This is MY not-official description of the project einvironment in Godollo.

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The opinions and views expressed in this text are not necessarily those of the Kontakt Alapitvany.

Project environment

 

Programmes and CLIENTs: The Contact Foundation (www.palyanet.hu) is a non- profit, civil organisation, running various programmes enabling integration back to the labour market. There are two main target groups: unemployed people, who need help in order to find suitable job or qualification, and experts who work with underprivileged people in the field of labour market integration. We have no age limit in our labour market programs for unemployed people, so we have older clients (long- term unemployed) and younger clients as well. They experience difficulties with finding a suitable job because of different reasons (behavioural problems, social background, age, low education, their origin: many of our clients are of Roma origin, problems with self- esteem, self- expression, integration …). There are 12 full- time workmates altogether employed in the foundation at the moment, namely: career advising experts, social workers, psychologist and financial assistants. This number as well as the number and content of our projects are subject to change.

 

OFFICES LOCATION: Foundations’ main office is in the middle of the Gödöllõ town (directly in ‘The Cultural Centre’: http://www.muvelodesikozpont.hu/), so it is easy to reach from every point of Gödöllõ. The other main office of our foundation is in Budapest (3rd district) and EVS volunteer could be there 1-2 days weekly. In this office, there are held labour market trainings, courses (Job- searching techniques’ training, Adviser’s Club, job-searching clubs) and professional meetings.

 

TAMASZ-PONT PROGRAM: It is located in Gödöllõ just 1 minute from the suburban trains’ stop: ‘Szabadság tér’. Our advisors provide career orientation and labour market information; give individual help and advice on daily basis (in usual office hours). Other provided services: psychological counselling, jobs newspaper, internet and free job phone calls. We organise different vocational trainings, special interest GROUPS and courses for unemployed people. The advisors also provide references to labour office and other non-profit organisations. Our colleagues from university often use this office as a way to reach the people without job for the purposes of academic research. The clients in our office in Gödöllõ come also from the surrounding villages (Tura, Zsámbok, Dány, Valkó). The EVS volunteer should spend most of his/her service in this office (address: Támasz-pont Iroda, 2100 Gödöllő, Szabadság út 6.).

 

PUZZLE PROGRAM: Recently, we started a new project with unemployed women located mainly in Budapest. This project will last for 1 year, until the end of February 2009. It`s an equal opportunity project with 2 main target groups: unemployed women with little children and unemployed women above 50 years of age. These women should make use of similar services and counselling as our clients in Gödöllõ (Tamasz-pont program). Additionally, they shall undergo psychosocial and baby-sitting trainings. Psychologist and baby-sitter services are also available. Therefore, a new possibility for a short-term / 4-6 months/ voluntary position within this project has arisen.

The specific tasks for this voluntary position include: providing support in English language skills, delivering organisational assistance in basic computer skills training for women and provide administrative support for all aspects of the project (address: Budapesti Iroda, 1032 Budapest, Bécsi út 213.).

 

Project environment: The Steady- point office of the foundation is in Gödöllõ (www.godollo.hu). Gödöllõ is a small town close to Budapest (30 km north-east, M3 highway), with 30 000 inhabitants. The town is located among beautiful hills, rich in natural sights: parks, forests, and watercourse. There is a big university, the Szent István University (www.szie.hu), which ensures active cultural life and a lot of young people around. Basically, it is a nice and calm small town (compared to the crowded and noisy Budapest), with the entire general services available: library, cultural centre, museums, pubs, cafeterias, post offices, shopping centres, restaurants, medical clinics, etc. The Royal Palace of Gödöllõ (www.kiralyikastely.hu) is one of the largest baroque Palaces in Hungary. It is unparalleled for its colourful historical past, and renowned for its style-setting architectural value. The palace also offers numerous cultural programs (Gödöllõ Spring Festival, Palace Concerts Chamber Music Festival, Baroque Palace Days…). There are also many sport opportunities available in Gödöllõ (tennis, football, volleyball, very good bike-routes, horse farm, sport centres…).

 

Accommodation: Living conditions are good; we can ensure own room for the volunteer in Gödöllő in a rented apartment with flat- mates from university. The exact accommodation is negotiable. However, if he/she decides to live in Budapest, his/her travels to Gödöllõ may not be completely covered or the language course may be shorter. This is because the EVS project budget is limited. The maximum for housing is approx. 40.000 HUF and approx. 12.000 HUF for travel expenses.

 

Meals: The volunteer will get a monthly amount for meal (together with the pocket money, in HUF) and can organise his/ her own eating and other expenses. Dining possibilities are quite well- organised: there are several restaurants, pizza houses and pubs where the daily menu is also served. Even vegetarians can find appropriate food on the menu card.

 

Travelling: Transportation from Gödöllő to Budapest is very good, the local train goes generally in every 20 minutes (journey time 45 minutes till the end station of red metro line M2).  In case of regular tasks in Budapest the volunteer receives cash money at the beginning of month to buy a permanent ticket for travelling within Budapest. This money shall be also sufficient to buy train tickets for his/ her travels between Budapest - Gödöllõ on weekdays.

 

Hungarian language course: We ensure a possibility for learning Hungarian during the EVS service in a language school. The language course will run 2 days per week, 2x45 minutes lessons per day in the afternoon. Following course schemes are currently available for the EVS volunteer: approx. 40 lessons in a smaller group (3-4 students) or approx. 80 lessons in a larger group (7-15 students) at the university in Budapest. According to the chosen scheme, the course should last for the first 3-5 months of EVS project. Short and intensive types of language course are also possible. The course will only be provided if it is necessary for project and the volunteer is willing to undertake it.

 

EVS experience: Our contact person has experiences with EVS programs as mentor (volunteers: Alma Kaufmann from Spain, Jano Klimas from Slovakia and Zsolt Szakál from Hungary) and took part in several youth-work trainings.