Bona Fides Association has an opportunity for a Polish volunteer (citizen or resident of Poland, aged 18-30 yo) to join a long-term volunteering project with Familija – Educational and Therapeutical center which will connect youth daily center (BLOK) and learning program for youth (PUM-O+) in the Škofja Loka area, Slovenia, by incorporating the international volunteers into their everyday work for the period between September 2024 and August 2025.

Place: Škofja Loka area, Slovenia
Dates: From September 2024 to August 2025
Duration: 11 months

PROJECT “Kids in Action 11 – United in Solidarity”

The main target of the project is to continue a well-established tradition of connecting related local organizations, that carry out educational, social and preventive programs for children and youth, and for other vulnerable social groups.

The primary organisation for volunteers will be Familija – Educational and Therapeutical center, providing:

• Project Learning for young adults (PUM-O+),
• Youth Day Care Center (BLOK),
• An international office.

Chosen volunteers will attend the program of their host organizations and assist staff with their daily activities, which consist of educational (languages, multimedia), creative (music, painting) lectures, leisure activities (social, sports and games), learning help, excursions, hikes, visits to exhibitions, shows.

Familija is a private institution engaged in education, therapy, development of personal potential, free time activities as well as school and work counseling. It incorporates two major programs: MDC BLOK and PUM-O.

1. MDC BLOK is a daily youth center which offers diverse programs for youngsters between the ages of 10 and 18 years old. It is aimed at providing more equal opportunities for underprivileged children through facilitating activities. BLOK plays a significant role in their lives as it functions as a ‘second home’ for them. There the youngsters can truly be themselves; they are included in the planning/creation of activities and additionally have the possibility to grow through these non-formal (educational) activities. They typically develop interests in new areas, improve their social and soft skills and increase their self-esteem. BLOK is a place where they go to hang out with their friends, play board¬/card games, do their homework, receive learning support and participate in daily workshops. These workshops vary widely from creative to practical and from practical to sport (e.g. co-creating a magazine, debate club, weekly sports, multi-cultural lectures, nutrition, dance competition, etc.). Lastly, MDC BLOK occasionally collaborates with other organizations, institutions, citizens and artists from the broader local community (such as schools, PUM-O, library, municipality, a refugee or craftsmen) to increase the youngsters’ understanding of what is happening in the society. Thus, to broaden their horizons and potentially activate them beyond what is happening at the daily center.

2. PUM-O (“Project learning for younger adults”) is the second program under the umbrella of Familija intended for young people from the ages of 15 to 25 years old, who are struggling to find their place in the society. PUM-O brings together individuals with specific life dilemmas/experiences that need to restart their lives and become included in the local community. Generally, PUM participants are enrolled in the program for 1 year, under certain circumstances, however, the duration might be shortened to a minimum of 3 months.
The main goal of the project is to enable its participants to gain different competences and skills they might find useful in their future lives/careers, all of this is done through informal learning and project work. During the year, the participants attend diverse self-development workshops and learn about various occupations, educational programs that help them discover their own strengths, talents with the aim to uncover their personal potential and the ways of developing it in the future.
The basic aims of PUM are:
a) to encourage personal growth,
b) to fight social exclusion,
c) to enable basic education,
d) to form a professional, social and cultural identity.

Both MDC BLOK and PUM-O programs are founded on voluntary participation and are free of charge for their participants. Their main aim is to reduce the number of behavioral/social anomalies in certain local environments and to offer children with difficult family backgrounds the possibility of success.

Our activities are based on the principle of openness, which is why the ESC project is very suitable for us and beneficial for both sides. Volunteers from other geographical and cultural territories help the centers grow, bring new ideas, broaden the participants’ horizons and let them see the world from a different perspective. Reciprocally, both institutions serve as a stimulating environment for the ESC volunteers as they help them to improve their own abilities and skills, grow in their knowledge, be part of a successful team and develop their self-initiative which is one of the most important characteristics of our institution. Our ESC volunteers are true members of our working team and they are always encouraged to come up with ideas or discuss all issues that may occur with us individually or during our weekly meetings.

Both MDC BLOK and PUM-O are located in a medieval town called Škofja Loka, just 25 km west of the capital of Slovenia: Ljubljana. This picturesque town built on a river confluence, surrounded by many hills offering breathtaking views over the Slovenian nature is an amazing place indeed. Despite its size (only 13,000 inhabitants), Škofja Loka has all the infrastructure and facilities needed for a quality social life and is therefore without a doubt a place where an ESC volunteer could grow, learn and spend great time.

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ACCOMMODATION, FOOD AND TRANSPORT ARRANGEMENTS

The volunteers will be accommodated in the flat located on the main square of Škofja Loka, old historical town with about 13000 inhabitants, located 25 km NW from Ljubljana. Each volunteer will stay in single bedroom with shared cooking, washing, laundry and social facilities. Volunteers will cook by themselves, monthly food allowance will be provided (200 €). They will be also entitled to receive a monthly allowance of 150 €. To each of the volunteers, the bike will be provided and tickets for public transportation (if needed).

TRAINING DURING THE ACTIVITY

On-arrival and Mid-term training are organized by The Slovenian National Agency, all the training is organized by coordinating and hosting organizations and by some other partner organizations from the local community.

PARTICIPANT PROFILE

Candidates should be motivated, flexible, patient, creative, open-minded, self-initiative, communicative, interested to work with children, adolescents and they should be able to speak English. Some past experiences from pedagogy, psychology and youth leisure are welcomed. Ability in music, sport, manual activities, handcrafts, dances, art, multimedia would be also convenient. Future volunteer should bring in her/his own ideas into the project and be prepared to create, plan and execute her/his own projects.

APPLICATION

To apply send your CV and the motivation letter to: mariachiara@bonafides.pl and anna@bonafides.pl.
Please write in the title “ESC in Slovenia”.