Different ways/intensity of listening

What challenge inspired this recipe? Imagine that you are listening to another person in different ways. You give the other person 20%, 80% or even 140% of your attention. How do you do this? What changes for the person you listen to? The activity aims to teach about challenges in communication (especially in an intercultural […]

Conflict management infosheets

What challenge inspired this recipe? Conflicts and crisis are part of almost every volunteer experience. The important thing is to take preventative measureas as well as carefully manage any conflicts and crises that arise. For volunteers conflicts that occur while being abroad can be especially challenging due to the fact that they are in an […]

Flatmate agreement

What challenge inspired this recipe? Establishing a “common ground” and some “ground rules” together as flatmates in the beginning of living together is important to take all the needs of all residents into consideration and respect them. Figuring out and agreeing on common rules together by having to define a “flatmate agreement” is a conversation […]

Mental health support for volunteers

What challenge inspired this recipe? When being in a completely new environment and culture, many ESC volunteers can need psychological support in adapting to these changes. However, seeking out help in a new country can seem difficult and unmotivated at times and the support system provided by the National Agency might not always work the […]

Facilitating the first meeting at the volunteers’ apartment.

What challenge inspired this recipe? Our volunteer apartments always bring together long-term ESC volunteers with very different backgrounds, life rhythms, habits, and abilities to set boundaries. All this has a great impact on how well the group of volunteers manages to take care of their home and also keep good relationship within the group of […]

Monthly technical day

What challenge inspired this recipe? We think that proper preparation of the volunteers for the activities they are carrying is very important for both parties. If the hosting organization is providing the tasks for the volunteers on the field activity it is very crucial for teaching the volunteers new methods and tools to incorporate in […]

Monthly group coaching

What challenge inspired this recipe? This best practice came out from the evaluation of previous ESC projects and we came up with the system in 2022 while planning the new project. During the evaluation it came out that volunteers who live under the same roof and work together as well encounter difficulties on problem solving […]

Timeline of volunteering

What challenge inspired this recipe? We believe that visualizing the volunteers journey with us is a great source of motivating the volunteers to get the best out of the experience and provide a framework with milestones of what happens during the duration of volunteers. For this we came up with the system that in the […]

Weekly kick-off meeting

What challenge inspired this recipe? This best practice is used for more +5 years at Egyesek in the management of long term volunteers. This practice gives the opportunity to start the week altogether who are working on project, prepare for the week and also give the space the volunteers to discuss all matters what concerning […]

Visiting and welcoming other organization

What challenge inspired this recipe? We think that learning about Hungary and understanding it better, creating connections and learning in the meanwhile is a very important aspect of our program. For that we organize 1 day trips or visit with the volunteers or host other NGOs to provide this experience for them. If the organizations […]