Profile of the organisation and local community
The Vertigem Association's delegation of Leiria organizes and develops projects and activities related to the environment and youth leisure time, especially:
- activities of promotion and preservation of the environment
- walks, tracking by bicycle
- accompaniment of school groups in guided visits and visits recognising the natural heritage of the region
- participation in events and activities aiming at the preservation of the environment
- development of long term projects in co-operation with local authorities (i.e., the Atlas on the Trees of Leiria)
- publication of information material regarding environment (i.e. Jardim Luís de Camões)
- Environmental education activities
- organization, development and participation in activities taking place in the nature (Challenger, orienteering, birdwatching, etc.)
- organization and participation in international youth related events (youth exchanges, seminars, conferences, trainings).
The city of Leiria is located in central west Portugal, about 120Km north of Lisbon and 190 south of Oporto. The municipality of Leiria has about 120,000 inhabitants; with the parish being about 17,000 ones (information is based on preliminary results of the 2001 Census).The economy of the city, mainly based on the second and third sector, is a growing healthy economy. It is principally involved in the plastics, ceramics and glass industry. Civil construction and tourism are also very important for the city's economy.
Leiria is a municipality that offers different spaces in small spaces: urban, rural, forest, seaside. In Leiria and surroundings we can find several places where we can take profit of nature and enjoy those moments of rest in a quite place. A few kilometres away from the city is easy to breathe the smells of the ocean.
Leiria is a municipality that offers different spaces in small spaces: urban, rural, forest, seaside. In Leiria and surroundings we can find several places where we can take profit of nature and enjoy those moments of rest in a quite place. A few kilometres away from the city is easy to breathe the smells of the ocean.
Leiria provides different offers in the cultural and leisure (cinemas, theatres, libraries, museums, etc), it also has parks and support structures to sport, recently created for the Euro2004 and in the ambit of the Polis Programme.
Six kilometres far from Leiria, we can visit the Sanctuary of Nosso Senhor dos Milagres and in Cortes the João Soares House-Museum.
On the way to the coast we have the magnificent spa and former royal town of Monte Real used by King Dinis when he came to hunt or to observe the planting of the Leiria's Pine Forest and by the Thermal waters . The Ervideira's Lake is situated in the North of the pine forest and it is a refreshing place on the National Woods, before we get to the only beach belonging to Leiria, the Pedrógão Beach, where we can feel the fishing traditions, either in the typical boats either in the fishermen's nets.
Leiria is a very acessible city, mainly by road and highways that cross the municipality making the connection between cities much easier, like for example the connections with Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra, Aveiro.
Proposed activities for EVS volunteers
Young people are the target group which has a main role to contribute for developing the integration of young people and local community. Exchange of knowledge, skills and ideas is the key to spread and confirm the idea for protecting the nature in Europe. The aims of Vertigem in this project are:
- contribute for building international volunteering
- cultural exchange
- providing opportunities for training and education for young people with interest in ecology, nature, biodiversity and opportunity to learn several techniques that will allow to work in the environmental area.
- support the groups in the prevention of fire in forests and reforestation
- popularization of conservation activities
Volunteers participating in this project will be integrated in groups of young members who will give all the specific technical support for the different activities. They will have the chance to learn and develop their skills and competences in technical areas, such as flora, fauna, environment protection, environmental education, recycling and cartography.
They wil also have linguistic training and support troughout all the project.
Supervisors and trainers will be on hand to provide the volunteers with the necessary skills to carry out the work both safely and competently. A health and safety training session is held at the beginning of each project.
This project is part of a global project aiming for promotion and protection of the environment. This project, developed by Vertigem in the city and municipality of Leiria, intends to exchange experiences and ideas about the development of projects in this area with young people from other countries.
