JOIN! Volunteering team project “Count of May 2023: united in diversity”

We invite active and open young people between the ages of 18 and 30 from Latvia, Europe and EU partner countries to join the Volunteer team project “Count of May 2023: united in diversity”!
The purpose of the project: together with local volunteers to organize and manage the XII international multicultural festival “Count of May 2023” in Riga and to acquire new skills in organizing large creative events and working in a large international team, promoting solidarity, tolerance and inclusion for all.

WHAT: A volunteer team project
WHERE: LATVIA, RIGA
WHEN: 09.04.-28.05.2023 (50 days)
FOR: young people 18-30 years old. from Latvia, any EU or EU partner countries: Armenia (AM), Belgium (BE), Cyprus (CY), Czech Republic (CZ), Germany (DE), Estonia (EE) , Greece (EL), Spain (ES), Finland (FI), France (FR), Georgia (GE), Hungary (HU), Ireland (IE), Italy (IT), Lithuania (LT), Latvia (LV), Moldova (Republic of) (MD), North Macedonia (MK), Malta (MT), Norway (NO), Poland (PL), Portugal (PT), Romania (RO), Slovenia (SI), Ukraine (UA)

TEAM: a total of 20 young people, including young people with limited opportunities and/or special needs.

• 100% ACCOMMODATION, FOOD, PROGRAMS ARE COVERED BY EUROPEAN UNION EUROPEAN SOLIDARITY CORPS CO-FUNDING
• 100% TRAVEL EXPENSES WILL BE REIMBURSEMENT AFTER PARTICIPATION IN THE PROJECT, PROVIDING THE ORIGINAL TRAVEL DOCUMENTS. RELEVANT TRAVEL EXPENSE RATES DEPEND ON THE PARTICIPANT’S DISTANCE FROM RIGA AND ARE CALCULATED ACCORDING TO THE ERASMUS DISTANCE CALCULATOR
• NO MEMBERSHIP FEE

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE:

The project “Count of May 2023” was created for active people who are interested in organizing cultural events, project management, interaction of different cultures and a creative approach, volunteer work and helping people. Our organization always encourages volunteers to develop new activities, their own initiatives and ideas, as long as they are within the scope of the project. We do not require special skills, but we are happy to have flexible and creative people. Also, we do not need professional qualifications, but interest and enthusiasm.

We are looking for young people who:

— are at age 18-30 on the first day of activity;

— are enthusiastic and energetic;

— want to learn, like to work with young people and creative ideas;

Organizational skills are considered very useful as well as the ability to communicate in English. In addition, people with singing, dancing, musical instrument playing skills are welcome.

In addition, it is important for volunteers to:

— to be comfortable living alone;

– able to adapt to new situations;

— have good problem-solving skills or are ready to improve them during the project;

– to work and live in mixed groups of volunteers of different nationalities

Our organization can involve volunteers with limited opportunities in the project and is ready to accept the following applicants with:
1) economic barriers;
2) Geographical barriers;
3) For educational difficulties
4) health problems
5) social difficulties
6) cultural differences
The project is inclusive and is open to all interested parties who meet the requirements of European Solidarity Corps volunteering projects. No previous experience is required.

Since 2012, the Cultural Society “Alternative Reality” has been implementing our long-term initiative – the multicultural festival “Count of May” in Riga. With the help of volunteers, a series of activities are organized every year, an event program is organized on stage, and representatives of various cultures and diasporas are invited.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT

TO PROMOTE:
multiculturalism and the interaction of cultural diversity as a European value;
tolerance and mutual respect between different social and national groups;
community solidarity by attracting different volunteers to the project, regardless of their origin, social or economic status, nationality or religion;
voluntary work and its wider development in Latvian society;
inclusion of marginalized groups of youth in society;
involvement of volunteers in the project as a socially significant charity activity that positively affects the active citizenship of young volunteers;
development of volunteer competencies and knowledge;
perception of volunteer life and attraction to socially relevant topics;
formation of volunteers’ positive attitude towards voluntary work and public work;
reducing discrimination and xenophobia between different social and cultural groups

