EP Interactive Greeting Card: Happy New Year from Everything is Possible

All the Everything is Possible team wish you all the best for Christmas and 2011.


DISCOVER our Interactive Greeting Card:

Everything is Possible's Greeting Interactive Card on Prezi

''6 months of EVS in Uruguay'' by John C.

"The people I lived with and the friendships that were formed whilst over there successfully managed to get rid of any feelings of being ‘out-of-place’, and I eventually began to feel more and more at home in a country that is a pleasure to live in, doing my European Voluntary Service in a school and with people who made it both a special and rewarding experience."

John C.

"My name is John and I am a 23 year old ex-student, from Sheffield. I have just completed 6 months of European Voluntary Service in Uruguay where I was involved in the day to day activities in an English Language School called the Guildford Ingles-Espanol School. It was incredible taking part in something such as this, as I had no previous experience doing anything in this field. The school was run by an extremely friendly and fantastic person, Irene Varela.

My role at the School was to put together and teach 2-hour lessons, I was encouraged to use topics for the lessons which interested me and to just generally converse with the students in English whilst encouraging them and correcting any mistakes they would make both during the conversations and in any tasks they were set. In addition to the daily lessons I would teach I was very involved in a youth-based scheme called Adobe Youth Voices. This involved the School inviting less privileged children from nearby ‘barrios’ or neighbourhoods and giving them the opportunity to learn some basic English, or build on any English they already had and use this to create a video about topics that affected them e.g. Alcohol Abuse, Drugs, Pollution. This was a very interesting and rewarding scheme and I was very happy to have been given the chance to take part in it. Perhaps one of the most satisfying and pleasing things for me personally was the completion of the videos and seeing them being shown the delight of the children involved at seeing their videos both on the internet, and on a big screen. I was responsible for both teaching the children the English they needed and assisting in the creation of the videos.

I spent the majority of my time in Uruguay in Montevideo which was, for me, a lively, beautiful city with lots of traditional architecture and amazing shops and markets. It is situated on the banks of the Rio Negro and there were many evenings spent strolling along the river-side path, named ‘La Rambla’. The Rio Negro is so vast that it creates the impression of it being by the sea and as the weather gradually improved, so did the feeling of being somewhere special. The people in Uruguay were very welcoming once I managed to become less concerned by the obvious language barrier created by my complete lack of Spanish, but this was no real issue. The people I lived with and the friendships that were formed whilst over there successfully managed to get rid of any feelings of being ‘out-of-place’, and I eventually began to feel more and more at home in a country that is a pleasure to live in, doing my European Voluntary Service in a school and with people who made it both a special and rewarding experience. "

John C., Long Term EVS Volunteer in Uruguay.

Project part of BREAKING BARRIERS
BUILDING PARTNERSHIP
and supported by EACEA

and the Youth in Action Programme

of the European Commission.

For more information about BREAKING BARRIERS BUILDING PARTNERSHIP, visit the special webapge in clicking here.



Tom's testimony about his Leonardo in Norway (Short Term)

"I learned a lot and I wish I was still there. Since I came back I started working in a youth centre."

My Name is tom, I come from Mirfield. I’m 18 and I did a Leonardo project in Norway (2 weeks).

In Norway I chopped wood, Milked cows, worked in a bakery, fed the animals, I climbed a mountain, played football with other volunteers.

I liked milking the cows and cleaning out the cowsheds.

On a night there wasn’t much to do so we had to make our own entertainment, like playing uno, card games and football.

I learned a lot and I wish I was still there. Since I came back I started working in a youth centre.

Tom, Short Term Trainee in Sweden.

Project part of Gaining  Through Training

and supported by ECORYS UK

and the Lifelong Learning Programme
of the European Commission.

 

Volunteering Day: 5th December. Chaimae and Marianna at the British Council to share their EVS experience in Jamaica.

Marianna and Chaimae with Janette at the ''Volunteering Abroad'' event.

Our two short term volunteers, Marianna and Chaimae, were at the ''Volunteering Abroad'' event in London on the Monday 5th December. They shared their EVS experience in Jamaica with many professionals and volunteers who came to celebrate this volunteering day. They were with Janette, their youth and community worker of Caxton Youth Club, who supported them in Jamaica. Everything is Possible was there of course. We presented an extract of our Creative Inclusion visibility video, with images of Chaimae and Marianna in Jamaica.

Steve at the ''Volunteering Abroad'' event.

