European Voluntary Service
“Language mixer”
Liepaja, Latvia.
“ Besides all of our expectations about new friendship, visiting old castles and drinking beer, unfortunately we had a work to do 🙂
We led practical English lessons in schools and kindergardens also in office for any who wanted to participate. Those lessons were organized by us, using non formal methods and personal approach to each class and group. So we needed to prepare program, run it and support each other.
We had to work max 38h per week 5 working days. Lesson time depended of schools and kindergarden. Earliest lessons was at 8am then during the day were breaks. Usually latest lessons in kindergardens were till 6pm. Adults groups in office were just 1-2 times per week and were at 6pm – 8pm.
Sometimes we were asked to lead activities on weekends, but this was agreed before and we had extra holidays for that.
In the end of the project we needed to make practical tools, with best methods for learning practical English for different groups. And here is our tool – Language Mixer Electronic tool
Language courses: There were official Latvian language courses for EVS volunteers. And we had them in agreed time after knowing working schedule. Latvian language is considered one of the oldest languages in Europe!
Besides that, as a volunteers we had a chance to have free time to spend in your own way.
As example I should mention that this year we found a time and organized common Baltic trip for all volunteers. And it was amazing!
Living conditions: All volunteers were accommodated in block house, not far from office. House was in very good conditions and located in one of most prestigious Liepaja regions. It had 3 rooms, which we needed to share. Flat had everything we needed – internet, kitchen, toilet, shower, washing machine, windows etc. Seriosly – they offered us probably the best conditions amongst other volunteers in whole Latvia. The office was in walkable distance, like 10 min from our house. But if we were super lazy and ready to walk 5 min to tram stop and then 5 min from tram stop and ride 3 stops, they gave us some transport tickets. In fact we had monthly tickets for all means on transport in Liepaja – bus, tram, minibus.
Financial conditions: Pocket money (80.00 euro) and money for food (150 euro). All of us had on-arrival training and mentor, who was responsible about solving our problems and make us feel more comfortable in Latvia.
Travel cost reimbursement:
100% of the participants‘ travel costs were reimbursed within the valid budget sums calculated according to the official rules of Erasmus+ programme. If a sum exceeded the limit, the excess was paid by the participants themselves. The reimbursement limit was 275€ per participant from Bulgaria.
Insurance:
Every participant had valid European Health Card.
Each participant got a full health insurance provided by CIGNA health insurance company.
YouthPass:
Every participant was individually entitled to receive a Youthpass Certificate, which confirms participation and
validates the non-formal learning (NFL) experience of Training course project. Validating the learning experiences of participants is important in itself and the document can be of benefit in terms of the educational or employment future of the participant. Through Youthpass the European Commission ensures the Training course activity is recognized as a non-formal learning experience.
(*For more information on Youthpass you may click on this page to check it online)
Relevant documents and links about the EVS:
EVS Info KIT: http://éc.éuropa.éu/youth/tools/évs-info-kit_én.htm
Erasmus+ Commission Website: http://éacéa.éc.éuropa.éu/érasmus-plus_én
Erasmus+ Home Page: http://éc.éuropa.éu/programmés/érasmus-plus/
Erasmus+ Programmed Guide: http://éc.éuropa.éu/programmés/érasmus-plus/discovér/guidé/indéx_én.htm
Erasmus+ Youth: http://éc.éuropa.éu/youth/indéx_én.htm
Youth pass Page: https://www.youthpass.éu/én/youthpass/for/évs/subpagé/
Voluntary Agreement (example): https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B2lC8wUUcqBkTFdtN3pORWFLWnc
English