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European Voluntary Service : Diaconal year in Denmark
This long-term European Voluntary Service project involves 24 volunteers from 13 different countries, among them three new member states (Romania, Hungary and Latvia) and two EEAC countries (Ukraine and Armenia).
The 24 volunteers spend 9 months in Denmark working in different types of social projects (e.g. with homeless people, alcohol or drug abusers, disabled adults or children, social and youth cafés…). During their stay in Denmark the volunteers actively join in for the general good of society and they convey solidarity and tolerance among the people they meet and amongst themselves.
Besides their daily work in social projects, the whole group of volunteers is working on a common theme - the European Year of Creativity and Innovation. This gives the group an opportunity to develop common understanding and share ideas and thoughts. Among the activities planned are a photo contest to create good pictures to use in the visibility campaign of the Youth in Action Programme and a yearly contest to identify the best volunteer project.
Language learning is also an important part of being a volunteer in the Diaconal Year. Because the people who the volunteers work for are often without knowledge of foreign languages, Danish is a very important tool to be able to contribute actively in the projects. Therefore all volunteers are offered extensive language training, and past experience shows that it really enhances the outcome of the European Voluntary Service.
The main accomplishment of the project is to create a strong sense of contributing and making a difference in the society and at the same time grow personally. Going through an experience like this provide young people with a new identity as active European citizens.
Read more about Diaconal Year
Besides their daily work in social projects, the whole group of volunteers is working on a common theme - the European Year of Creativity and Innovation. This gives the group an opportunity to develop common understanding and share ideas and thoughts. Among the activities planned are a photo contest to create good pictures to use in the visibility campaign of the Youth in Action Programme and a yearly contest to identify the best volunteer project.
Language learning is also an important part of being a volunteer in the Diaconal Year. Because the people who the volunteers work for are often without knowledge of foreign languages, Danish is a very important tool to be able to contribute actively in the projects. Therefore all volunteers are offered extensive language training, and past experience shows that it really enhances the outcome of the European Voluntary Service.
The main accomplishment of the project is to create a strong sense of contributing and making a difference in the society and at the same time grow personally. Going through an experience like this provide young people with a new identity as active European citizens.
Read more about Diaconal Year