What challenge inspired this recipe?
In order to strengthen the personal contact with the volunteers and to find an alternative to constant “check in emails”, as well as to strengthen the connection of international volunteers and the local community, the idea of “jour fixes” – regular (voluntary) meetings in cafés, bars, or also free outdoor spaces (e.g. picknick in the park) was created.
Ingredients :
To organise the monthly meetings at least one person needs to be in charge to organise and coordinate the meetings. Invitations need to be sent out and the events promoted in advance. If the meeting takes place in a café/bar, reservations need to be made for the group.
Step by step guide
Once a month 1 person from the Grenzenlos staff meets hosts a meeting to which all ESC volunteers, the COALAs (“local buddies”), previous ESC sending volunteers are invited to. We also publish the dates of these meetings on our website and social media pages, so anyone interested in meeting us, the volunteers, or simply want to get to know more about the ESC program can join our meeting.
The meetings take place in a different location each month: a different bar, café, our outdoor space. This way, the participants also get to know different places all over the city and it creates an interesting, relaxed atmosphere for the meetings.
For us as lead organization, these meetings allow a more informal exchange with the volunteers, a way of getting to know them better, and to check in with them in a less formal manner than official evaluation meetings or check-in e-mail conversations.
The role of host rotates between different people on the Grenzenlos staff, so the volunteers and other attendees of the jour fixes get to know also our team better.
In addition, to the jour fixe, we also – together with the COALAS (local buddies) – organize a leisure time program with at least 1-2 activities per month that we (co)-finance for the participants.
Important to highlight!The meeting offers an informal opportunity to accompany the volunteers in their process and to stay up to date. A key benefit is the relaxed atmosphere in which volunteers find it easier to discuss problems and challenges. The cultural activity offers volunteers the opportunity to network with each other, strengthen the group dynamic and connect with their host country and culture. |
