Foyer Aubépine

Looking for one volunteer

Trip type

ESC Volunteering

City + Country

Havelange, Belgium

Dates of the next project

1st September 2023 – 31st August 2024

Deadline to apply

29 May 2023 (23:59)

Hosting organization : Foyer Aubépine

“Foyer Aubépine” is a non-profit organization which was created in 1965 and is located in the village of Havelange, a rural area not far from the big city of Liège and close to the towns of Ciney and Marche-en-Famenne.

The association holds the official title of S.R.G. (“Service Résidentiel Général”) given by the French Community government. The main aims of Aubépine are: social help, education, host, support of youngsters with difficult socio-economical and family backgrounds. The aim of the organization is to build trust between youngsters, their relatives and workers of SRG. In Aubépine youngsters and their relatives can live through constructive experiences in order to grow towards a stable future. The workers support youngsters in everyday life in order to help them to find the educational, professional and personal path.

Currently, Foyer Aubépine is hosting 2 ESC volunteers and this position will be to replace one volunteer leaving in September. The other one will be leaving in December.

For intern structural reasons, the ESC volunteers will not be on activity at the same time, they will therefore have two different “shifts” but based on the same type of activities.

Aubépine’s team implements activities:

daily support about 15 youngsters who face all sorts of difficulties, who are in dangerous situations (security or health), who face lack of educational support. The organization faces minors from 3 to 18 years old benefitting from a right of protection. Aubépine provides them with food, care, sport activities.
Welcoming the youngsters’ relatives: create working and discussion groups in order to help them to overcome the challenges, to reinforce the family bonds;
Helping the youngsters finding a project that will be beneficial for them, their relatives and the association.

Check their Website

Foyer Aubépine is part of a non-formal network of local associations called “Droûve tèsoûyes”(aka “DTO”). This network is described as a “short circuit network of solidarity for socio-cultural profit”. The member organizations have to be active in the municipality of Havelange and be “associations of natural persons”. They all share a number of common values and a charter. Four times a year, the member organizations meet in order to increase the mutual resources, share, develop new common projects and galvanize the social work in general. The gatherings often lead to workgroups and then to concrete local actions involving the member organizations. For that matter, a brand new yurt has been built in Foyer Aubépine’s garden where the organization “AMO LE CERCLE” welcomes youngsters for activities linked to school dropouts.

Once or twice a week the volunteers will take part in activities organized by some of partner organizations, such as Vis-à-vis ASBL, a service that welcomes people with mental and physical disability. The volunteers have to spend time with them during excursions, create and facilitate workshops for them (how to manage their budget, cooking workshops etc.)

CBB hosts in total 26 international volunteers around Wallonia. The ESC team of CBB try his best to connect this network of volunteers together trought different collective activities, seminars

Support organization : CBB

CBB is a nonprofit, apolitical youth organisation recognized and financially supported by the Wallonia-Brussels Federation. We propose different activities based on volunteering and nonformal education: local and international workcamps, short and long term volunteering services (including ESC), leisure time activities for and with disabled people, camp leaders trainings, etc. CBB is active within the different European programs of volunteering and non-formal education since 1997 and also hosts ESC volunteers each year.

CBB’s role as support organisation is to:

Promote the project and links between local and international associations
Support the selection and preparation of European volunteers before arrival
Manage administrative matters such as budget allowances, creation of bank account, enrollment at the municipality, insurance contracts
Write the activity agreement
Provide pedagogical support for the volunteer and the hosting organisation by ensuring the participation to the NA seminars, organising evaluation meetings with the volunteer and the hosting organization to reflect on learning outcomes
Handle practical arrangements, including accommodation, health insurance, French lessons, online language tools, etc.
Create networking activities with all ESC volunteers of the hosting organisations we support

Activity 1 : Support the team of Aubépine and local activities

Volunteers will be involved in two main aspects :

1- Accompaniment of young people in their daily lives. This activity involves work with kids and teenagers from 3 to 18 years old. Aubépine is a children’s home, therefore, there are tasks to perform daily from 9 am to 10 pm. ESC volunteers are involved in the everyday life routine:

Supporting the technical team:
Maintaining the house;
Preparing the meals;
Helping with the maintenance of the interior buildings, care of the exterior and vegetable gardens;
Supporting social educators:
– spending time with kids and teenagers during meals and snacks;
– welcoming kids and teenagers after school days, helping them with homework;
– preparing funny activities and games for leisure time (sharing moments of games on evenings and weekends);
– helping with preparation for bedtime;
– participating in outside activities.
Participation in gravitating projects:

2- Help with group projects during the day.

– Help with the maintenance of the interior buildings

– take care of the exterior and vegetable gardens (“Pota’zen”) with the kids

– openness to the projects of the youth and volunteers

– maintaining of the chicken coop;
– help to develop the project of living space in the caravan;
– implementing a personal activity in the last stage of the activity.

Collective activities with other ESC volunteers:

Volunteers are encouraged to participate in the aims of increasing European awareness among the local community and surroundings, as well as enhancing closer networking between the local non-profit services. For this reason, some activities might be run with other ESC volunteers involved in other local organizations. The volunteers are encouraged to take any initiative and make their presence visible in the community. Volunteer gatherings and activities will be planned in order for the European Solidarity Corps to gain visibility and encourage cooperation between local associations through cultural events.

Activity 2: Support the local partners

Vis-à-Vis ASBL is a non-profit organization that develops assistance, support, training, professional integration and actions for people with fewer opportunities. The office is located in Namur but they organize group activities for adults with mental disabilities who live in Havelange. The volunteer will support the team to organize thematic workshops with them once a week. Involvement in the work of Vis-à-Vis is an important part of the project.
The « Foyer des jeunes » (Youth House) in Havelange aims at promoting the development of a critical, active and responsible citizenship, mainly among young people aged 12 to 26. They implement and encourage sociocultural and creative activities. The volunteer will support the team with the organization of one thematic “welcoming” space for youngsters after school (once a month); will accompany the youngsters during external activities (once a month, often organized on Wednesdays, Friday nights or Saturdays). Besides these regular activities, the volunteer will have the opportunity to help them out during cultural events (WEAD Festival; cabarets;…), summer camps and to join the Youth Councils.
The volunteer can also join meetings or events organized by the local network.

Accommodation in Havelange

The “Foyer Aubépine” is located in Havelange, a small village close to the city of Ciney (15 km), not far from Marche-en-Famenne (25 km) and Liège (45 km) in the Belgian province of Namur.

The volunteers are accommodated in Ciney, a town of 16 000 inhabitants in the Belgian province of Namur. The town has its own cultural centre, a library, a youth centre, a swimming pool, a quite wide range of options in sports, arts (there is an academy proposing drawing and painting initiation as well as a music conservatory) and culture. Supermarkets and several shops are available in the town centre. Ciney has a well-connected train station with direct and regular connections to Namur, Brussels or even Luxemburg. Other cities such as Liège are also easily reachable. During the week, the town is full of students from different primary and secondary schools, however, is rather calm during the weekend.

The volunteer receives a bus abonnement to reach the Foyer Aubépine (+-30 minutes by bus) and will have the possibility to use a bike as well. Sometimes, workers organize lifts from and to Ciney.

The country - BELGIUM

Squeezed between the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg and France, Belgium is one of Europe’s tiddlers.
The north is flat, the south dominated by the picturesque Ardennes and the 65km North Sea coastline monopolized by resorts, except for a few patches of windswept dunes. The 4 seasons are well divided, cold and white winter and warm and sunny summer… But be ready to grey sky at least a half part of the year.

But the Belgian population are usually warm. A lot of cultural and free EVENT in the street happen during the year, which brings your journey in this little country fun and resourceful.

This project will be taking part in the south of the country which is french speaking. Be therefore ready to learn and speak french! Especially in this project involving kids.

