Europejskie Forum Młodzieży (EFM) was founded in 1994 by the youth of the Ziemia Kłodzka region who were interested in European integration, social activities and local democracy. EFM was registered as an association in 1995.

Currently, EFM is an independent non-governmental and non-profit organization which aims at implementing different projects for youngsters. The organization is both active at local, national, European and intercontinental level. The general aim of EFM is to spread the impact of its projects beyond Poland’s borders. Our activities include workshops and trainings, international youth exchanges, European Voluntary Service, national and trans-national youth initiatives, conferences, seminars, job shadowing, study visits, feasibility visits, open air events designed for young people and local communities, non-formal educational work camps for Polish youngsters.

The main goals of EFM organization are:

• Providing non-formal education to the youth within the spirit of European citizenship;
• Helping young people to realize and create their own projects and programmes;
• Activating youth through encouraging them to develop their interests outside of school and take part in the life of their community;
• Promoting intercultural non-formal learning;
• Involving youngsters with fewer opportunities in international projects;
• Encouraging the involvement of regions, municipalities and civil society in European non-formal education activities.

EFM has managed to build a strong network of partners in Europe and together we aim at encouraging youth work, volunteering and mobility through international projects. Our partnership network includes already 28 European non-governmental and non-profit organisations concerned with youth and European citizenship. Also EFM cooperates with many organisations and institutions from different countries in the world other than European (Africa, Asia, Caribbean and Latin America).

There is a possibility for the volunteer to take part in a number of activities within our organisation:

• offering non formal education opportunities in the form of language conversations regarding actual themes for local people. Education of this kind provides an attractive alternative for youngsters other than formal education and an opportunity to test out their acquired language skills in authentic conversations.

• visiting local schools as a guest to loosen up traditional language lessons (German, French, Spanish, English, Italian, Portuguese,…) with a more personal and non-formal approach, making presentations about the volunteer’s home country or participating in European and thematic School Clubs’

• participating in the training camps and seminars for young people from all over Poland and beyond, and leading presentations at these camps on various subjects (EU, stereotypes, the volunteer’s country etc.);

• participating in YouthMaster camp for polish students attending school;

• according to his/her interests and choice, the volunteer can work, from time to time organizing workshops about different topics (voluntary work, active citizenship, human rights, cultural awareness etc.) in the schools around the region. Due to the fact that EFM cooperates with the schools in the region from the very beginning, we can support partnerships between volunteers and teachers in order to implement these meetings;

• another example of a typical activity is working in the kindergarten. The volunteer can join this activity by preparing and organizing different activities for the children in order to help them learn how to socialize, how to lose fears and how to play. There is also a request of basic English, German lessons for the children;

• EFM is also cooperating with the Orphanage in Kłodzko. There the volunteers will organize meetings, workshops, and lessons for the children in order to show them what civic work means, that tolerance and human rights in general are values that must be respected. Also the volunteers will organize outside activities for the children, games, sports activities and walks in the forest. For the children, it is very important to get in contact with our volunteers as they feel it is a unique opportunity to learn about values in different countries. The volunteers will also help during Sailing Camps in the summer time;

• helping in the office to send Polish youngsters to be volunteers through EVS, writing emails, making phone calls or texts translation which requires the volunteer’s language skills. The volunteers participate in meetings with candidates of EVS in order to share their experience, to give advices and to promote their projects. Volunteers are not required to work in the office but if they enjoy helping with these tasks or they require this experience they are welcome to help us in this way;

• writing articles for EFM website. The articles included in the magazine concern different topics from film reviews to sports or world politics. For some volunteers this can be an opportunity to stay in touch with their favourite subject and express their feelings in certain concerns.

• Up-dating the EFM website – designing the graphics, improving the layout or information, translating the texts;

• supporting cultural events for local people using the skills or interests of the volunteer and the background of her/his country (concerts, exhibitions, theatre, dance or sport competitions). The volunteer has the possibility to create any activities (with the project’s aims) which they have enthusiasm to organise and they will have strong support from EFM;

• organizing events that aim at promoting cultural awareness and tolerance among the locals: European information campaigns, multicultural evenings etc. Volunteers will choose to participate in different activities according to their skills and options. The project is flexible and the volunteer can combine three or four of the activities mentioned;

• taking part in the organization of the Centre of Integration and Meetings the International Youth (taking care of vegetable gardens, renovation works, taking care of sport fields, organizing local activities, helping with managing daily works connected with the Centre).

You’ll find more information about it here.

Szkoła Podstawowa Nr 2 im .Jana Pawła II in Kłodzko is an integration public school.

