Dear candidate for the EVS in Slovakia!

We are very happy that you are interested in the EVS program and you are now considering

where the right place is and what are the best activities for you! This booklet wants to provide

you with informations about our orgnization and the activities we do, so you can decide whether

or not we are the one for you and you are the one for participating on our project. Please take

few minutes of your time to read it through!

WHO ARE WE? Nadácia BADEN - POWELLA (NBP foundation)

works with young people and involves them in

keeping cultural heritage and development of

social skills. We have several years of

experience with EVS projects and we want it

to be useful and beneficial for both - us and

our volunteers. We try to engage young people

in activities being useful to society, but they

sould also help them to development their

personalities and gain new experiences.

Our main project is the revitalization of Calvary

in Banská Štiavnica – www.kalvaria.org, but we

are also running a youth hostel and a big scout

camp in Stiavnica montains. We often

collaborate with the town of Banská Štiavnica,

signed in UNESCO, on many intereresting

projects regarding its cultural heritage. Our

workers together with our volutneers are

involved in all these activities.

Banská Štiavnica Calvary Complex represents a unique architectural and landscape

complex. It is the most outstanding baroque

Calvary complex in the territory of the Slovak

Republic. The complex itself is made up of 25

buildings including three churches and chapels

decorated with valuable paintings. The chapels

and churches are built on a steep slope of a

dormant volcano called Scharffenberg (Sharp

Hill).

NBP foundation is situated in youth hostel

below an old castle

our boss Martin explaining basic security rules to group of volunteers

The Calvary above the town

In June 2007 Banská Štiavnica Calvary Complex was included in the World Monuments List of 100

most endangered sites announced every other year by the World Monument Fund.

In recent years we have been, together with hundreds of volunteers, succesfull in changing this

status and Calvary is becoming popular place for torists from all around the world (40 000

visitors per year). The mission

of our organisation is to preserve its religious, cultural, historical, scenic and ecological values for

the society, organize volunteers who are comming for workshops and to run exhibition about the

complex. Our role is to find volunteers who have interest to be involved in these activities. Each

year we host 3-5 foreign volunteers.

WHERE ARE WE?

Slovakia is a country

from an area slightly

larger than

Switzerland. The

capital is Bratislava

which is situated only

60 km from Vienna.

The population is 5,5

million.

Slovakia is

surrounded by

Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine and

Hungary. It belongs to the group of post-communist

countries. When you say Slovakia, many think of

Czechoslovakia, which follows a longstanding

federation with the current Czech Republic. Slovakia

is an independent state since 1993 and therefore

one of the youngest European countries. We have

joined the EU in year 2004 and from 1st January

2009 we use the single European currency Euro (€).

The national language is Slovak, but people often

(mainly young generation) speak English, German or

some other languages.

Slovakia is located in moderate climate zone and

during the year there are 4 seasons. In

summer, the temperature may climp up to 35 °C, in

winter it sometimes drops to -20 ° C and autumn is

often rainy so you may need all kinds of clothes.

Slovakia is quite a mountainous country with the

highest peak at an altitude of 2655 m. There are 9

Banska Stiavnica – historical center

Summer markets in Banska Stiavnica

national parks with rich fauna and flora.

The national dish is dumplings with sheep cheese, but we also love traditional Slovak sausage with

beer or Hungarian goulash. In generall, the cuisine is varied and you can buy all kinds of food in

shops.

Bread 500 g +/- 0,80 euro

Beer 0,5 ltr +/- 1,00 euro

Softdrink 0,25 ltr +/- 1,00 euro

Milk 1 l +/- 0,70 euro

Dish of the Day +/- 3,00 euro

Water (1,5 l in shop) +/- 0,50 euro

BANSKÁ ŠTIAVNICA

We are placed in historical town Banská Štiavnica

in central part of Slovakia with 10 000 inhabitans.

The town belongs to the triad of historical mining

towns in central Slovakia, which were famous in

the whole Austro-Hungarian Empire for plentiful

resources of gold, silver and copper. It still keeps

its medieval character and the town centre has

been added to the World Heritage Fund of

UNESCO. Nowadays, it is a district town of app.

25 000 inhabitants with several secondary schools

(polytechnics, forestry, etc). The town still

breathes history which is mostly due

to the number of historical

monuments and cultural events taking place here during the year.

Banska Stiavnica is situated in hilly terrain (600-1000 m) with forests, many hiking trails and

about 10 artificial lakes suitable for swimming, which makes it a popular target of tourism in

summer. In the summer period, the town with its surrounding area is a place of plenty of art,

music, film, poetry, photo, sport and other traditional festivals and happennings, but out of

season, during autumn and winter, it falls asleep

covered by snow and fog which might be depressive

for someone.

