17-05-2017

The 7th Meeting of EU Project „Enhancing Volunteering Actions and Quality in Europe” (EVOLAQ) Held in Italy

Daugavpils City Council together with Norrkopping  municipality in Sweden (lead partner) implements project „Enhancing  volunteering actions and quality in Europe” (EVOLAQ) within the framework of  European Union Programme “Europe for Citizens”, 2^nd activity “Democratic engagement and civic participation”. The project involves 8 partners from 7 countries: Italy, Sweden, Germany, Latvia, Austria, Croatia, and Finland. The goal of the project is to increase the level of knowledge of volunteering actions in Europe, raise the involvement of citizens in volunteering, as well as share experience between European cities - how to support volunteering in municipalities.

From 11^th till 14^th of May a meeting was held within the framework of the present project in Collecchio, Italy, where Daugavpils City Council participated as well. Project partners had an opportunity to become acquainted with organization process of volunteering in Collecchio by participating in Volunteering festival where the most active associations participated. The fact that Italians actively participate in volunteering must be highlighted – pupils, students, working population and seniors are volunteers there. Four workshops were organized on main themes of the project – recruitment, training, valorization and certification, as well as coordination and communication. There was a discussion about the importance of communication. The role of Daugavpils City Council in the organization of volunteering on municipality level was presented as well. Last project partners meeting was held in Finland, but the next is planned in September, in Sweden.

By coordinator of the project J.Reča-Lāže