ESC Infopack

1. Every Color in Cucujães Cucujães Every Color in

2. The Portuguese Red Cross – Local Branch of Cucujães was created in 1980 and it serves the Municipality of Oliveira de Azeméis. At the moment, the Local Branch offers services in three main areas: Social Assistance & access to Welfare Services: Social Assistance and Counselling; Food Bank/ Food Relief; Clothing Bank & Personal Hygiene and Home hygiene products Bank; Technical Aid Bank (providing aid equipment such as wheelchairs, articulated beds, walkers); Intervention Program for people struggling with addictions; Transportation for Victims of Domestic Violence and Victims of Social Emergency; Leisure time activities for people with intellectual disabilities to promote resting of informal caretakers. Emergency & First Aid: First Aid Teaching; First Aid in Sports and Cultural events; Support to Pilgrims on their way to Fátima Sanctuary (provision of beds, hot showers, meals, and First Aid); Support to Pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela (Pilgrim Shelter). Youth & Volunteering: Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps Programmes; Environmental Education activities; Youth Summercamps during the Summer; Activities focused on Prevention for Youth at risk; Intergenerational and community activities and workshops; Fundraising activities. The Portuguese Red Cross – Local Branch of Cucujães Office is located in Vila de Cucujães:

3. The Portuguese Red Cross – Local Branch of Cucujães is part of a Local Social Network (managed by the Municipality of Oliveira de Azeméis) and therefore cooperates with multiple Local Partner Institutions. As a small city, with villages geographically spread across the territory and with public transportation challenges, the Local Social Network promotes the cooperation between Institutions with different social responses in order to attend the needs of the vulnerable population. Hence the collaboration with Local Partner Institutions doesn’t exist only for volunteering purposes but it is present in daily work as resources and know-how are shared and the Red Cross referrs beneficiaries to specialized services provided by the different Partner Institutions and vice versa. “Every Color in Cucujães” is an Individual volunteering project, funded by the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) Programme. It gives young people with fewer opportunities the chance to volunteer with the Red Cross in Portugal for different periods of time. Volunteers are hosted in two different locations: - Vila de Cucujães - Oliveira de Azeméis The volunteer’s weekly schedule will vary. Work is mostly from Monday to Friday from 09:00 am to 06:00 pm with a lunch break in between, but they might also work nights and/or during the weekend. However, work time never exceeds 38 hours/ week. The Hosting Organization adjusts each volunteer’s work time according to the needs of Organizations involved.

4. Vila de Cucujães is a small rural village located in between the small cities of Oliveira de Azeméis and S. João da Madeira. It belongs to the Municipality of Oliveira de Azeméis and to the District of Aveiro. It is also part of Porto Metropolitan area. It has an area of about 10,42 Km2 and not more than 10 705 habitants. As a small rural village, public transportation is very sparse and unreliable. It is a quieter, more relaxed environment. Oliveira de Azeméis is a small city with an area of 161,10 Km2 and 66 175 habitants. It is located 40 Km away from Aveiro and 50 Km from Porto. Oliveira de Azeméis belongs to the District of Aveiro. It is also part of Porto Metropolitan area. With more amenities and services than small villages, it is a less tranquil and slighly more busier environment. Nearest cities are: S. João da Madeira, Santa Maria da Feira, Vale de Cambra, Espinho, Ovar

5. Each volunteer's SPECIFIC TASKS depend on where the volunteer is being hosted and what activities they have been allocated to. GENERAL TASKS are for all the volunteers. GENERAL TASKS Social media content creation: Taking photos, videos and creating digital content to feed the organisation's social media accounts and website. Environmental activities: These are related to cleaning up actions that the Red Cross organizes. Volunteers take part by cleaning natural and public areas of inappropriate waste disposal. Eurodesk Activities: This includes conducting visits to local Schools or in events and local Festivals in order to promote Erasmus+ and ESC Programmes to youth. SPECIFIC TASKS Elderly Center: Volunteers help out at the Elderly Center by preparing games, dance or other leisure time activities for the senior people. They also support in daily work at the Kitchen, Garden and Laundry and they also support elderlies living in their own homes. Activities for Children: Volunteers help out at Pre-School Care OR Primary Shool. They are involved in the different classes, workshops and give support in different tasks that might be needed.