As well, Steve our ex-colleague presented his whole journey with Everything is Possible from his first EVS volunteering opportunity to his job as Short Term Programme Facilitator.

This event was organised by the British Council and VSO. Creative Inclusion and the EVS opportunity of Chaimae and Marianna was supported by the Youth in Action Programme of the European Commission.




Watch the video of the EVS project of Marianna and Chaimae who volunteered one month in Jamaica.

Hosting EVS volunteers : Read the December Turn Up the VOLume NEWSLETTER

Please, discover the Turn Up the VOLume NEWSLETTER of September and October, wrote by our new volunteer Eva. You will find in this newsletter some information about Leeds, Bradford and London, and some advices about how to spend yoru free time:

- What's on: Special Christmas Markets,
- Things to do on a Rainy Day,
- Things to do on a sunny day,
- Recipe ofthe month.

To dicsover the newsletter please click on this link:

Turn Up the VOLume NEWSLETTER December 2011

You can also download see previous version, in clicking in one of these links:
Turn Up the VOLume NEWSLETTER September October 2011
Turn Up the VOLume NEWSLETTER August 2011
Turn Up the VOLume NEWSLETTER July 2011
Turn Up the VOLume NEWSLETTER June 2011
Turn Up the VOLume NEWSLETTER May 2011
Turn Up the VOLume NEWSLETTER April 2011

Turn Up the VOLume NEWSLETTER March 2011

Turn Up the VOLume NEWSLETTER February 2011

Turn Up the VOLume NEWSLETTER January 2011

Turn Up the VOLume NEWSLETTER December 2010

New video! Watch the video of the EVS project of Marianna and Chaimae who volunteered one month in Jamaica.

Marianna and Chaimea are two of our EVS volunteers who went to Jamaica for a month. This video will show you all their journey from the preapartion to their return and evaluation of their project. Enjoy!

short term EVS volunteers.

Project part of CREATIVE INCLUSION

and supported by EACEA

and the Youth in Action Programme

of the European Commission.

For more info about Creative Inclusion, visit the special webpage, clicking here.

Chaimae and Maz are as well  on the video CREATIVE INCLUSION:

My 2 weeks Leonardo project in Norway, by Julie.

Hi my name is Julie. I am 28 years old. I live in Skipton. I don't work. I am on income support. I have never been abroad before or ever flow before. I went to Norway for 2 weeks with the Leonardo project.

All our Leonardo Trainees group with Adnan, their hosting tutor.

In my project, we worked on a farm and in the forest. These included work like

- chopping up wood,

- milking cows,

- cleaning them,

- picking eggs,

- shovelling poo into a wheel barrow

- shovelling gravel, 

- taking nails out of wood,

- stocking wood onto piles of other wood,

- making a trench,

- working in the bakery.

The food was great. Everything was organic and home made. It was all really nice and taste beautifull. The rooms were nice and clean and the beds were really confortable.

During our free time we went bowling, bike riding, went for a hike up a big mountain, had football matches, play lazer quest, watch DVD's, play card games.

I learn about myself and other people how to be more confident, independent, trusting other people seeing the different way's other people live and the different cultures.

I would recommend this experience and I want to go back to Norway or somewhere else. I would like to live here some day. It's like a new world. No pressure, or stress : everybody's so lay back.

After I've done my EVS, I would like to do more traveling and hopefully get a job abroad or working on a plane beeing a steward or a air hostess.

Julie, Short Term Leonardo trainee in Sweden.
Project part of Gaining  Through Training

and supported by ECORYS UK

and the Lifelong Learning Programme
of the European Commission.

 

Congratulation to Rebekah and Vaila winners of the Your Story Competition

The 24th November 2011, Everything is Possible staff came at the British Council London offices to support our two volunteers, Rebekah and Vaila, for the Your Story Prize Awards Event organised by the Bristish Council and Ecorys UK.

Rebekah and Vaila with Simon Williams,
Head EU Programmes, British Council.

Rebekah won second place and Vaila the third place in the Youth in Action essay category of the British Council and Ecorys 'Your Story' Competition.

All Everything is Possible staff are very proud of them.

You can read their poems clicking on their name:

Rebekah's Poem.

Vaila's Poem.

Or visit the official website of the competition : http://competition.lifelonglearningprogramme.org.uk/youth-in-action/index.php

Rebekah and Vaila at the Your Story Event



Poem of Vaila, other winner of 'Your Story' Competition

We are delighted as well to share with you the brillant poem of Vaila who won third place in the Youth in Action essay category of the British Council and Ecorys 'Your Story' Competition. Vaila will come as well to London tomorrow for the Prize Awards Event at the British Council London offices.  Everything is Possible staff will be there to support her.

