The EVS Program

The first phase of the internship involves a 3-5 week Training Phase to prepare the intern for the tasks related to the Regional Youth Contact. Key elements of this training are: language and culture learning, training in promotional activities, creative presentations of programs and the philosophy and methodology of Atlantic Bridge. The training is done together with all new volunteers so they all learn together and support each other. Much of the language and culture learning will be through experience: meeting young people; actively participating in the youth culture; observing and discussing Dutch culture and practicing the language through regular interaction with Dutch people.

After the training phase the interns start a 2-3 month Research and Promotion Phase where they visit schools, youth clubs, town halls, churches and other places where young people are found. These contact visits include: presentations of their cultural background, European interest topics, cultural topics related to building bridges (interns present themes for discussion and consideration) and promotional presentations to mobilise interest in Bridgebuilders Clubs and EVS (interns build relationships with young people to encourage them to become global citizens interested in other cultures).

In the presentations each intern has a specific task, depending on his/her talents and skills. This research phase can also take the form of a youth research project where interns learn about the lifestyle, culture and mindset of youth in one particular area and then present their findings in a report (Marco Polo Project).

During (or at the end of) the promotional phase, the intern settles into a town or region to discover and get acquainted with one local community. During this 3-6 month “Stranger in Town” Phase, the intern builds deeper friendships with youth and learns about various aspects of community life. This is also the time when the intern is involved in a Bridgebuilders Club and begins to prepare the participants for exchange activities in the summer. During the Bridgebuilders Clubs meetings, the interns and local youth will exchange their culture and background as a way of preparing for the summer exchange, using Atlantic Bridge’s cross-cultural training program.

The activities of the intern end with the Summer Activity Phase in July and August. The interns are actively involved in an exchange with their Bridgebuilders Club. This club either hosts a group from another country or travels to another country where they are hosted by a local youth group. The interns also participate in a week-long International Youth Festival at the end of the summer.

The specific methods of how each phase will be carried out in each region will vary, depending on that region.

Within the projects, there are three specific tasks:

• Bridgebuilders Coordinator - helps to coordinate the Bridgebuilders program by: creating publicity materials for the recruitment of team members, coordinating presentations and meetings with groups and planning activities.
• Expression Coordinator – helps to coordinate a form of expression (drama, theatre, dance, street-dance, music) that enables the Bridgebuilders Clubs to make a presentation about their area that they present to others.
• Events Coordinator – helps to coordinate and organise special events, such as a montly Meetpoint where various groups come together.

One element of the project is the administration and planning of tasks. Planning for Bridgebuilders Clubs, the Youth Research Project and other youth activities involves making phone calls, co-ordinating promotional activities, organising youth events, processing research information, etc. These various tasks are divided among the interns and other local volunteers and staff, depending on their talents and skills.