USE+FUL | Ecomission 21th century

„Ecomission 21th century“ is an NGO in Lovech that focuses on working with young people to improve their environment. Over the years, short-term and long-term activities are carried out involving young people from the city and the surrounding area. During my years of volunteering, projects have been implemented in Greece, Romania and Bulgaria, but the organization's key activity is at a local level, where it is a unique place gathering youngsters with a spirit and desire for change. From working with kindergartens, through home care and cleaning parks and alleys, the volunteers of Ecomission and the European Voluntary Service make Lovech a better place to live. Some of their activities are:

• Summer activities organized outdoors and in the organization‘s building.

Every summer, children's camps and workshops are organized in which all children learn new things and have fun with their peers.

• Save the kids on the road!

Every year, campaigns are conducted with local law enforcement to reduce student accidents. Flyers are distributed to drivers passing by schools on 15.09. and are advised on safer driving. The youngsters talk to police officers and discuss possible improvements in driving conditions together.

The volunteers of Ecomission 21th century are given the opportunity to ask their questions and voice their opinions to the local government, thus giving publicity to the needs of their peers. Thanks to such meetings, as well as the Mayor for a Day campaign, the youth of the city are immersed in the work of the governors and better understand their daily obstacles.

EVS volunteers actively participate with the help of the Bulgarian volunteers of Ecomission. Each EVS volunteer can come up with ideas and take initiatives with students, children in kindergartens, children in orphanages and etc. Depending on the experience of each volunteer, workshops and discussions are organized for the children, mainly concerned with the protection and improvement of the environment, informing them of problems and solutions.

Meetings are held with students from all high schools in the city, including debates on a variety of topics that are important to them - career guidance, emigration and many more. In addition to the young people, these conversations also allow volunteers to practice their public speaking and improve their reasoning skills.

Meetings are also held with children from at-risk backgrounds to support their integration and improve their learning opportunities. The problems that children face and the differences in cultural and social aspects are discussed, as well as many common features of all people.

For their contribution, the Ecomission volunteers receive honors from the Knight of Goodwill (NARD), Volunteer of the Year, and more. Thanks to their work with children and other risk groups, part of the volunteers are professionally starting work as social workers, psychologists and coordinators of their own organizations.

In addition to young people, the Ecomission works with local orphanages, turning holidays into memorable experience for the residents. Volunteers prepare food, cards and gifts to please people and spend time with them to diversify their daily lives.

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by Pepa Garkova

Participant in

TC Y.W.4.H.R. in Tropea, Italy

VIE+W | My work is my hobby?

I say often that I do not have hobbies, at least the typical ones like others in my life have. For many they might not like or agree with what I have to say about the subject of hobbies, but regardless, I want to share my experiences having a full time job which replaces most any hobbies I might or would have.

So let’s put it out there: “My work is my hobby”

‘Ever since I was a little boy, I dreamed I would do something important in aviation.’

I am currently working as passenger services agent at Sofia Airport. When I was a child I dreamed about becoming a pilot because I am obsessed with the airplanes. Now I am almost 21 years old and my dream is to become an airport manager (wow, a big dream), so I decided to do my Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and to do my Master in Aviation Management.

Working with people, especially with airline passengers, is quite difficult to do. There are a lot of requirements to working as an airline customer service - different rules for each airline, politics, systems, etc.

My workplace is at the check-in counters and the boarding counters as well. My job responsibility is to do the best customer service, I have never done. Checking passports and the visa as well, weighing and labeling of the passenger’s luggage, giving orientation of passengers and the boarding are the most basic duties we do and everyone knows, but I am going to tell you some secrets about our work:

• We can get you a better seat – if you ask nicely.

As eligible passengers are upgraded, more (and often better) seats in economy class will free up. Plus, seats that were previously blocked can now be assigned, so you could ask for an upgrade to a seat with more legroom. Try asking politely about half an hour before departure to see if you can move out of that middle seat at the back of the plane.

• The computer picks the compensation for bumping - not the agent.