VOLUNTEER TASKS
The main product of the “Count of May 2023” project is the organization of the XII international multicultural festival “Count of May 2023” together with local volunteers and the organization team.
During the project, volunteers will learn to organize and lead charity initiatives and cultural events, promote their campaign in the local community using various means and methods, learn from their peers and also from local volunteers, get to know a new culture and get to know the basics of the language, develop and grow as a person with the initiative and compassion.
As part of the project, volunteers are invited to:

– organize various workshops and activities for children and young people;

— engage in sports and active games;

— promote European values ​​and active citizenship, civic responsibility, public service,

— spread ideas about Europe, friendship between people and peaceful coexistence;

— organize performances and stage performances;

– teach young people leadership skills and provide knowledge about the EU, European integration;

— promote cultural diversity and break stereotypes about the volunteers’ countries of origin;

– explain and act with the basic concepts of tolerance, mutual respect, responsibility, especially in relation to the world, human rights;

– promote volunteer work among local youth.;

– organize entertainment events;

— completed volunteer blogs and organization FB pages.

PRACTICAL QUESTIONS
VISA PROCEDURES
EU citizens do not need a visa to cross the Latvian border, and they can stay in the country for up to 90 days. They can use their passport or ID to enter Latvia.
For non-EU citizens to cross the border, volunteers will need:

– valid international passport (valid for at least 6 months after returning home);

– Invitation of the Cultural Society Alternative Realitate (volunteers will be provided with an electronically signed invitation approved by the Migration Department of Latvia);

– Cigna Insurance – Coordinating organization will provide after signing the volunteer contract

— good mood and motivation to create great for the local community
TRAVEL TO RIGA
You can get to Riga directly by flying to Riga International Airport
As soon as the host organization receives your travel plans, an instruction letter will be sent with information about the transfer to the venue.
You can get to Riga by city bus 22 from Riga airport to the center of Riga. The price of city bus tickets is 2.00 EUR when you buy a ticket from the bus driver.

ACCOMMODATION
There are three possible accommodation options:

Volunteers will live in a shared apartment. This is an average modest apartment, which has everything necessary for living: washing machine, refrigerator, bed linen, kitchen utensils and kitchen utensils for cooking, Wi-Fi router.
Volunteers are responsible for towel and personal needs.

Volunteers will live in a student campus with common rooms and a common kitchen.

Volunteers will live in a host family.

WORKING CONDITIONS
Our organization’s creative youth center has a separate room where volunteers can prepare for their activities, language clubs, etc. Wi-Fi is available so if volunteers are able we recommend bringing a laptop or tablet for personal use. It is better if you have your own laptop to work at home.
To prepare for your activities, you can use the technical equipment available in our office. The activities themselves will take place in different places.
The first week after the volunteers’ arrival will be an adaptation week. Volunteers will see the workplace, get to know people and existing volunteers, get to know people from the community.
The work schedule is flexible, but no more than 6.5-8 working hours per day. If volunteers are involved on weekends, they will get days off during the week. Each volunteer has 2 days off per week.

FINANCIAL MATTERS
According to the Erasmus+ program guide, each volunteer will be covered (or reimbursed) for travel tickets on both sides:

– for EU members – up to 360 euros according to the Distance calculator of the Erasmus+ program;
All volunteers will receive pocket money (4 euros per day), money for food (200 euros for one month of the project). The volunteer’s allowance is granted monthly in EUR.
COORDINATORS, MENTORS AND STAFF SUPPORT
The project is financed by the NA of Latvia. All general matters of the project will be followed up by the partner organizations involved in it. Throughout the project, each volunteer will be supported by a coordinator and a mentor from the local community in Latvia.

Co-financed by the European Union. This publication reflects only the views and opinion of the author, and not necessarily the opinion of the European Union, the European Commission or the National Agency (Youth International Programmes Agency), which are not responsible for any use of the information contained therein.

PLEASE APPLY BY 31 January 2023: