Twinning Committee - Cepoy
2016-2017
BASIC INFORMATION LEAFLET LA MAISON DE LA SUÈDE (CEPOY, FRANCE) WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR? Our call for candidates is part of the Erasmus+ youth m o b i l i t y p ro j e c t , m o re especially its European Voluntary Service. Our project is entitled “Our Swedish home in sustainable development age”.
ABOUT US C e p o y ’s Tw i n n i n g Committee is composed of volunteers retired or still working. It was born out of the desire to honor Raoul Nordling, whose diplomatic actions during World War II saved Paris and enabled the Red Cross to have access to wounded war prisoners. The main idea is to prolong his values of peace, tolerance and openmindness. We are twinned with Dals-Ed (Sweden), and through its twinning with Jögeva (Estonia), we wish to welcome someone from the latter, thus celebrating a tripartite alliance with a strong bond.
WHEN WOULD THE MISSION TAKE PLACE? The mission has a duration of six months (from July 1st, 2017 to December 31st, 2017). The first two weeks of the mission are dedicated to the discovery of the environment, the implementation of the project, and schedules. At the beginning of the third week, the volunteer will take an active part in the project and help the other volunteers. Of course, if more time is needed, the group will take all the time that is necessary to provide a complementary training. The volunteer will be able to return home from December 15th to spend Christmas and New Years Eve holiday with his/her family.
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Twinning Committee - Cepoy
2016-2017
WHERE WOULD THE MISSION TAKE PLACE? IN WHICH STRUCTURE IN PARTICULAR? 1- Cepoy
FOR WHO? We are looking for someone (M/F) between 18 and 30 years old, with a special interest in Swedish culture (and to a bigger extent Scandinavian cultures), France, and his/own culture and traditions. Our project is deeply rooted in EU cooperation between c o u n t r i e s ; t h e re f o re , w e expect you to share its values o f t o l e ra n c e , k n o w l e d g e sharing, open-mindness, a will for communication, dynamism, multiculturalism and diversity. An interest in nature and creative skills would be appreciated, although not mandatory.
The volunteering would take place in Cepoy (France), in a structure called “La Maison de la Suède” (“The Swedish House”). Cepoy is a village located in the Centre-Loire region, in a department named Loiret. It counts approximately 2.500 inhabitants, and belongs to a conurbation of 15 towns, gathering around 70.000 inhabitants. It is 120 km south of Paris. We take pride in our four labels: Ville Eurocitoyenne (“Euro-citizen Town”, Station Verte, (“Green Station”) Village Fleuri (“Flowered village” and Village Internet (“Internet Village”). Cepoy is a quiet and peaceful village, crossed by the Loing river and surrounded by 4.000 acres of woods.
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Twinning Committee - Cepoy
2016-2017
2- La Maison de la Suède The facility is a 19th century Swedish house replica, more precisely one of the Dalsland region. It was entirely built by volunteers and students of a technical college nearby. It was inaugurated in 2011. Its concept is directly linked to ecological sustainability. Indeed, among the building materials, we find Douglas pine timber, sheep wool (used for thermal insulation), a vegetal roof as well as Falun red paint.
The House stands opposite a camping site, and is popular among vacationers. Moreover, it is one of the stops of the horse-drawn carriage tours organized by the Tourist I n f o r m a t i o n O f fi c e i n Montargis. Finally, we hope to become in 2017 one of the several halts for bicycle riders on the route between Norway and Santiago de Compostela. Cepoy would be thus the start of a “ornithological trail”.
WHAT ARE OUR MAIN APPROACHES? We are all convinced that the future of Europe belongs to its youth, and we strive for raising awareness regarding all the crucial stakes that Europe is facing and will face in the future. We aim at being an example of an ideal European town, in terms of economy, culture and tourism.
Besides, we want to encourage young people to move around Europe, and prove them that they can benefit from many opportunities through experience sharing. Spending a few months far away from home is not a waste of time, and can be a positive element to add on a CV. Following in the footsteps of the Agenda 21 and COP 21, Cepoy, Dals-Ed and Jögeva agreed
on putting sustainable 3
Twinning Committee - Cepoy
2016-2017
development as a major theme in their respective agendas. We think that owing to cultural, recreational activities (e.g outdoor games, manual activities, field trips), we can reach out to a wider audience of all ages, and raise awareness as well as interest.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION FOR THE VOLUNTEER The cost of the inbound flight and insurance would be first at the expense of the sending institution, and then refunded to the EVS upon arrival.
Mission hours are not fixed ahead, but rather adaptable to the activities, as well as the volunteer`s personal project and specific requirements he/she may have. We remind you that an EVS gives a chance to a volunteer to have a new life experience owing to a mission, and by no means is similar to a traditional routine job.
Since Cepoy does not have a direct access to the airports, a member of the Swedish House committee would pick up the volunteer and drive him/her home.
The volunteer would be housed in Cepoy, either at the local Youth Hostel (in an individual room with its own fridge and a shared kitchen) or in a shared house.
In case he/she does not have any laptop to bring with him/her, we will put one at the volunteer’s disposition with devices such as Wi-Fi or Skype, a cellphone, a bike and public transportation tickets.
A welcoming ceremony will take place upon arrival so as to introduce the volunteer to the members of the Twinning Committee and locals.
Besides, he/she will benefit from a human presence during activities, and will be in permanent contact with the members of the Twinning Committee. Moreover, it is common that the volunteer 4
Twinning Committee - Cepoy
2016-2017
is invited to events such as meals, parties or family events. Cepoy is a human-sized town, hence integration should not be a problem. All important numbers (e.g hospital, doctors, dentists) will be given to him/her.
FURTHER REQUIREMENTS Proficiency in French is not a requirement. Communication will be done online in English.
The volunteer will be teamed up with another Civic Service volunteer, a 23-year old French girl who is fluent in English and Spanish. The idea of this partnership is also to foment a cultural exchange, share experiences and build ties between youth from different European countries thanks to the EU’s commitment to youth and mobility. Hence, if you feel like learning or improving your French skills, you are more than welcome to do it with us.
We will ask the volunteer to keep a journal of his/her experience at the House, detailing his/her activities made during the mission, as well as the difficulties encountered and suggestions.
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