It is well known that the young volunteers represent a very important resource for the NGOs, and their involvement it is seen as an important factor in the improvement of the quality of the social services, and on the other hand, their active engagement contributes to the their development as individual both on personal and professional level.
In this frame, the Albanian Organization of the Order of Malta takes part as a partner of Erasmus+, an educational programme of the European Union, which aims the modernization of the educational systems and their adaption with the needs of the market work. Its aim is to improve the (young) social workers’ competences and the motivation of young volunteers in their engagement in social activities.The project “Skillful youth worker: the best motivation for your volunteers” is addressing to the youth workers from Order of Malta Organizations in Albania, Czech Republic, Romania and Ukraine, which are working with volunteers engaged in social work. The project is leaded by the Czechs partners, it ends at the end of this year and is financed by Erasmus+/agency of EU.
The aim of the project is to develop competencies among the youth workers in motivating and retaining the young volunteers to be engaged in the social work.
Therefore the objectives of the project are:
1. To foster mutual learning of 20 youth workers from the participant countries (Albania, Czech Republic, Romania, Ukraine) by the end of the project.
2. To develop a toolbox addressed to youth workers during 4 study visits in the participant countries.
3. To increase the awareness of 20 youth workers concerning the needs of the young volunteers in the social work during the project.
4. To update the practices of 20 youth workers from the participant countries in volunteer management by the end of the project.
There are 4 Malteser study visits to be held, with 5 volunteers for each country taking part. During these visits, they will be informed and will see different social projects.The duty of the Albanian Organization of the Order of Malta is to participate in three study visits and organize itself a study visit in May.
There were 5 Albanian volunteers taking part in the study visit in Olomouc, where Malteser has a very important center. It was mainly discussed about:
1. Motivation of the young volunteers to be part of social activities, giving responsibilities, their personal improvement.
2. Creating of a toolbox (activities where the volunteers feel more efficient and fulfill the organization’s goals.
Three projects, the basilica, the Malteser center and some touristic places were visited during the study visit.