Dünya barışına ve sürdürülebilir kalkınmaya destek vermeyi, kültürlerarası diyaloğa katkıda bulunmayı amaçlayan PeaceWorks Sweden, Avrupa Gönüllülük Hizmeti kapsamında Batı Avrupa ülkeleri ve Türkiye’den gençleri konuk ediyor.
Eğer ilk kez Avrupa Gönüllü Hizmeti'ne başvuracaksanız ve sorularınıza yanıt arıyorsanız bu linki tıklayın!
2010-SE-41
PeaceWorks Sweden
Accreditation Sending organisation, Host organisation, Co-ordinating organisation
Approval Date 28/10/2010
Validity Date 28/10/2013
Location Stockholm (Sweden)
Theme 1 European awareness
Theme 2 Media and communication/Youth information
Inclusion Cultural differences, Disability, Economic difficulties, Educational difficulties, Geographical difficulties, Health problems, Social difficulties
Project environment
The project is located in the southern centre of Stockholm where you can find many second hand shops, ecological products as well as fair trade shops and design stores. There are many bars, clubs and cafés in the area and a lot of young people. The communications in Stockholm in general and around the office in particular are very good. The office where you mainly will work, shares a whole building with around 30 other non-governmental organizations, which makes the work environment very dynamic and interesting. There are many young people around 25- 30 years old working in the building. There is a library and many activities are arranged in the building mainly with focus on global issues and integration.
Read more about Stockholm on the tourist webpage: http://beta.stockholmtown.com/en/
There are many opportunities for leisure activities, such as study circles and sport activities, and joining other groups. Even if some of these might be costly, there are also free or cheap alternatives, and PeaceWorks office and members will provide support and tips to the volunteer in this regard.
The volunteer will share an apartment with other volunteers, and receive monthly food allowances.
Rules and conditions
You will share an apartment with other people. As a volunteer you need to follow the "common guidelines" defined in the flat where you live in, which depend of what you agree together, or the rules that already exist. It is of course important to respect the fellow flat friends.
The apartment is located around 20-40 minutes from the office. We are flexible and try to satisfy your living needs as much as we can in Stockholm, which is a city with a challenging accommodation situation, something which is good to be aware of.
Service and learning opportunities
The volunteer will get support from his/her work mentor, who will deal more with the daily tasks and activities. The volunteer will also get more social support from the social mentor, who is someone from outside the office. It is important that the volunteer feels s/he can turn to someone in case there is a challenge. The volunteer will be able to participate in trainings organised by PeaceWorks and our partners.
Below are some of the expected learning outcomes for our volunteers:
- increased understanding of her own identity and cultures, as well as of other peoples and of Sweden, and intercultural competences
- knowledge and competences in the different fields she will be working with, which will help her in the future and in professional challenge
- knowledge about how a youth NGO can work
- administrative skills
- skills and competences related to cooperation and team work
- Swedish language skills (as well as English)
- understanding of social issues, and how the Swedish and European society is built
- hopefully a greater insight and engagement for a more peaceful and just world
Role of the EVS volunteers
The EVS volunteer will not replace ordinary staff members, but be a support at the office and provide new perspectives. S/he will not work as many hours as a staff member, and never have too much responsibility. The volunteer will have a social role in the organization, and be in contact with some of the incoming and outgoing volunteers. He/she will function as co-worker with the board helping with arranging our 3 (possibly 4) forums during the year. He/she will assist in the daily work at the office, including administrative and informative tasks. PeaceWorks has also seen the very positive result of involving closely the office EVS volunteer(s) in information activities, in forums where a lot of young people are present. When there is a volunteer present in about the same age as the young Swedish people, there is a nice atmosphere and a great chance for inspiration and empowering both the volunteer, and possible future volunteers.
Activities for the volunteers
The following types of activities are some of the main activities/tasks the volunteer will be involved in (note that some projects/tasks are dependent on circumstances, such as funding, or priorities given from the GA so it could be that the volunteer will not do all of the following tasks, and some tasks may be added):
-arranging the PeaceWorks forums (3/4 forums/year)
-participating in courses and seminars of interest for our organization
-participating in marketing events informing young people about our organization (festivals, fairs, school visits etc.)
-recruiting members and volunteers
-keeping in touch with our incoming volunteers (who are part of our other exchange programmes, not through the Youth in Action programme. This is not a big part of the tasks, but it is more of a social one, which former volunteers have appreciated very much since they meet people from the entire world).
