Hi, I am the “new” volunteer of SE.M.I. from Hungary. Arriving as the first volunteer of this year at the beginning of September, I had the chance to enjoy the Italian summer; swim in the sea, hike and eat gelato (although people eat it all year round here so..).
Day trip to Cattolica
Swim
Hike
Eat
Repeat.
But how did I get here in the first place? I had lived in the UK for 7 years before I came here to do an ESC, which was something I was planning to do for a while but never felt like it was the right time. Well, the pandemic made it easy, there was nothing to make me stay in London anymore so why not to spend the second wave in Italy then?
Of course, it could have been a different country (not better obvs) but the project was also very attractive to me as it is so focused on creativity. In fact, our motto is that “we are all equal in creativity”, which I resonate so much with. Studying architecture in university, I thought I have some skills to share but I also couldn’t wait to learn new things and fortunately there is always something interesting happening here. For example, Aula21‘s, a local youth group’s photography exhibition, MEI Festival, Festival Comunità Edicante (a workshop about stop-motion!) and small scale local concerts as well as all the other things we organise ourselves – volunteer insta coming soon!
Living THE life in Faenza
Aula21’s exhibition
MEI
FCE
Peace and Love
I was lucky enough to be able to visit other cities/towns in Emilia-Romagna in the last month and hopefully will travel more after things get better virus-wise so if you are interested in recommendations and looking at *aesthetic* photos stay tuned. I will definitely make a post about that.
About the community.. well it’s great but my favourite is the neighbour’s cat. Mathilde claims he is her best friend but we’ll see about that.
Our sister association Informagiovani, the Youth Information Centre of Faenza, is looking for a Finnish volunteer (aged 18-30) to join their team for 12 months between December 2020 – December 2021.
As our volunteers, the successful candidate will live in the town centre of Faenza in a free accommodation and get €280 food and pocket money every month. The cost of the travel at the start and the end of the project is also reimbursed.
To read more about the project and see an interview with of one of the current volunteers please visit Informagiovani’s website as well as check out the official ad of the project on the European Youth Portal where you can also submit your application if interested 🙂
WTV – Der Offene Kanal aus Wettin is looking for EU volunteers (aged 17-30) who want to work on the field of media production and education. If you are interested in video making and editing it is a great place to develop your skills and to create something valuable – speaking German is an advantage.
For the duration of the project support will be available along with equipments and training related to media.
As participants of this project you will be hosted in the city Halle (Saale) living in a comfortable shared flat free of charge as well as receive an annual ticket for public transport and pocket and food money every month. The cost of the travel at the start and the end of the project is also reimbursed.
Read more about the project on the European Youth Portal’s page and check out their YouTube channel for a sneak peek.
Our partner organisation in Estonia,Noored Ühiskonna Heaks, is looking for a volunteer (18-30 years old, EU resident) to their “Fellowship Of Volunteers” European Solidarity Corps project in Keila, Harjumaa.
The duration of the project is 12 months: September 2020 – September 2021.
Accommodation is provided and the volunteer will receive €270pocket and food money every months.
The main activities will include working with children aged 4-18, supporting their daily tasks, organising after-school programmes and other activities for them as well as teaching them English or your own native language.
If this caught your attention then check out NÜH’s info pack or the European Youth Portal’s page for more info.
Applications are to be received through this Google form.
For additional information please write tairi@nyh.ee.
Experience Europe’s world-class education system and its expansive offering of bachelor’s and master’s courses, doctoral study programmes and more.
Explore Europe’s diverse languages and cultures in a welcoming, social environment.
Gain international experience, skills and knowledge highly valued by employers. Benefit from excellent future employment and research opportunities in Europe and beyond.
About the Study in Europe project
Study in Europe is a European Union (EU) project, which aims to:
Showcase what higher education in Europe has to offer to students worldwide
Provide information about organising and funding study and research periods abroad in Europe
Help European higher education organisations connect with potential students and partner organisations
Study in Europe provides information about study opportunities in 34 European countries. These countries participate in Erasmus+, the EU’s programme supporting students from EU and partner countries across the world to study in Europe. (European Commission, “Study in Europe”)
PhD and research in Europe
You are never too late when it comes to studying in Europe. You may already have your bachelor’s and master’s degree, but if you believe that your future is in academia, Europe holds considerable PhD, post-doc and research opportunities.
Becoming a PhD student
You have several options, if you want to become a PhD candidate at a European university. Every country has different opportunities for PhD candidates, so be sure to read the country profile of the country you are interested in.
To obtain a PhD position, you can either apply for a position in an existing research, or apply with your own research plan. Universities often promote the researches they are currently involved in, so it is good to see what fits your interests and academic background. PhDs normally last 3-5 years, where you conduct your research guided by a lecturer or professor.
To finance this, PhD students often work part time as (assistant) lecturer in their area of expertise and in addition apply for a scholarship. Also, many PhD positions are an actual job. The vacancies are posted on the university websites and if you are accepted, you are guaranteed a job for the duration of your research. Often, this kind of PhD positions arise when universities start large research projects, after having received a grant or other funds.
Continuing with a Post-doc
After a PhD, you can pursue a Post-doc position. These are often more difficult to obtain and in most cases the researcher will have to provide the funding for his or her research. This means connecting to local, European and global scientific organisations for scholarships and grants. A well-known initiative is the European Commission’s Marie Skłodowska- Curie Actions . This programme supports researchers in all stages of their careers. Another European programme is Horizon2020. Many European research universities are conducting research that is (partially) funded by this programme, either individually or as part as a consortium with other universities, organisations or businesses all over the world.