6. Activities with Special Needs people: Volunteers carry out leisure and ludic activities with people with intellectual disabilities (e.g. Down Syndrome). They also support at the Special Needs Facility at the Laundry, Garden, Kitchen. Activities with addicts in recovery: Volunteers can organize outdoor sports activities/ physical exercise outdoors or other leisure time activities with addicts in recovery. Pilgrims Support: Volunteers take care of a local Pilgrims Shelter (for Pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela).They take part in the maintenance and daily cleaning of the building (cleaning showers, beds, kitchen, reception and garden) and help with checking-in guests. Food Bank: This includes picking up and transporting food donations, storing, and organising food supplies, and then distributing them to families and individuals in need, either at the Red Cross Office or by delivering it to people's houses. Activities for Youth at Risk: Volunteers carry out activities with young people between 12 and 22 years old that live in a Residential Facility. These are young people at risk, that come from very difficult family backgrounds. Volunteers support them in their school work, in gardening & sustainability workshops, with English Classes and help workers to monitor them. [only for volunteer hosted in Oliveira de Azeméis]

7. Ludic Center: Volunteers help out at a local Ludic Center. The Center is public and promotes activities for people of all ages (from babies to senior citizens). They support in preparation and implementation of activities, by monitoring users of games, books and movies, and providing other type of assistance that might be needed. [only for volunteer hosted in Oliveira de Azeméis] Transportation: If you are a driver, we might ask you to drive our beneficiaries to doctor appointments, social security institute or other places that might be necessary. [only for volunteer hosted in Vila de Cucujães] Support in Fundraising events, awareness raising campaigns, First Aid (if you are trained), other support/ projects. [only for volunteer hosted in Vila de Cucujães] An openminded and adaptable attitude is required as plans/ priorities often change and we will expect you to help with what is necessary. The volunteers are provided with their volunteering activities schedule monthly. Discover Learn

8. Money & Food Volunteers will receive a daily allowance of approximately 10€ which includes pocket money and food allowance. This makes approximately 330€ per completed month. The payment will be made to the volunteers at the beginning of every month, preferably by bank transfer. Accommodation All volunteers share an apartment equipped with basic appliances, furniture, towels & bed linen, water, gas, electricity and Wi-Fi. Bedrooms and bathrooms are shared. Vila de Cucujães Oliveira de Azeméis Transportation The volunteer’s accommodation is within walking distance to the venues of volunteering activities (always under 1, 8 Km = 22 Min walk) so you are expected to walk to and from work on working days. Even if it rains We do not cover volunteer’s own personal expenses of transportation in their free time.

9. Travel Volunteers will be reimbursed (upon presentation of original receipts, invoices, and tickets/ boarding passes) the amount they spent on their travel from their original country (to start the project) and back to their original country (at the end of the project). The reimbursement is only made for travels using PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION (e.g. airplane, train, bus)! Please note that the maximum amount reimbursed to each volunteer is determinated by the EU distance calculator between cities/ countries. Insurance & Visa EU countries: Health Insurance will be provided through European Health Insurance Card therefore it is mandatory to have a valid EHIC for the entire duration of the volunteering project. No Visa is required. Non-EU countries: Free health insurance will be provided through Henner Private Insurance Company for the entire duration of the volunteering project. It is the volunteer’s responsability to take care of the Visa process and establish contact with the Portuguese Embassy in their respective country. All documents required to obtain the Visa will be provided.

10. Who are we looking for? Volunteers must be between 18-30 years old, must be able to communicate in ENGLISH language and shouldn’t have participated in ESC Volunteering Projects abroad before (excluding Volunteering Teams projects). Ideally... Volunteers should be practical, “hands on”, people who like to get their “hands dirty” and helping in what is needed Volunteers should be open minded and adaptable to new context (languages and cultures) and the challenging surroundings Volunteers should be willing to learn from others, try new things for the first time and acquire or develop their skills It would be desirable to have some level of Portuguese language proficiency or the willingness to learn it This is an inclusive Project. Participants with fewer opportunities will be given priority of selection.

11. juventudecruzvermelhacucujaes@gmail.com cruzvermelhacucujaes cruzvermelha.cucujaes