"Volunteer - Youth - Online"
DESCRIPTION OF THE SOCIAL INVESTMENT PROPOSAL
a. Purpose
b. Background
c. Community
d. Agency
e. Objectives
f. Obstacles
g. Staff
h. Evaluation
i. Finances
a. PURPOSE OF THE PROPOSAL
* What is the objective of the project?
Already the short title of project we want to present you includes the main conceptional key words "Youth - Honorary post - Internet". The long title describes as an brief overview activities we´ve planned"Encourage and enable young people to voluntary/honorary work by a multinational internet-project".
Young people shall be encouraged to take care for their own problems and learn to create realistic solution for it. They should learn to care themselfs for their own courses and in this way also other "young sters". With this project we want to promote "honorary post" especially under young people to make grow up a new raising generation of volunteers.
Our contacts, meetings und visits with partner organisations from eastern europe contries show us that just here help and support in questions of "honorary post" are needed. We can n´t give money (we need it ourselfs) but we can give non-material support by mediation of our experiences of our last years. We want to strengthen up international contacts in this project to promote tolerant cooperation and coexistance between young people. We want to promote understanding among youth in "different" nations based on indiviual contacts. That is basic work for our all future.
The project will use already existing international contacts of the involved youth clubs and social organisations. We have not to search for foreign partners- the involved agencies have already first contacts to youth clubs and organisations in eastern europe countries.
You need pieces of suggar for the medicine, thats why we want to connect our "high but very dry" aims with a project-ressource witch young people are interested in..chatting and searching and selfpresentation in internet! So we want to give young people in involved agencies with an own domain the possobility to feature their group, their agency or organisation or youth club on an own webside. There should be an exchange of interests, problems and dreams of the young peple first and on this base they should create an own project theme which they are realy interested to work about together.
* Who will the project serve?
Within the scope of our projekt already existing youthgroups will be enlarged and also new ones will be founded. Young people between 12-19 years the project will serve at first. These young people should be encouraged and enabled to be very involved in confident managing their problems/their future in selfdetermination.
The vision of our project is to enlarge circle of involved people - crossing the boarders of age and also involve the generation of younger sisters and brothers and of course of the adults and grandparents.
* What will the funds pay for?
The funds will pay for the possibility to work ( personel costs, enclosures point 2.) for one social education worker / coordinator of international contacts ( 32 hr. weekly) as well as for costs in kind, which make project and work of the social worker possible. Using Internet brings special costs but also at first the fast possibility to have an impession of activities efforts and second public relations will be saved.
b. PROJECT BACKGROUND
* What is the problem being addressed?
The problem we want to work about are based on several reasons: missing history / development of "honorary post" in former socialist contries in eastern europe and a more and more economic-hedonistic orientation among young people.
If we had to speak about "honorary post" in Germany there are two different ways of development. After world war II. in western part american and english models of social community work in conclusion with voluntary work was massiv initiated and supported. But in the last years in Germany honorary work in social projects or anywhere else has no good lobby and only appriciation of public and of politicans before elections.
In easter pa rt in opposite an all including offical planning and organising took place. Everywhere existing regulations made people "lazy".Or with other words to say: people had to forget more and more what it means to live and decide self-determined because it was often dangerous tobe too selfassured and decide self-responsible...
After fullfilling of a great wish, after re-union of two german parts normal live style and live demands were not only a pleasure but also a choke for eastern people. In situation of free economical market everyone has to sale themself as well as possible. There is not only possibility to decide by your own but necessity / compulsion to decide self-responsible. But this wasn´t a task in former times, they didn´t learn it realy .
Young people now between 12-19 were grown up in society of free enterprise. You can buy everthing if you have enough money. If their parents had have difficulties with the new demands in a new society situation ...which values would and could be teached to youth? In a time of missing orientation care for yourself is in front and care for social ideas and projekts get a position in background...An only care for yourself can create an strong isolation, especially if you havn´t been successfully ( at work, in family etc.).
