YOUTH FOR HOPE
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
INFO PACK
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SELECTION PROCESS (15)
about ESC (1)
DRESS CODE (16-18)
about HFC (2-3)
“Youth For Hope” in the R&D division (4-10)
YOUTHPASS (19)
INTERNAL EVALUATION (20)
about YOU (11)
ESC VISIBILITY (21)
YOUR TASKS (12-14)
welcome remarks
Dear Volunteer, ''Hope For Children'' CRC Policy Center has a vision: the world as a safe and joyful place for children, a place where they can improve while playing, being supported by their families and the society in general and play an active part in decision making – especially on matters concerning their lives. But to make this vision become a reality, we need everyone’s help. If you share our vision, we are waiting for you to join our growing team.
You must be very excited for considering participating in an ESC project in Cyprus, and particularly at "Hope For Children" CRC Policy Center, as you will have the chance to experience a new culture, learn a new language and perhaps also living in a warmer climate. We hope that this info pack will contribute to your understanding of our ESC vacancy and that it will give you useful information about our organisation and the environment we offer to our volunteers. Please, read this info pack carefully and don’t hesitate to contact us, in case of any doubt or need for further information. We are looking forward to meeting you! Mr Joseph Borghese Director-General
ABOUT EUROPEAN SOLIDARITY CORPS
European Solidarity Corps (ESC) is a European Union initiative which creates opportunities for young people to volunteer or work in solidarity projects in their own country or abroad that benefit communities and people around Europe. ESC provides young people aged 18-30 a real-life experience with an opportunity to express personal commitment through full-time voluntary activities in a foreign country within or beyond the borders of the European Union. Volunteering is considered as a non-formal learning experience for the reason that it aims to enhance the skills, competences and the active participation of young people in society. At the same time, you can develop social and personal skills, like the sense of solidarity which is also one of the core and founding principles of the European Union. Thus, the European Commission holds a durable commitment to support volunteering and mobility opportunities for young people across and beyond Europe.
ABOUT "HOPE FOR CHILDREN" CRC POLICY CENTER
“Hope For Children” CRC Policy Center focuses on prioritising children’s well-being and education and takes measures towards the prevention of any kind of violence against children while providing psychological and legal support. HFC operates two private shelters for unaccompanied children, called Homes For Hope; the Children’s House based on the Icelandic Barnahus model handling cases of sexually abused children; an R&D Division coordinating and implementing EU projects, research and advocacy initiatives addressing children’s rights; a Foster Care Department supporting foster families socially and psychologically and evaluating candidate foster parents; an Education and Awareness Department implementing non-formal educational activities in all levels of education in public and private schools; and, importantly, a Counselling Center for children as well as national and international hotlines for families and children to provide psychosocial support. HFC maintains offices in Hungary and USA and has representation in another 8 countries through the Chairs of the CRC Policy Center programme. The Chairs aim to engage academics and researchers in collaborative work to protect and promote the Rights of the Child through research, knowledge exchange and networking, professional development of a new generation of individuals informed, aware, and motivated to uplift the standards of the UNCRC. Currently, the Chairs of the organization are based in Italy, Portugal, UK, Denmark, Hungary, Romania, Nigeria and USA. HFC has initiated and established close cooperation with institutions and actors on an international and European level, including legislative, executive and judicial instruments, and it is a member of significant networks to further promote the rights of the child on a global scale.
ABOUT "HOPE FOR CHILDREN" CRC POLICY CENTER
HFC has affiliations with the following:
- Observatory status at the Council of Europe’s Lanzarote Committee
- Participatory status at the Council of Europe’s Conference of International Non-governmental Organizations (INGOs)
- Cooperating partner of the Council of Europe for the ONE in FIVE Campaign
- National focal point for the Separated Children in Europe Programme
- Focal point for the European Network of Guardian Institutions
- Member of the European Federation Missing Children Europe
- Participant in the Fundamental Rights Platform (FRP)
- Founding member of PROMISE Barnahus Network
- Member of the Anna Lindh Foundation Euromed Network
- Founder and Coordinator of the Network CHAIRS of the CRC Policy Center
- National Focal Point for the European Juvenile Justice Observatory
- Member of the European Network of Child Friendly Cities
- Member of the Destination Unknown Campaign
- Founding Member of the INTEGRA network
ABOUT "youth for hope" in the Research & Development division
The main theme of the project is children's rights, as well as associated challenging issues and implications for practice, such as social or cultural discrimination, gender-based violence, sexual abuse, bullying, missing children, children on the move, and other phenomena that challenge the implementation of children's rights. The duration of the ESC project is 12 months.The general aim of the ESC programme is to foster mutual understanding amongst diverse young people, promote tolerance and acceptance and develop transferable skills in the field of children's rights at the level of research and designing concrete initiatives. The specific objectives of the project are to:
- Foster understanding of social issues that youth and children face daily in their family and social interactions that can affect their rights;
- Promote and raise awareness of issues affecting children (like gender-based violence, sexual abuse and bullying) through field and desk research and practical activities;
- Develop participants’ skills relevant to the field of work as well as key transferable skills: proposal writing, research and evaluation methods, fundraising skills, social competences, sense of initiative, language and communication skills, and time management skills;
- Develop solidarity and promote acceptance among young people, promoting social cohesion in the European Union;
- Develop understanding of the European and international social issues related to children's rights;
- Promote participation amongst youth and the sense of initiative on a cause they believe in.