Enjoy her poem as we enjoyed reading it.

BROADENING HORIZONS - MY YOUTH IN ACTION EXPERIENCE
by VAILA WHITTAKER

It started off with an idea; I started engineering

to go abroad to Italy- to do volunteering

A move that was bold

made at just 17 years old

It needed a spoonful of strength and spirit

But courage was the main culprit

You see back then I had these things

But I didn’t believe in me- no confidence,

low self-esteem this was my circumfluence.

I wanted something -which changed everything

I had belief in the idea

Yes there would be un po’ di nostalgia

But I really didn’t care.

So off I went to Italy

Era una bella esperienza per me 

I left all I knew friends and family

di lavorare con gli anziani.

I worked in a care-home in the entertainment sector

At first I was just an observator

Not knowing the lingo and all

It was like trying to walk before you can crawl

I chatted to the elderly everyday -

well mainly listened at first!

One  of the things about going away

is that I went into things head first

like throwing yourself into a storm

I learnt to grow as a person and became independent

And that was just the platform...

Not to give up when the going gets tough

On watch resident X escaped

I let him go with his friend- a bad influence

he went to the pub to drink

more than his daily allowance!

I learnt from this it didn’t get me down

Not to make snap judgements

And make-sure that first I get the low down

Life is full of accidents

But I see now mistakes as feedback

to improve and learn from for the next time

they’re apart of successful life- how else are you meant to learn?

I had made a rapid climb.

Over time I had a good relationship with the elderly

And I actually could understand them!

I read them newspapers everyday

And they tell me stories of memories of war and family

I’d play board games with them and paint and design

I made them smile and they made me shine.

An experience that no-one can take away

New friends, new country a fresh start

From the norm, everything and everyone, faraway

If asked again I would take part.

By Vaila Whittaker

Poem of Rebekah, one of the winner of 'Your Story' Competition

We are please to publish today the fantastic poem of Rebekah who won second place in the Youth in Action essay category of the British Council and Ecorys 'Your Story' Competition. Rebekah who is still volunteering in France (EVS supported by the Youth in Action Programme of the European Commission), will come to London tomorrow for the Prize Awards Event at the British Council London offices.  Everything is Possible staff will be there to support her. Rebekah writes every month some fantastic blogs: We published already some on Turn Up The VOLume.

Enjoy her poem as we enjoyed reading it.

BROADENING HORIZONS - MY YOUTH IN ACTION EXPERIENCE
by REBEKAH WARBURTON

There are experiences in life that come so rare

Suddenly appear, surprising you, drawing you in

"Youth in Action" had this exact effect

On my life it seems, stirring my choices deep within

A story of passion, excitement and daring

Growing as a person with an opportunity once in a million

No longer feeling the need to hide like a chameleon

Discovered by mistake I thought I must be dreaming

"Everything is Possible" in Leeds assured the contrary

With documents signed and mentally prepared

I left behind in the U.K. my life with everything known and safe

Sped into Lille in France in the spur of the moment

A change to my life to forever remember

But a project that will end in the month of December

From the first of June I was truly immersed

French life becoming habit, their customs ingrained

To queue in the shops and truly take turns?

I think not in France, to be at the front everyone yearns

Or to work hard through the day and party at night

I think so in this lively and buzzing country

Where soirées (evening gatherings at friend's houses)

