GRU-11-P-LP-303-B-ES Project meeting in UK 6-9 November 2011

1. GRU-11-P-LP-303-B-ESProject meeting in UK6-9 November 2011 EXERCISES FOR STIMULATING MOTIVATION IN VOLUNTARIEES Volunteering in Romania The project was financed with the support of the European Commission within the frame of the LLP - Grundtvig Programme. This document reflects the view only of the authors, the National Agencies and the European Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

2. Short history • Romanian civil society emerged during the early 20th century; cultural and sport associations started to develop around churches, helping disadvantaged groups. • During the communist regime, many of the civil society structures were destroyed and those remaining were placed under the control of the totalitarian administration. • After 1989, the voluntary sector re-emerged in Romania. External factors also helped to promote voluntary activities and organisations; a large number of foreign volunteers arrived in Romania, many of whom took part in social assistance activities or contributed to social services (‘Médecins Sans Frontières’). • More recently, the 2001 International Year of Volunteering helped to launch the Romanian Volunteering Law. Source of information: Study of Volunteering in the European Union, GHK

3. Definitions • According to the Romanian Law on Volunteering (Legea Voluntariatului) adopted in 2001 and amended in 2006: • Volunteering is an activity of public interest, undertaken out of free will by a person aiming at helping others, without being motivated by financial or material gains. • The public interest activity is carried out in various domains such as social assistance and services; environmental protection; culture, education, arts etc. • The organisation hosting the volunteers or carrying out the voluntary activities may be a non-profit private or a public organisation, run in the public benefit. Source of information: Study of Volunteering in the European Union, GHK

4. Number and profile of volunteers • not all volunteers sign a volunteering contract with the host organisation • there is no national register of volunteering contracts • However there are several useful sources of data, for example databases collected by the Civil Society Development Foundation (CSDF), by the Association for Governmental Strategies and the Association for Community Relations. • There is no definitive data available on the total number of volunteers in Romania. The lack of data on this matter is determined by two key factors: Source of information: Study of Volunteering in the European Union, GHK

5. Number and profile of volunteers(continued) • A comparative glance at the numbers of volunteers between 1999 and 2008 would suggest that the rate of volunteering has increased slightly from 9,5% to 12,8% of the adult population. • But actual proportion of active volunteers ("who do voluntary work on a regular monthly basis"), is estimated to be much lower, under 2% of the adult population. • Research confirms that the age group most committed to volunteering are young people aged under 30. • Surprisingly, the rate of volunteerism increases towards the upper end of the age spectrum, in particular those aged between 60 and 69 years. Source of information: Study of Volunteering in the European Union, GHK

6. Number and profile of volunteers(continued) Examining a database of 6,936 NGOs, CSDF - Civil Society Development Foundation - concludes: • 28% of NGOs operate in the domain of social and medical services • 25% in sport and culture • 15% in education and training • 32% other domains like business, protection of human rights and citizenship rights, religion etc. Source of information: Study of Volunteering in the European Union, GHK

7. Organisationsinvolved in volunteering • Publicbodies • there is no a main public body currently responsible for the monitoring and regulation of voluntary activities and institutions in Romania • on various occasions some ministries are involved or the Governmental Department of Relations with the Associative Domain,the Agency for Governmental Strategies and the National Agency for Community Programmes in the Field of Education andVocational Training (ANPCDEFP) Source of information: Study of Volunteering in the European Union, GHK

8. Organisationsinvolved in volunteering(continued) • Other organisations • VOLUM – Federation of Organisations Suporting the Volunteering Development in Romania • NationalVolunteer Centre Pro Vobis– coordinates a national network of volunteer centres (15 centres in entire country) as well as its online platform dedicated to volunteering: www.voluntariat.ro • National Forum for NGOs also forms another important structure • CSDF - Civil Society Development Foundation • various student organisations such as, AIESEC and BEST Source of information: Study of Volunteering in the European Union, GHK

9. NGO’s funding • There is no national budget for volunteering. However, there are certain public funds available from the EU, the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Finance. • Membership fees • Income from direct economic activities • Donations and sponsorship • EU funds • Development agencies that can run operational programmes such as, the Regional Environmental Centre and the Foundation of Princess Margaret of Romania • Programmes of countries that have a bilateral agreement with Romania (e.g., USAID, MATRA programme from NL) and multilateral donors (e.g. World Bank funds etc.) Source of information: Study of Volunteering in the European Union, GHK

