Tasks description 

In 2001 coordinating organisation EstYES hosted the International Conference "Volunteer service organizations and AIDS prevention", supported by UNESCO and dedicated to HIV problems in the countries of East and Central Europe. The conference concluded that youth and voluntary service organizations have a great capacity to deal with HIV/ AIDS problems in our region. Volunteers are the great resource to fight the problem and voluntary service organisations, targeting huge number of young people in the age group of highest risk, should have another mission - fighting AIDS among youngsters and doing some prevention work. In fact voluntary service may be a healthy alternative proposed to youngsters. Since this time EstYES and "Living For Tomorrow" (LFT) began cooperation in the field of AIDS prevention, providing international volunteers to the AIDS prevention work as well as working with former drug users involving them into international voluntary service. The main objective of the EVS project is to provide daily assistance to the regular activities of the LFT with the emphasis on work with local young people and promotion of healthy live style. Volunteer will work along side with staff, helping to organize/run special projects, seminars, campaigns on AIDS prevention among local youngsters and interesting, diverse meaningful activities for the youth and motivate them to take part in it. Another aim of the project is to introduce international dimension to the work of the LFT and to bring elements of intercultural learning to its work promoting the idea of healthy live. Proposed project gives to the volunteer a chance to develop his/her independent initiatives and creative talents, working in the field of youth information. Participation of motivated EVS volunteer from Europe will bring additional educational value to the pedagogical process and other activities of the institution. As most of the Centre activities are based on voluntary work of local young people, involvement of young foreign volunteer is quite logical and has a symbolic meaning for the overall purpose of the project. The role of the volunteer should be seen in the context of broadening the horizons of the young people, LFT works with, and getting them to view themselves and their country in a broader European context. Thereupon it is important to mention that one of tasks for the volunteer could be to establish contacts with similar social institutions in his/ her home country in order to have mutually beneficial co-operation between the institutions in future. In case of success this project can serve as a model for the developing of similar EVS projects, building the bridges between european countries and their young people. After on-arrival training aimed at integration of volunteer to local realities and explanation of aims and activities of host project EVS volunteer will be carrying on the following tasks: · Act as a resource for young people LFT working with; (20%) · Helping to organize Tallinn young people leisure activities, promoting healthy way of living; (25%) · Help organizing and running special projects/campaigns on AIDS prevention among youngsters; (15%) · Assist in research work conducted by LFT; (10%) · Developing relations and cooperation projects with other similar organizations in Estonia and abroad (10%); · Preparing and disseminating promotional materials on sexual and gender issues (10%); · Assisting the LFT staff and activists in daily work and other activities as required (10%) It is difficult to describe typical working day or week as work will be very flexible. It will definitely involve some travelling in the area and around Estonia. Sometimes volunteer has to work in the evenings or weekends. The total amount of working hours will not exceed 35 hours a week. Occasionally extra hours may be requested for special activities like seminars, meetings, etc. taking place in the Centre. Volunteer will have 2 days off every week, which is not weekend necessarily. Volunteer will have 2-3 weeks break for the vacations. According to volunteer's skills and project's needs priority tasks and detailed working schedule (including holidays, breaks, etc.) will be worked our together with the head of project and office staff. EVS volunteer will be working in principal under supervision of LFT manager and in close collaboration with the LFT staff and local young volunteers. Volunteer will be very much encouraged to propose his/her personal projects/ initiatives (e.g. publication, special training, etc.) related to the theme of this EVS project and can be supported by host and coordinating organizations. Volunteer can take part in the local training activities related to his/her service as well as in international ones.