When you’re angling for more benefits, the agent can’t do much - the computer is calculating how badly the seats are needed and how much of a travel delay it would cause you; then it derives your compensation. Most agents don’t have access to airline lounge passes or drink vouchers, so attempts to finagle more goodies most likely will prove futile. However, you could politely request that the agent ask a supervisor if it’s possible to offer more. Just don’t get your hopes up. Airlines from the European Union - and U.S. carriers operating from it - are subject to strict guidelines on what they can offer passengers if a flight is delayed, canceled, or oversold. However, agents won’t always offer extra up front, so it helps if you ask.

• Misbehaving can go on your permanent record.

Seriously: Although each airline is different, agents can and do make comments on a traveler’s record. While the agent may have to search for the info, your nasty behavior or comments in the past can haunt you when you travel—you could even be more likely to get bumped from future flights if you’ve been really disruptive.

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by Todor Kotev

Participant in

YE Save our money in Mezobereny, Hungary

SELECTION RESULTS | Seminar in Braga, Portugal

Seminar "Let them be heard" in Braga, Portugal is NOW BOARDING!

Приключи процедурата по преглед и селекция на кандидатите, изявили желание да участват в семинара "Let them be heard" , който ще се проведе от 18 до 25-ти ноември 2019г. в Брага, Португалия.

РЕЗУЛТАТИТЕ от селекцията на участниците можете да откриете в ТЕРМИНАЛА ЗА УЧАСТНИЦИ или на директния линк ТУК.

МЦРОО ви гарантира, че Комисията по избор на участници отделя достатъчно време и чете всяка една кандидатура, преценява истинността и искреността, както и избира най-мотивираните кандидати. Това е изключително труден и субективен процес, като се стреми да даде шанс на всеки един, който е успял да я грабне с попълнената информация в апликационната форма. Ето и няколко съвета, които Комисията ни разкрива и които ще са ви полезни при последващо кандидатстване по проекти на МЦРОО:

- МОТИВАЦИЯ - мотивация за участие в проекта е един от най-важните критерии при избора на участниците. Винаги включвайте подробно описание на това как целите на проекта съвпадат с вашите интереси, какво ви мотивира, имате ли предишен опит по темата и защо и как смятате да използвате наученото след участието ви в проекта! Друг важен момент е желанието ви да научите нещо ново и полезно, както и да подобрите вашите ключови компетентности (виж 8-те ключови компетентности ТУК!). Бъдете искрени и подробно опишете какво ви привлича, какво искате да научите, да развиете или подобрите в резултат на участието си! Искаме да придобием представа, дали наистина имате искрен интерес към проекта. Дългите и украсени с езикови средства отговори, както и кратките, тривиални и общи отговори няма да ви помогнат при избора, ако те не съдържат необходимата мотивация, която търсим във всеки един участник! И запомнете - Еразъм+ НЕ е безплатно пътуване, туризъм или развлекателно събитие и мотивация, съдържаща точно тази цел, е недопустима!;

- ОПИТ - описвайки предишния ви опит по програмата Еразъм+ или други международни програми, трябва да направите кратко пояснение относно проектите, по които сте участвали, включващо информация относно темата, на която са били и какво сте научили на тях, а не просто да изброявате брой, имената им и в кой град и държава са се провели!;

- РАЗПРОСТРАНЕНИЕ НА РЕЗУЛТАТИТЕ ОТ ПРОЕКТА - за нас е важно да разберем какви са вашите бъдещи планове след приключването на проекта и как и къде бихте приложили наученото по време на него. Какви активности планирате да организирате на локално ниво? Ние ще се радваме да ви помогнем в организацията им ако имате нужда от нашата помощ! :)

- Преди да попълните апликационната форма за кандидатстване, прочетете 2 пъти описанието на проекта, запознайте се добре с изискванията и преценете дали датите на проекта съвпадат с плановете ви!;

- Четете внимателно профила на кандидатите (най-вече възрастовото ограничение!);

- Запомнете, че участието ви в проекта приключва чак след изпълнението на задачите, поставени от МЦРОО, които задължително трябва да изпълните, когато се приберете отново в България!;

- Следете имейла си, следвайте инструкциите и отговаряйте своевременно, ако искате да участвате и да покажете ангажираност!