Europäischer Freiwilligendienst (Efd) für 12 Monate in Spanien
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Europäischer Freiwilligendienst (Efd) für 12 Monate in Spanien
Erasmus+ volunteering with Avets Community in
Catalonia (Spain) – 2020/21
FADEAM- Els Avets de Moià Foundation is a non-profit organization whose main mission is the attention
and support of adult persons with intellectual disabilities. The attention is based on the relationship
established with persons with disabilities to achieve an inclusive and home-like dimension. Our goal is to
offer persons with intellectual disabilities a place to live and develop all their skills and autonomy and support
them in their participation and inclusion into society. The organization is part of the International Federation
of L’Arche Communities (www.larche.org) for people with intellectual disability; we are at present more
than150 communities around the world.The aim is to establish mutual relationships, where inclusion,
participation and responsibility are shared goals with people with disabilities both in the organization and in
society. Therefore, inclusion in society is essential to be open to the world that surrounds us and be part of
the life of our town.
The project starts the 1rst of September 2020 and is for 12 months. It is part of the Erasmus+ program
“European Voluntary Service (EVS)”. More info about the EVS program you find here.
Activities
Our Communities around the world only started thanks to the voluntary service. People who have
intellectual disabilities need support in their everyday lives. In L'Arche, persons who choose to share their
life, 'assist' them in a wide variety of tasks: cooking, housekeeping, medical or personal care and hygiene,
gardening, social events….
We have a wide team of professionals to aid the persons with especial needs and also volunteers.
Volunteering is a very important part of our project; people with disabilities do not feel recognised and
valued. The daily life and living together promote the growth of strong bonds which are an emotional
support for core members. The cultural exchange and "virtual traveling around the world" is also a benefit
offered by the volunteers; the effort of the people with disabilities to teach our culture to the volunteers
(food, feasts, football teams, language, daily life, ...) is also important. This exchange is always very rich in
new, lovely, happy, fun and interesting experiences.
We have a team of 6-7 long term volunteers coming from different countries plus many local volunteers.
Experience for the volunteer
The volunteer has the chance of having new experiences:
Cultural: new country with different landscape, climate, feast, traditions, food, daily life, language,…
Catalonia offers a rich and interesting culture; Catalan people are wishing to establish stronger bonds with
Europe and the rest of the world.
Educational: the volunteer, as part of the educational and support team, receives permanent training
directly from the responsible persons and the psychologist. The volunteer has a unique chance of non-
formal intercultural education which will boost social integration and active participation and will improve
employment opportunities and vocations and gives the chance to increase solidarity with other people and
promote a real change in the world.
Personal: the volunteer will discover the people with intellectual disabilities through sharing life with them.
These persons have the great ability of making us discover who we are, let us know our limits,… then,
coexistence is becoming a school of life.
Language learning
In our area we speak both Spanish and Catalan. Frequency of lessons will depend on level and needs of
each volunteer.
Training and support:
• The mentor will support the volunteer and will follow up the progress of the volunteer in the
organization. He/she will be listened to, supported, guided and helped with any matter needed.
Meetings will be as often as needed, usually every 15 days. At the beginning, the mentoring is done
daily and is focused in giving information for a good integration. The volunteers receive special
help to integrate in the local community.
• Regular meetings with other groups of volunteers in order to share co-existence experiences.
• The volunteers in our organization are part of the educational team. They receive continuous
training. They participate in all team meetings.
• If needed, the volunteer may get the support of the psychologist of the centre, but also from the
monitors.
Our organization has a special training program for volunteers, as part of the yearly Volunteers Plan. This
training will be offered during the first 2 months after arrival.
• Hygiene and precautions against contagion
• Reducing overexertion, postural hygiene norms.
• First aid
• Containment-interventions in case of crisis
• Cooking: Food handling. Preparation and hygiene
• Balanced meals.
• Guidelines on care of handicapped persons: occupational therapy, daily life activities.
Schedule - Free days and vacations:
An average dedication of 30 to 35 h/week, based on a weekly schedule, from Monday to Sunday. The
schedule is discontinuous, depending on the need for support in the different services. Each week the
volunteer receives his/her schedule for the following week. Every week the volunteer will get two free days.
Besides these 2 weekly free days, every month the volunteer can take a plus of two more free days and
compact them all together for a longer vacation.
Lodging
The volunteer will lodge in the same house as disabled people. This means that he/she will have a single
bedroom and a key of the house so he/she can enter or leave the house at every moment. There is also the
possibility to lodge in an antique apartment for volunteers, but this only has capacity for 4 volunteers.