STRUCTURE OF THE "YOUTH FOR HOPE" PROJECT
“Hope For Children” CRC Policy Center applies an ESC framework envisioning a volunteer-centered programme for personal and professional development within the Research & Development Division. The framework will enable the volunteers to be exposed to and involved in an intercultural learning experience within a non-formal education environment by developing an individual learner’s plan. HFC believes that passionate volunteers who are also trained have a stronger potential to influence and create an impact on the target groups of the organisation and the society. Within this frame, the ESC volunteers will be receiving information about, as well as supportand recognition for their work in specialised departments, according to the following structure:
- INITIATION PHASE: The first month will be an initiation phase within the Research & Development Division at the “Hope For Children” CRC Policy Center Headquarters. The ESC volunteers will receive diverse responsibilities to enable the volunteers to adapt to the work environment, the organisational culture and the active projects and current activities. During this phase, the ESC volunteers will benefit from an initiation training designed and implemented by staff, with the aim to help the volunteers accumulate organisational knowledge and develop abilities to carry out tasks.
- SPECIALISATION PHASE: During the remaining 11 months, the volunteers will receive exclusive responsibilities within the Research & Development Division. This structure will enable the volunteers to develop specific skills and specialised knowledge and as well as to become reliable support for the staff for more complicated tasks with great complementary value. Additionally, the organisation wants to pass on its expertise in non-formal education and support for youth initiatives that are in the scope of its mission.
STRUCTURE OF THE "YOUTH FOR HOPE" PROJECT
The ESC project "Youth For Hope" has the following interactive structure to facilitate the process of learning, with great potential to offer accumulation of knowledge, as well as development of skills and even expertise. The structure of the programme invites the volunteer to go through a long process of assessment and constant evaluation, rewarding the moments of progress and signposting the situations when the volunteers need assistance to accomplish their responsibilities and fulfil their goals.
- Once the ESC volunteers have commenced their volunteering position, they are encouraged to develop approximately five Learning Goals (according to guidelines for writing learning goals, both personal and professional, which will be provided to the volunteer). These goals will act as a personal guide for the volunteers and encourage an attitude of accountability throughout the programme. The volunteer will be assigned an external mentor, and the volunteer should share their Learning Goals with both their supervisor and the mentor who can offer their support for implementation.
- All volunteers will benefit from initiation training in the first two weeks of their programme which will enable the volunteers to get acquainted with the policies and procedures of the organisation and their future responsibilities.
- All volunteers are required to write at least six articles (within 12 months - 1 article per 2 months) related to their experiences in Cyprus. The articles will be published on the Youth For Hope blog. This activity will enable the volunteers to research themes that they have a special interest in.
STRUCTURE OF THE "YOUTH FOR HOPE" PROJECT
- Through practical experience as well as non-formal education activities, the volunteers are encouraged and supported to acquire several key competencies and transferable skills in areas related to communication (with our staff, our partners and our beneficiaries) and facilitation of daily tasks of the department, as well as to acquire substantial knowledge and abilities in the area of promotion and protection of children's rights on both national and international level. They will get to know a project life cycle from the identification of a need to be addressed, to designing the concept, looking for the right source of funding, to finding the right partnership for a strong collaboration, to writing the proposal and coordinating and implementing the proposed activities.
- The volunteers are also required to carry out a personal creative project during the ESC programme. The volunteers will be provided with opportunities to discuss their creative project with the Research & Development Division team and will receive support from the team for the implementation of the project.
Language support will be offered through the Online Language Support (OLS) system – all volunteers will be enrolled in a Greek course on the OLS. Digital competencies will be acquired by the use of social media platforms for the dissemination of the project, and the use of presentation software in educational workshops. Different social media platforms will be introduced to the volunteers through the training provided by the organisation. The volunteers will become familiar with creative media tools (e.g. Canva) and SharePoint where they can find a diverse selection of documents that they have at their disposal as well as other resources that they can use creatively for non-formal educational learning (as long as the documents are not confidential).
STRUCTURE OF THE "YOUTH FOR HOPE" PROJECT
Learning to learn skill will be developed through training provided by the organisation as well as mentorship. The support tasks, referring to any support activity and assistance as part of the regular schedule and activities of R&D Division, and the research responsibilities will enable the volunteers to learn first-hand how to assist the team with the lifecycle of a project from needs analysis and the creation of the concept, to identifying the right funding, to the implementation of the activities.
Living and working in another country for 12 months is in and of itself a process of learning and constant adjustment. Through daily interactions as well as on-the-job training, the volunteers will gain skills to cope with conflict and improve their communication skills. Cultural awareness and expression will also be reinforced by everyday experiences and involvement in non-formal education training activities that will foster the volunteers’ creativity.
