What challenge inspired this recipe?
In order for ESC volunteers to have regular activities together and with local youngsters, Grenzenlos organizes a monthly leisure time program for them. The regular events, help the volunteers to get to know each other and the local communities better and to get to know different cultural and social offers in Vienna/Austria. Grenzenlos receives support from the COALAs “local buddies” in organizing these events and funding from the city of Vienna to help implement these activities, and to be able to cover the expenses for the ESC volunteers. But even without funding, many activities are possible.
Ingredients :
- Funding;
- Resources for coordination and promotion of event;
Step by step guide
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Try to encourage returning ESC sending volunteers to stay active as “local buddies” or “leisure time mentors” for incoming volunteers
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Build a team of “local buddies” who help organizing regular leisure time activities for themselves and the ESC volunteers
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Inform the group of the planned activities for each month, the location, date, time, and if any costs are connected to the participation
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Ideas for leisure time activities without budget: hikes, picknicks, sightseeing, bike tours, board game nights, playing sports together, intercultural evenings, skill-exchange-event (e.g. if one person knows how to do origami and someone else knows sing language, these skills could be shown by them to the other participants who are intersted in gaingin those skills, etc.)
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Ideas for leisure time activities with funding: museum visits, ice skating, guided tours, first aid course, BBQ, workshops, ….
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We usually send an official request for our group to museums, etc. For a reduced prize and sometimes can even manage to get a tour for free or at least the discounted (e.g. student) prizes.
Important to highlight!Providing leisure time offers and a regular point for meeting people and doing something together has proven to be very essential to building up a community, to support the socializing and cultural experience of volunteers and to establish deeper connections between the international volunteers and locals. The feedback we have received was always very positive and participants have always been very grateful for the opportunities to meet people and try out new things or see new places together. |
Before you start cooking, keep in mind…
- Funding: many activities that might be great for the volunteers might require funding
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Distance: if the volunteers are not all in the same town/city, distance, travel time and costs might be an issue
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Motivation: the motivation of the local organizing team needs to be kept up, sometimes incentives are necessary (e.g. if they organize an event, the organization will cover their participation/entrance fee or travel costs
