Since 2004 YouthNetworks provides services to make international youth work and communication easier and more efficient. The number of users of YouthNetworks has increased over the years. These users requested a more effective and modern community in order to keep the services up-to-date. After one year of dedicated and hard working we are proud to announce a new version of YouthNetworks! The new version will be launched at the end of the summer 2010.

 What has been improved?

• Possibility to add more information to promote your vacancies and events (photos/videos)
• Available EVS-vacancies are shown on Google Maps
• Efficient and effective communication between users (filter by country/type of organisation etc.)
• Improved search functionality
• Easy user interface
• Integration of social community tools like Twitter/blogs/YouTube
• Option to translate into your own language

The effectiveness of YouthNetworks largely depends on the quantity of users and the quality of their input. It would be great if you can help us test our new version of YouthNetworks. Are you interested? Please contact Robert Smit (robert@noborders.eu) for more information.

Volunteer. Meet new people. Connect to the community.

ADVIT stays for Association for Development, Voluntary Service and Information for Youth. ADVIT Moldova aims to promote cultural understanding and youth empowerment through opportunities of international exchange and voluntary work. As the recognized charity working in the area of youth development; ADVIT Moldova sends and receives young people, who want to broaden their horizons, develop themselves, make a difference, live and work with communities in Moldova and throughout the world up to 12 months. Through volunteering with ADVIT in Moldova, participants gain valuable work experience, learn a new language and develop important vocational, interpersonal and cultural skills, while in turn offering their skills, knowledge and enthusiasm for the benefit of the projects that host them.

ADVIT Moldova offers a unique, ethical volunteering experience. They know every one of their volunteers personally which means that they provide excellent support. Their volunteers live and work with local people and form an integral part of the community. Their volunteers are matched to the projects based on their preferences, skills and interests. To find out more, please contact: advit_ewb@yahoo.com or visit the ADVIT web site.

Below you can read some short impressions from EVS volunteers in Moldova and in our blog category ‘EVS experiences’, we will publish -in the next weeks - some ADVIT Moldova experience reports from EVS volunteers. So watch this blog regularly to be informed! Read the rest of this entry »

EVS!? What is that? “Just a crazy good time”

That’s just one of  the many positive quotes I heard while watching short movies about EVS on YouTube. But it’s not the words that make me go crazy and gets me excited. It is the smiling faces of young people that have a good time in a foreign country.It is the faces of toddlers and elderly people who are affected by young volunteers in many ways. The curiosity you see in a young Bulgarian child’s eyes while playing with the ponytail of a German young adult, and the music in the background that gives me goosebumps. It’s young people being themselves, inspire and try to help another.

It’s only happiness we see on YouTube, even though there might not only be happiness on an EVS experience. There can be hard times, when you miss your family and friends, or when something happens that might be weird in your eyes, or when something sad is happening that affects you. But that’s also what EVS is. You learn by experience, about other cultures, you get rid of prejudices, actually, you get closer to your inner core. You learn what’s important in your life, what you want to do with your life. Actually, EVS gives you the opportunity to meet yourself.

What I’ve discovered by just looking at short EVS movies on YouTube is that EVS changes you in a direction that gives you more meaning in life, and all the new friends you gain is worth mentioning as well.

ADVIT Moldova experience report by: EVS volunteer Hannah Rees, United Kingdom

After a day of travelling I sighed a breath of relief as I met my mentor at Chisinau airport. We jumped into a taxi, not a seatbelt in sight, and one of my very first impressions of Moldova was the roads, or in places the lack of. Pot holes were swerved round on the lane-less roads as we drove up the wide highway and entered the capital through the ‘Gates of Chisinau’; two vast apartment blocks on either side of the road reminiscent of the USSR era. Yet, these were exactly the stereotypes of Moldova that I had heard back home; poor infrastructure and vast concrete blocks left behind from the Soviet times.

However, I was soon to discover that Chisinau, and Moldova as a whole, has far more to offer than what fits into these stereotypes. One of my favourite things about the city is its greenness. Vast parks are found in every district and tall trees line the majority of the streets. Another favourite is all the markets selling fresh produce from the countryside, second-hand clothes at bargain prices and flowers in all the colours under the sun. Read the rest of this entry »

1. Making friends:
EVS brings like-minded people together in a common setting where they’ll all be working towards a common goal.
2. Networking:
You can also network with others who might be in a position to help you turn your voluntary work  into a paid career you’ll enjoy.
3. CV improvement:
Employers recognize the value that voluntary work adds to a CV in terms.
4. Decision making:
Sometimes you need a little help in determining what kind of job or career path you wish to follow. EVS helps to decide the type of work you might prefer.
5. Building self-confidence:
EVS is a useful way to increase your self-esteem and confidence.  

And last, but not least…You make a difference that far outweigh any form of financial reward.

The purpose of the World Online Survey is to be a participation space, a platform to identify the opinions and suggestions of young people worldwide regarding the challenges and actions that governments, Civil Society Organizations, international cooperations, the private sector and society as a whole can undertake to change the current situation faced by youth in the areas of poverty, education, information and communication technologies, health, gender equality, human security, human rights, sustainable development, international migration, citizens’ participation and advocacy, and global partnership and cooperation.The results of this global survey will serve to orientate and to support the discussions of the meeting of NGO’s and of the Forum of Governments of the World Conference of the Youth, Mexico 2010. Join the survey!

The 2010 Mexico World Youth Conference is a meeting point for representatives of governments, legislators and Civil Society Organizations with the purpose of identify actions priorities set for 2015 to address needs of young people and opportunities beyond the Millennium Development Goals.

EYE opener is a training course for newcomers to develop Youth Exchanges within the contest of Youth in Action and to stimulate the full participation of young people in the entire exchange. The training is based on simulation games, inputs and group work. Participation in learning couples of youtworkers and young people. The training course will take place from 6 to 11 September 2010 in De Glind, The Netherlands. Are you interested? Then check with your National Agency if they are willing to send participants to EYE Opener. Fill in the application form and send it to your National Agency. Application deadline: 4 August 2010. Find out more.

This year the European Union made its World Expo debut at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo. The EU’s pavilion is based around the theme of ‘Intelligent Europe’, containing 4 parts respectively titled ‘Building Europe’, ‘Open Europe’, ‘Green Europe’ and ‘Living Europe’. On the web site EU @ Shanghai 2010 you can visit the EU virtual pavilion, play the game ‘Discovering Europe’ or read more about the European Union by topic.

The World Expo 2010 will be held from 1 May to 31 October 2010 and is expected to attract 70 million visitors.

Do you want to pay less for: culture, transport, travel, shops and services? Then get yourself a European Youth Card EURO<26 with up to 100.000 discounts in 38 countries! This card is a key for young Europeans up to the age of 26 (or 30) to information, mobility, culture and participation. Through a range of services, discounts and advantages, the EURO<26 card encourages young people to make informed life choices, explore their world, and play a full part as citizens of Europe in today’s society. Find out more or buy Euro<26 online.

Eurodesk is an information service, which provides European information for young people and offers professional support to the youth field in 29 countries in Europe. Youth programmes and other European opportunities offer young people a whole range of different activities in other countries of Europe or beyond. For example volunteering, exchanges, citizenship actions, information projects, internships, studying abroad. Check your European opportunities online at the Eurodesk web site or contact your local Eurodesk.