ΒΑΛΚΑΝΙΑ: Παρουσίαση του φορέα από Brcko, Βοσνία-Ερζεγοβίνη

Founded in1998, Svitac is an NGO which works to engage individuals in improving their lives and communities, build international links between grass-roots & marginalized communities worldwide, and increase tolerance and support diversity in Bosnia. It does this through long-term arts and informal educational activities at our center in Bosnia, larger multi-cultural events such as summer camps, festivals, and workshop series by international volunteers, and through enabling collaborative projects between young activists, artists and organizations worldwide. We have a strong focus on training and supporting local youth staff and volunteers in gaining the skills and confidence necessary to lead their own activities and to have a stronger voice in their communities. Please see our website: www.svitac.org or facebook page: www.facebook.com/omladinska.svitac for more info. So far, we have hosted over 280 youth volunteers from the UK and mainland Europe for projects lasting from 2 weeks to 2 years, for example summer camps, festivals and long term arts projects. These projects are usually self-funded by volunteers.

Staff structure: Svitac is a locally run NGO, with Management Board, Supervisor Board and Assembly. Management board consists of 5 people, Supervisor Board consists of 3 people and Assembly is consists of 9 people. Svitac is run by a Director, who is also the President of Management Board. Other employees include a volunteer and international exchange co-ordinator (for local & international volunteers and projects involving international partner organizations), EVS co-ordinator and music project co-ordinator. These four people are employed full time (40 hours per week) with pension and health insurance paid every month. Svitac occasionally have staff members, local and international volunteers running arts and crafts, dance and language lessons for short term periods (1-3 months) and helping with annual events such as film & music festival, summer camps, Halloween Party, New Year party and Children’s Day. We usually have around 10 international volunteers over the summer months (for short term projects, summer camps and festival), as well as approximately 5 more over rest of the year for short term projects such as the Scottish workshop series. We have around 5 local youth volunteers throughout the year, usually young people who have participated in activities in the past and are now being encouraged to lead their own projects. International exchanges are facilitated in the UK by staff members living and working in London. Each EVS volunteer will closely work with 4 full time employed Svitac staff members and 3 local volunteers during one year period and at least 2 international volunteers (e.g. ‘weltwarts volunteer program funded by German government for 7 years, volunteers sent by Firefly International UK, international volunteers who cover their costs by themselves).The role of EVS coordinator is to write applications and reports, to be in contact with partner organisations (SO and HO), to communicate with volunteers before they arrive, sending volunteers, EVS promotion, supervision of volunteers and mentors. The role of the mentor is to monitor and support volunteers during their work and living in the local community. Pair volunteer works with EVS volunteer on workshops. Thanks to Firefly International and Firefly UK’s fundraising the permanent Svitac youth center was bought in August 2010 and since then all EVS and other international volunteers have opportunity to run their workshops in this center as well. The new center is pretty big, it has 59m2. It is open during weekdays and during the weekend, so EVS volunteers are able to have their workshops in the morning in Brcko district main Youth centre and when it is closed, they will be able to run their workshops in the Svitac new centre. Target group: We have two main target groups; disadvantaged young people who do not normally have access to the facilities and activities we offer and young people from any background who are interested in meeting other young people, and being part of an international network of young people active in their communities. EVS volunteers will work with children and young people between 8 and 30 years old (this depends of the project they will choose to run and age group they would like to work with). They will closely work with group from 5 to 15 children or the young people at the same time. If the number of members is higher they will split them into two smaller groups. The members of their group will be from different backgrounds, different nationalities, they will speak one of three official language in Brcko district (Bosnian, Serbian or Croatian) and they will have male and female members in the same group. EVS volunteers won’t run these workshops by themselves; International volunteer coordinator or local volunteer will be present during workshops to help with translation and other possible issues.