-following and participating in the international cooperation of PeaceWorks
-developing our information material, in particular improving the website
-being involved in the work camp sector, e.g. administrating outgoing volunteers, or being in contact with local partners (depending on whether there will be a cooperation or not)
Apart from these ideas of tasks, the volunteer will be given freedom to develop the activities and projects of the organization, in case they have own ideas and a wish to develop projects (therefore this is not compulsory). We believe it is important to be flexible since the project ultimately depends on the background, interest and constant development of the volunteer.
Below is an approximate planning of the week. However, note that depending on the priorities of the specific year, or of ongoing projects, or interests, backgrounds and needs of the volunteers, this may look differently from different volunteers and projects. Also, the activity year of PeaceWorks varies, so depending of the time of the year the volunteer will help out with different tasks.
Monday Morning
-Week meeting with all office staff and volunteers
- going through emails
Monday Afternoon
- Information event in a 6th form school, gymnasium (talking with youth about voluntary work) with another person from PeaceWorks
Tuesday Morning/Afternoon
- Participating in an information fair for young people
Wednesday Morning
- Preparing (together with the local volunteers) the social activities for the upcoming forum of the organisation
Wednesday afternoon
- Weekly planning meeting together with the international coordinator and intern working with the volunteer sector
Thursday Morning
- Preparing the upcoming forum with the office and board members
Thursday Afternoon
- Helping out with updates on the website
Friday Morning
- Swedish lessons
Friday afternoon
- Off / free time
Volunteer profiles and recruitment process
PeaceWorks welcome all volunteers to apply for this project. We believe it is useful, not at least for the volunteer him/herself to be able to gain as much as possible, if you are:
-social and like to meet new people
-willing to work as a team
-interested in the questions that our organization works with (peace, youth work, volunteering, trainings)
When it comes to the recruitment process, apart from receiving emails from interested candidates that have seen our project at the EVS database, PeaceWorks will spread information of vacant volunteer positions to partner organisations. Since PeaceWorks has a long experience of volunteer exchange and we are members of bigger global networks (ICYE, CCIVS etc), we have many contacts and partners.
We will read all the applications, and if it is for our own project, we will contact a few candidates, and have further contact with them. The last years the candidates have been able to speak to the current volunteer, also to make sure that this project is really of their interest and that they think that they will get what they expect. We will be in touch with both the volunteer and the sending organisations, and (if we are coordinating the project) the hosting organisation, in the recruitment process. We have asked our sending partners to make sure the candidates are aware of the particularities of PeaceWorks and/or our projects that we are coordinating, so that the volunteers see our context as one where they can develop and learn.
When it is recruitment for another organisation that is the hosting organisation and PeaceWorks acts as a coordinating organisation, PeaceWorks will forward the applications we received to the hosting organisation, which makes the selection and takes further contact with the specific volunteer, usually for Skype/phone interviews. The hosting organisation is usually the best placed organisation to see whether the volunteer and project match each other, so they have the biggest say. At the same time, PeaceWorks is often involved with a consultative role, and discusses together with the hosting organisation. Sometimes the sending organisation is also included in these discussions.
Special needs (if applicable)
PeaceWorks are open to host and send volunteer with special needs. We will make sure, together with our partners, that there is awareness and prepared conditions to host volunteers with particular needs. You can reach the office of PeaceWorks with an elevator. When we have dealt with volunteers with needs before, we have had an open discussion about the needs. We have a large network of members that is a great support in these cases, as personal support, and in other ways. We have members who have experience from working with inclusion, and we also have former volunteers with fewer opportunities or special needs that can provide support, if needed. We will make sure to also adapt the tasks and the project to suit the volunteers. If the person needs support when it for instance comes to the writing texts, we will provide mentorship for these tasks. Or, if the person has been unemployed, we will (through our two office meetings per week and regular mentor meetings) make sure that the person develops skills that s/he particularly needs, and that s/he is also aware of the learning process, to strengthen the self confidence of the volunteers. These are just a few examples - in the end the strategies have to be based on the needs and characteristics of each volunteer.
Risk prevention, safety and protection
PeaceWorks will make sure the volunteer has a safe environment, were risks and crisis situations are dealt with seriously.