The volunteer will participate in the activities, being integrated in groups of youth members, with whom they will collaborate in the following tasks:
1 - CIA (Environmental Recognition Centre)
1.1 - Updating of database and picture collection:
1.1.1- Atlas on the trees in The Municipality of Leiria
1.1.2 - Birds(present during the year and migrating)
1.1.3 - Fauna in the Municipality of Leiria
1.3 - Maintenance of MERC's laboratory equipment and material
1.4 - Reception of youth and children at the MERC
1.5 - Integration in the activities carried out by the Centre for youth, children and schools from the Municipality of Leiria (laboratory, library, Internet)
1.5.1 - Prepare educational activities for different levels
1.5.2 - Preparation of didactic material related to environment issues
1.6 - Help in the preparation of sensibilization activities for youth and local community on environmental issues
1.7 - Help in the preparation and development of exhibitions, workshops, training actions, or seminars (*)
1.8 - Preparation of an ecotourism map for youth in the city of Leiria and surrounding area(*)
1.9 - Recycling activities (development of activities related with recycling issues having as main target youth and children) (*)
2 - Outdoors
2.1 - Accompaniment of youth or school groups of children from the Municipality in recognition walks of flora and fauna2.2 - Survey on the trees of the Municipality of Leiria (identification, location and cartography of the species)
2.3 - Taking pictures of elements of the fauna and flora from the area
2.4 - Gathering water samples for the MERC- Monitoring and Environmental Recognition Centre, in Leiria
2.5 - Collecting of video images on the natural heritage of the Municipality of Leiria (*)2.6 - Bird watching activities:
2.6.1 - Bird watching
2.6.2 - Monitoring of nesting and migrating birds
2.6.3 - Recording of birds at the feeding sites
2.7 - Nature Conservation tasks (*):
2.7.1 - Cleaning of the Pine Forest of Leiria (bushes, garbage)
2.7.2 - Keeping the Natural paths of Leiria and Pine Forest of Leiria
2.7.3 - Opening and maintenance of paths and footpaths
2.7.4 - Reforestation activities in the Pine Forest of Leiria and surrounding area of the city
2.7.5 - Drawing and making of wooden guide signs
2.8 - Bicycle Patrollers(*):
2.8.1 - Monitoring and prevention
2.8.2 - Patrols in the area surrounding Leiria and Pine Forest of Leiria (when locating forest fires alert the fire department)
2.8.3 - Maintenance of the equipment used in the activities (bicycle, binoculars…)
2.9 - Realization of pedestrian walks (*)
2.10 - Activities in the river
2.10.1 - Monitoring the fauna and flora of the banks
2.10.2 - Cleaning of the riverbed (clean the polluted banks of the river with the co-operation of children and volunteers)
2.10.3 - Reforest and replanting riverside trees in adjacent areas to the river
3 - Personal project
There will be given the opportunity to the volunteer to develop a personal project. For that there will be proposed by the coordinator to the volunteer that he/she develops a plan for that project, there will be given accompaniment, and tools, materials or equipments will be available if they are necessary for the development of the volunteer's project.
Note: The activities with (*) are also developed by Short Term Volunteers
A POSSIBLE VOLUNTEER'S DAY IN THE PROJECT
09:30H - Breakfast
10:00H - reception of a group from a local school at the MERC
- presentation of the Centre and activities carried out by the Centre
- help in the collection of water samples and in the use of equipment and materials of the MERC laboratory - help in the use of computing equipment for the input and analysis of data
13:30H - lunch
15:00H - accompaniment of the groups from local schools to the Park of the city
- recognition of tree species there
17:00H - Portuguese lessons
18:00H - Ending of the activities
All of the activities developed by the volunteers in this project are accompanied and supervised by the monitors and Portuguese volunteers of each activity that, before activities, give them training and during the activities give them all support the volunteers may need.
Volunteer profiles and recruitment process
For this project we would like to receive enthusiastic people with good communicational skills, who are independent and willing to participate in the project.
Qualities taken into account by Vertigem in the selection of candidates for this project are: love of nature and protection of the environment; Enthusiasm, motivation to participate in our specific project, appreciation in being useful; enjoy communicating and learning new skills and competences, interest to work in a team, tolerance towards difference.
We would highly appreciate the volunteer's being flexible, with capacity to adapt to new and different situations and treating an obstacle as a challenge.
Factors as race, sex, age, religion or political ideals are not conditioning factors for appreciating the applications.
Beside the information in the European database, there is also going to published information on the project in networks where Vertigem takes part and in Vertigem's website.
The selection process will be based on a clear and objective exchange of information with the candidate and sending organization. This exchange of information will have as basis an application form developed by Vertigem, motivation of the candidates and the exchange of emails, fax and letters between the parts involved in the process.
The selection of the candidates to this project comprehends an initial phase that includes the communication and exchange of information between the staff of the involved organizations and the volunteer, being concluded with a meeting of Vertigem's EVS committee, formed by the mentor, tutor, activities coordinator, national volunteers and staff of support.
It may be considered by the Committee a telephonic interview with the candidate.
Balanced distribution regarding the sending countries involved. With this criteria we intend to create a well balanced, motivated, intercultural and diversified team of volunteers, willing to be committed to the implementation of the project and to learn from the great experience that this project will provide them.
We are open to work with any partner.
