Project description

The 6 weeks short-term EVS project “CLEAN UP part 2” was took place in Bulgaria, in the village of Meshtitsa, hosted by AKSELS (Association for Cultural, Economic, Heuristic and Linguistic Cooperation), from 23rd July 2018 to 2nd September 2018, uniting the energy and skills of 12 volunteers from 6 European countries – Austria, Italy, Spain, Croatia, Latvia and Serbia.

Project objectives

  • To raise young people’s awareness of protecting environment, traditional handcrafts and other cultures, to help them evolve their organisational skills, to manage unknown situations and to work as a team.
  • This positive experience should motivate young people to tell others about them, create their own projects, participate in other kinds of volunteering and use all this in their future.
  • Participants will develop their foreign language skills (English), cultural awareness and civic competences as well as different social skills.
  • Promote EVS and Erasmus+ programme.

Project results

  • refreshing the “Free of waste” area;
  • doing handicraft work with natural materials – working with wood;
  • learning about local cuisine, herbs and spices;
  • creating promotional materials for prevention of the river banks from house waste pollution;
  • doing community service volunteer work – leaving something useful and creative behind – cleaning the environment, planting, decorating to leave a motivating message to the local people and the future young participants in next youth projects, sharing EVS experiences with local youth;
  • organizing non-formal intercultural events and language courses for the local youths and seniors;

Project areas

 

Impressions about the project

At the end of the project, no one wanted to go home, but from the beginning there were a few misunderstandings due to lack of communication and simply because of the many people at one gathering. All had different opinions and thoughts. As time passed, the situation was getting better because we, volunteers and organizers got to know each other better and learned. We learned to work together as a team. When living and working with a large group of people, the best way to learn is to be tolerant and patient.

In addition to the main goal of cleaning the river, we organized various workshops for people from Mestica. We learned a lot of new things and we met many people, we got new friends. The project as a project is good, but I think we need more time to achieve more, of course, but we are satisfied with what we have achieved. The team was very good, a lot of laughter, joy, on a daily basis, which additionally contributed to the impressions being positive. Much learns about yourself, you meet yourself in new, different situations and in the end, you are a better version of yourself.

As for me personally, I will only be left with the most memorable memories, and I wonder would I still be there. Since this is not possible at the moment, then I will look to apply for the next EVS project, because I think that such an experience can not currently be replaced with anything.

Jovana Lovren – volunteer

For this project we went in Bulgaria, the village of Meshtitsa. The EVS project CLEAN UP PART 2 was about raising young people’s awareness of protecting environment, cleaning the river and leaving something behind for the locals and next group of volunteers. The project was great from the first day we came in the village. Our first week was mostly doing presentations for the locals, so they can meet our culture and us, and also for us to meet other volunteers and our supervisors Lily and Petya.

After the first week we started doing more handy work, like working in the river and making benches. We collected a lot of garbage around the river, cut the grass and some trees. I am very happy with the progress we made in the river during our time in village, also encouraging the local kids to come and help, which they did very willingly. Making benches was challenging for us, because it was first time we ever did something like that. It took a little bit longer than it should, but the results were positive at the end of the day. We asked local kids to paint the benches that we made, and they were very happy to help us in that area. In the following weeks, some other things that we did were making workshops and art shops for the kids in the village. They really enjoyed drawing and painting different things, also making some souvenirs on a wooden plates and shaped stones, that later turned out to be magnets.

Our supervisors along with local people made an effort to show us how to prepare some Bulgarian food. Making the food was very fun and helpful experience for all the volunteers, so at the end of the project we made a presentation with a couple of our local recipes for the locals to try and make at home. At the end of the project I was very happy with everything that we were supposed to do, and with everything that we did. The six weeks we spend on the project was great experience for me, meeting new people and their cultures were refreshing and fun. The project exceeded my expectations, and I would recommend everyone who is interested in doing some volunteering to try it, you will not be disappointed.

Branko Vasov – volunteer

About the hosting organization

The Association for Cultural, Economic, Heuristic and Linguistic Cooperation (AKSĖLS) – was founded in 2012 in the village of Meshtitsa, Municipality of Pernik, Bulgaria. Their team has set an ambitious goal to work for and assist in the development and strengthening of family and spiritual values, civil society, culture, new technologies, healthcare and physical education at local and national level. Special attention is paid on creation, application and multiplication of good practices regarding youth and adolescence policies – provoking interest in sports activities, healthy and nature friendly way of life, finding and supporting Bulgarian talents in the country and abroad; work with disadvantaged groups and people with mental and physical difficulties, as well as encouraging their inclusion in all kinds of lifelong learning. Another focus of their activities is revival and strengthening of the rich Bulgarian rites, calendar celebrations and traditions of the Bulgarians, including protection, preservation and popularization of the Bulgarian folklore and traditional crafts in the country and abroad. The Association also takes initiatives in the area of ecology, culture, arts and sports aiming at environmental protection and development of alternative tourism forms. Their team works hard to turn the Association into a regional resource support center in the context of the international integration and regional and international cooperation through developing sustainable partnerships with Bulgarian and foreign national, regional, municipal public and private organizations. The Association follows the principles of social equality and responsibility and will not allow any discrimination and conflict of interest.