This project is applied for by the CO Rock Solid Foundation for international youthwork for HO Siza. it will be an EVS placement for 4 volunteers from 4 different countries for a periode of 1 year. Since 2003, Siza has hosted many volunteers. We would like to continue our involvement with EVS for the following reasons: Siza is largely dependent on volunteers to give the clients extra, individual attention and to do nice things with them. So every extra pair of hands is very welcome. What we appreciate about the EVS volunteers is that they can work with a specific client group fulltime and for a longer period. In this way the clients, the volunteers and the staff can really get to know each other, and build a strong relationship. We know from experience that working with foreign volunteers is challenging because of the language barrier & cultural differences. Nevertheless, we believe that it is important for everyone involved (our clients, the staff and the volunteers themselves) to broaden their view of the world, to stimulate them to be more open and tolerant towards different cultures and to learn from each other. Siza is a care institution for children, young people and adults with a physical, mental or multiple handicap(s) and brain damage. Siza has more than 50 locations, which are all based in Gelderland, one of the Dutch provinces. The aim of Siza is to support disabled people in the best possible way, so they can live their lives as independently as possible, with specific attention for their talents and abilities. Siza provides: • support at home (e.g. for parents with a handicapped child) • residential care (clients living in one of Siza’s locations, for a few hours, a few days or 24/7) • tailored day programmes (working or other activities) • holiday facilities (travel agency, yaught, camp site & bungalows) Siza has approx. 3000 employees, which can roughly be divided into two groups: 1. staff that is involved with the care for the clients (personal carers, physiotherapists, activity guides, nurses etc.) 2. management & administrative staff Together with 650 volunteers, the staff provides tailored care to more than 3000 clients. At ‘s Koonings Jaght the volunteer could do the following activities: • giving extra attention to the clients (reading a story, playing with them, listening to music, snoezelen - lying on a warm water bed with coloured lights and music) • accompanying clients with day & leisure activities (painting, visiting the children’s farm, going swimming) • supporting the clients in and around their house (brushing teeth, getting (un)dressed, preparing meals, helping the clients to eat, bringing the clients to their work place or day activity centre, taking them to bed) • small household chores (tidying, doing the washing up, preparing food) • prepare & attend meetings with their supervisor, as well as team meetings Next to that the volunteers can do together with other volunteers and local youngsters many activities in Lunteren, a small village where all of them will be hosted. The impact on the volunteers always is big, and because of that the impact on their surroundings, in their home town but also in the hosting village. They are visable, doing local activities and will be mentioned in articles in the media. It is a life changing experience for sure. We expect the impact of this project to be very big again, especially because the Netherlands are considered as being very evoluated in the field of working with mentally disabled people, so the impact on the volunteers and their homes will be big because they will come back after one year sharing all these new ideas and competences.