Faros tou Kosmou Infopack - IN MEDIA RESC

2. United Societies of Balkans (USB) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization based in Thessaloniki, Greece working in the field of youth mobility, participation and facilitating youth awareness about social issues. It was founded in 2008 by the inception of a group of active young people who wanted to address the social issues which affect the youngsters in the Balkans and Eastern Europe. Key areas of the organization’s activities concern the defense of human rights, the organization of youth related projects such as youth exchanges and training courses, the realization of local interventions, seminars and multimedia productions, as well as local and international volunteering projects, largely in the frame of European Solidarity Corps.

3. Faros tou Kosmou (The Lighthouse of the World) started its activity in 2004 and is located in Dendropotamos neighborhood, in Western Thessaloniki. Our goal, from the beginning, is the educational and social integration of Dendropotamos' young Roma. Faros operates for years a foster center for children of the area for this reason, as well as an afterschool activity center for all children of the neighborhood. Thus, we focus on educating children in order to acquire knowledge, develop skills and specialize in things that each one of them is interested in or naturally talented. The long term goal is that they have a better life in the future. The learning cycle is endless so we are always looking for initiatives in order to create opportunities for our children to either develop their existing skills or discover new ones.

4. “IN MEDIA RESC: Inclusive Media and Actions Relying on the European Solidarity Corps” is an ESC Volunteering Teams in High Priority Areas project that will bring volunteers from 7 different countries together in solidarity activities in Greece. Five volunteering groups involving a total of 84 volunteers, will implement activities aimed at responding to crucial societal priorities of European Solidarity Corps. The first four volunteering teams (VT1-VT4) will operate in Thessaloniki, during the period April-December 2025, each lasting 55 days. They will address the need of assisting children and youth from vulnerable backgrounds, by providing learning tools and on-field activities. Each team will have volunteers support 4 different hosting organisations in Thessaloniki: -USB (“Balkan Hotspot Media Lab”) -Irida Women’s Center (Safe center for women) -Faros tou Kosmou (foster center for Roma children) -Argo (organic farming for social reintegration of ex-addicted people) Each volunteer will take up more specific tasks for one of them. Each team will collectively address an important European priority through joint activities, such as open campaigns, support or organisations of youth events and festivals. This infopack concerns participants for “Faros tou Kosmou”. Agency : Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) Project number: 101179207

5. Volunteers will support the operation at Faros tou Kosmou foster center for children, in the marginalized Dendropotamos neighborhood on the west part of Thessaloniki. As part of their tasks, they will also: -Support in the daily operations of the local after-school activity center run by Faros (KDAP), realization of activities for children of the community aged 5-12 years old, in cooperation with social workers. -Organise open sports activities in the neighborhood for children and youth -Support youth of the Roma community by providing learning opportunities, such as workshops to enhance their media and linguistic skills. They will further take up some tasks linked to media, such as to write magazine and blog articles, engage in video or photo editing or social media production, based on their preferences. Additionally, each team will address a crucial European priority, in collaboration with all volunteers supporting the project’s different hosting organisations. Teams and the topic addressed are as follows: “Promoting European values and European identity” 1st April – 25th May 2025 Campaign and live events focusing on Europe Day on May 9, 2025. “Enforcing youth skills and media literacy” 28th May – 21st July 2025 Events, workshops and online material enforcing youth skills and media literacy, linked to World Youth Skills Day on 15 July 2025. “Boosting Environmental Protection” 3rd August – 26th September 2025 Eco-related initiatives, in beaches and other areas in need in the broader Thessaloniki region. Support the Green Wave Festival in September 2025.

6. Thessaloniki is the second biggest city in Greece and a very important city for the whole Balkan Peninsula. It's a youth city and known for its food, nightlife, and culture. It was the European Capital of Culture in 1997 and European Youth Capital in 2014. Thessaloniki is a major center of education for Greece. Two of the country's largest universities are located in central Thessaloniki. The city's total student population is estimated around 200,000 – 250,000, meaning that 1/4th of total population are young students. The city is known in Greece for its vibrant culture, including having the most cafes and bars per capita of any city in Europe; and as having some of the best nightlife and entertainment in the country, thanks to its large young population and multicultural feel. Lonely Planet listed Thessaloniki among the world's "ultimate party cities". Thessaloniki entertainment capital of northern Greece but also the cultural capital of the country. During each year, Thessaloniki hosts significant cultural and commercial festivities, such as the Thessaloniki International Fair, the International Thessaloniki Film and Documentary Festivals and the International Book Fair. is not only regarded as the cultural and More info on the website of the municipality: www.thessalonikicity

