NATURE OF EVS

Nature of EVS is a one-of-a-kind training course which aims to explore in depth the European Voluntary Service (EVS) as a journey for personal transformation and complex growth of all the actors involved, with focus on sustainability and service to ourselves, communities and environment. FOR WHOM? Nature of EVS is a training course for 24 ex volunteers, youth workers, trainers, project coordinators, mentors, who: - are involved with the European Voluntary Service, - want to deepen their understanding of the nature of EVS as a life journey and experience of service, - are ready to explore and reflect on these topic in an experiential training course, in a community setting and in closer contact with nature, - are able and ready to work in English and to attend to the full duration of the course, OBJECTIVES: ● To understand the complex story of EVS in connection with main aspects of human life, natural cycles and mythology. ● To explore community life and service as a tool for EVS projects beneficial for all actors involved. ● To create space for networking and sharing about EVS and its meanings from different points of view. ● To experience personal strengths and shadows as EVS actors, to learn from it and get inspiration for future work. ● To collect useful tools and motivation for developing EVS into a meaningful sustainable experience in participant's realities. KEY PROGRAMME ELEMENTS: We will strongly adapt the programme to the group of participants. However, elements will include reflection on the EVS cycle as a “Hero’s Journey” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monomyth), using The Way of Council (http://www.heart-source.com/council/way_of_council.html) as communication practice, building and experiencing community, challenges in learning, using Nature as a guide, communication and partnership, storytelling, the role of spirituality and rites in education (and EVS)... and much more. The course will be based on non-formal education and experiential learning. We will experience different learning and sharing settings, in connection with nature and more traditional ways of living, and use these elements as important components of our learning processes. We invite participants with different levels of experience (from EVS veterans to newcomers) and a substantial part of the program will be based on sharing experience and exchanging good practices and inspiration. TRAINER TEAM: Bara Bláhová - Czech Republic, trainer profile: http://trainers.salto-youth.net/BaraBlahova/ Carmine Rodi Falanga - Italy, trainer profile: http://trainers.salto-youth.net/CarmineRodi/ Helena Kosková - Czech Republic, trainer profile: http://trainers.salto-youth.net/HelenaKoskova/ Honza Látal - Czech Republic, trainer profile: http://trainers.salto-youth.net/JanLatal/