The closest bigger city is Banská Bystrica - 50 km

away, which takes about an hour by bus to travel

there. The capital – Bratislava – is 170 km from the

town, which takes around 3 hours of travelling by

bus or train as the connection is not direct.

There are 2 disco clubs, few pubs, fitness center,

cinema, swimming pool, bowling center, many

restaurants in the town and several shops (clothes,

shoes, souvenirs ect.)

Ski resort in Stiavnicke muntains

One of the lakes around the town

WHAT ARE OUR EVS ACTIVITIES?

Some activities are more general (eg services at an the Calvary exhibition) in which we engage

each volunteer, others are more specific, requiring some experience or qualities.

In generall, after a year spend in our organization, you should become more independent, flexible,

open-minded and initiative person with clearer vision of your further professional carieer.

In addition , as it is a group EVS project, you will gain experiences in the field of communication

with different personalities, foreing languages and other social skills which might be usefull for

your personal development.

Activity # 1: Information service at the

Calvary expozition and other activities

connected with Calvary

During the EVS, you will mostly be involved in

activities at the Calvary outside in a fantastic

nature environment. One of the activities is the

service at the expozition for the visitors. The

Exhibition

is opened daily from spring to autumn and on public

holidays from 10.00 to 17.00. During the service,

you will be responsible for opening the churches,

providing informations to the tourists and selling

souvenirs. Coordination of the shifts taken during

week will be case of individual agreement so you can

have comprehensive leisure time.

Other main tasks are related to the maintenance of

the whole area and restoration works such as

mowing, cleaning, raking, and you will be also one of

the leaders of big volunteering workcapms which we

reguraly organize.

Activity # 2: Activities connected with Scout house – Youth hostel

Our office and your

accomodation is situated in

the premises of the Scout

House, so many activities

are taking place right

there. Scout house is

visited by thousands of

tourists every year from

different parts of the

world and it also provides facilities for local community activities. A

large part of the activities include things like small works in the

The exhibition of Calvary

works on the garden of Scouthouse

house and the garden, preparing things for social events, cutting wood for the winter ect.

You'll be also involved in service at the reception desk from time to

time providing information to guests and tourists and if you are

willing to work with children, you can prepare special program for

small children in our mother center.

Activity # 3: Scout campsite:

In the summer, we are running International scout

camp in the mountains, about 10 kilometers from

Banska Štiavnica. Groups of campers are coming to one

or two weeks of camping and we are helping them with

food and service supply. The main role of volunteers is

to prepare whole area before the campers come and

support them during their stay. Volunteers could also

prepare special programs which we offer to campers.

In close environment of the

camp is one big artificial lake suitable for swiming so you can freshen up yourself after work.

# 4: Personal project and other, non-permanent activities:

During the project you will have the chance to develope your specific

skills and to make your own personal project. After first months of your

stay, we can discuss and make plan for it. It is up on your intiative and

creativness what it could be.

Our last group of volunteers were responsible for example for renovation

of old jewish cemetery or restoring local toristic trails.

We started cooperation with the town in cooperation on cultural events

and we are designing program for the biggest winter event – witer games

for families and children.

Turkish volunteer playing game

with children

Volunteer´s seminary in the hostel

Monika – EVS from Hungary - is

painting wood

Staff meeting

WHAT DO WE EXPECT FROM YOU?

We expect from you the ability to speak English or German or Slovak at least on basic level, so

you can understand us and provide touristical and organizational information to visitors from

around the world.

We expect your willingness to work in a team and ability to independently perform certain tasks.

We welcome experiences of working with youngsters, positive relationship to cultural history, and

nature.

As manually work being a great part of our daily work, it is important that you are not affraid of

it.

You will live with other EVS volunteers and share the same flat and rooms, so tolerance is very

important.

Still, your initiative and creativity is welcome and you should be open to unexpected things.

Even thought we try to reduce it as much as possible, it is important that you are flexible enough

as your schedule might change quite often.

LANGUAGE COURSES, ACCOMODATION AND LEISURE TIME:

You will live with a group of around 4

volunteers together in a flat directly in

the youth hostel in the city center. Your

food needs and pocket money are

covered by the project (230 € per

month). We are funding courses of

Slovak lessons (or other language) and

optionally other courses as well.

Your free time and free days depends on

agreement and the season. Work week is

usually around 35 hours with 2 free days.

Longer period of holiday is possible during winter season, because our activities are limited due to

snow and the cold, but still, during summer short trips are also possible. We try to balance

leisure time and activities by the rules of Erasmus+ program.

DURATION OF THE PROJECT: Duration is 6 - 12 months or upon agreement.

CONTACT: In case you think this is challanging for you, please send us your motivation letter and CV to

bacik.juro@gmail.com or call +421 905 360 307

More informations are also available on www.kalvaria.org and www.banskastiavnica.org.

Scouthouse from front side