Schools & Community Education Team s1

International Youth Volunteering with the Spanish Red Cross

The International Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement is the largest humanitarian organisation in the world. It promotes humanitarian values and provides emergency help to people in crisis throughout the UK and around the world.

The British Red Cross has ambitious plans to increase the engagement of young people to take action as humanitarian citizens. In joint partnership with our sister Spanish National Society, we are able to offer a unique long-term youth volunteering opportunity in Manresa, Spain for one young person from the UK.

THE CONTEXT

The Spanish Red Cross is part of the international Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement which shares the seven Fundamental Principles. The Spanish Red Cross is a highly regarded emergency response organisation in Spain, whose work includes refugee and asylum issues, First Aid, International Humanitarian Law and education and participation work, including with the Red Cross youth (la Cruz Roja Juventud) which is a parallel organisation.

In Manresa, the Creu Roja Manresa youth team works with children and young people who are from excluded backgrounds (e.g. migrants, those in the travelling community, homeless families and/or those with poor socio-economic conditions), providing them with practical support (a place to wash clothes, shower and eat a meal a day) as well as a supported environment where the children can get psycho-social support from social workers as well as support with their homework and a space to play.

All of the 3 projects run by the youth team are thematically linked by a common commitment to young people and humanitarian action at a community level. The aim is to prevent social exclusion, and improve the individual young person’s daily routine and well-being. The active participation and contribution of volunteers is vital to achieving these goals. Moreover, the Creu Roja Manresa highly values sharing experiences among volunteers from different countries, and encourages youth exchanges and international cooperation. The Creu Roja Manresa is committed to providing a positive experience for volunteers as well as for those young people that participate in their projects.

THE ROLE

We are looking to recruit one volunteer, who will live with volunteers on other EVS projects in Manresa over the course of the 8-month placement. The volunteer will work between 3 projects, Casal-ot, Ludugurus and JNA (Joves Nucli Antic) run by the Creu Roja Manresa, depending on their areas of interest and the support needed by the different projects.

Casal-ot offers 3 hours of evening activities for the same group of 20 children, aged 3 – 12, Monday - Friday. The children are divided into groups and rotate through hands-on games, board games, and computing. Those that have homework may get help with it, and each child has a responsibility in the kitchen (clearing, laying the table, washing up etc) related to the evening meal.

The children are encouraged to sign up for the activities outside the centre too – such as swimming lessons or visiting the library, and to participate in trips and events offered in the local area (celebrations for Christmas or St George’s day, for example).

One of the main aims of Casal-ot is to provide the children with positive role models and to promote a healthy lifestyle and engagement with school.

Ludugurus: The Ludoteca is a bespoke building based over three floors, and provides a youth group environment for different age ranges during the weekday evenings between 5.30 and 8.30pm. The groups are aged 6-10, 10- 12 and 12-14 and the Ludoteca offers an outdoor space to play football, a homework room for quiet study as well as computers for games, board games and arts and crafts projects.

As the same group of young people attend the Ludoteca on a weekly basis, the social workers, in tandem with the volunteer, play a crucial role in being around to provide a ‘listening ear’ and detect any areas of concern or changes in behaviour that can then be discussed in a neutral environment

JNA (Jo’venes Nu’cleo Antiguo – Teenagers from the Old Town): Attended predominantly by boys, the JNA is based around some designated outdoor space which includes a football pitch/basketball court. The age range is from 12-16, for 2 hours per evening, and includes a different sport each week, as well as occasional workshops on health, sexuality, healthy eating etc. The football team may also play at weekends in local leagues.

The project has grown hugely in popularity and can reach up to 300-400 people during the summer. Plans for future expansion include starting up a project to reach girls in this age range and to facilitating the move for young people from JNA to becoming a Spanish Red Cross volunteer at age 16.

The volunteer’s time will be divided between the three projects outlined above for 25 hours per week, running activities, meeting with other staff and volunteers to plan, monitor and evaluate activities, and supporting the young people. The volunteer will be expected to study Catalan for at least one-two hours per day in order to facilitate integration into the host community and the project. Moreover, the volunteer is strongly encouraged to become actively involved in other activities or services of the Red Cross in Manresa that may be of interest. Areas of focus for current projects are up-skilling women for employment, gender-based violence and support to the elderly.

Volunteers will work at all three services during the first few months to gain a clear idea of the programmes provided to the children and young people, and will then be able to tailor their interests with the needs of the services, possibly focusing on one project for a discrete time period of several months. Volunteers will work an average of 6-7 hours per day, 5 days per week, with a fair amount of evening work. Some flexibility is required to accommodate activities that occasionally run at the weekends and staff meetings. There are also 16 days of holiday during the placement (not including national public holidays), which can be taken with prior arrangement with your supervisor.

Volunteers will be encouraged to use their own initiative, and will be provided with support from the Red Cross. It is important that volunteers are committed, involved and sensitive to the needs of others.

