EVS Gathering was a training course with study visit elements for EVS coordinators and mentors. It was a chance to meet, learn, share and inspire each other in all aspects of EVS projects. Special focus was put on the similarity between an EVS story and life stories of mythological heroes. Participants visited different hosting organisations, share good practices and learned new approaches, tools and tricks. It was a direct follow-up activity of the “EVS in our hands course” from 2015.

Main aim and methodology:

This course aimed in general at personal development of participants and their inspiration from different examples, approaches and from visited hosting places. Also there was an aspect of sharing and networking for the improvement of EVS projects and for the most effective and smooth learning process of all actors. The methodology was a combination of training inputs, sharing sessions, experiential moments and excursions. The content included theoretical elements, experiential parts and practical tools and methods. The training course was designed for participants with some previous experience in the field, offered wider context and targeted those who conduct EVS as an organic part of a life story.

Objectives of the course:

• To learn methods for supporting learning, motivation and reflection during EVS projects
• To get inspiration from variety of visited organisations and diversity of participants
• To understand EVS as an integral part of one's life by comparing it to tales and myths
• To share, network and start cooperation with other participants
• To get motivation for designing a smooth and natural EVS learning story

More about the project:

Articles:

EVS Gathering E+ TC, Czechia / Nov 2016, by Tuğçe Kurşun (Youth Eurasia, Turkey)
https://merictahan.wordpress.com/2017/01/01/evs-gathering-e-tc-czechia-nov-2016/

EVS Gathering, tréningový kurz, Morávka, Beskydy 2016, by Helena Hájková (YMCA, Slovakia)
http://www.ymca.sk/2016/12/evs-gathering-treningovy-kurz-moravka-beskydy-2016/

Photos:

Majka Horníková: https://goo.gl/Esz9T8

Jan Látal: https://goo.gl/UrGuQB