The volunteer will be provided with information about risk prevention within the project, for example what to do in case of fire, where to call if an accident happens etc. He/she will also have a contact person from the office, to contact in case of emergency; available around the clock. Personal support will also be given by the mentor from PeaceWorks (see part on mentorship).
PeaceWorks is also responsible of the contact with the sending organisation in case an emergency appears. Sometimes it may be useful for the volunteer to get in touch with someone from the organisation and country that he/she knows well.
When moving abroad for a longer period, many challenges can occur. The volunteer can feel homesick and frustrated about the differences in the new country, or take a lot of time to get integrated or feel comfortable. Therefore PeaceWorks aims at constantly having a close contact, and providing the volunteer with the support that is needed. With our years of dealing with volunteers, we have learnt that every volunteer is unique, and we believe that there is a lot of competences within PeaceWorks to deal with such challenges. There is also a crisis manager appointed in PeaceWorks who will help out in case the volunteer has any problems. Generally, PeaceWorks promotes open communication and a close mentorship, which we believe can prevent unnecessary conflicts, crisis and problems to arise. Our many different meetings where there is space to bring up issues or ask for support, are very crucial in this regards.
Motivation and EVS experience
PeaceWorks has been highly involved in EVS for many years. We both receive and send volunteers, and we also coordinate a number of EVS projects in Sweden. EVS is a great opportunity for youth to get international experience, especially if you could not afford to go on a different exchange.
PeaceWorks has hosted four volunteers during the years 2007-2010, and it has proved to be very fruitful, both for the organisation and the volunteer. PeaceWorks international profile is strengthened, and our office volunteers inspire many others, and we have seen how the experiences as volunteers at the office has lead to personal development of each individual volunteers, as well as a great network and contact.
Description of the organisation
PeaceWorks Sweden's vision is a sustainable world in peace, where young people are active citizens and society is characterised by peace and sustainable development, global justice and solidarity, above and beyond national, cultural, social and economic borders.
PeaceWorks Sweden is a non-profit peace organisation run by youth, for youth. PeaceWorks offers you the chance to volunteer abroad and provides you with the tools you need to run a peace project of your own. Through PeaceWorks you can participate in your way, on your terms!
PeaceWorks has mainly three areas of activities. One is the international voluntary service exchanges, a second a platform for local groups where young Swedish people run their organisation and project, and a third area which provides opportunities for training and capacity building.
PeaceWorks has a national office in Stockholm, with usually four employees, and a couple of interns and an international volunteer. The board of PeaceWorks consists of five young people from different parts of Sweden.
Preparation and follow-up
PeaceWorks will help the volunteer before the exchange with all the formal preparations such as booking the travel, registering the insurance, signing the volunteer up for the EVS trainings, etc. PeaceWorks will also prepare the volunteer through discussing the challenges of volunteering, through putting him/her in touch with some of our many ex-volunteers, etc.
PeaceWorks will regularly be in touch with the volunteers during their project periods, through email, telephone and/or Skype. We will make sure that the volunteers know that they can always turn to us in case they have questions or need support. For instance, sometimes the volunteers may need to communicate with someone in their own language, and when there will be challenges with the hosting project or organisation, it is not rare that PeaceWorks has a discussion with all parties and play an important role, both with the volunteer to understand the situation and give personal support, and also with the organisation to explain the volunteers' perspective and to discuss options of how to improve the situation. Sometimes we put current volunteers in touch with volunteers who have been in a similar project or in the same country. This is one of the main reasons of why PeaceWorks thinks it is important to be and work with volunteer organisation, which has this kind of experience and perspective, who knows practical and wise procedure to make someone feel more comfortable with the situation.
PeaceWorks has a great advantage in the follow-up of the volunteers, through offering many different channels of engagement also after a volunteering service. They can become a contact person, get trainings and international seminar experiences, run their own projects, start their own local group, etc. PeaceWorks will be in touch with the volunteer after the service to evaluate the experience and to introduce the volunteer to all the future opportunities there are.
Recruitment policy
We try to help everyone who is interested in participating in an EVS project, although we give priority to youth with fewer opportunities. We also try to promote the programme especially to those youth.
Contact Point
Organisation: PeaceWorks Sweden
Address: Tegelviksgatan 40
Postal code: 116 41
Town: Stockholm
Country: Sweden
E-mail: info@peaceworks.se
Phone: +46 8 615 05 58
Fax: +46 8 644 24 08
Contact: Maja Jacobsson
Kaynak: AB - İlan