7. Volunteers will have to be 18-30 years old and be genuinely interest in the project. The selection of the participants is mostly based on their motivation and interest in the project. Our ideal volunteer candidate is an open minded person willing to learn, to improve herself and to help other people. It is important to be ready to work in a team and to share daily life with people from different backgrounds. Volunteers should be willing to implement activities for children, mostly of young ages. Although it is not required to have a high level of English, the volunteers need to have at least a basic knowledge of the language for their everyday communication and their safety. Regarding the inclusion of people with fewer opportunities, USB will guarantee safety and support for the participation for youngsters facing obstacles, thanks to its long experience of working with people from socially vulnerable groups. Working program will be 4-6 hours per day, from Monday to Friday. In some cases, volunteers may be asked to work in weekends for some events, for example for the implementation of some event or workshop. If this happens, they will receive extra free days to use later on. Applicants should know that participation throughout the whole 55 days activity period of the team is mandatory. Note: The project is Volunteering Teams and does not exclude you from taking part in long-term or short term individual ESC in the future, and you’re also eligible if you took part in the past.

8. Volunteers will be accommodated in a fully equipped building located in the city centre (str. Anagnostara 13) near the main bus and train station of the city. It is an autonomous 5 floored building of 150 m2 per floor and a terrace on the 6th floor. There are two living rooms and a big kitchen, showers in the common floors and toilets in every floor. In the building there are also accommodated the volunteers who participate in other projects in the city coordinated by our organisation. Each volunteer will share their room with one-three more people (we have double and big quadruple rooms). Up to 35 volunteers can be accommodated in the house. More info about the rules are in the residence statute. There are single rooms for people with special needs. Wi-fi is available in the whole building. The House Manager coordinates the cleanings and the organisation of the spaces in the house and work every morning in the common spaces from Monday to Friday. The House Manager also coordinates the cleaning of the common spaces and support the volunteers to fix issues in the house. USB will provide food for the volunteers through a catering service throughout the week, which includes 3 meals per day, adapted to the alimentary needs of each participant. The volunteers will receive their individual pocket money, at the beginning of each month. Local metro or bus cards are also covered for inner city transportation.

9. Participants are requested to bring their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) if they are eligible to have it without charge. Cross-border participants will be registered in the HENNER insurance scheme, covering needs complementary to the EHIC. Registration of participant to the insurance is made by USB. A network of doctors and hospitals is already available in order to meet all their needs, including the most urgent. The Mentor is responsible for all their issues connected with health and insurance. Youthpass is the official recognition tool for non-formal & informal learning in youth projects. Through this, participants of Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps projects can describe their implemented activities and learning outcomes they have earned through their participation in a project. Volunteers have to keep a diary of their activities and learning in order to f ill it properly at the end of their project. The Mentor is also responsible for the Youthpass and will support the volunteers throughout the reflection process.

10. USB is responsible for the practical arrangements of the project (accommodation, food, tickets, welcoming). The travel costs will be covered in full by the project, participants will be supported in preparing the travel both by USB and their sending organisation. They are thus kindly asked to find a convenient and sustainable option for their trip. The participants need to buy their tickets themselves and will get the refund as soon as possible when we receive their tickets and all necessary travel documents (online or physical in case of paper tickets, or boarding passes that are provided in physical form and not online). Upon their arrival, participants will be welcomed at the airport by another ESC volunteer who is already in Thessaloniki for some period, a local volunteer of USB or a staff member, to go safely to the accommodation together on their first day. The city bus ticket costs 2.00 eur and can also be reimbursed as part of the travel budget. *For the volunteers coming from NON-EU countries the visa costs will be covered. !The volunteers MUST arrive on the date specified for the volunteering team: if volunteers arrive earlier, the organisation will try to support but cannot guarantee accommodation, and participants may need to cover expenses for accommodation.

11. Christian ESC Manager -General coordination -Practical arrangements Kiki Balkan Hotspot Coordinator -Team coordination -Daily support -Task-related arrangements Christos ESC Coordinator -Team coordination -Daily support -Practical management arrangements Dionisis House Manager -House issues -House cleaning -Food Urania Mentor -Personal support -Health & social issues Aris President Christina Finance Manager -Supervise the project -Travel reimbursement -Financial issues

12. United Societies of Balkans Website: www.usbngo.gr Email: volunteer@usbngo.gr usb.volunteerteams@gmail.com (2nd) Facebook: facebook.com/usbngo/ Twitter: twitter.com/usbngo Instagram: usb_ngo Address: Al. Delmouzou 8, 54643, Thessaloniki, Greece Phone: +30 2310215629