At this point our projekt wants to intervine, has to start.
An only orientation in consume is like a desease. "Buy-desease" produce only an short kick. We think it has became necassary to encourage especially young people to an self-assured and self-responsible acting.
We want to mediate that voluntary work has more longtime effects: individual contacts, encouragement by cooperation or common projekcts with people with same mind of interests, care for an own youth project will bring not only fun and satisfaction by efforts for themselfs but also in the same way by contenting others. Therefor we want to teach up rising generation among ypung people.
Honorary post- honorary working - be a volunteer should become realy a pleasure and appreciated.
* Why is the project important to this community?
In opposite to other parts of our borough the community around our neighborhoodhouse is not very priviliged. In past time it was a workingclass quarter with houses from last centurychange. Structural fabric of houses became worser and worser not only at last yearrs. Renovations and reconstructions only slowly take care.
Many inhabitans are unemployed or have to live with low financal family budget. Especially in such community it is necessary to encourage people, not only adults but special imminent young peple which are depressed by bad economical future view - not enough places for job education at allas well as not enough jobs.
* Potentially, how many people in the community might need the service being
offered by this project?
The idea and aim of our project "encouragement to honorary work" in right meaning is not a service but more an assistance for self-helping, in our case first among under young people.
That means the projekct should service people which want to take future in own hands and need a little bit of help to realise their projects (and by the way also our visions) and which in future are be abled to give their experiences to others like multiplicators.
Membership in our project is indepentend of gender, nation, race, religion...etc. in the same sense like main motto of our association "open for all" .
* What, if anything, was done to assess the level of need in the community?
What are the results?
An analysis of "level of need" honorary post in social sector in our community in exact meaning of the word does not exist. Some honorary workers in our association Rabenhaus have started an project with a similiar theme " analysis & planning & conversion of new structures of the quarter-referred social and community work by honorary ones with the aid of parttime and fulltime Rabenhaus-employees for Berlin- Koepenick " in end of 1998 but results of this work are not available yet.
Official agencies did only create a summaring list of social organisations, agencies and associations in our and the neighbour borough. Honorary work is not described and in this way not appriciated in this paper.
Why it is necessary to enlarge and encourage honorary work? To answer this question two aspects we want to describe, at first an immaterial and at second a material aspect.
1.In our modern society social tasks ´ve became more and more professionalised. Social demands / tasks which former were mastered in families, between friends, neighbourhood-communities ´ve became more a jobs of specialised official sector, special organisations, a special market...But in our opinion the aim of social work should be to make itself not necassary in time. People should be enabled to help themselfs and one each other in the community. Therefor an realy community has to rise up.
2.In present times offical financal budget of state, boroughs and communities mest away. Especially in social, culture and youth projekts budgets are cutted. Former offical tasks has to be cared by nongoverment organisation. By those enlarged demands to the NGO´s automaticly little associations (which depends on honorary work) has to strenght their volutary potential- because they themself of course not have a bigger financal buget too.
* Are there other agencies in the community doing similar work? Who are they?
In our community exist some youth projects which are using internet too. That are projects in school, at offical and free carriers of youthwellfare. But there young people are teached in correct using computers and software; they are "only" pupils not equalmembers of a self-determined project.
With some of these projects we want and will to cooperate.
In the city of Berlin exists an internet-project for young people ("spinnenwerk.de"). But it presents only a virtual offer. It miss the local orientation and the possibility for direct contacts between young peopleas human beeings.
New at our project is the combination of internet use, international contacts between communal oriented youth projekts and encouragementof honorary post among youth.
* Why did you decide on this project? Does it relate to other work your agency is
involved in?
The idea for this project is naturally grown up from our work in past years and on base of experiences at this time. About "honorary post" we´ve already spokenabove.
International conections and cooperations have a good and long reaching base and history in our neighbourhoodhouse.
We´ve had relation to an similiar social center in France ("Les Doucettes") for some years. Our project of a regular youth exchangewith common youth camps in both countries had to find an end because of difficulties on a structural sector and different opinions about education.
