My experiences as My experiences as anan

ex-EVSex-EVS

Mirjam KodiMirjam KodiEx-EVSEx-EVS

20082008

Mirjam – EVS and ex-EVSMirjam – EVS and ex-EVS

•EVS – Wales, 2004 (6 months)•ex-EVS – Estonia, 2005 - ...

–Euroopa Noored (Estonian NA)–Diaconia Year in Estonia, Ave Bremse

–NGO The Citizen of the World

Euroopa Noored (Estonian NA)Euroopa Noored (Estonian NA)

Euroopa Noored is engageing ex-EVS volunteers continuously in different events:

• Seminars• Trainings• Information events• Accreditation of the hosting

organisations

The Citizen of the WorldThe Citizen of the World• NGO uniting the former volunteers of EVS• Called into existence by Estonian National

Agency • Established and run by ex-EVS volunteers• Received 20 000 EUR grant from Youth

programme• 2006-2007 organized nearly 20 different

events for ex-EVS (seminars, gatherings, meetings etc)

• Each event gathered ca 15-30 participants

NGO The Citizen of the NGO The Citizen of the WorldWorld

Stopped acting 2007 after finishing the Youth programme

project.

The 4-5 formal and informal leaders of the NGO got tired but failed to find

new members to carry on.

Diaconia Year in EstoniaDiaconia Year in Estonia• NGO that sends, hosts & coordinates

voluntary projects• “One-man-band” – run by one woman, Ave

Bremse• Involves into everyday work ex-EVS

volunteers, future EVS volunteers, local hosting people and number of other helpful people.

• Ordinary tasks for volunteers: organizing events, seminars, supporting incoming and outgoing volunteers, etc.

Diaconia Year in EstoniaDiaconia Year in Estonia

2008 – alive and active and still going strong

Most of the DYE ex-EVS are in touch with the organization and more or

less actively involved in the activities

My remarksMy remarks::• The “ex-EVS” status and possibilities

are not very clear

• Many EVS volunteers are not aware of the possibilities as an ex-EVS

• Many sending organizations are not aware what potential ex-EVS volunteers have and how can they be involved

• There are ex-EVS volunteers who would like to prolong their EVS experience

• There are ex-EVS volunteers who are not interested about EVS after the project

• Most ex-EVS volunteers feel no obligations to EVS topic after the project

• Most of the active ex-EVSs are happy to be occasionally involved in different volunteering activities and participate in social events

• Most of the ex-EVSs are not ready to organize any EVS-theme activities themselves

If I may – my advise to the If I may – my advise to the ex-EVSex-EVS

• Choose the right sending organisation for you

• Keep in contact with them during your EVS and after it

• They have done a lot of work for you – give something back

• Let Euroopa Noored know that you are willing to help

If I may – my advise to the If I may – my advise to the sending organisationsending organisation

• Choose the right volunteer for you• Discuss your cooperation possibilities

before the project • Keep in contact with her/him during

the EVS and after it• Be smart and benefit also from the

volunteers who’s sending org.-s are not as smart

THANK YOU!THANK YOU!Mirjam KodiMirjam Kodi

mirjamkodi@hotmail.commirjamkodi@hotmail.com

+372 56 915 675+372 56 915 675