Social and civic competencies are expected to be developed to a great extent, as the experience will allow volunteers to come in contact with people from a wide range of social and cultural backgrounds and to become active citizens and participate in all kinds of activities.
Professional support - Volunteers will have a very supportive environment during their ESC experience. The Director of the Research & Development Division and the ESC Coordinator will offer the work structure and the tools for the volunteers to integrate as easily and fast as possible into the daily life of the organisation. The volunteers will have the opportunity to collaborate and work with staff from various departments of the organisation and will be challenged to address different needs that the Research & Development Division might have.
STRUCTURE OF THE "YOUTH FOR HOPE" PROJECT
There will be a process of continuous adjustments according to the volunteers' interest and learning goals and feedback from the Director of the Division. The ESC Coordinator will assist the volunteers with the process of documenting and disseminating the ESC project and will also provide them with the necessary knowledge and tools to do so. Work schedule - The volunteers will work 35 hours weekly, which includes staff meetings. The weekly staff meetings will be an opportunity for the volunteers to talk about issues that arise in the work environment. In addition to the weekends, the volunteers are entitled to two days of annual leave every month. It is their choice how and when to take this leave, as long as the dates are agreed upon in advance with the Director of the Research & Development Division and do not clash with mandatory training organised by the Cypriot National Agency for the ESC programme.
Mentoring - The volunteers will be assigned an external mentor. Mentors are interested in providing personal support and helping the volunteers integrate into the Cypriot society and overcome cultural and social barriers, and they are equipped with knowledge to carry out these tasks. Furthermore, some of the mentors have experienced similar situations and, therefore, have an understanding of the issues the volunteers might face. The mentors will also be responsible for assisting the volunteers with the process of identifying and developing their learning goals as well as key competencies, which will help the volunteers fill out the Youthpass at the end of the ESC programme. The mentors will be meeting with the volunteers at the request of the volunteer, and they will be responsible for giving the volunteers information about events and other groups and organisations that may help the volunteer adjust into life in Cyprus, as well as helping them with any other issues that may arise.
STRUCTURE OF THE "YOUTH FOR HOPE" PROJECT
Accommodation - The volunteers will be provided with accommodation in a rented apartment/house (as close as possible to the location of the HFC Headquarters in Nicosia, Cyprus).
Bus cards/bicycles - HFC provides volunteers with a monthly allowance that includes money to cover the cost of a bus card or a bicycle.
Food allowance and pocket money - The volunteers will receive a monthly allowance for food, transportation as well as pocket money. Every month each volunteer will sign a document that confirms that they have received the pocket money.
10
ABOUT you
We are looking for young people 20-30 years old. The desirable attributes for candidates for the R&D Division are the following:
- Ability to work and live in a multicultural environment, and the ability to engage in intercultural communication;
- Willingness to undertake grassroots initiatives related to children’s rights and vulnerable groups;
- An interest and experience in desk and field research or willingness to learn;
- Demonstrated interest in supporting the staff in the implementation of the R&D Division's active projects related to topics such as gender-based violence, gender equality, child-friendly justice, hate speech, positive parenting, migration, social integration of asylum seekers and refugees, and capacity-building of youth workers;
- Enthusiastic, hard-working, flexible and ready to take the initiative;
- Time management, organisation and problem-solving skills;
- Ethical person with no prejudices who respects non-discrimination and mutual respect principles;
- A university degree in Political Science, International Relations, Sociology, Law, Education, or related field;
- Good knowledge of English language. Knowledge of other languages will be considered as an advantage.
The above attributes are required due to the nature of HFC’s ESC volunteering project and the sensitivity of the issues that need to be addressed – children’s rights – and the target groups of the work carried out by the organisation – minors and other vulnerable groups. All the necessary skills and knowledge for conducting the tasks can be enhanced during the project. It is important to note that although the ESC participants will be equal members of the team, they will act and be responsible as volunteers and will not act as substitutes for the staff.
11
your tasks
Our organisation respects the volunteer's personal health, safety and dignity, and all the tasks are strictly in line with European and national laws. At the Research & Development Division, the volunteers will be integrated in a multileveled, multidisciplinary and interactive work structure and will be encouraged to take creative initiative.
The volunteers' responsibilities will be to:
- Develop new initiatives and enrich the network looking for partnerships with organisations that seek to protect and promote children’s rights among disadvantaged and vulnerable groups and communities;
- Conduct research on issues concerning children’s rights on a national level as well as across the globe;
- Support with analysis and reports on laws and policies related to children on a national level;
- Identify areas for advocacy and/or research on a national and international level;
- Develop initiatives for partners and other national and international stakeholders on issues related to children’s rights;
- Empower children and young people in order to make their views heard and to actively engage in promoting their rights.
