Post on 14-Mar-2016
description
Experiment e.V. – Full Member of Federation EIL
Volunteering – Why and How?
Important Basics and Common Challenges for a sending organization
Experiment e.V. – Full Member of Federation EIL
When and Why?
• When? We started with the first Volunteer Service Programs around 20 years ago
• Why? Gap year after school started to become popular, not everyone wanted to do Au Pair
• How many? Approximately 300 per year for an average of 12 weeks
Experiment e.V. – Full Member of Federation EIL
What we have learnt over the years
• Volunteering as an Intercultural Learning Experience
– NOT as development aid
– NOT as an all inclusive club vacation
Experiment e.V. – Full Member of Federation EIL
What we have learnt over the years
• As in every program:
- > A partnership with host organizations that is built on trust and mutual understanding – at eye level
- > regular meetings with partners to improve quality on all sides
Experiment e.V. – Full Member of Federation EIL
Partnership at Eye Level
Pre-departure seminar for volunteers at Experiment e.V. office in Bonn, Germany
Experiment e.V. – Full Member of Federation EIL
What we have learnt over the years
• Orientation Seminars and Post-Program Seminars as an important part of the program
– To balance participants‘ expectations before and to get their feedback afterwards
– To establish a bond between participant & our organization
– To ensure good & lasting cooperations with our partner organizations
Experiment e.V. – Full Member of Federation EIL
Intercultural Orientation Seminars
Pre-departure seminar for volunteers at Experiment e.V. office in Bonn, Germany
Experiment e.V. – Full Member of Federation EIL
Evaluation
After the program, we ask our participants and partners for feed-back - and do something with it!
Experiment e.V. – Full Member of Federation EIL
What we have learnt over the years
• Different programs for different participants (no ‚one-type-fits-all‘)
– Different lengths
– Scholarship
– Language training
– Certificates
Experiment e.V. – Full Member of Federation EIL
Advocacy and Quality Assurance
• Cooperation with competitors to• Influence policy makers on a National and European
level• Share best practices to further develop Quality
Assurance Process/ Risk Management• Find the best possible program for the participant, even
if it means recommending a competitor
• Plus Outside Certification through QUIFD Certification (Quality in International Volunteer Programs)
• we get re-certified on a regular basis and have to undergo quite an extensive procedure
Experiment e.V. – Full Member of Federation EIL
Last but not least…
Be quick to observe but
slow to judge!
Go to learn and not to teach!
Expect the unexpected!
It‘s not right, it‘s not wrong, it‘s just
different!
Laugh at yourself!Positive
attitude!