Make each and every week welcoming and bright

Within the project I have grown and developed

Working with young people around the same age

Understand the implications of a town full of unemployment

Where all that a person wants is a simple wage

Between the ages of 18 and 30, struggling to get by

Until the European Voluntary Service, like it did for me

Gives them a reason to feel they can fly

Delivering English workshops to those who will depart

Giving them the confidence to get up and start

They, like me, will move to another country

So in the shortest of time I have developed the skill

To build up their confidence and for them to truly have the will

To speak English confidently with a smile on their face

And not to feel that the learning process is one big race

Despite this, butterflies fluttered the first time I stood

In front of a group with blank faces, lives misunderstood

To inspire them to learn when their studies had not found them jobs

Was a challenge for me, to evoke a response

Adapting techniques and developing resources

To teach English uniquely and individually so that they could relate

Not feeling as though at school, where your mind is governed by the state

The challenge from then on to keep moving forwards

Was to adapt to the needs of each volunteer individually

Establish the levels of understanding and ability to talk

To allow them to flourish in English and on their own two feet walk

Not worry about making mistakes in a world full of perfectionism

Where self expectation can force you to hide behind a mask

Instead helping them to realise they were worthy of this task

Furthermore than the English I have completed many tasks

Such as documents designed to prepare the volunteers in every way

With exercises such as evaluating the skills they already know

Through which to them their strong abilities I could show

Whilst at the same time developing my ability to organise

And assess that which is needed before such a life changing experience

So creative and stimulating tasks I have had to devise

Additionally I have created a document designed to promote

This wonderful service so that like it has helped me, it can aid

The future volunteers "La Mission Locale de Lille" will send abroad

Through photos, videos and testimonies of the volunteers on projects

The departing young people can also become promoters to a scheme full of promise

With the guidance on how to do this that I have written

The art of communication to spread the word and become smitten

Smitten is the word for my sentiments for this country and project

Having been swept off my feet in ways unimaginable

Now planning to stay and continue my personal development

I have began the search for jobs in the adventure of life never-ending

So for now I say thank you for this amazing opportunity "Youth in Action" has offered

Life changing in so many ways that words cannot describe

Moving in positive ways, onwards and upwards, to new horizons it is sending.

By Rebekah Warburton

Visit Rebekah's blog: http://bex-warburton.blogspot.com/ 

Volunteer Blog - Beth Tew (extract from the newsletter of our Peruvian partner SKIP)

"As I prepare for my departure from SKIP, aside from my checklist of practical things to do, I have to come to terms with leaving on an emotional level.

For the last eight months I've been living the SKIP experience. I'm still not quite ready to say goodbye to the volunteer house, or to being greeted each day at the office by excitable children. I know I'll miss chatting with the mothers about the products they've been knitting (current collection includes bags and bikinis!) and carrying out hose visits to see how our loans have been improving the living conditions of the families we work with....

Trujillo has a blend or ordinary and extraordinary. For me, a perfect mixture of routine and work, tasks to do, meetings to organise, everyday life, outings to bars, the cinema and theatre, British-esque weather. Yet enter the extraordinary, hear the increadible stories of the SKIP families, find yourself surfing in Huanchaco on weekends, or taking an 8 hour trip to Huaraz, the awe inspiring Andes mountain range.

The SKIP experience is quite apart from anything I've ever done before. It brings together so many dedicated individuals, working full time on the long term goal of improving the quality of life of participating Peruvian families. Having seen long and short term volunteers pass through the doors of our SKIP office, I can say that each one brings something valuable to the organisation; a new perspective, worldly experience or a spirit of fun to compliment the positive energy focussed on sustaining the project. SKIP is not about quick fixes. It's about building on relationships within the community and working together to plant the seeds, providing the support for steady and ongoing improvement. It's been fascinating to see how each individual fits into the SKIP family and even though I am sad to leave, I know I will continue to feel a part of it."

Beth in her project.

Beth volunteered with SKIP for almost 10 months using funding from the EU Youth In Action Programme. Click here to find out more about ways to fund your volunteer placement 

One little comment we wanted to make - Trujillo has 'British-esque' weather??!! We think you might have been away from England a little too long Beth - let us know if you still feel the same in February ;)

Leer el articulo de Beth Tew en castillano

SPANISH VERSION (Skip Website)

Beth Tew - Blog de voluntaria 

Sábado 12 de Noviembre de 2011 11:28 

Mientras preparo mi partida de SKIP, además de la lista de cosas por hacer, tengo que enfrentarme a las emociones que experimento por tener que marcharme.

He vivido los últimos ocho meses la experiencia SKIP. Todavía no estoy preparada para decirle adiós a la casa de los voluntarios, o al ser recibida cada día en la oficina por niños tan activos. Sé que extrañaré las charlas con las madres sobre los productos que han estado tejiendo (¡la colección actual incluye bolsos y bikinis!) y llevar a cabo las visitas a los hogares para ver como nuestros préstamos han mejorado las condiciones de vida de las familias con las que trabajamos… Trujillo ha sido una combinación de lo ordinario y lo extraordinario. Para mí, una mezcla perfecta de rutina y trabajo, tareas que hacer, reuniones que organizar, vida todo el tiempo, salir por bares, el cine y el teatro, la clima, poco como inglaterra. Y aún queda lo extraordinario, escuchar las historias increíbles de las familias de SKIP, encontrarse a uno mismo surfeando en Huanchaco los fines de semana, o realizando un viaje de ocho horas a Huaraz, la impresionante cordillera de los Andes.