12
your tasks
Activities
Specifically, the volunteers will be involved in the following three diverse areas of activities:
1. Support and administrative activities, where the volunteers will assist in the progress of the regular schedule and activities of the R&D Division, such as:
- Communicate with the team and keep them updated on the progress of the project activities;
- Read, analyse and keep track of relevant papers, reports and other research material;
- Assist the staff with the preparation of regularly scheduled reports;
- Support the staff with the daily administrative tasks related to active projects (emails to partners and authorities, letters and reports to national and international agencies, preparation of agenda and materials for meetings, taking minutes, taking photos at official events etc.);
- Promotional activities – preparing press releases, updating the webpage, drafting communication strategies, updating social media platforms on active projects;
- Support the process of fundraising by identifying new sources of funding (from local to international), preparing letters to organisations on fundraising activities, identifying and connecting with possible donors;
- Assist the staff with the identification of new partnerships and new networks to join.
13
your tasks
2. Research (primary and secondary), e.g. survey tasks or reports about the themes and topics connected with:
- The promotion and the protection of children’s rights;
- Disadvantaged and vulnerable minorities/children;
- Migration;
- Gender equality and gender-based violence;
- Child-friendly justice systems;
- Bullying and hate speech;
- Active citizenship.
3. Creative activities and initiatives that can take place one time or be repeated and are not part of the regular program of the R&D Division but have complementary value, such as:
- Assist with the organisation and implementation of non-formal education workshops to equip children, their families/carers and societies at large with knowledge and tools on children's rights;
- Organise national/international campaigns/conferences together with the staff, related to projects that aim to raise awareness of children rights, the needs of children on the move, and develop and promote the adoption of appropriate policies within the EU agenda to respond to this phenomenon at EU level and throughout Europe.
- Write articles (at least 6 in 12 months) that will be published on the Youth For Hope blog (dedicated to articles written by HFC's ESC volunteers);
- Children's rights awareness training in schools, shelters or other educational settings.
14
selection process
The volunteers will be selected according to their profile and interest in this ESC project in a transparent and objective way, regardless of the applicants’ religious and ethnic background, as well as according to principles of inclusion and non-discrimination.
The candidates pre-selected by a Supporting Organisation (SO) may go through an interview with the SO to determine their suitability and motivation. In their CV and motivation letter as well as potential interview with the SO, the candidates need to be convincing about their motivation and present a clear understanding of the vision and mission of our organisation, as well as of the core values and objectives of ESC.
“Hope For Children” CRC Policy Center will also interview any ESC volunteering candidates considered as potentially suitable based on their CV and motivation letter, to further assess their suitability for the Research & Development Division. HFC will communicate its decision to the candidate as well as the SO following the interview.
15
dress code
Policy - Maintaining a professional business-like appearance is expected of all staff members of “Hope For Children” CRC Policy Center. For an international organisation that interacts with the business community and state agencies, suitable business attire and a professional appearance are important in the overall impression due to the fact that each staff member projects the reputation of the organisation. Proper attire will vary by position and location; should staff members be asked to attend a business or corporate meeting or a meeting with a prospective funder, government officials, academics, visitors, or the public either in the “Hope For Children” CRC Policy Center offices or elsewhere, they should dress in appropriate business attire; select clean and neat clothing; in good repair; and project a professional public image. Also, staff members must carry or wear the organisation’s identification badge at all times when dealing with external activities of the organisation. The dress code guidelines below were developed by “Hope For Children” CRC Policy Center for the purpose of providing all staff members with direction as to what constitutes professional attire.
Procedure - Employees are encouraged to practice good personal hygiene and dress comfortably in good business taste. Should any employee present itself in a manner unfitting to their job, he or she will be dealt with on an individual basis by the organisation; with discretion to allow exceptions for special occasions. Articles such as head covers and crosses required for religious purposes or to honour cultural tradition are generally allowed. The present dress policy is inconclusive. In case of uncertainty as to whether clothing is unacceptable or unprofessional, refer to the supervisor/manager for guidance.
16
dress code
Examples of professional attire include, but are not limited to:
- Business suits, blouses, shirts, skirts, pants, ties, dresses;
- Slacks and trousers;
- Maxi or below the knee skirts or dresses;
- Footwear designed for business purposes;
- Pressed clothing.
Examples of unprofessional attire include, but are not limited to:
- Clothing with profane printed messages, slogans, political messages, pictures or art depicting drugs, alcohol, smoking, sex, weapons, violence, or that is obscene or offensive or disrespectful or which makes others feel uncomfortable;
- Dresses or blouses that are backless, strapless, or have spaghetti straps unless such garments are covered by another article of clothing (e.g. a sweater or jacket);
- Tank, cropped or muscle tops unless such garments are covered by another article of clothing (e.g., a sweater or jacket);
- Sheer or mesh clothing that exposes undergarments, midriffs, or too much cleavage;
- Overpowering fragrances;
- Offensive tattoos;
- Flip-flops;
- Excessive visible accessories such as rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings or body piercings;
- Sports cups;
- Beachwear.