This projekt was started fast (too fast) with much enthusiasm (perhaps too much?) on both sides. The conceptional phase was too short we would say as short resummé.
On other side we´ve looked for contacts to contries in eastern europe. Here we could aspect similar history and experiences (in farest meaning). With our project we not only want to encourage and help people in our country but also want to support our partner agencies and organisations in eastern neighbour countries. We are not able to give (hardly needed) financal support (we need it ourself, you notice it with this application) but we can let participate the others on our experiences in social, economical developmnents in a changing society and a changing social situation?.and of course learn ourselv from the others.
In our new project will be included all our past experiences, will be used the infrastructur of our association and all formal as informal contacts in community - so it is natural related to the whole work of our association.
c. COMMUNITY PROFILE
Rabenhaus e.V. is the neighbourhoodhouse in Koepenick. This is the 16. borough of existing 23 in our capitalBerlin. It is the largest borough of town an is lays in southeast. The district was offically founded and integrated in 1920 by conclusion of several little communities in former surrounding of Berlin.
There existe much wood area s and many lakes and rivers. But Koepenick is not only a recreation-predestinated district but as wellexist here large industrial determined areas. After "change" of 1989 many factories had to be closed...unemployment rate since then have increased continously.
In time citizens fluctuation (separation) ´ve become an new problem. Families and persons with better financal budgets went and go out of city-area and out of till then mixed "populatation quarters " into the green surrounding of Berlin. in consequence of this arise problematical quarters, also in our community.
Koepenick has ca. 112.600 inhabitans. The part of foreighners is increasing, but in relation to other boroughs of town not very high. The infrastructure of Koepenick is not to bad, but a continous worser development (because of economic difficulties) is possible to notice clearly. Consequences for social sitution is daily remarkable for us.
d. APPLICANT AGENCY BACKGROUND
The association "Rabenhaus" has founed and registered in 1991. "Rabenhaus e. V. " is the neighbourhood house in borough Berlin-Koepenick. The name of association was created in allusion to adress: "house of ravens" - because association took place in a house located in a quarter in wich streets are named after german fairytals, in our case "The seven raven".
The association became member in the "Federation for Socialcultural Work, regional committee Berlin e. V." in the same year too.
The original purposes were and are lokcal oriented community-wellfare- services with methods of social-cultural working. The neighborhoodhouse was created in sense of american and english models. All presented courses, activities, aids and the house for itself are OPEN FOR ALL, in spite of age, gender, nationality, income, level,race ...
The association is non-profit active. The association has a statute, on which it has to depend. The statute purpose became more clearly define 4. 12. 1997 still as follows : " the association pursues directly and excluding non-profit purposes in the sense of the paragraph ' tax-privileged purposes ' of
the tax code (§ § 51 ff. AG) in the valid in each case version. Purpose of the association is the promotion of the youth maintenance, the promotion of art and culture, the national education and the people communication. The statute purpose carried out by the operation of an organisation with the name "Rabenhaus registered association - OPEN FOR ALL" with its place in Berlin urban district (borough) Koepenick.
In the Rabenhaus organize the association socialcultural oriented leisure activities for young people, as well as education and cultural meetings for children, young people and adults. In Rabenhaus take place creative courses, handscraft courses, language and computer courses, yoga-courses for children and young people and adults as well. Twice in month a tenants´association can be frequatend and asked for help by neighbours and visitors aof our agency. In our rooms meets a foto-club too wich presents exhibitions of their work results in our entré-room.
International oriented contacts serve understanding among nations for similar quarter-organisations in all the world under use of modern communication technologies and measures of the international youth exchange.
According to statute of Rabenhaus the executive committee can be active in association management, but this function also as mandate can be assign (and extract) to other persons. The association is considered as a body in law, is autonomously and privately liable in its doing and concerning. This large risk to take over, presupposes a mutual large confidence and the honesty of all involved ones.