QUALITIES WE ARE LOOKING FOR

The successful candidate will be aged 20-26, and will also demonstrate the following:

 Committed, mature and independent work ethic  Genuine interest in youth work and working with those from disadvantaged backgrounds  Understanding of the importance of safeguarding  Excellent communication and social skills with children and young people  Adaptability and ability to cope with problems  Creative, supportive and willing to take the initiative  Realistic expectations regarding the benefits and challenges of volunteering overseas for 8 months  Prepared to live with a modest allowance and accommodation  Good English & a good knowledge of Spanish (at least GCSE level or equivalent, if not higher) with a willingness to study, learn and communicate in Catalan  And most importantly, a commitment to the Red Cross movement, volunteering and working with children and young people

PRACTICALITIES

The placement will run from January 2011 for 8 months. The successful candidate will be funded and accredited through the European Voluntary Service (EVS) scheme of the European Commission. More details about EVS can be found at http://www.britishcouncil.org/connectyouth-programmes- evs.htm Our priority is to recruit young people who would otherwise not have access to such international opportunities. A small, but comfortable apartment will be provided for international volunteers to share in Manresa. Travel to and from work will be via public transport or on foot. In addition, each volunteer will receive a small allowance of 105 Euros per month.

Volunteers at the Red Cross are highly valued for the skills and energy they bring to our work. The successful candidate will receive pre-departure and on- arrival training from both the Red Cross and the European Commission, as well as have access to confidential support and supervision throughout the duration of the placement.

Location: Manresa, Catalonia, Spain

Reporting to:

 Olga Macias Reyes – Volunteer Coordinator, Creu Roja Manresa (responsible for volunteer’s role)  Laura Colldeforns Torras - Responsable de Programes Europeus de Joventut (responsible for volunteer’s housing, finances and language course)  Alex Jackson: Programme Coordinator – International Youth Volunteering, British Red Cross

Application deadline: Thursday 28 th October 2010

Interviews: Suitable candidates will be invited for an in-person selection day at our UK Office in London on Wednesday 3rd November 2010. Please be aware that part of the interview will be in Spanish. To apply, please fill out the enclosed application form and return to [email protected]

British Red Cross pre-departure training is likely to be 2 days at the end of November/early December, plus another 2-3 days EVS pre-departure training.

For more information, see: www.creurojamanresa.org www.cruzroja.es http://manresaturisme.cat/eng www.redcross.org.uk/internationalyouthvolunteering or email Alex Jackson INTERNATIONAL YOUTH VOLUNTEERING PROGRAMME MANRESA APPLICATION FORM 2011

Please complete all sections in English. All information provided will remain strictly confidential. We welcome receiving copies of CVs submitted with the application form.

Section 1: Personal Information Last Name First Name Middle Name(s)

E-mail: Date of Birth: Gender: Male Female Town and Country of Birth: Passport number: Nationality:

Current correspondence address: Home telephone: Mobile telephone:

Permanent address (if different): Home telephone:

Do you have any existing insurance cover (travel/medical)? If so, please give details below

Emergency Contact Information Name: Relationship to you: Home telephone:

Home address: Email address: Mobile telephone:

Section 2: Education (continue on additional sheet if necessary) Secondary School/College: Years Attended: Qualifications Obtained (GCSE, A- level, NVQ etc.): to to Tertiary Education (College, Years Attended: Qualifications Obtained (Diploma, University etc.): Bachelors, Masters, Doctorate etc): to to

Section 3: Work Experience (continue on additional sheet if necessary) Organisation: Year: Position: Responsibilities:

Section 4: Additional Skills Languages: Spoken: Written: Reading:

Driver’s Licence: Other:

Section 5: Additional Questions (continue on an additional sheet if necessary)

Please describe any relevant prior work or voluntary experience, especially with children and/or young people.

Please explain your reasons for volunteering abroad with the Red Cross. Why do you want to go to the Creu Roja Manresa particularly? Please write at least 150 words. Please describe any personal trials and how you overcame them.

Please describe any prior international experience. List any long holidays, independent travel or overseas volunteering experience.

What challenges do you think you will face during your time abroad? How will you overcome them?

As the Red Cross, our priority is to provide international placements to people who would ordinarily have less access to them due to socio-economic, health or other personal reasons. If appropriate, please use this space to describe why you think this programme is especially applicable to you.

Section 6: Additional Information

Please detail any allergies, medical conditions or other support needs.

Section 7: Practicalities

We are looking to send 1 volunteer out to Spain in early January. Please state when you would be able to leave, which (if any) Red Cross training courses/events you have already attended, and confirm that your passport will be valid for departure in January and for the duration of your time volunteering.

Section 8: References

Please provide the names and contact information of two referees. These may include an employer, supervisor, teacher, or a close friend (but not a relative). Name: Name:

Address: Location:

Telephone: Telephone:

E-mail: E-mail:

Relationship to You: Relationship to You:

I hereby acknowledge that all information contained within this form is true to the best of my knowledge. Signature: Date: