often facing difficulties on their way of socialisation. All of these brings to number of complexes while communicating with Dutch speaking kids. We have an idea to create groups of non-dutch speaking kids and to volunteer for them using non-formal methodology, teaching them Dutch, giving them space to think out of box, improve creativity and stand closer to Dutch society and language. If international kids start talking Dutch their parents will be more motivated to learn the language as well. Thus we have an idea to promote Dutch language among foreigners and motivate them to learn it.
Digital Skills for Elderlies
Another idea of ours is to implement a nice volunteering project for elderlies houses/communities in the Netherlands and to teach them basic digital skills (confident usage of information and communication technology for social and daily life). During the COVID-19 outbreak they faced a big problem of grocery shopping and some youngsters (from our NGO as well) were happy to volunteer for them to make daily/weekly grocery shopping. During that period we faced a problem that many elderlies living in the Netherlands either did not trust others who eager so much to volunteer for them or they were just used to be in action and do everything by themselves (not accepting any help). Their active visits to supermarkets unfortunately caused lots of new cases and the spread of the virus among elderlies raised actively.
Living in times of technology it is very useful and necessary for elderlies to gain basic digital skills, in order to be able at at least to buy food online, communicate with each other using whatsapp, viber or other relevant applications. .
We are sure this actual project will have great outcomes and will both protect them and also give space not to feel lonely, being able to communicate with friends and relatives in distance. Thus thanks to this project the involved elderlies will improve their communication possibilities, will become more confident and happy in a safe environment.
Taking part in a European Solidarity Corps project will be a significant achievement for any young person. It will be an asset when applying for a job and it will help you when you apply for higher education. The European Solidarity Corps can be a new opportunity for you to be engaged in a meaningful activity which has been proven to be a stepping stone into employment.
After participating in a project you will be entitled to receive a EU Certificate that documents your participation. You could use this when applying for jobs or further learning.
Do you want to be involved and volunteer?
If you are from 18 till 30 years old, send us a message and be one of us to make positive changes in our neighborhood!