The members of the board are not actively employees and also not daily present in Rabenhaus. One member of the board has a fulltime job and is only once weekly present, the two other ones can be found twice in each case weekly. Nevertheless this three persons are well informed about all important things happend in our association.
The executive committee only intervenes, if there should be substantial disturbances in the continuous operational sequence of the work or other untenable statuses (e.g. discords in the working climate, problems with backers, objections of the users).
Otherwise the team of employees is qualified as well and responsible to many independent decisions (of course with duty of information and counselling in co-operation with executive committee, honorary workers and users).
The management in Rabenhaus is a not-paid activity of a club member. The performed social work of the same person is paid by "senat for social affairs"(Berlin). The height of the payment depends on work duration, formation and activities.
Every year volunteers/honorary workers and fulltime employeees create the annual terminations of Rabenhaus-procet and with the annual reports of all procets in whole Rabenhaus. In order to be recognized the non-profit/tax-exempt status of our association by state, in periods of 3 years has to be checked our current statute, total accounting this period concernnig, annual reports of all activities of association by the tax office for corporations. If we wouldn´t had have this tax-zero-decission it wouldn´t be possible to get any offical grant in all past years.
e. PROJECT OBJECTIVES & IMPACT
* What work methods will be used in the project?
1.We will use the method "future workshop" by Robert Jungk which is created to support citizens engagement for their own rights. This now will be used for youth groups.
This method works in three phases: after an preparation part first an analysis of main problems, second an phase of visions and dreams with a brainstorming in the end, third a phase of realisation and practis.
2.We will have further educating seminars for young people and the coordination person too ( courses for mediation and settlement)
* How long will it last? When will results be seen?
On base of our past time experiences it is realistic to create and realise such an project in one and a half year. Term of project now will be 01.01.2000 till 31.12.2000 .
1.part:Jan.2000 till June 2000 -coordination of organisations and associations,
analysis of main problems, conception of common webside
2.part:July 2000 till Oct.2000 -presentation of information websides
3.part:Nov.2000 till Dec. 2000 -conception of common youth project(s) in internet,
realisation of this project(s)
First visual results can be seen in internet on our special websides. A first short overview of each projectinvolved agency /organisation we hope will be possible to see after a half year on websides.
* Will the project have an impact on the agency and if so, what will it be?
- closer connections to youth and social associations/organisations at first in our own community and borough and at second in our partner countries (Poland, Lithunia, Slovenia).
-better understanding among nations, better understanding of other culture and lifestyle
- rising generation of honorary workers / volunteers, not especially for our house but for community and not at last for the younger ones themself
-realisation of an social (international) network could and will bring a large synergy-effect for all involved parts
* Are other agencies involved? How will you work together?
Like described above we will use our already existing connections to other free and offical youth-wellfare associations and organisations in our community (11 agencies). First close partner will be the youthhouse "Mansarde". Here we have already meetings with the agency manager and conceptional talks. Other agencies we´ve informated ("Netzwerk e.V.", "all 1 e.V.") and with further ones we will speak with about our project in next weeks.
We don´t want to make differences between offical organisations and NGO´s, all should be invited to cooperate in the project. We will use our good connection to the offical youth depertment of our borough.
At the whole project (conception, realisation) involved members will have equal rights.
"Rabenhaus e.V." Miriam Ehbets (contact person),Germany
"Mansarde" Thomas Plitt (contact person), Germany
further education school of Izola, Barbara Dobrila (contact person), Slovenia
"Foundation for children of copper area, Legnica" Krystina Morawiec (contact person), Poland
"Vilniaus Benruomenas Centras" Dangoule Bartkute (contact person),Lithunia
* How many people will be served by the project?
First there are the five "founder members" with their existing youthgroups (each agency with ca. ten young persons). In principles of "multiplicatorship" the circle of involved people and organisations should and will be extended after our first basic conceptional part.
The project should have a longtime effect.
f. OBSTACLES & RISKS
* What problems will you have to overcome in order for the project to succeed?
* How will you address those problems?
