​“Pleasant engagement”, that’s what Bosco Base vzw wants to be. By challenging young people to volunteering, formation initiatives and other ways of free time spending/occupation, a contribution is made towards their complete development.
​Please write to marieke.vanwesemael@donbosco.be if you are interested in these opportunities.
​Application deadline: 15/05/2023.

Volunteer work from 12/09/2023 to 30/07/2024
Activity description
We are looking for two European volunteers ! 
The project which will take place in DB Ganshoren, a residential educational youth centre close to Brussels. Next to residential care, the place offers possibilities for oratory (playground), youth work, holiday camps, homework support and different projects supporting the development of young people. The project will have a specific focus on integral ecology approach and education. We want to propose a new experiment aiming to act in the field of integral ecology education.
The tasks of the volunteers will consist of:

• To build up a relationship with the youngsters living at DB Ganshoren
• Organise cultural, sportive and educational activities/workshops for children, young people of DB Ganshoren
• Support the oratory and youth centre during their activities
• Organise awareness campaigns, workshops and educational activities for young people living in

Practical information
Volunteers will be staying at DB Ganshoren in a separate wing of the building. Every volunteer will have the availability over a personal room with a bed, sink, wardrobe and internet connection. The volunteers will share a kitchen, salon, toilet and bathroom. The accommodation is close to public transport and has good connections with Brussels. During working time, meals will be provided by centre's kitchen. During weekends, volunteers will be responsible for their own meals. There will be a bike available for the projects’ volunteers. and everyone receives a train card for 10 rides.
Volunteers receive a weekly household budget and monthly pocket money.
Participant profile
Some requirements for the ESC-volunteers are:

• 18+
• able to communicate in English (and French - optional)
• have some experience in working with young people
• being an independent person
• open towards other cultures and interested to have an intercultural experience
• motivated and eager to learn
• interested in ecological and environmental project development

J​oin the Savio House Retreat Team 2023-24, and work with young people at our Youth Retreat Centre at Bollington, Cheshire.
Why Savio House? Well, wouldn't you love to …

• • Live in a Christian community that works for young people
  • Wake up each day in a fantastic location in the Pennine hills
  • Develop skills in working with young people
  • Develop team working skills alongside qualified leaders
  • Develop valuable planning and leadership skills
  • Learn to create totally new resources
  • Get free training in first aid, food hygiene, fire prevention training, health and safety etc
  • Explore accreditation paths towards a future career working with young people
  • Search out the answers to some of your deeper life questions
  • Join a world-wide Salesian network of youth workers
  • Receive a weekly allowance
  • Have all food, accommodation and laundry provided
  • Enjoy national conferences/events and meet up with other volunteers
  • Have regular mentoring and support through the whole year- September- July

Interested?
Call or email Savio House and talk to a member of the team for more information, or arrange a visit:
+441625 575 405
saviooffice@saviohouse.org.uk
Explore the Savio House website www.saviohouse.org.uk
Download the documents below to apply.

• 2023 Voluntary Worker Application Form (Document, 65.8 Kb)
• Safeguarding Self Declaration DBS 4 Form (PDF, 762.3 Kb)

European Solidarity Corps in the youth centre Aktionszentrum Benediktbeuern (3 Volunteers)
01.09.2023 – 31.08.2024
 
The youth centre Aktionszentrum is a retreat house of the Salesians of Don Bosco, a catholic religious order founded in the late nineteenth century by Saint John Bosco in an attempt, through works of charity, to care for the young and disadvantaged children.
The centre hosts weekly about 250-300 youngsters, coming from different schools of the Bavarian region. The team of the centre leads workshops and courses for school classes. Target group are young people between 14 and 19. Aktionszentrum is also active at international level: every year about 25 young people are sent to different countries of the world to spend one year as volunteers. The youth centre is also leading ESC-trainings on behalf of the National Agency of the Erasmus+ programme “Jugend für Europa”, in collaboration with other youth centres.
 
The volunteer will join the staff starting from the 1st of September and will be active in many fields: support of the pedagogical activities with young people; work in the main office and at the reception; personal contact with young people during the week through different activities (front office, sports, organisation of breaks). The volunteer will also be active in different practical activities in the house. She/He will keep an overview on the accommodation of the groups, making easy handcraft work if required, supporting the catering and kitchen staff. The volunteer will also spend some time in the international office to get an overview on the different activities organised by the hosting organisation. The volunteer will work in a small intercultural team of 2-10 young volunteers, coming from different countries (mainly from Germany).
At the end of the service the volunteers is supposed to develop an own project about her/his ESC-experience.
 
Profile of the volunteers
 
Aktionszentrum is coordinating the three projects and supports the volunteers to develop their own skills and knowledge: changes in the time tables are possible according to the needs and wishes of the volunteer.
Requirements:

• Interest in working with children and young people
• Flexibility in working in different fields, creativity
• At least basic communication skills in German are necessary

 
Practical arrangements

• The voluntary service is 30-39 hours a week. If the volunteer works overtime, those hours can be recuperated at a later stage.
• The volunteer receives 2 days of holiday for each month. The concrete arrangements for this will be made during the team meetings. In this way the volunteer can be offered some flexibility in the choice of holidays
• The volunteer receives a monthly allowance according to the ESC frame of reference The volunteer can use a bicycle as mean of local transport.
• The volunteer will meet the mentor on a regular basis, deciding together on the required frequency and nature of the meetings.
• The volunteer will get meals in the canteen (breakfast, lunch, dinner).
• The volunteer will get a room nearby the centre for the months of service (with laundry facilities)
• At the end of the voluntary service the volunteer will get a “Youth pass” certificate.

 
Benediktbeuern is a beautiful village of around 3500 inhabitants in the south of Bavaria. It has an own university (faculty of Social work) and a community of around 500 students.
The village is well connected to Munich (Trains are running every hour- around 60Km / 1 hour ride).
 
Here some information about the village: www.benediktbeuern.de
The website of the youth centre: www.aktionszentrum.de
The website of the Kindergarten: www.kiga-bb.de
 

Contact 
If you are interested in joining our project, please send a CV, a pass photo and letter of motivation to:
 
Francesco Bagiolini
Don Bosco Str. 1
83671 Benediktbeuern
Tel: +49 (0) 8857 88-314
Fax: +49 (0) 8857 88-349
bagiolini@aktionszentrum.de
 
Deadline for Applications: 1st of June 2023