Our school employs around 40 teachers. The school’s daily activities start at 7 a.m. and end around 4 p.m. Our pupils work in integrated and non-integrated classes. Our school also employs a psychologist and other specialists for pupils. These people implement individual programs in relation to the children who need this kind of help.

Our school is engaged in the education of disabled and non-disabled children. We have around 300 pupils aged around 5 and 15. The integrated classes have around 20 pupils and the others are larger. Our school organizes many additional activities for its pupils such as local excursions, visits abroad, trips to the cinema, occasional parties, games, cycle races or theatrical performances. Our pupils can also have lunch or spend free time in the club room after school.  The school building is located on the outskirts of Klodzko, a large town in South West Poland with about thirty-five thousand inhabitants. Near the schools is a bus stop which can make easier the journey to the center of the town. All activities are guided by ethical values and respect for human rights in accordance with the Children Rights Convention and the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedom.

Our school educates students in the spirit of universal moral values, tolerance, human values, patriotism, solidarity, democracy, freedom and social justice. We work with young people on the basis of modern education programs and effective use of teaching technologies, as well as education. We work with parents and other external partners supporting our school in its development. Constantly we assess the needs and expectations of the local environment. We conduct internal surveys, diagnosis and evaluation of the school work quality.

It is possible for the volunteers to take part in a number of activities during the EVS project, including:

• helping with non-formal language conversations after school in English or in the volunteer’s mother tongue;

• helping to organizing new, innovative activities created by the volunteer in day-to-day activities of the school, particularly in the areas of arts/drama, crafts, sport, developing practical skills (running workshops on cooking for example), or helping children to learn basic computer skills (i.e. to use the Internet, e-mail, media literacy);

• organizing cultural events for children to help increase their knowledge about other countries, for example presentations about the volunteer’s own country;

• Helping disabled children with various activities and community interaction.

• Creating other activities (in harmony with project’s aims) according to the volunteer’s own interests, experiences and skills;

• running after school clubs such as art club, drama club or sports club;

• taking part in national holidays (November 11th, May 3rd);

• attending and helping to organise school ceremonies;

• taking part in charity actions (Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity, Penny Mountain, Clean up the World).

Museum of Klodzko Land (Muzeum Ziemi Klodzkiej) was officially opened in May, 1st 1963. The institution has been collecting and taking care of the cultural heritage of Klodzko region for over 40 years. The museum has five departments, consisting of historical records, history, art, educational department and the educational library.

The main activities in the museum are collecting and compiling collections operating through popularizing publications related to the direction of their interests, readings, lectures, museum lessons, chamber concerts and exhibitions. In additional, the museum is also cooperating with a number of scientific institutions, organizations and social-cultural societies in the country and abroad.

The mission of the Museum is to protect the material and spiritual heritage of Klodzko region. This is the purpose for which we implement a program. Many years for the creation of regional collections of Klodzko, which is the documentation and testimony to the local culture. Our program of regional education through numerous exhibitions and educational events installs a positive attitiude towards local culutre and history. We also wish to operate as an institution activating cultural and artistic life of the inhabitants of Klodzko and Klodzko Land.

The largest collections in the Museum are – a collection of tin, antique coins, Silesian clocks from the days of industrialization in the Lower Silesia and the unique glass, with particular emphasis on achievements of the artists working in Klodzko after 1945. Our educational library has an interesting collection of regional literature. The library was transformed into an educational and information centre of the region.

The example of typical activities for the volunteers:

• helping in the preparation of the Museum’s lessons for the teenagers (historical, geology lessons, etc.)
• helping with leading the Museum’s lessons for teenagers and children
• preparation of the materials for the Museum’s lessons organized for the children and youth
• helping in the preparation of the promotion materials
• spreading the promotional materials
• helping the workers at the Museum in the preparation of the exhibitions
• helping in the preparation and the opening of the exhibition (keeping contact with the guests of the Museum, help in the organization matters)
• Editing of the of the information on the Museum’s web page
• helping the Museum’s workers in the guidance of the guests (explaining the theme of the exhibition and giving information about the exhibits)
• meeting with the guests of the Museum (artists, painters, etc.)
• help in the preparation of the workshops for the youngsters (handicraft from the past, coinage, pottery, engravey etc.)

Szkoła Podstawowa nr 7  is located in Kłodzko the Lower Silesia region. The school is combined with different levels of education i.e. primary school and middle high school. Szkoła Podstawowa nr 7 is a public local school, controlled and paid by the state. The students at the school are between 7-16 years old. The number of pupils attending the school is about 300. There are also 40 teachers and 16 administrative workers employed in the school.

The main goals of the school are:

• to make it possible for children to gain knowledge and skills which are necessary for graduation from primary school and middle high school;

• to provide the pupils with pedagogical care according to the needs and possibilities of the school;

• to ensure the protection and safety of our students.