Specialties : FRIES, BEERS and FESTIVALS
AREA: 30,518 sq km
POPULATION: 11.420.163 million
CAPITAL: Brussels (pop: 1.191.604)
REGIONS: Flanders (North), Wallonia (South), Brussels – Capital
COMMUNITIES: Flemish, French and German speaking communities
LANGUAGE: Dutch (±59%), French (±37%) and German (±1%)
CURRENCY: Euro

Practical arrangements

Working Hours

Working hours will be FLEXIBLE from Monday until Sunday and can also involve occasional participation in evening and weekend events. Once a week, when helping the educators with the late shift, the volunteer will be asked to sleep over at the Foyer. On average, 5 days per week will be worked and days off will compensate for the extra shift hours if necessary to keep an average of 38 hours maximum a week (French lesson included). The volunteer will generally have two consecutive free days per week except for special events and has the right to two days of holiday per month.

Insurance

You get covered, throughout the activity period, by the obligatory European Solidarity Corps insurance plan (CIGNA) that the European Commission sets up. This coverage is only complementary to the mandatory coverage of the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which you must obtain prior to departure.

In certain cases, when national rules deprive participants from coverage under EHIC for the duration of the placement, CIGNA will provide full coverage. However, you must provide proof that obtaining the EHIC in your case was not possible. You should contact your National Agency for advice on your specific circumstances. You must read carefully the insurance-related information here.

Accommodation

The volunteers will have a private room in a fully-equipped shared 3-bedrooms-apartment in Ciney. The transport costs from the house to the location of activities will be foreseen and covered.

Language course

OLS + French lesson. We provide an online language course as part of the budget from the Commission. You will need to complete a level test before the activity starts. We encourage you to join free French lessons given in the municipality or around if possible. We recommend that the participant starts practicing French prior to their arrival in Belgium and that they participate in as many activities as possible in order to get better at the language.

Food

You will receive a budget and will prepare your own meals.

Pocket Money

Participation in the European Solidarity Corps is free of charge, except for exceptional contribution to travel costs. You will therefore receive free board and lodging during the whole activity. In addition, you will receive pocket money for personal expenses throughout the duration of the activity, including holidays.

Profile of the volunteer

Aged 18-30 years old
Open-minded, curious, enthusiastic, empathetic
Able to work in a team, with different target groups, and in a multicultural environment
Willing to learn French
Interested in working with children and teenagers
Ready to propose, take initiative, discuss and give your opinion
Flexible in terms of working hours, which do not correspond to a classic schedule
Before departure, being in contact with a support/sending organisation to receive information and preparation
> Look up for a support organisation in your region via this link
Project open to everyone, regardless of their nationality, religion, believes, diploma, or professional experience
Able to give copy of certificate of good conduct related to the work with minors before starting the activity

How to apply ?

Deadline: 29/05/2023 at 23:59 (Brussels time)

1. To join the European Solidarity Corps programme, create a profile on the European Youth Portal (click on “register” at the bottom)

2. Answer the questionnaire below (you will be asked to attach a CV at the end of the form)

3. If you’re feeling creative, feel free to send us any additional material related to your application to esc@compagnonsbatisseurs.be (optional)

The creation of a profile on the ESC portal AND fulfilling the form are compulsory for us to take your application into consideration. In the days following the application deadline, we will contact the pre-selected volunteers for a Zoom interview.

ESC Foyer L'Aubépine / Apply form and motivation letter

Step 1 of 4 - Personal Data

Personnal data
By filling the information below, you provide us with personal information. You are aware of the fact and agree that the pieces of information will be used in the frame of the call for candidates for the Erasmus+ volunteering project. Your personal data will be used by the persons in charge of the selection of volunteers in the sending and coordinating/hosting organizations. Each part mentioned takes the responsibility of erasing the documents containing your personal data once the selection procedure is over.
Name*
Surname Name
PNR*
If you already have it: it’s a super long number you receive when you get registered into the PASS.
Birthdate*
Phone number*
Current address*
Street Address City ZIP / Postal Code Country
Email adress*
Do you need a visa for this project ?*
Languages spoken*
Please specify which level you have
Availability period for the project*
Preference will be given to the volunteers able to join the project for the whole period.
Have you ever taken part in a volunteering project under ERASMUS+?*
- YES
- NO
If yes, what was it and for how long?*
Sending organization (Name, Accreditation or PIC number, post address, phone number, contact person’s name and email address)*
What are your (long term) travel experiences?*

Long term

Short term