10. Social and Cultural Dimension of Volunteering • Volunteering enables citizens to become more active in society and to become better informed about the world around them. • Participation in voluntary activities also gives individuals to opportunity to help local authorities to develop innovative and timely solutions to problems encountered by local communities. • Keybenefits for volunteers: • Professional experience • Helping others • Making friends • Implementing ideas • Making the individual’s CV more attractive • Trying out a potential career • Travelling abroad and discovering new cultures Source of information: Study of Volunteering in the European Union, GHK

11. Challenges for volunteering • Prejudicesagainstvolunteering • volunteeringwas invented by the communists and should be replaced with paid work • volunteers would not be needed if the state was doing a better job • volunteers undertake unpaid work to gain material benefits • people only work seriously when they get paid • Barriers • Insufficient time • Work-related duties • Family obligations • Health or age Source: Study of Volunteering in the European Union, GHK

12. Challenges for volunteering(continued) • Important impediment is the lack dissemination of good practices related to working with volunteers (such as, examples of how to manage volunteers effectively). • Lack of information on volunteering available to young people, particularly those from small towns and rural areas • No sustainable funding for voluntary organisations Source: Study of Volunteering in the European Union, GHK

13. Opportunities for volunteering • European Year of Volunteering 2011 • National Week of Volunteering – coordinated by Pro Vobis • ONG Fest Caravan – organised by CSDF Source: Study of Volunteering in the European Union, GHK

14. Examples of NGOs working with voluntaries • International organisations • Save the children • Red cross • World Organization of Scout • Betany Foundation • Local organisations • More Green • Romanian Scout • Rescue Society Association • Visual Impaired Association • Maria Association • Reper 21 • Aspirations and Motivations for Future – AMV • ARVAR Source: Study of Volunteering in the European Union, GHK

16. NGOs collaborating with ARVAR Source: Study of Volunteering in the European Union, GHK

17. Romanian Scouts Movement • Scout Movement is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society. • They use specific methods that make each individual the principal agent of his or her development as a self-reliant, supportive, responsible and committed person.

18. Common actions between Romanian Scouts and children from visual impaired school. Preparing Halloween day. Origami lesson

19. Association for Visual Impaired • Association for Visual Impaired represents the interests of visually impaired people from all over the country. • The actual number of members is approximately 80.000. • Volunteers are involved in helping members in doing different activities as well as supporting families with visually impaired members.

20. Project Discover Europe for visually impaired children Chess contest

21. Maria Association • Maria Association aims to support the handicapped and disadvantaged children, to offer them medical and social assistance. • In collaboration with HCPT, Maria Foundation organises Pilgrimage holidays to Lourdes in France for handicapped children.

22. MoreGreen Association • More green because we wish to be able to leave as heritage for our children all four seasons, drinking water and fresh air, not a bank account and a four rooms apartment. • Areas of activity: • Environment protection • Forestation • Greening • Promoting an eco lifestyle • Values: • Respect for nature • Volunteering • Cooperation • Communication

23. Planting trees in Iasi county Gathering waste in Murighiol, Danube Delta

24. Start thinking eco from childhood

25. Bikes march Cicloteque - project for bike sharing

26. Rescue Society Association • Supports the Ambulance Service Bucharest • Areas of activity: • Interventions in emergency situations • Aid in natural disaster situations • Education for healthy life • Volunteers fist have to attend a class of Basic Life Support and only after that they can assist and accomplish tasks on emergency cases.

27. On july, 26th this year Rescue Society together with Ambulance Service Bucharest managed to gather 7,402 volunteers to simultaneously learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation, establishing a new Guiness World Record.

28. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation training course for 7402 volunteers. Location: Dinamo stadium.

29. Reper 21 • Reper 21 has as mission to promote the sustenable development and social responsability of organizations. • Campaignes: • Green Santa Claus (hand made ornaments from recicled materials) • Green tourism in Danube Delta • ...The products have a story too • Balanced alimentation of a healthy person • Projects: Societal – promoting social responsibility in NGOs’ projects and activities.

30. Aspirations and Motivations for Future • AMV Association - is a local non-profit association located in Bucharest, having the mission to promote the non formal education for social-economic disadvantaged people. • Target group: • Children and young people from disorganized families or in socio-economical difficulty being at risk of marginalization • Persons having visual impairment • This NGO involves voluntaries from schools and universities in projects and activities organised for the support of unprivileged persons.

31. Workshop preparing spring holiday of 1st March. Creative activities with children from a social center and volunteers.

32. Workshop to learn about European countries. Participants - teenagers from a social centre and volunteers from a high school.

33. Participating to this project… • ARVAR intends: • to gain more knowledge for improving its activity • to meet people from other similar organisations from Europe • to exchange experiences for attracting more volunteers • to learn to better support disadvantaged persons, especially children and teenagers for their social integration.