Sidebyside promotes voluntary work in Maastricht

Natalie Giorgadze, a volunteer from Georgia arrived in early May at the Maastricht intercultural student association Sidebyside to work on a three week job shadowing project entitled “Building a Bridge to the Caucasus”.

The job shadowing project was organised thanks to the European Union Youth in Action Programme which allows young workers to gain practical training experience in a partner organisation for a limited period of time via its European Voluntary Service (EVS).

Natalie’s task at Sidebyside was to evaluate whether international student associations or cultural organisations in the Maastricht area had a need for similar European Voluntary Service projects and to look into possible future cooperation with organisations in the Caucasus region.

“Quite surprisingly, not many respondents had heard about the European Voluntary Service before, which in a way stimulated me to make them interested. It was fascinating to see how new ideas and thoughts were born during the interviews,” says Natalie.

“Everyone is very busy in Maastricht”, explains Natalie. “Apart from studying, students are actively involved in different groups and associations. One can easily be confused by the large choice of student associations. Small student groups do not have a stable structure and are in continuous transition process – old members leaving, new members arriving… That is why working on long term EVS projects with these associations doesn’t seem very realistic,” she says.

But Natalie also interviewed bigger organisations. “CNME, Mondiaal Centrum, Tafelstraat 13, Trajekt and others might be possible hosting places for international volunteers,” she notes.

Natalie will end her project at Sidebyside this week with a presentation of her concept note and final report on Thursday May 24th, at 17:00 at the Student Service Centre and warmly invites everyone interested in the topic to attend.

And for the younger readers among you: if you still don’t have any plans after your studies, or you’d like to live and work in a foreign country, why not find out more about European Voluntary Service on the Youth in Action Programme website. If the Caucasus region attracts you, feel free to contact Natalie for further information about participating organisations in the area.

By Sidebyside