The non-profit organization United Societies of Balkans (U.S.B.) based in Thessaloniki, Greece, is very active in the field of international mobility and in raising awareness on social issues. As part of the Green Your Mind project, funded by the European Commission, it offers 3 volunteer experiences aimed at young people with fewer opportunities.
Opportunity 1
Where: Thessaloniki
When: June – July 2022
Who are we looking for? 2 participants with fewer opportunities 18-30 year old, with residency in Italy, to be able to travel abroad.
Deadline: May 15, 2022
The volunteering team will promote mental health and support people with mental disabilities. The volunteers will join the activities of the group Monada Prasinu (“Green Unities”), a reintegration program of the Psychiatric Hospital of Thessaloniki and the association “Argo”, also supporting people with mental diseases as well as previous drug-addicted.
The program aims to preserve and take care of the backyard of the hospital as a green lung in the residential area where it stands. The activities are several and all connected to sustainability and the respect of the environment, such as recycling or green space cleaning. On the one hand, the volunteers will bring support, help, enthusiasm and company to the patients. They will make the activities more valuable from a social point of view. On the other hand, working with the patients will make the participants more aware of mental issues, overcoming prejudices and stigmas. They will also express their creativity, knowing better themselves, as well as learn good practices that they can repeat in their countries. They will see the value of different cultures, cooperate in teams plan and organise tasks and activities.
Opportunity 2
Where: Thessaloniki
When: August – September 2022
Who are we looking for? 2 participants with fewer opportunities 18-30 year old, with residency in Italy, to be able to travel abroad.
Deadline: June 30, 2022
The volunteering team will support USB, and its local partner organisations Oikopolis, Intervolve, Faros tou Kosmou and other informal groups in the city of Thessaloniki in the support and inclusion of people with fewer opportunities, especially immigrants and other disadvantaged minorities in Greece (Roma people, etc.). The volunteers will support the integration by delivering workshops (computer, languages, photo and video making), supporting leisure activities with them, as well as organising events to promote inclusion (intercultural and sports events).
This way, they will share with the groups they will work with, important skills that can be useful while looking for a job, or that can be useful to engage better in society. Indeed, the participants will develop their skills on dealing with cultural barriers, overcoming stereotypes, working with children and disadvantaged groups, as well as expressing themselves.
Opportunity 3
Where: Halkidiki
When: End of May – End of July
Who are we looking for? 2 participants with fewer opportunities 18-30 year old, with residency in Italy, to be able to travel abroad.
Deadline: April 15, 2022
The volunteering team will work on environmental sustainability of an area that is under risk. The volunteers will be involved in the protection of the environment and especially of the sea and beaches of Halkidiki area. They will help the USB local group and volunteers in cleaning the beaches and implement campaigns against single-use plastic and for a recycling culture, that is still sorely missing in Greece.
The activities will mainly take place in the Municipality of Aristotelis, which included several villages in Halkidiki. The volunteers will positively influence the local community as they will bring good green practices in a place that uses to see mainly tourists that are often not sensitive enough to environmental issues. Moreover, they will be more active citizens, more aware of ecological concerns, and they will share this awareness both during the project and after, back to their countries. They will participate more actively in the social and political life of their community, and they will be more interested in knowing what happens in the world daily.
Economic conditions:
- Food, accommodation and activities will be 100% covered
- Travel: round trip ticket covered by the European Solidarity Corps program up to a maximum of 275 euros
Requirements: Basic knowledge of English
How to apply?
If you are interested, send your CV (max. 3 pp) in English, accompanied by a motivation letter in English, to mobility@cesie.org by the deadline set for the chosen experience:
- Opportunity 1: 15th May
- Opportunity 2: 30th June
- Opportunity 3: 15th April
For more information
Contact mobility@cesie.org and download the Info pack.
