MASCOT 2010 Ukraine

MASCOT 2010:

MASCOT (Mykolaiv Artistic Sessions Community Of Teamwork) is a three session program in Mykolayiv involving 70 young students from Mykolayiv, its oblast and other sites (ages 16-22) to contribute their time and energy to serve the civil society. The main goals of the session are social integration of youth, volunteerism and community service project implementation. The second and third sessions will be follow-up meetings aimed at community service projects implementation.

PROJECT DATES:

• 1st session: 15-23 August 2010
• 2nd session: September – October 2010
• 3rd session: January – February 2011

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

MASCOT is a socially oriented program that strives to create youth networking in Mykolayiv, its oblast and other sites. Volunteerism is not yet perceived as an individual obligation to the community we live in. Together with Mykolayiv Black Sea State University we try to work with students, directing their activities to the social environment improvement. Our target audience is youngsters from tenth- eleventh grade of high school, and university students. Age between sixteen and twenty-two is good for the formation of the world perception, for the understanding that the feeling of responsibility is what one needs to solve society problems. We must create this sense of responsibility in youth before they become working members of the community overwhelmed with work and family responsibilities. Without this sense of responsibility, our community will continue to wait for someone to solve the problems that exist instead of solving them themselves. The staff team will include ten Ukrainian students (experienced social project makers) and ten Peace Corps Volunteers.

MASCOT goals

Because the program is a social event, its goals are as follows:
1. Raise social awareness in minds of the youth.
2. Extend knowledge about educational opportunities in Ukraine.
3. Learn step-by-step project implementation strategies.
4. Include people from different nations and social statuses in order to create a culture and experience exchange filled with creativity, respect and tolerance between communicators.

We consider that the accomplishment of these goals will lead to the improvement in youth perception of civil society, and consequently in the society itself. The program will educate students about the need of an individual contribution to the community. This way MASCOT will not only have a mental influence on participants, but will also result in completion of a series of community service projects.

Participation Fee: 300 UAH (includes snacks, lunch and all materials)