Difficulties with different languages will be a problem at first. But most children learn english at school.
So our "conferencelanguage" will be english. Our websides we ´ll create multilingual. So a large circle will be able to get information about project and about each involved organisation.
To motivate young people for a longertime volunteer work will be a next problem. We have to concept and create a good publicrelation campagne among youth of community during whole projecttime in meaning of: motivate - invite - act self-determined.
g. STAFF AND BOARD OF THE AGENCY/PROJECT
We would like to know about the people who will be working on the project.
Rabenhaus e.V. :
amounttask/activityhours weeklyfinanced by
1manageress of several projects / 38 hr. / senat for social affairs (Berlin)
neighbourhoodhouse
social female worker,
honorary manageress of the assoc.
1social female worker / 26 hr. / senat for social affairs (Berlin)
neighbourhoodhouse
1projectmanageress of "pupil club" / 32 hr. / German Child and Youth Foundation
social female worker
1social education worker / 40 hr. / labour office (Berlin)
labour service agency
Poject "Youth - Honorary post - Internet"
1projektmanageress / 32 hr. / LSFAF
social female worker
The person who will lead the project has experiences in social work for years and knows our community, social projects in it and their social situation as well as our association. This person graduated very well with "magistra artium in sociology and history of arts".
Members of the community are not involved in directing the agency/project. But we cooperate very well with communal offices in Koepenick for several of our projekts.
* Job describtion:
activityhours weekly
a) coordination of project / 12 hr. /of communal and international contacts/cooperation
b) social education work / 10 hr. / show how to do project work
c) public relations / 4 hr. / meetings and conferences
d) documentation of project / 4 hr.
e) further education / 1 hr. / courses and self-study
f) self-evaluation / 1 hr.
h. EVALUATION AND FOLLOW-UP
* How will you assess the performance of the project?
1.In the circle of involved projectmembers we will initiate a questioning. The results will be published for all and give possibility to make things better in future.
Performance of project will be visible at internet.
For us the poject will be a success if it will be further organised and led by the young people themselfs.
2.For formal evaluation we will ask professionals at the "Federation for Socialcultural Work, regional committee Berlin e. V.". The results will be published
* What records will you keep and how will they be used?
On our main projectwebside will be created a weekly forum for discussions.
Results of continous work will be described in form of a diary. At the end we want to create a brochure.
So we will have an immaterial part in internet and the material part in paparformat.
* Will there be follow-up activities after the project is "completed"? What will they be, when will they take place and will a report be made?
In future we hope young peple will have learned to organise and create their own courses and activities in neighborhoodhous, clubs; learned tolerant cooperation and coexistence; competance in mediate their experiences to others.
The project should enlarge in multiplicator-principe. As a vision following-up project for future we orient to direct youth exchange in thematicbounded workshops.
i. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The personel costs are planned for 32 hr. weekly analogous to other employees in our neighbourhoodhouse and with employees in "offical service" jobs (like senat of Berlin) because of law of equal payment. Payment is besed on category 5c for activity as a "social worker" although the job in project is also "concepting and coordinating of project".
After all experiences of the last years we´ve calculated for this project a clear, short financal budget.
Short calculated projects gives garanty of effective work, high potential of honorary work and possibility of further existing by work of projectinvolved volunteers. The further existing will be easier if a "first pushing budget" is not too high.
This is a minimal plan nevertheless it will save neccessary quality of project.
Seeming small projects most of time will have better, long-time effects. They doesn´t let be missed sense for realistic possibilities of realisation in consequence of close connection to the basic, to the people project serves works.
The financal budget for a "pc and peripherals" will be neccessary because whole computer work in Rabenhaus (office and courses) is based on Apple-Macintosh. But in our cooperation partner organisations´re used only personal computers - so we would have difficulties with compatibility.
Budget is planned as small as possible.
Offical estimates for equipment (pc and peripherals) we have to send later (in case of your allowance) because time to answer the proposal was very short.
back to begin of page