At the school pupils study foreign languages such as English and German. There are a lot of activities connected with the development of language acquisition. The language teachers organise a lot of competitions connected with knowledge about European Union. In additional, our kids go to the swimming pool, go skiing in winter on a regular basis with the physical education teachers. There is also a range of sports activities. The aim of this is to develop pupils’ skills in athletics, aerobics, basketball and handball. Moreover, there are many extracurricular activities and classes which students can join.

The following are examples of typical activities for the volunteers:

• Assisting the English or German teachers during lessons, for example helping with pronunciation, conversations and preparing some materials;

• Working with the young children as well as with teenagers and organising games and activities for them during and after classes;

• Running after school clubs such as art club, drama club or sports club;

• Participating in intercultural camps, organized workshops for the students from our school on various subjects (EU, stereotypes, the volunteer’s country etc.);

• Making country presentations to pupils from different schools in the area (including the schools that other volunteers work in)

• Giving conversation classes to local youths and adults;

• Helping to organise school discos (elements of decoration, dance and music from volunteers’ countries);

• Co-operation with the student government (according to the schedule that will be prepared at the beginning of the school year);

• Taking part in national holidays (November 11th, May 3rd);

• Helping to organise the European Festival;

• Attending and helping to organise school ceremonies like Patrons’ Days, Kosciuszko Run, ceremonial ending of class 3 of middle school and class 6 of primary school,” Otrzesiny” (middle school warming); the first Day of Spring and Talent Show;

• Writing their work in a school newspaper or on a school website;

• Joining day trips or going to the cinema with pupils;

• Helping to prepare and working in a jury of the Contest of English Language for Primary Schools and Middle Schools of Klodzko Province;

• Taking part in charity actions (Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity, Penny Mountain, Clean up the World);

• Helping in organising of students’ exchange with a school in Bensheim, Germany;

• Taking part in art and sports classes (sculpture, working with clay, tennis, swimming, basketball, mediaeval dancing;

• Taking part in Adventure Academy meetings;

• Taking part and organisation of the (not)Foreign Language Day (tongue twisters, sketches, songs, multimedia presentations);

• Time for volunteers’ own work in a school library (teachers give topics for volunteers to prepare).

The Sport and Recreation Centre of Kłodzko Commune is a cultural institution focused on the field of sport and recreation. The Centre has great potential because it consists of many (29) cultural community centres. The main aim is to support the  cultural life and initiatives of our targeted groups i.e. the inhabitants of Kłodzko Commune – children, youth and elders. The Centre co-operates with a variety of music and dancing groups. The volunteers help us to accomplish those tasks with a supervision of our qualified employees. The Centre is very active in cross-border work with the neighbouring country “Czech Republic” and currently we strive to broaden our co-operation with other foreign partners, for instance Ukraine.

The Sports and Recreation Centre of Kłodzko Commune employs 68 people: 8 people are employed permanently, 60 people are employed on civil contract and we have also instructors of dance, pottery, art, music, football, table tennis, volleyball, athletics etc.

There are a variety of activities in which the volunteers will be involved. The main task is organizing leisure time for children and teenagers and supporting or moderating the cultural and sports activities. Because of the fact that the Centre consists of 29 cultural community centres, we would like our volunteers to work in different places, in various environment and become more mobile. The volunteer will take part in our workshops according to their interests, they can as well make proposals for their own activities for the kids and youth.

Volunteers will also participate in many events organized by our Centre. These tasks aim at broadening their mind, teach them flexibility, tolerance and the ability to adapt to a new environment which is essential in any kind of work nowadays.

The Sports and Recreation Centre of Kłodzko Commune co-operates also with the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity so the volunteers every year are asked to help during implementation of the event. The role of the volunteers is to help lead additional activities such as promotion and concerts.

Moreover, the volunteers will be asked to help in organizing some activities in local schools cooperating with the Sports and Recreation Centre of Kłodzko Commune which belongs to Kłodzko Municipality village part. The volunteers will have an opportunity to work with children as well as teenagers organizing the following activities: cooking lessons, games and activities for them after classes; making country presentations to pupils; giving conversation classes to local youth; volunteers can be invited by students to their homes to see and then write how to prepare some Polish traditional dishes; writing their work in a school newspaper or on a school website; joining day trips or going to the cinema with pupils; taking part in art and sports activities.

You’ll find more information here.

Szkoła Podstawowa Nr 1 im. Adama Mickiewicza, is a Primary School with bilingual classes located in the region of Lower Silesia, Poland.  The students attending our school are between the age of 13 and 16. The total number of pupils is 400, there are also 40 teachers and 21 administrative workers employed. The school is open in the weekdays from 7.00 a.m. until 4.00 p.m.