Special needs
This project is also to foreseen to host volunteers with fewer opportunities as stated before in this application form. This project is designed to offer disadvantaged young people a meaningful and rewarding experience in a short, clearly focused period of time in order to motivate them to progress to long-term projects. The project is aimed at equipping the volunteers with the confidence and self-belief to participate in the wider programme whilst also achieving worthwhile environmental improvement in an area that comprehends the the rural and urban area of Leiria. For this fact Vertigem has defined a group of specialized people that will accompany and support the volunteers in the preparation of the project and during their staying in the project. There will be staff that will give support to all issues regarding EVS and there will be monitors that will accompany the volunteers throughout their activities and will give them training so that they will be able to develop in a positive way the proposed activities. For a better accompaniment of the volunteers and regarding their particular difficulties there is also considered the presence of a psychologist that will follow volunteers' trough the project. For this matter some meetings will take place in order to make a good accompaniment and avoid or prevent any crisis or conflict situation.
All staff taking part of the project has training and experience working with disadvantaged youth. This is also a project that wants to promote social inclusion.
Beside the specialized professionals that will accompany the volunteers there are also the mentor and the tutor of the project that will give their help and support to the volunteer trough the project development.
Volunteers will be accommodated in family houses or independent house or apartment in Leiria or surrounding area, sharing the facilities with other EVS volunteers. Food will be provided by Vertigem and arrangements can be made according to specific needs of volunteers.
Support: Staff and volunteers are prepared to give all kind of support volunteers ask and will help volunteers in the integration process, inside and outside the project. Weekly meetings will take place to talk about the project and needs of the volunteers.
Risk prevention, safety and protection
Vertigem is an organization that receives EVS volunteers since 1998. Since that year many young people coming from several countries, with different races and religions, have developed their EVS project with Vertigem, allowing the organization and its staff to learn and evolve, getting more abilities to prevent and face risk and crisis situations.
In this ambit, Vertigem has a group of human resources, tools and methods that will contribute to the prevention of uncomfortable situations either to the volunteer or to the organization.
In this context we stress the clear definition of the roles of the intervenient people in this process, namely the coordinator of the project, tutor, activities coordinator and mentor, as well as the contribution of all of these resources to the harmonious development of the EVS project.
Beside this working group and its contribution we highlight the contribute of ANEVE to this project and it's availability, together and in accordance with Vertigem to contribute to the prevention and resolution of conflict or crisis situations.
Vertigem also counts in its Human Resources staff with the presence of ex- EVS volunteers, namely the project coordinator and the activities coordinator, which allows guarantying a deep knowledge in the analysis and taking action regarding risk and crisis prevention.
Vertigem will offer to volunteers continuous trainning regarding interculturality, specifically about portuguese culture, and ways of living in Portugal. The training will include information on emergency numbers, where to go, what to do.
This project doesn't foresee the participation of volunteers under 18 years old. |
Vertigem - Associação para a Promoção do Património is a non governmental youth association, local, without lucrative purposes, political or religious ends that creates and realizes programs by young people for young people.
- Total number of staff in the host organisation: 25
- Number of staff and volunteers directly involved in the proposed EVS project: 10
- Number of national and international volunteers already working in the organisation: 60
Vertigem - Associação para a Promoção do Património has is head office in the small village of Portela do Vale de Espinho, located in the center of the Natural Park of Serra de Aire e Candeeiros, Municipality of Porto de Mós and have delegations in Porto de Mós, Leiria and Aveiro, understanding 3 Municipalities and 2 Districts. The activities of Vertigem are based in two great areas:
Environment
The activities developed in the environmental area have as main target: public in general and youth in particular. Environmental activities are developed in 3 ways:
1- Permanent activities - monitorization, biomonitorization, inventory, analysis and actualization of data regarding natural and biologic patrimony and information service.
2- Temporary activities - workshops, environment animation, pedagogic activities, workcamps, OTL Programme (Leisure time occupation), prevention of forest fires, production of documents for the support of outdoor activities (environmental education)
3- Punctual activities - trainning, conferences, seminars and workshops, expeditions and commemoration of thematic days.
Multimedia and new technologies
- creation of CD Rom and Web Sites- creation of a multimedia and information space to the youths
- creation of space and contents for training in the area of the multimedia and new technologies
- creation of network of information
Parallely Vertigem develops several activities in the area of information for youth, namely through protocols with several public and private entities (City Hall of Leiria, Catholic University, University of Aveiro, University of Porto, ACAPO (Associação de Cegos e Ambliopes de Portugal), CERCILEI (Cooperativa de Ensino e Reabilitação de Cidadãos Inadaptados de Leiria), CERCINA (Cooperativa de Ensino e Reabilitação de Cidadãos Inadaptados de Nazaré), IPL (Instituto Politécnico de Leiria), AAI (Associação Apoio ao Imigrante, etc...) and still through the participation in the former " YOUTH " Programme.
Vertigem is member of the European Organisation AVSO |
