CVS – Bulgaria is looking for EVS volunteers: Volunteer Bridges for Environment, Inclusion and Integration

Jan 092013

Cooperation for Voluntary Service Bulgaria (CVS – Bulgaria) is a non-profit organization aiming at promoting of intercultural understanding and voluntarism in Bulgaria. We achieve our aim through various voluntary and educational activities – work camps, volunteer exchanges, seminars, trainings, workshops, information campaigns, etc. The values that CVS – Bulgaria respects are peace, awareness, tolerance, responsibility, solidarity, initiative, democracy, equality, respect, positivism. We are the Bulgarian branch of Service Civil International and a member organization of SEEYN.
CVS- Bulgaria has developed a project is called “Volunteer Bridges for Environment, Inclusion and Integration” and the grant application will be submitted on 1st of February. We are looking for 3 highly motivated EVS volunteers, each working in a specific field.

Volunteer in the Integrational Center for Refugees

Contact person: Katerina Stoyanova
Contact email: board@cvs-bg.org
Country: Bulgaria
Project theme: Antiracism, Antifascism, refugees, ethnic minorities
Project language(s): English
Local language(s): Bulgarian
Location: Sofia
Number of vacancies: 1
Work starts: 1^st May 2013
Work ends: 30^th April 2014

Application deadline: 20^th January
Decision date: 25^th January

Project description:

Since 2010 we have started a volunteer project in the Integrational Center for Refugees in Sofia. Volunteers help refugee children and youngsters on a daily basis with their homework and learning the Bulgarian language. They organize creative, educational, and sport and other activities for the children, facilitating their integration in the Bulgarian society.

Work Description:
The project in the Integrational Center for Refugees is a joint initiative of CVS – Bulgaria and Caritas Sofia in accordance and with the support of the State Agency for Refugees. The project is coordinated by two coordinators, coming from the partner organizations, mentioned above. The successful candidate will support their work of daily project administration and ongoing volunteer management process, participating in the daily activities in the Integrational center for Refugees. During the year of this exciting voluntary service the volunteer will also have the task to organize and coordinate work camps, workshops and activities related to the main project topic. The volunteer will be supported by CVS – Bulgaria, its staff and volunteers. He /she will be part of a dynamic and amicable team of co-workers in the office of CVS-Bulgaria and will have the opportunity to be included in the ongoing events and tasks, concerning the overall work of the organization, will join the other EVS volunteers in their project activities and will participate in the process of planning the activities in CVS-Bulgaria.
Requirements:
An interest and some experience (or strong motivation to work) with refugees is essential. Strong motivation to learn Bulgarian or basic knowledge of the Bulgarian language is an advantage. Volunteers are required to be flexible, independent and responsible, with good social and organizational skills. Most welcome will be candidates with strong self driven and self initiative personalities, creative spirit and open mindedness, ready to develop a great project within the framework of the suggested EVS program.

Food: Provided money allocations for food every month.

Accommodation: Provided – a room in an apartment shared with other volunteers.
Pocket money: 65 EUR (per month)
Insurance: Provided (AXA standard EVS insurance)
Fees: None
Volunteer in the field of inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities

Contact person: Miroslava Popova
Contact email: cvs.mira@gmail.com
Country: Bulgariа
Project theme: Socially disadvantaged
Project language(s): English
Local language(s): Bulgarian
Location: Sofia
Number of vacancies: 1
Work starts: 1^st May 2013
Work ends: 30^th April 2014

Application deadline: 20^th January
Decision date: 25^th January

Project description:
Being the Bulgarian branch of Service Civil International we are a part of international working group aiming at inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities (YUWG). Every year we organize activities on the topic – youth exchanges, leader trainings, workshops and other trainings. We specifically work with youngsters from social institutions and centers, rural areas, refugees, etc.

Work Description:
The volunteer will work on diverse tasks. The volunteer will support the youth exchanges coordinator in recruiting, training and sending groups of youngsters with fewer opportunities to youth exchanges and other volunteer projects. Additionally he/she will take part in the coordination and organization of international volunteer projects (work camps) during the summer of 2013 in Bulgaria, which are designed and carried out to promote inclusion of disadvantaged social groups. In the winter months the volunteer will be responsible for the organization of events and activities (workshops, info days, presentations, international evenings, etc.) in the office of CVS-Bulgaria.
Some of the work related activities will take place in the Social and Youth center “St. Konstantin” (CONCORDIA Bulgaria Foundation). It will involve direct work with disadvantaged children or young adults, which will include: organizing and participating in activities, running workshops, supporting CONCORDIA’s team in collaboration with other international volunteers. This on-field social work will bring to the merit of the project and will enrich the experience of the volunteer.

Requirements:
An interest and some experience (or strong motivation to work) in the social field – working with disadvantaged youth, organizing activities for youngsters, etc., is essential. Volunteers are required to be flexible, independent and responsible, with good social and organizational skills. Most welcome will be candidates with strong self driven and self initiative personalities, creative spirit and open mindedness, ready to develop a great project within the framework of the suggested EVS program.

Food: Provided money allocations for food every month.

Accommodation: Provided – a room in an apartment shared with other volunteers.
Pocket money: 65 EUR (per month)
Insurance: Provided (AXA standard EVS insurance)
Fees: None
Volunteer in the Eco-center “Nature School”

Contact person: Julia Yordanova
Contact email: juliayor@yahoo.com
Country: Bulgaria
Project theme: Environment
Project language(s): English
Local language(s): Bulgarian
Location: village of Vlahi, Kresna (Blagoevgrad region)
Number of vacancies: 1
Work starts: 1^st May 2013
Work ends: 31^stOctober 2013Application deadline: 20^th January
Decision date: 25^st January

Project description:
Vlahi is a small village in Pirin Mountain near Macedonia and Greece, which offers great biodiversity and beautiful nature. CVS – Bulgaria has created there an Eco-center “Nature School” few years ago. The center is built mostly with volunteer contribution and with eco friendly materials and technology. Its main aim is to serve as an educational and visitor center where young people can learn more about ecological constructions, biodiversity, saving energy, energy efficiency, renewable energy sources, etc.
Work Description:
The volunteer will help the Eco-center “Nature School” coordinator in running the center, facility maintenance, gardening and everyday work. He/she will be welcoming school groups or visitors in the center or in the area. Part of the EVS project will be to organize and coordinate an eco international work camp in the summer months. The volunteer will have the opportunity to implement their own ideas and initiatives if they are in correspondence with the values and goals of the Eco-center “Nature School”.
Requirements:
It is essential that the volunteer is well prepared for very basic life conditions (sun shower and compost toilets, sleeping in a sleeping bag on a mattress). The nearest town is Kresna and there is no public transport to the village (transportation will be organized by car or by bike). The volunteer is expected to be very independent and ready to spend 6 months in a very small village close to nature. Volunteers are also required to be strongly eco-oriented, flexible, and responsible, with good social and organizational skills. Most welcome will be candidates with strong self driven and self initiative personalities, creative spirit and open mindedness, ready to develop a great close to nature project within the framework of the suggested EVS program.

Food: Provided money allocations for food supplies every month (shopping will be done on a regular basis in the nearest town of Kresna). In the Eco-center there is a fully equipped kitchen where the volunteer could prepare their own food.

Accommodation: Provided – in the Eco-center. Very basic conditions!

Pocket money: 65 EUR (per month)
Insurance: Provided (AXA standard EVS insurance)
Fees: None