02-10-2017

The 8th Meeting of EU Project „Enhancing Volunteering Actions and Quality in Europe” (EVOLAQ) Held in Sweden

Daugavpils City Council in cooperation 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 19^th till 21^st of September a meeting was held within the framework of the present project in Skovde, Sweden, where Daugavpils City Council participated as well. Project partners had an opportunity to become acquainted with organization process of volunteering in this city by meeting the most active associations in the field of volunteering. The fact that Swedes actively participate in volunteering must be highlighted – people of all ages are volunteers there; the way associations and enterprises recruit volunteers. Municipality supports those who do volunteering activities, e.g. participants of the project had an opportunity to visit Celebration lunch for volunteers-seniors. Several workshops were organized on the main theme of this meeting - civil society in cooperation with the official services/municipality. Due to the fact, that project comes to an end, there was a discussion about the summarization of final results. 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 Italy, where also will happen project’s last meeting in December this year.

By coordinator of the project J.Reča-Lāže