At this school pupils learn two foreign languages English and German.  There are some bilingual classes in which students have additional hours of English lessons and during some subjects like Mathematics, Geography etc. The teachers present their lessons using English. There are also a lot of activities connected with the development of language skills. Language teachers organise a lot of competitions connected with the progress in English and broadening the knowledge about European Union and English speaking countries all over the world. Our school organises language-teaching tours e.g. to Prague, English training tours to London, international students’ exchanges, going to theater for performances in English, organising Languages Days.

The school has a lot of clubs, which can be joined by the pupils from our school such as: language, club, dance club, music club.. There is a club called “KEKS” and its main aim is to help children to discover the cultural aspects. Children are taken to the theatre and opera. Besides, there are tours organized connected with the history of Poland. In the school there is also a club which organises nights at school showing films (which are often displayed in the original language version). Some of our students are musically gifted, they attend musical lessons, learning to sing or play instruments and giving performances during school assemblies or performances for our town community.

In our school there is also the students’ council which consists of representatives from all the classes in school. The council often organises different kinds of competitions for students, take part in collecting food for poor people or homeless animals, organising discos.

The example of typical activities for the volunteers:

• the volunteer will organise or take part in workshops, which are usually carried out after class activities and or during regular lessons;

• the volunteer will take the part in sport activities such as skiing, tennis, swimming, volleyball, basketball;

• depending on the volunteer’s interests he/she can take part in PE, Art, Dancing, Music or other regular lessons showing students his/her skills and teaching them something new for example Traditional dances;

• the volunteer will take part in helping the student leading a different kind of clubs such as:  music, dance, art, etc.:

• the volunteer will also take part in school festivals and trips e.g. sport trips, visiting exhibition, and he/she will be free to initiate his/her own projects and ideas;

• the volunteer will also take part in regular English lessons, preparing presentations about their country, culture, geography but also topics connected with the students course book such as education system, types of houses, famous people;

• the volunteer with the co-operation of the teacher and pupils  will  help to improve  our website, finding the most interesting articles to write about, taking photos connected with school life and interesting cultural events.

You’ll find more information here.

Zespol Szkół Spolecznych is a non-public school led by KTO (Klodzko Educational Association). It consists of three types of schools: primary school (grades 1-3), junior high school (grades 1-3), and high school (grades 1-3). The school has been working since 1991. There are 150 students and twenty teachers. After obligatory classes, there are many interesting additional classes, i.e.: editing a school newspaper, computer club, Maths classes in German language, English classes, and different kinds of art projects: drama, dancing, painting.

Our school co-operates with a school in Denmark (Odense). Our students participated in Comenius Project which lasted 2 years.

The main aim of our school is having a wide web of communication all around the world. We would like our students to be tolerant, open-minded people, understanding the history, culture, customs, traditions and problems of Europeans. Spending time with other young people, whether it be through work or play, helps the students to understand important values. . English language is the second leading language in our school. The direct contact with the volunteers can motivate them to use a foreign language. After school activities are extremely valuable because it allows students to become more comfortable speaking and understanding English. Teachers at our school are also interested in being with volunteers. They exchange opinions with the volunteers, making the lessons more exciting. The volunteer’s presence in our school will allow the students to feel that communication withothers is wonderful. It gives the opportunity to understand culture and customs of different nations.

The volunteer who decides to work in our school will have the opportunity to work with different projects and take part in trips organized by our school i.e. field trips (which are in attractive parts of Poland!). The volunteer will help to organize and coordinate school tasks for the youngest students after obligatory classes. We are planning to have volunteer support in art and sport lessons for the youngest students.

The volunteer will take part in the following activities:

• They will share his/her customs, culture, tradition of his/her country preparing presentations and projects , cooking recipes, dances, songs, etc.;

• will help to organize  competitions, games and quizzes after classes for pupils,

• will help to organize extra classes according to their interests for junior high students and high school students;

• will be an active participant on projects carried out by our school;

• will be encouraged to display their artistic skills, which can be used to decorate our school for special occasions, or prepare photography exhibitions etc.

• art workshops taking place once a month where the students make different pieces of work created in different techniques and tools;

• dance workshops for junior high students lasting five days and including designing special clothes and make –up;

• “Polish Week” project, connected with Polish customs and traditions from different centuries according to Polish literature;

• preparing artistic cafes where our students can present their abilities, skills and introducing famous people;

• project for the youngest children called “On The Small Feet Into The High Mountains,” connected with hiking the local mountains.

You’ll find more information here.