- Dates: 31 May - 1 June 2013
- Organisation: Grenzenlos
- Country: Austria
- City: Eggenburg
Description of the event:
This 2 days event was organised by Grenzenlos, an organisation based in Vienna which focuses on intercultural exchange and integration, both locally and internationally. This Citizens Action training was held from 30th of May to 1st of June 2013. It brought together young local and international volunteers from the program ICYE (International Cultural Youth Exchange). The local volunteers will do 6 or 12 months exchange abroad, and the international ones were currently doing voluntary work in local communities all over Austria.
The purpose of training was to prepare those going abroad for their voluntary work, to be aware and informed about the places and cultures they will meet, to be conscious of their roles as volunteers and what impact these has on the local community. It was a call as well for them to become active citizens not only abroad but as well in their own community upon their return.
The international volunteers doing voluntary service in the local projects in Austria (working with children, people with fewer/less opportunities, people with disabilities, environmental project – farming, etc) shared their experience with local volunteers, prepared them for their journey and coming experience. They showed good practices and showed the impact volunteers (local or international) can have on the local projects and communities.
The intercultural exchange was also an important part of the preparation for both groups.