Euraxess
Mobility is key: researchers are encouraged to extend their horizons. Euraxess is a European Commission initiative to help researchers to be mobile: either by coming to Europe to do research, or to travel within Europe and worldwide to conduct it. The Euraxess job portal helps you find the research position that you are looking for and the funding that you might need. Worldwide, contact persons are available to help you with your questions. For instance, Euraxess South Korea was launched recently. Check if there is someone in your country that can connect you to Europe and your European future in academia.
Article 11 – Freedom of expression and information
1. Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers.
2. The freedom and pluralism of the media shall be respected.
Constitution of the Italian Republic
Art. 21. Anyone has the right to freely express their thoughts in speech, writing, or any other form of communication. The press may not be subjected to any authorisation or censorship. Seizure may be permitted only by judicial order stating the reason and only for offences expressly determined by the law on the press or in case of violation of the obligation to identify the persons responsible for such offences. In such cases, when there is absolute urgency and timely intervention of the Judiciary is not possible, a periodical may be confiscated by the criminal police, which shall immediately and in no case later than 24 hours refer the matter to the Judiciary for validation. In default of such validation in the following 24 hours, the measure shall be revoked and considered null and void. The law may introduce general provisions for the disclosure of financial sources of periodical publications. Publications, performances, and other exhibits offensive to public morality shall be prohibited. Measures of preventive and repressive measure against such violations shall be established by law.
Euroweek in Poland is looking for you us a Youth Leader
Euroweek Program is an English and International Camp for Polish students. The Youth Leaders- Volunteers will facilitate different activities guided by the coordinators.
To combat crime efficiently, the criminal justice authorities of EU countries need to work together. Ultimately, in a common European area of justice national law enforcers and judiciaries will be able to trust and rely on each other.
This will increase people’s confidence in the fairness of proceedings, knowing that their rights are protected when they have to appear in court in another country, or if they fall victim to a crime.
Added value of EU rules
Action at EU level in this field is crucial for a number of reasons
* Serious organised crime is often committed across borders. To prevent ‘safe havens’ for criminals, EU countries’ laws should be more aligned
* If people can trust that their rights are respected, in all EU countries, if they are suspected or accused of a crime, they are more likely to use their right to live, work or study in another EU country
* Common rules strengthen mutual trust between the judiciaries of different EU countries. This makes cooperation and mutual recognition of decisions easier across the EU
* EU criminal law helps to prevent and punish serious offences, for example environmental crime
Protecting the rights of suspects and accused
Much progress has been made to date, as the EU has adopted 6 directives on procedural rights for suspects and accused persons as set out in the roadmap of 2009. The EU established rules on
* the right to information which applies across the EU since 2 June 2014,
* the right to interpretation and translation which applies across the EU since 27 October 2015,
* Right to have a lawyer, which applies across the EU since 27 November 2016,
* the right to be presumed innocent and to be present at trial,
* special safeguards for children suspected and accused in criminal proceedings
Children’s Day is a commemorative date celebrated annually in honor of children, whose actual day varies by country.
In 1925, International Children’s Day was first problem proclaimed in Geneva during the World Conference on Child Welfare, and since then is celebrated on 1 June in most countries. Children’s day is celebrated by UN on 20th of November.
Linda Hartley, Children’s Rights
Legal basis
The rights of the child are part of human rights: rights that the EU and EU countries must respect, protect and fulfil. As laid down in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), a child is any human being below the age of 18. The Commission is guided by the principles set out in the UN Convention on the rights of the child, ratified by all EU countries.
Article 3(3) of the Treaty on European Union establishes the objective for the EU to promote protection of the rights of the child.
The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU guarantees the protection of the rights of the child by the EU institutions and by EU countries when they implement EU law. Article 24 on the rights of the child and Article 31 on the prohibition of child labour specifically cover children’s rights.
Author: Bicanski
Funding for child protection
The rights, equality and citizenship programme 2014-2020 aims to promote the rights of the child and prevent violence against children, young people, women and other groups at risk.
Child protection policies
Organisations working for and with children should be guided by child protection policies and have reporting mechanisms in place. The four standards as set out by Keeping Children Safe network provide good guidance on what policies should cover and achieve.
The automotive industry is crucial for Europe’s prosperity. The automotive sector provides direct and indirect jobs to 13.8 million Europeans, representing 6.1% of total EU employment. 2.6 million people work in direct manufacturing of motor vehicles, representing 8.5 % of EU employment in manufacturing. The EU is among the world’s biggest producers of motor vehicles and the sector represents the largest private investor in research and development (R&D). To strengthen the competitiveness of the EU automotive industry and preserve its global technological leadership, the European Commission supports global technological harmonisation and provides funding for R&D.
Why the automotive industry is important?
* Links to other sectors – the automotive industry has an important multiplier effect in the economy. It is important for upstream industries such as steel, chemicals, and textiles, as well as downstream industries such as ICT, repair, and mobility services
* Employment –around 13.8 million people work in the EU automotive sector. Manufacturing (direct and indirect) accounts for 3.5 million jobs, sales and maintenance for 4.5 million, and transport for 5.1 million
* Economy – the turnover generated by the automotive industry represents over 7 % of EU GDP
80% of the growth in the sector is expected to occur outside the EU. The EU’s efforts should focus on concluding and enforcing preferential trade and investment agreements. These will make it easier for European companies to access third markets and continue benefiting from economies of scale.
What the Commission does?
Global technical harmonisation – the Commission focuses on global technical harmonisation. Common technical requirements (UNECE framework) help reduce development costs and avoid duplication of administrative procedures. Harmonisation is key to strengthening the competitiveness of the EU automotive industry.