La experiencia SKIP ha sido algo muy diferente de todo lo que había hecho antes. Reúne muchas personas entregadas, trabajando a tiempo completo por el objetivo a largo plazo de mejorar la calidad de vida de las familias peruanas que participan en el proyecto. Habiendo visto voluntarios por corta y larga estancia atravesar las puertas de la oficina de SKIP, puedo decir que cada una de ellos ofrece algo valioso a la organización: una perspectiva nueva, experiencias de mucho mundo, o un espíritu de alegría que complementa la energía positiva focalizada en la realización del proyecto a largo plazo. SKIP no se trata de acciones apresuradas, Se trata de construir relaciones dentro de la comunidad y trabajar conjuntamente para sembrar las semillas, proporcionando una estructura de apoyo para una mejora firme y en desarrollo. Ha sido fascinante poder observar como cada persona puede forma parte de la familia de SKIP y poder pensar, que aun estando triste por tener que partir, sé que seguiré sintiéndome parte de todo esto.

Project in a swedish youth cafe, by Rebecca short term EVS volunteer

"I am Rebecca. I come from Huddersfield and I went for a 2 months project in Sweden. During the project, I worked in a Youth Cafe serving teenagers, customers and helping out with the daily duties. I as well worked in various summer parks doing activities with the kids. I learnt to be a teamplayer more patient, understanding of others. Professionally, I learnt a basic new language. How to understand a new culture. My plans for the future is to get a job working with the public or kids (and to follow my dream of becoming a successfull singer and live life happy)."

Rebecca, short term EVS volunteer in Sweden.

Volunteering opportunity with children and adults by Aimee

It was fantastic!! It’s not every day you can say a person 3 times your age is fitter than you are. [...]

Words can’t describe how I feel now having taken part in this experience, however I do know I wouldn’t hesitate to do it all over again without changing a thing. I had the best time of my life and I will never forget it!!

Aimee

Aimee in one of the famous street of Lille.

Hi, my name is Aimee and I live in Leeds. I am 19 years old with a passion to discover the world. My first EVS project consisted of 3 weeks working with young people, teaching sports in Lille, France.

During my time in France the work I took part in was very tiring. There wasn’t a dull moment to say the least. Even with the language barrier the children weren’t scared to address me and i was comfortable teaching them. Teaching sports was amazing. It wasn’t just football or rugby, it was every kind of sport there is. I even got the opportunity to teach the children what i do in the UK which was twirl. Teaching them majorettes was a big accomplishment for me and i am so grateful I had the opportunity to do this. Along with teaching children I also had the privilege of working with adults. I took part in boxing and aerobics. Thinking it was going to be easy going due to the older ages of the ladies I had loads of enthusiasm. However when the sessions began I quickly changed my mind. After every session I was exhausted and the other ladies seemed to be enjoying themselves at my expense. I was intrigued at their stamina and found it humorous that I was crawling around the floor with no energy left. It was fantastic!! It’s not every day you can say a person 3 times your age is fitter than you are.

The people I met during my time in France were amazing. Everyone was very helpful and available to contact at any time if i needed help or advise. Especially at Adice, my receiving organisation. The staff were fantastic and easy to talk to. Also the people in the accommodation where i lived were the best people i have ever met. I have made some really good friends.

Now I have returned to the UK, I have no idea what i want to do next. It is in my intentions to take part in a longer EVS project but I also want a stable lifestyle here in Leeds. Perhaps a full time job and a new place to live on my own. Another thing I wouldn’t have the guts to do before my trip. Speaking of this I am due to move into my new home in 6 weeks so I am very excited and have this project to thank for it.

Before my project I was very shy, lacking self confidence and avoided confrontation as much as possible. Now, I am very confident in myself, I enjoy the company of new people and I am not afraid to be myself. My three weeks in France seemed like an eternity now but when I was there it went by so quickly. I have met some of the best people I will ever meet,  that come from all over the world. I knew before I took part in the project I had to find the courage to do something like this, although I didn’t think I would ever get the opportunity. If it wasn’t for Everything is Possible I don’t believe I ever would. Words can’t describe how I feel now having taken part in this experience, however I do know I wouldn’t hesitate to do it all over again without changing a thing. I had the best time of my life and I will never forget it!!

Aimee, Short Term Volunteer in France.
Project supported by the Youth in Action Programme of the European Commission.