About the project

Project number: 2021-1-CZ01-KA220-ADU-000035109
Duration: 01.11.2021 – 31.10.2024
Funding program: Erasmus+ KA220-ADU – Cooperation partnerships in adult education

Voluntary work is important both for our society and for individuals. Participation in such can enrich a life through social integration and the development of personal skills, but people with disabilities have often been excluded from this. The IMProVE project stands for inclusion and equality and is intended to enable people with disabilities to enter voluntary work. To implement the goal of inclusive volunteering, support structures are being developed to enable people with disabilities to access advice and training. Information events and counseling for parents and caregivers will improve skills and thus facilitate the path to volunteerism. Another goal is to change the public perception of people with disabilities. Everyone, regardless of age, culture, gender, sexual orientation, origin, religion or disability can make a contribution to our society and play an active role.

Through our comprehensive European model Improve 2.0. we want to overcome existing barriers and increase thenumber of people with disabilities volunteering and becoming active citizens in their local communities. We want to showcase: Inclusive volunteering can be normal across Europe. The result of IMProVE 2.0. will be a comprehensive approach to promote and support volunteering of pwd and increasetheir participation rate in volunteering.

 

Project results

Acquisition, training and support of voluntary “Inclusion Buddies”

Inclusion buddies are volunteers who accompany people with disabilities  in their volunteering well and safely, that people with disabilities feel taken care of, recognized and valued because they can make a meaningful contribution to society. For the acquisition, training and support of the inclusion buddies, several materials are available:

Job description "inclusion buddies" 

In English   In Czech   In German   In Italian   In Lithuanian

Info session for inclusion buddies 

In English   In Czech   In German   In Italian   In Lithuanian

Training for inclusion buddies 

In English   In Czech   In German   In Italian   In Lithuanian

 

 

Promotion of inclusive volunteering in volunteers involving organisations

Evaluation: Summary of results of existing situation in NGOs 

The summary report presents responses from 80 organizations across four countries (Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Lithuania). The questions covered topics such as the focus of their activities, organizational barriers, volunteer numbers, and the involvement of volunteers with disabilities or disadvantages. It is available in five languages:

In English   In Czech   In German   In Italian   In Lithuanian

Guidelines for contacting and convincing potential hosting organizations

The guideline provides strategies for contacting and convincing volunteer involving organizations to employ volunteers with disabilities.

In English   In Czech   In German   In Italian   In Lithuanian

Curriculum for training on inclusive volunteering for volunteer coordinators

The training covers topics such as volunteer empowerment, managing different types of disabilities , conflict resolution, and communication strategies like simplified language. The curriculum is available in five languages:

In English   In Czech   In German   In Italian   In Lithuanian

Pool of volunteer positions on local level

Partners identified 20 inclusive volunteer positions at the local level, ensuring accessible information about these opportunities and making them available to people with disabilities through adapted platforms or dedicated websites. You can view these positions here:

In Czech Repuclic   In Germany   In Italy  In Lithuania

Photobook "Everyone can volunteer!"

The photobook will present good practices of inclusive volunteering. It is still in progress, but will be uploaded in five languages: In English   In Czech   In German   In Italian   In Lithuanian

The same photo book will also be available in simple language, with the aim of promoting volunteering among people with cognitive impairments

Promotion tools, trainings and support structure for disability facilities, caretakers and parents of people with disabilities

Concept for an info sesssion for caretakers

The aim of this document is to share a model for organizing an information session for caretakers of people with disabilities to promote volunteering. It presents the timetable for the information session and a set of tools that are necessary for the tasks, training, etc. It is available in five languages:

 In English   In Czech   In German   In Italian   In Lithuanian

Manual and policy recommendations for supporting volunteers with disabilities and mental health issues 

The objective of the manual for the caregiver is to create a tool for caregivers to enable people with disabilities to volunteer and take an active part in the volunteering system.

 In English   In Czech   In German   In Italian   In Lithuanian

Counselling services for parents and staff: Overcoming fears and prejudices

Counselling services for parents and staff on overcoming fears and prejudices is an important area for creating a positive environment both at home and in the workplace. In order to effectively address the fears, prejudices and misconceptions about volunteering experienced by people with disabilities, we have developed a comprehensive and coherent programme of counselling services for both parents and employees. This programme is designed not only to educate but also to empower stakeholders by providing them with the information they need about local and international volunteering opportunities and their benefits for persons with disabilities. It is available in five languages:

 In English   In Czech   In German   In Italian   In Lithuanian

Training and support structure for enhancing volunteering of people with disabilities

Manual for coordinators 

This manuals helps volunteer coordinators to organize volunteering activities about accessibility. It is available in five languages:

In English   In Czech   In German   In Italian   In Lithuanian

Training course for volunteers with disabilities

This manual helps to organize a training course for volunteers with disabilities. It is available in five languages:

In English   In Czech   In German   In Italian   In Lithuanian

Presentation "Volunteer's rights and responsibilities"

This presentation gives an overview of the rights and responsibilities in easy language. It can be used for training of volunteers with disabilities and is available in five languages:

In English   In Czech   In German   In Italian   In Lithuanian

Matching strategy

Our matching strategy explains how to match volunteers with disabilities and inclusion buddies. It is available in five languages:

In English   In Czech   In German   In Italian   In Lithuanian

Photobook "Everyone can volunteer!" in easy language

The photobook will present good practices of inclusive volunteering in easy language to promote volunteering among people with cognitive disabilties. It is still in progress, but will be uploaded in five languages: In English   In Czech   In German   In Italian   In Lithuanian

The same photo book will also be available with more detailed informaion and quotes by volunteer coordinators, with the aim of promoting volunteering among volunteer involving organisations.

Promotion tools for inclusive volunteering

The perception of pwd just being receiver needs to be changed, and therefore it is important to showcase, that they can be not only receivers of help but helping themselves and being active citizens. To achieve this, we have developed the following materials:

Exhibition "Everyone can volunteer!"

In English   In Czech   In German   In Italian   In Lithuanian

Stakeholder breakfast

Each partner organized several stakeholder breakfasts  in order to gain the support and expertise of important stakeholders in our local communities. We have summarised our experiences and tips in the concept for stakeholder breakfasts. It is available in five languages:

In English    In Czech    In German    In Italian    In Lithuanian

Policy recommendations for local, regional, national, and international stakeholders and policy makers on how to promote and support the implementation of inclusive volunteering

Work in progress

Promotional videos for experts and the general public

Work in progress

Video

Pictures 

About the partnership

“IMProVE 2.0.” is the follow-up project of IMProVe 1.0 and is coordinated by the volunteer center in Ústí nad Labem (Czech Republic). “IMProVE 2.0.” is funded through the Erasmus+ programme as a transnational project between the Czech Republic, Germany, Lithuania and Italy via the National Agency of the Czech Republic.

Dobrovolnické centrum

Prokopa Diviše 1605/5
400 01 Ústí nad Labem
Czech Republic
+420 606 512 905
https://www.dcul.cz/

Gemeinsam leben & lernen in Europa e.V. 

Leopoldstraße 9
D- 94032 Passau
+49-851-2132740
info(at)gemeinsam-in-europa.de
https://gemeinsam-in-europa.de/

Jaunuoliu dienos centras 

Kranto g. 18,
LT-35173, Panevėžys
(+370) 45 582 598
info(at)pjdc.lt
https://pjdc.lt

Uniamoci Onlus

Via Emiro Giafar n°36 Palermo 90124, Sicilia – Italia
(+39) 0919765893
info(at)uniamoci.eu
https://www.uniamoci.eu/