Let's get started by Juli - The Preparations

I have a really-really great question that is in focus right now: how to prepare for a one-year-long volunteer-ship??? Anyone with an answer?

Well, as I thought, no one. Me neither... I mean, even though I'm standing right at the door that opens to a new world, I just don't have a clue, how I could properly prepare myself for such a complex year. I guess I'll be more wise when I come home, and tell everyone, oh this and that would have been useful, and oh, even that would have done some help over there. But right now, I'm just asking around people for advices and ideas to fulfill my what-to-bring list (that is quite empty right now).

The biggest problem with this to keep everything in mind. I mean, do you really know what kind of things and gadgets you use just on one day? And can you imagine how much longer is the list when you consider a whole year? I guess the packing will take at least a week like this. ;)

But... let's take it more officially. As it is said, the voluntary work doesn't start on the arrival day and doesn't finish on the departure day, but the whole thing is a bit more complex. This EVS complexity consists of 4 major parts: preparation, implementation, evaluation and the follow-up.

The current situation is the preparation (just to have some rhythms over here ;) ), that is... surprisingly again a complex part (as all of them :D ). The preparation as a part of the project includes not only the volunteer but the sending and the host organisation, too. All of them has different tasks to do, as it's predictable. :) Let's have some words about them.

The tasks of the host organisation: In my case the host organisation is United Games of Slovenia (on the top you can find a link to the website of the umbrella organisation.) This organisation (in close contact with the organisation of No Excuse Slovenia) is responsible for all the preparations that should be done abroad. This includes the accommodation, food, workplace, language course and whatever is required for your stay and voluntary work abroad.

The tasks of the sending organisation: In my case HelloEuropa Association (not yet with homepage, but I'll add it asap). Their task is to arrange insurance, vacations, a preparatory working weekend, to help to arrange the travel abroad and to help the preparation of the volunteer.

The tasks of the volunteer: Yeah, that's me. :) My role is less significant in arranging stuffs, but more essential in the future of the project. I have to prepare mentally and physically to the project. As you can read the project's basics on the right side, I'll not list all those things here again, but my preparation is built on those project plans. So considering those, my project-work here, at home is the following:

I made some research on methods, mainly on the page of SALTO Toolbox. I found it really useful and gathered several beneficial energizers, team-builders and other methods for my peer-to-peer work and group-leading. I have also tried to widen my knowledge on the field of arts, with visiting libraries and gaining some new information. And I guess the most important (and least measurable) part, I was brainstorming on my own and with some friends and mates, about what else can I do later on, there in Slovenia, or after coming home, here in Hungary. I've gathered several ideas for the street-art project, and now I'm thinking about a monthly "Street-action" project.

And, finally, something that I was thinking about... I don't like the title... Come on, it's about talking to children and this is the 21st century, we need a nicer title. So I'll need to talk to my boss, but I have an idea. I was thinking about a provocative question: So, what if I care? With this I think we could somehow pique those children around, and with showing what will happen if they care, they would really care.

I could go on for ages and ages, I have so many things to tell, but let's keep it for later. I don't want you all to get bored of me already, though I haven't even started :D. So see you around, and please, care! ;)

Ps: And yeah, I almost forgot, please feedback me, and comment and ask, that would be really nice! :)
Hugs (still) from Hungary