17
dress code
Exceptions If necessary, the maintenance and IT/service staff of our organisation involved in physical labour shall wear clothing suitable for their jobs and to their work site.
Additional exceptions may apply, subject to approval by the organisation, in the event of a medical or health condition.
Sanctions
The organisation shall provide guidance as to the proper attire and grooming.
If a volunteer’s clothing constitutes inappropriate attire and/or does not fall within the appropriate attire category, the employee shall be asked to refrain from wearing the inappropriate garment(s) to work again. The employee may be sent home to remove the inappropriate clothing and change into acceptable attire.
Should the volunteer refuse and/or fail to comply with proper attire instructions, they may be verbally warned that they have committed their first offense. Progressive disciplinary action may further apply if dress code violations continue.
18
youthpass
At the end of the volunteering experience, “Hope For Children” CRC Policy Center will generate a Youthpass certificate for the volunteer. The Youthpass certificate confirms the volunteer’s participation in the ESC programme and functions as proof of the volunteer’s individual learning and skills development achieved during the volunteering period. Before finishing their ESC experience, the volunteers will be invited to complete skills development/competencies sections on the Youthpass platform.
Youthpass is not just a certificate but more an ongoing self-development and self-reflection process during the volunteer’s ESC experience. While the volunteer will be supported and guided by their mentor with the setting of learning goals, generally, completing the Youthpass is a self-directed task. During the ESC programme, the volunteers need to plan their own learning goals, follow the plan, as well as recognise, assess and understand their own learning.
19
internal evaluation
At the start and the end of the project, the volunteers will be asked by our organisation to evaluate their experience in participating in the ESC programme as a tool for continuous improvement. Throughout the programme, the volunteers will also be asked to complete internal progress reports outlining the tasks they did as well as their goals for the following months. This will not only enable the organisation to support the volunteers to get the maximum benefit out of their experience, but it will also help the volunteers keep track of their learning, which will be useful for the completion of Youthpass at the end of the volunteering experience.
20
esc visibility
Erasmus + Project Results Platform
The European Commission’s Project Results Platform offers a comprehensive overview of projects funded under the Erasmus+ and Creative Europe programmes.
The purpose is to provide an information tool for the public for relevant and interesting content, as well as a source of inspiration for cultural organisations and initiators.
The results of HFC’s ESC project may be published on the Project Results Platform. This tool will enable organisations to publicly present the results of their projects, and to celebrate the volunteers’ learning outcomes as well as showcase good practices and success stories.
The ESC logo will be added to the projects and results produced by the volunteer.
21
useful contacts and INFO
For any enquiries please contact
Dr. Emma Mesikämmen, Director of the Research & Development Division & ESC Coordinator Email: mesikammen.e@uncrcpc.org
Phone: +357 22 103 234
Headquarters of "Hope For Children" CRC Policy Center 46 Griva Digeni Avenue, Cosmos Tower, 5th floor, 1080, Nicosia, Cyprus Phone: +357 22 103 234 Fax: +357 22 104 021
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Transcript
YOUTH FOR HOPE
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
INFO PACK
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SELECTION PROCESS (15)
about ESC (1)
DRESS CODE (16-18)
about HFC (2-3)
“Youth For Hope” in the R&D division (4-10)
YOUTHPASS (19)
INTERNAL EVALUATION (20)
about YOU (11)
ESC VISIBILITY (21)
YOUR TASKS (12-14)
welcome remarks
Dear Volunteer, ''Hope For Children'' CRC Policy Center has a vision: the world as a safe and joyful place for children, a place where they can improve while playing, being supported by their families and the society in general and play an active part in decision making – especially on matters concerning their lives. But to make this vision become a reality, we need everyone’s help. If you share our vision, we are waiting for you to join our growing team. You must be very excited for considering participating in an ESC project in Cyprus, and particularly at "Hope For Children" CRC Policy Center, as you will have the chance to experience a new culture, learn a new language and perhaps also living in a warmer climate. We hope that this info pack will contribute to your understanding of our ESC vacancy and that it will give you useful information about our organisation and the environment we offer to our volunteers. Please, read this info pack carefully and don’t hesitate to contact us, in case of any doubt or need for further information. We are looking forward to meeting you! Mr Joseph Borghese Director-General
ABOUT EUROPEAN SOLIDARITY CORPS
European Solidarity Corps (ESC) is a European Union initiative which creates opportunities for young people to volunteer or work in solidarity projects in their own country or abroad that benefit communities and people around Europe. ESC provides young people aged 18-30 a real-life experience with an opportunity to express personal commitment through full-time voluntary activities in a foreign country within or beyond the borders of the European Union. Volunteering is considered as a non-formal learning experience for the reason that it aims to enhance the skills, competences and the active participation of young people in society. At the same time, you can develop social and personal skills, like the sense of solidarity which is also one of the core and founding principles of the European Union. Thus, the European Commission holds a durable commitment to support volunteering and mobility opportunities for young people across and beyond Europe.