Usually new volunteers are hosted in the same houses as core members to help know each other and have
the experience of life in common in one of our homes. After a few months, the volunteer may request to
move to the shared apartment with other volunteers.
VOLUNTEERS PROFILE
• Willing to know people with intellectual disabilities
• Willing to have a life sharing experience and community life
• Motivation to carry out a voluntary task, collaborating and giving as much as possible.
• Flexibility to adapt and work within a team.
• Open minded to be helpful when needed
• Positive and respectful attitude
• Willing to get involved in the organisation and its project
• Responsible attitude
• Basic good knowledge of Spanish language and interest in learning Catalan (the language spoken in
our area, together with Spanish). Knowing the basics of the language helps to communicate with
people with disabilities and facilitates the integration and self-confidence of the volunteer.
• It is preferable to have driving license and driving experience
BASIC CONDITIONS OFFERED TO LONG TERM VOLUNTEERS
• Accommodation (single room, either in one of the homes or in the apartments for volunteers,
subject to availability) and all meals.
• Basic Accidents and Liability Insurance.
• Erasmus+ Program provides health insurance and travel expenses, plus training seminars at arrival
and mid-term.
• Weekly Spanish lessons and Catalan lessons once a week (optional)
• Non-formal training program about intellectual disabilities, first aid, house holding, …
• Pocket money
• 2 free days per week
• 2 more free days per month (these days can be compacted to get a longer vacations period).
• Continuous mentoring and support since arrival and throughout all the stay.
• Final certification about the work done and competences acquired.
• The practical and logistic matters will be handled by CVS Bulgaria. SCI Switzerland will
organize all administrative matters like insurance and visa.
Please write to evs@scich.org if you are interested in becoming an Erasmus+ volunteer. Please
note that you can only apply if you are between 18-30 years old and if you have not volunteered
through the Erasmus+ before.
Send your application via email to evs@scich.org with the subject Application Avets
Community, and include all the following documents in English:
1) CV, Curriculum Vitae
2) Specific motivation letter for the project
3) Complete questionaraire (below)
Deadline for the application: as fast as possible
More details about the Avets Community and our activities can be found at
http://comunitatelsavets.blogspot.com/
QUESTIONNAIRE
This
questionnaire
is
intended
for
those
persons
interested
to
participate
as
volunteers
in
the
Community
Els
Avets,
in
Moià,
Catalonia
(Spain).
It
is
maybe
a
bit
formal
and
it
will
take
some
of
your
time,
but
we
appreciate
this
information
and
we
consider
it
is
very
important
for
our
possible
future
relationship.
The
information
that
you
are
giving
to
us
is
confidential
and
voluntary;
answer
in
the
way
and
intensity
you
feel
it
would
be
appropriate
for
you
(Spanish
or
English)
DATE:
1. Name
and
surname
2. Date
of
birth
3. Marital
status
and
gender
4. Nationality.
Passport
number
5. Complete
postal
address
and
phone
number,
e-âmail...
6. Describe
briefly
your
experience
of
life:
school,
experience
with
persons
with
disability,
professional
experiences…
7. Emotional
and
familiar
aspect:
tell
us
something
about
you
and
your
family
or
the
people
you
are
living
together.
8. How
did
you
know
our
project?
9. Why
do
you
wish
to
come
to
our
Community?,
What
do
you
think
you
will
achieve
with
this
experience?
What
do
you
think
you
can
contribute
to
the
Community?
10. Do
you
know
L’ARCHE?
Did
you
have
any
contact
with
other
people
or
communities
of
L’ARCHE?
If
you
lived
already
for
a
period
of
time
in
a
Community
of
L’ARCHE,
describe
briefly
this
experience
(how
long,
what
did
you
do,
what
did
you
like,
what
difficulties
did
you
find...)
11. Could
you
tell
us
something
about
your
weaknesses
and
strengths?
How
is
your
usual
reaction
to
a
stressful
situation?
12. How
long
do
you
plan
to
stay
with
us?
When
will
you
be
ready
to
start?
13. How
is
your
health?.
Do
you
have
any
special
need
or
physical
limitation
that
you
think
we
should
know?
14. Please
describe
briefly
a
national
and/or
international
issue
that
has
affected
or
impressed
you
especially.
15. What
sort
of
abilities
or
skills
do
you
have:
Music,
arts,
cooking,
garden,
handworks...?
16.
Do
you
follow
any
religion?
17.
Level
of
Spanish.
Other
languages?.
18.
Do
you
have
a
driving
permit?
Do
you
have
experience
driving?
19.
(only
for
ESC-âErasmus+
program)
Your
sending
organisation;
name,
reference,
contact
person.
Please,
send
an
updated
photo
of
you