The EVS project Loesje International - because ideas don't have borders, takes place in Berlin, Germany and in 2016 plans to host one volunteer from Palestine (possibly a second volunteer will be applied for at the up-coming deadline in October, since we prefer to have 2 volunteers simultaneously). The objective of Loesje is to exchange ideas and opinions. To stimulate people to create their own ideas and use their unique talents. The medium Loesje mainly uses for that is posters with short text (one-liners) which shine a different light on a particular subject. Our main activity is to create such posters, together with our members, but also with people from other organisations. The volunteers will participate in this Loesje-way of expressing opinions. The volunteers will have the possibility to give creative text writing workshops to youngsters and organisations and take part in meetings, visits to other Loesje groups and other projects arranged by Loesje e.V. The profile of the volunteer candidates is young people who are either active in Loesje’s sister groups in Programme or Partner Countries, or have affinity with Loesje. The volunteers should be motivated and interested in the kind of activities that Loesje are involved in and have some own ideas they want to realize during their EVS. The volunteer is selected mostly based on his motivation and will to develop own ideas, but also on earlier experience of different activities in the cultural sector. At the Loesje office there are many learning opportunities that will also be adjusted to the wishes and the level of the volunteers. There are a wide range of activities at the office that the volunteers can take part in. Some are in technical media skills, like how to update a website or manage an email list. Some are in the creative field like writing and graphical design. Yet others are about how about how to manage a project, with planning, practical and content related issues and sometimes evaluation. Since we do both local and international projects, all volunteers, regardless of their level of German will also have the opportunity during their EVS placement to cooperate with other young people. We try to train our volunteers in taking own initiative and realize their own ideas. We also make sure that they during their EVS try some new things and not only do things they are already good at. In Loesje we work a lot with non-formal education, creative activism and own initiative. The EVS volunteers will be active in the activities and projects they are allowed to and learn a lot there. There is also space for them to initiate their own activities and challenge themselves in many ways and try new things. We expect that the EVS-er will be challenged by his tasks, by being a part of an international team and by living in Berlin. This will contribute to his personal development and will give fresh input in our organisations. The EVS-er work with ex-EVS-er that had the same experiences and that will create a good understanding between the volunteers and the employees. All of the above mentioned activities are being planned, keeping in mind the immense positive effects of non-formal education on the development of the personality. The participants directly involved in the project will gain a combination of a variety of skills and knowledge as well as extended understanding and awareness. The EVS activities will give the possibility to see the benefits of non-formal education - to observe and understand better not only the overall principles of work in an NGO, work with communities and non-formal education, but also get hands on trying particular and proven methods. All of these will allow them to get more active and competent in organization work, as well as increase their competitiveness for modern market of employment. From intercultural communication between the participants and staff/locals they will gain a wider perspective on activities in youth work on an international level, will allow to experience other cultures and opinions in a much more intensive way - through living and working together. Subsequently it will raise their level of tolerance and awareness of diversity. Working in an international team they will also improve their group work skills, planning and implementation of a follow up idea will raise their confidence, increasing their ability to influence something in their local communities. The sending and hosting organizations will also benefit since the participants will transfer their impressions and newly gained knowledge further. The established cooperations will give a direct possibility to involve bigger parts of society in close future - in youth exchanges, trainings or other projects, further contributing to the initially mentioned benefits of non-formal education. The project will bring the name of non-formal education with pride, stating this as one of the most important prerequisites for personal development.