ABOUT "HOPE FOR CHILDREN" CRC POLICY CENTER
“Hope For Children” CRC Policy Center focuses on prioritising children’s well-being and education and takes measures towards the prevention of any kind of violence against children while providing psychological and legal support. HFC operates two private shelters for unaccompanied children, called Homes For Hope; the Children’s House based on the Icelandic Barnahus model handling cases of sexually abused children; an R&D Division coordinating and implementing EU projects, research and advocacy initiatives addressing children’s rights; a Foster Care Department supporting foster families socially and psychologically and evaluating candidate foster parents; an Education and Awareness Department implementing non-formal educational activities in all levels of education in public and private schools; and, importantly, a Counselling Center for children as well as national and international hotlines for families and children to provide psychosocial support. HFC maintains offices in Hungary and USA and has representation in another 8 countries through the Chairs of the CRC Policy Center programme. The Chairs aim to engage academics and researchers in collaborative work to protect and promote the Rights of the Child through research, knowledge exchange and networking, professional development of a new generation of individuals informed, aware, and motivated to uplift the standards of the UNCRC. Currently, the Chairs of the organization are based in Italy, Portugal, UK, Denmark, Hungary, Romania, Nigeria and USA. HFC has initiated and established close cooperation with institutions and actors on an international and European level, including legislative, executive and judicial instruments, and it is a member of significant networks to further promote the rights of the child on a global scale.
ABOUT "HOPE FOR CHILDREN" CRC POLICY CENTER
HFC has affiliations with the following:
ABOUT "youth for hope" in the Research & Development division
The main theme of the project is children's rights, as well as associated challenging issues and implications for practice, such as social or cultural discrimination, gender-based violence, sexual abuse, bullying, missing children, children on the move, and other phenomena that challenge the implementation of children's rights. The duration of the ESC project is 12 months.The general aim of the ESC programme is to foster mutual understanding amongst diverse young people, promote tolerance and acceptance and develop transferable skills in the field of children's rights at the level of research and designing concrete initiatives. The specific objectives of the project are to:
STRUCTURE OF THE "YOUTH FOR HOPE" PROJECT
“Hope For Children” CRC Policy Center applies an ESC framework envisioning a volunteer-centered programme for personal and professional development within the Research & Development Division. The framework will enable the volunteers to be exposed to and involved in an intercultural learning experience within a non-formal education environment by developing an individual learner’s plan. HFC believes that passionate volunteers who are also trained have a stronger potential to influence and create an impact on the target groups of the organisation and the society. Within this frame, the ESC volunteers will be receiving information about, as well as supportand recognition for their work in specialised departments, according to the following structure:
STRUCTURE OF THE "YOUTH FOR HOPE" PROJECT
The ESC project "Youth For Hope" has the following interactive structure to facilitate the process of learning, with great potential to offer accumulation of knowledge, as well as development of skills and even expertise. The structure of the programme invites the volunteer to go through a long process of assessment and constant evaluation, rewarding the moments of progress and signposting the situations when the volunteers need assistance to accomplish their responsibilities and fulfil their goals.
STRUCTURE OF THE "YOUTH FOR HOPE" PROJECT
- Through practical experience as well as non-formal education activities, the volunteers are encouraged and supported to acquire several key competencies and transferable skills in areas related to communication (with our staff, our partners and our beneficiaries) and facilitation of daily tasks of the department, as well as to acquire substantial knowledge and abilities in the area of promotion and protection of children's rights on both national and international level. They will get to know a project life cycle from the identification of a need to be addressed, to designing the concept, looking for the right source of funding, to finding the right partnership for a strong collaboration, to writing the proposal and coordinating and implementing the proposed activities.
- The volunteers are also required to carry out a personal creative project during the ESC programme. The volunteers will be provided with opportunities to discuss their creative project with the Research & Development Division team and will receive support from the team for the implementation of the project.
Language support will be offered through the Online Language Support (OLS) system – all volunteers will be enrolled in a Greek course on the OLS. Digital competencies will be acquired by the use of social media platforms for the dissemination of the project, and the use of presentation software in educational workshops. Different social media platforms will be introduced to the volunteers through the training provided by the organisation. The volunteers will become familiar with creative media tools (e.g. Canva) and SharePoint where they can find a diverse selection of documents that they have at their disposal as well as other resources that they can use creatively for non-formal educational learning (as long as the documents are not confidential).STRUCTURE OF THE "YOUTH FOR HOPE" PROJECT
Learning to learn skill will be developed through training provided by the organisation as well as mentorship. The support tasks, referring to any support activity and assistance as part of the regular schedule and activities of R&D Division, and the research responsibilities will enable the volunteers to learn first-hand how to assist the team with the lifecycle of a project from needs analysis and the creation of the concept, to identifying the right funding, to the implementation of the activities. Living and working in another country for 12 months is in and of itself a process of learning and constant adjustment. Through daily interactions as well as on-the-job training, the volunteers will gain skills to cope with conflict and improve their communication skills. Cultural awareness and expression will also be reinforced by everyday experiences and involvement in non-formal education training activities that will foster the volunteers’ creativity. Social and civic competencies are expected to be developed to a great extent, as the experience will allow volunteers to come in contact with people from a wide range of social and cultural backgrounds and to become active citizens and participate in all kinds of activities. Professional support - Volunteers will have a very supportive environment during their ESC experience. The Director of the Research & Development Division and the ESC Coordinator will offer the work structure and the tools for the volunteers to integrate as easily and fast as possible into the daily life of the organisation. The volunteers will have the opportunity to collaborate and work with staff from various departments of the organisation and will be challenged to address different needs that the Research & Development Division might have.
