Zavod Voluntariat is a non-profit and non-governmental organization, established in 1991 on base of reorganization of the Association MOST. Voluntariat organizes international voluntary camps and voluntary work with an aim to provide assistance and additional programs on social inclusion, environment protection and other activities that profit organizations and the state do not provide. We consider international voluntary work as a value for personal growth of individuals, promotion of social justice, intercultural learning and education for peace and solidarity.
Voluntariat is a part of worldwide international organization and peace movement Service Civil International (SCI), including more than 70 partner organizations organizing international voluntary projects and other activities.
SCI has a consultative status with the Council of Europe, operational relations with UNESCO and is a member of: CCIVS: Coordinating Committee of International Voluntary Service Organizations, YFJ: Youth Forum Jeunesse AVSO: Association of Voluntary Service Organizations and UNITED for Intercultural Action.
In 1987, SCI was awarded the title of Messenger of Peace given by the United Nations in acknowledgment of its efforts to promote peace and understanding.
Main activities:
- Organizing trainings for volunteers and other target groups in order to spread understanding of ideas of voluntary work;
- Organizing voluntary work in Slovenia and around the globe with partner organizations, local groups, associations on nature conservation, peace education, help to disadvantaged etc;
- Supporting individual initiatives of groups and individuals working on voluntary basis in order to show the solidarity with local communities and to promote self-help within the disadvantaged communities;
- Analyzing and evaluating our work, taking into account both the local and wider context in which it is carried out, and publishing the results of our projects;
- Offering and spreading information about voluntary work in Slovenia and other countries;
- Joining international actions that promote co-operation among various nations, cultures, political beliefs etc.
References:
- International exchange of volunteers: Through different networks for international voluntary work we annually send 200 - 300 volunteers to over 50 hosting organizations in Europe, N-S America, Africa, Asia and Australia.
- International projects of voluntary work: Every year we support 8 - 12 international work camps in Slovenia with about 100 volunteers from different countries. From 1991 until today more than 250 work camps took place.
- Conduction and coordination of long-term voluntary programs: We have sent and hosted around 80 volunteers in the last five years through our programs. Voluntariat is one of the recommended organizations for sending EVS volunteers, officially recognized by National Agency MOVIT, responsible for “Youth in Action” program.
- Organizing and hosting seminars and trainings on various themes: funding opportunities for NGOs, Global education through international voluntary work (coordinating working group of NGOs dealing with international voluntary work and global education), every year’s trainings for volunteers – responsible volunteering, global citizenship, intercultural dialogue, human rights, eco-traveling etc, mostly through Youth in Action Program;
- Active member of Sloga – Slovene NGDO platform for development cooperation and humanitarian aid.
Zavod Voluntariat is consisted of the Advisory council, Expert council, employees and volunteers. Advisory council, consisted of five members, elects the director. The mandate of Advisory council and the director is five years. Besides the director, two persons are fully employed within organization – Youth programs Manager and Global Volunteering Manager. PI Coordinator, Work camps Coordinator and Placement officer are the contract workers. A long-term volunteer coordinates the Club of Volunteers. There are constantly also 3-6 external co-workers that coordinate separate project activities.
By applying to various calls for proposals, we receive the funding from national, local and European funds, and private foundations. Our main resources of funding in 2009 came from the EEA Financial Norwegian Mechanism, Municipality of Ljubljana, Office for Youth of Republic of Slovenia, Anna Lindh Foundation, European Commission programs, Council of Europe etc. The small amounts are received from the applications to work camps.
SCI BRANCH
Service Civil International (SCI) is one of the world's largest international volunteering organisations committed to the promotion of peace and understanding through voluntary activities. Service Civil International (SCI) was established in 1920 at the inspiration of the famous Swiss pacifist Pierre Ceresole. Ceresole organised the first workcamp in Verdun, France. In 1920, volunteers from Germany, Switzerland, Great Britain and Hungary worked side by side to rebuild a village destroyed during the First World War, fostering grassroots reconciliation between the former enemies. Today, there are branches, groups and partner organisations in over 60 countries worldwide. In 1987, The United Nations awarded SCI the title of "Messenger of Peace" in recognition of its work in furthering peace and international understanding
Internationally, SCI has consultative status with UNESCO and the Council of Europe, is a member of the Co-ordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service and the Youth Forum of the European Community. Today SCI has 60 branches and groups in Asia, Australia, Europe and the United States and approximately 10,000 active members and volunteers. SCI also works with partner organisations to exchange volunteers in countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Service Civil International (SCI) is a volunteer organisation dedicated to promoting a culture of peace by organizing international voluntary projects for people of all ages and backgrounds. These activities consist primarily of 2 - 3 week long international volunteer projects involving volunteers from all over the world. These projects range from working with marginalised people to ecological, arts and cultural projects, amongst others.
A workcamp is a place where people of diverse race, ideology, nationality, and age live together while working on a community project anywhere in the world. The workcamps are initiated and organised by community groups and are designed to be of tangible benefit to the local community. They enhance local initiatives and do not replace paid labour. Workcamps usually take between 8 and 20 international participants who work and socialise with the local community. Projects take place all year round but in Europe most occur during the Northern hemisphere summer.
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