Long-term volunteering opportunity in the western part of Austria
Project details
- Number of volunteers: 1
- Duration: September to July (changes possible)
- Topics: Youth (Participation, Youth Work, Youth Policy), Creativity and culture
- Hosting Organisation: aha – Jugendinformationszentrum Vorarlberg Dornbirn, Austria
- Supporting/Coordination organisation: aha – Jugendinformationszentrum Vorarlberg Dornbirn, Austria
Open opportunities
Open opportunities (vacancies) and information about the application can be found on the European Youth Portal: All opportunities | European Youth Portal
Project description
The “aha – Jugendinformationszentrum Vorarlberg” is a youth information centre offering up-to-date information about matters concerning young people. It is situated in the province of Vorarlberg, the most western region of Austria and was established in 1992.
The main target group are young people between 12 and 30 years of age. Information is provided on education and training, employment, travel, active citizenship, leisure time activities, legal questions, health, politics etc.
In different activities and workshops with young people we cover aspects such as active citizenship, democratic values, transnational interest and solidarity, equality, diversity and inclusion, youth empowerment, enabling informed decision-making.
The International Department of our organisation also coordinates the regional activities of the programmes “Erasmus+“ and „European Solidarity Corps”; coordinating all local volunteering projects as well as sending volunteers and informing youth organisations on a variety of funding opportunities.
(In this case, the aha youth information centre is at the same time hosting organisation as well as coordinating organisation. Keep in mind, though, that your main tutor and the overall project coordinator are different persons, working in different areas of the organisation.)
Tasks of the volunteer
The volunteer will work five days a week, 34 hours a week including German course and trainings. They will usually have the weekends off and will have two days holiday per month.
At our organisation, volunteers will have a diverse volunteering experience, where they can meet many people and try out working in different areas. After having been introduced to the different areas, the volunteers can deepen the experience in their fields of interest. Our main areas which have proved quality experiences for volunteers are:
Information department and help organising events
Help in the information area in the aha in Bregenz and Dornbirn:
- Answer questions on a variety of youth related topics via phone, mail or in person.
- Help with the adequate presentation and distribution of information.
- Answer support requests for the aha App and Familienpass App (family pass app)
Youth Events & Workshops
- Help organize the fair “welt weit weg” for people who want to go abroad.
- Help set up the exhibition stand at different fairs.
- Be part of the team which presents the aha, aha plus or aha card at different fairs (inform young people about different topics …)
- Possibility of co-hosting events/activities/workshops is given, if the volunteer wishes to do this or try this.
- Be part of the workshop team which works with pupils.
Marketing and social media department
- Take pictures and make videos at different events
- Be a model for photo shootings, e.g. for volunteer work or for the youth card.
- Create social media content in German
- Be part of the social media video team in front of the camera and behind it.
- Assume design tasks
aha card – Youth card
Update the data of our partners for our database and website.
aha plus and aha-MACHWAS-Tage
During the last two weeks before the summer holidays pupils are volunteering in different projects.
- Be part of the team that organizes the MACHWAS-Tage.
- Document the event and make an advertising video.
Own project
Volunteers have the opportunity to pursue own projects according to their interests, desires and skills – with the support of the staff and the infrastructure of the centre.
Most of the activities can be done without or with only little knowledge of German. Some of the activities will only start when the volunteer’s German has reached a certain level.
Volunteer profile
Our volunteers should like to interact with kids and youngsters of different backgrounds and should be interested in youth cultures and different media including social media. It would be great if the volunteer likes to do creative tasks and is into photography and filming as well as content creation.
Most importantly, though, the volunteer should be motivated to communicate with young people and be prepared to take the initiative to get in contact with them. They should be flexible and willing to take part in our work, our activities, projects and workshops.
Practical arrangements
The volunteer will live in a student accommodation, where also other volunteers, students and residents of different backgrounds live. The accommodation is organised by the hosting organisation. The volunteer will have a room with an own bathroom ensuite and share a kitchen and common rooms with the other residents.
The infrastructure with trains and buses is very accessible and frequent. Additionally, s*he will also have a bicycle at her*his disposal. The volunteer will receive a ticket for free use of any public transport in the whole region of Vorarlberg during the complete duration of the ESC project.
Support during the voluntary project
S*He will have regular meetings with her*his tutor in our organisation to talk about the development of the project, task assignments, general wellbeing, problems, wishes etc.
The Project Coordinator will hold a monthly evaluation meeting with all volunteers in Vorarlberg. At the end of the project, we will evaluate the project together with the volunteer: to see what s*he has learned and which competences s*he has gained and as a result fill out the Youthpass. Furthermore, there will be a final personal evaluation meeting with the Project Coordinator.