STRUCTURE OF THE "YOUTH FOR HOPE" PROJECT
There will be a process of continuous adjustments according to the volunteers' interest and learning goals and feedback from the Director of the Division. The ESC Coordinator will assist the volunteers with the process of documenting and disseminating the ESC project and will also provide them with the necessary knowledge and tools to do so. Work schedule - The volunteers will work 35 hours weekly, which includes staff meetings. The weekly staff meetings will be an opportunity for the volunteers to talk about issues that arise in the work environment. In addition to the weekends, the volunteers are entitled to two days of annual leave every month. It is their choice how and when to take this leave, as long as the dates are agreed upon in advance with the Director of the Research & Development Division and do not clash with mandatory training organised by the Cypriot National Agency for the ESC programme. Mentoring - The volunteers will be assigned an external mentor. Mentors are interested in providing personal support and helping the volunteers integrate into the Cypriot society and overcome cultural and social barriers, and they are equipped with knowledge to carry out these tasks. Furthermore, some of the mentors have experienced similar situations and, therefore, have an understanding of the issues the volunteers might face. The mentors will also be responsible for assisting the volunteers with the process of identifying and developing their learning goals as well as key competencies, which will help the volunteers fill out the Youthpass at the end of the ESC programme. The mentors will be meeting with the volunteers at the request of the volunteer, and they will be responsible for giving the volunteers information about events and other groups and organisations that may help the volunteer adjust into life in Cyprus, as well as helping them with any other issues that may arise.
STRUCTURE OF THE "YOUTH FOR HOPE" PROJECT
Accommodation - The volunteers will be provided with accommodation in a rented apartment/house (as close as possible to the location of the HFC Headquarters in Nicosia, Cyprus). Bus cards/bicycles - HFC provides volunteers with a monthly allowance that includes money to cover the cost of a bus card or a bicycle. Food allowance and pocket money - The volunteers will receive a monthly allowance for food, transportation as well as pocket money. Every month each volunteer will sign a document that confirms that they have received the pocket money.
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ABOUT you
We are looking for young people 20-30 years old. The desirable attributes for candidates for the R&D Division are the following:
- Ability to work and live in a multicultural environment, and the ability to engage in intercultural communication;
- Willingness to undertake grassroots initiatives related to children’s rights and vulnerable groups;
- An interest and experience in desk and field research or willingness to learn;
- Demonstrated interest in supporting the staff in the implementation of the R&D Division's active projects related to topics such as gender-based violence, gender equality, child-friendly justice, hate speech, positive parenting, migration, social integration of asylum seekers and refugees, and capacity-building of youth workers;
- Enthusiastic, hard-working, flexible and ready to take the initiative;
- Time management, organisation and problem-solving skills;
- Ethical person with no prejudices who respects non-discrimination and mutual respect principles;
- A university degree in Political Science, International Relations, Sociology, Law, Education, or related field;
- Good knowledge of English language. Knowledge of other languages will be considered as an advantage.
The above attributes are required due to the nature of HFC’s ESC volunteering project and the sensitivity of the issues that need to be addressed – children’s rights – and the target groups of the work carried out by the organisation – minors and other vulnerable groups. All the necessary skills and knowledge for conducting the tasks can be enhanced during the project. It is important to note that although the ESC participants will be equal members of the team, they will act and be responsible as volunteers and will not act as substitutes for the staff.11
your tasks
Our organisation respects the volunteer's personal health, safety and dignity, and all the tasks are strictly in line with European and national laws. At the Research & Development Division, the volunteers will be integrated in a multileveled, multidisciplinary and interactive work structure and will be encouraged to take creative initiative. The volunteers' responsibilities will be to:
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your tasks
Activities Specifically, the volunteers will be involved in the following three diverse areas of activities: 1. Support and administrative activities, where the volunteers will assist in the progress of the regular schedule and activities of the R&D Division, such as:
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your tasks
2. Research (primary and secondary), e.g. survey tasks or reports about the themes and topics connected with:
- Bullying and hate speech;
- Active citizenship.
3. Creative activities and initiatives that can take place one time or be repeated and are not part of the regular program of the R&D Division but have complementary value, such as:14
selection process
The volunteers will be selected according to their profile and interest in this ESC project in a transparent and objective way, regardless of the applicants’ religious and ethnic background, as well as according to principles of inclusion and non-discrimination. The candidates pre-selected by a Supporting Organisation (SO) may go through an interview with the SO to determine their suitability and motivation. In their CV and motivation letter as well as potential interview with the SO, the candidates need to be convincing about their motivation and present a clear understanding of the vision and mission of our organisation, as well as of the core values and objectives of ESC. “Hope For Children” CRC Policy Center will also interview any ESC volunteering candidates considered as potentially suitable based on their CV and motivation letter, to further assess their suitability for the Research & Development Division. HFC will communicate its decision to the candidate as well as the SO following the interview.
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dress code
Policy - Maintaining a professional business-like appearance is expected of all staff members of “Hope For Children” CRC Policy Center. For an international organisation that interacts with the business community and state agencies, suitable business attire and a professional appearance are important in the overall impression due to the fact that each staff member projects the reputation of the organisation. Proper attire will vary by position and location; should staff members be asked to attend a business or corporate meeting or a meeting with a prospective funder, government officials, academics, visitors, or the public either in the “Hope For Children” CRC Policy Center offices or elsewhere, they should dress in appropriate business attire; select clean and neat clothing; in good repair; and project a professional public image. Also, staff members must carry or wear the organisation’s identification badge at all times when dealing with external activities of the organisation. The dress code guidelines below were developed by “Hope For Children” CRC Policy Center for the purpose of providing all staff members with direction as to what constitutes professional attire. Procedure - Employees are encouraged to practice good personal hygiene and dress comfortably in good business taste. Should any employee present itself in a manner unfitting to their job, he or she will be dealt with on an individual basis by the organisation; with discretion to allow exceptions for special occasions. Articles such as head covers and crosses required for religious purposes or to honour cultural tradition are generally allowed. The present dress policy is inconclusive. In case of uncertainty as to whether clothing is unacceptable or unprofessional, refer to the supervisor/manager for guidance.
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dress code
Examples of professional attire include, but are not limited to:
- Business suits, blouses, shirts, skirts, pants, ties, dresses;
- Slacks and trousers;
- Maxi or below the knee skirts or dresses;
- Footwear designed for business purposes;
- Pressed clothing.
Examples of unprofessional attire include, but are not limited to:17
dress code
Exceptions If necessary, the maintenance and IT/service staff of our organisation involved in physical labour shall wear clothing suitable for their jobs and to their work site. Additional exceptions may apply, subject to approval by the organisation, in the event of a medical or health condition. Sanctions The organisation shall provide guidance as to the proper attire and grooming. If a volunteer’s clothing constitutes inappropriate attire and/or does not fall within the appropriate attire category, the employee shall be asked to refrain from wearing the inappropriate garment(s) to work again. The employee may be sent home to remove the inappropriate clothing and change into acceptable attire. Should the volunteer refuse and/or fail to comply with proper attire instructions, they may be verbally warned that they have committed their first offense. Progressive disciplinary action may further apply if dress code violations continue.
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youthpass
At the end of the volunteering experience, “Hope For Children” CRC Policy Center will generate a Youthpass certificate for the volunteer. The Youthpass certificate confirms the volunteer’s participation in the ESC programme and functions as proof of the volunteer’s individual learning and skills development achieved during the volunteering period. Before finishing their ESC experience, the volunteers will be invited to complete skills development/competencies sections on the Youthpass platform. Youthpass is not just a certificate but more an ongoing self-development and self-reflection process during the volunteer’s ESC experience. While the volunteer will be supported and guided by their mentor with the setting of learning goals, generally, completing the Youthpass is a self-directed task. During the ESC programme, the volunteers need to plan their own learning goals, follow the plan, as well as recognise, assess and understand their own learning.
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internal evaluation
At the start and the end of the project, the volunteers will be asked by our organisation to evaluate their experience in participating in the ESC programme as a tool for continuous improvement. Throughout the programme, the volunteers will also be asked to complete internal progress reports outlining the tasks they did as well as their goals for the following months. This will not only enable the organisation to support the volunteers to get the maximum benefit out of their experience, but it will also help the volunteers keep track of their learning, which will be useful for the completion of Youthpass at the end of the volunteering experience.
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esc visibility
Erasmus + Project Results Platform The European Commission’s Project Results Platform offers a comprehensive overview of projects funded under the Erasmus+ and Creative Europe programmes. The purpose is to provide an information tool for the public for relevant and interesting content, as well as a source of inspiration for cultural organisations and initiators. The results of HFC’s ESC project may be published on the Project Results Platform. This tool will enable organisations to publicly present the results of their projects, and to celebrate the volunteers’ learning outcomes as well as showcase good practices and success stories. The ESC logo will be added to the projects and results produced by the volunteer.
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useful contacts and INFO
For any enquiries please contact Dr. Emma Mesikämmen, Director of the Research & Development Division & ESC Coordinator Email: mesikammen.e@uncrcpc.org Phone: +357 22 103 234
Headquarters of "Hope For Children" CRC Policy Center 46 Griva Digeni Avenue, Cosmos Tower, 5th floor, 1080, Nicosia, Cyprus Phone: +357 22 103 234 Fax: +357 22 104 021