The primary aim of this study is to investigate young people´s motives and expectations for participating in the action two “European Voluntary Service” (EVS) under the Youth In Action programme supported by the European Commission at the youth center Villa Elba in Finland. The study also aims to identify which competences the young people think they have developed through EVS. The study consists of one group interview and one focus group interview with ten EVS volunteers in total who accomplish short-term EVS and long term EVS during one month respectively nine months. The methodology is based upon a qualitative research approach and in order to reach a better understanding of the respondents’ motives for participating in EVS, the theories modernity, reflexive project of the self and the individualized society were chosen. The study is also based upon background information about EVS and earlier research. The results indicate that the EVS volunteers’ main motives for participating in EVS were: acquiring new skills, meet new people, and experience an adventure in another country. The most common competence developments turned out to be in the areas of language, social and initiative skills. Moreover, the study demonstrates that many young people in Europe face difficulties in getting into the labour market and becoming independent. The main reason is the economic recession which has severely affected the situation for young people in Europe and this is also confirmed by earlier research. Even though the respondents had positive opinions about their EVS project, criticism was raised towards the European Union´s ideas of creating a feeling of European Citizenship through programmes such as EVS.

The thesis covers the topic of individualized reflexive volunteering in the framework of the European Voluntary Service program, from the perspective of volunteers. The theoretical part presents an overview of the theoretical approaches to volunteering in the context of historical development in Czech Republic. The empirical part analyzes the answers of ten respondents by using six dimensions of reflexive volunteering. The aim of the work was to provide a complex view on this phenomenon through the statements of its actors. The conclusion of the work is a summary of results of the research. It has shown how youth perceives volunteering, why they prefer this particular type of engagement, and how it relates to their own biography and plans for the future. Research provides a comprehensive view on reflexive volunteering, while at the same time, it gives a picture of the current world of young people.

In tempi recenti il concetto di cosmopolitismo riscuote una certa popolarità nel campo della ricerca sociologica. Dopo diversi anni di riflessione teoretica, gli studi sul cosmopolitismo si focalizzano oggi sulla ricerca empirica. In linea con questa tendenza, il presente lavoro intende osservare un cosmopolitismo “dal basso”, che si manifesta nelle vite delle persone come una forma di apertura globale, nonché come un processo di trasformazione del sé. In particolare, questa tesi si focalizza sul cosmopolitismo come una categoria interpretativa utile a leggere i giovani nell’ambito di un’esperienza interculturale di vita all’estero, quale il Servizio Volontario Europeo. Più nel dettaglio, la ricerca si concentra sul volontariato europeo come ambito d’indagine in cui è possibile osservare nuove forme di appartenenza e di identificazione, oltre all’emergere di nuove pratiche. Attraverso una serie di interviste biografiche realizzate con giovani volontari, infatti, si è potuto constatare come le diverse appartenenze si affianchino a diversi atteggiamenti e rappresentazioni della dimensione locale, nazionale ed europea, in vista di una più ampia apertura al mondo. La ricerca descrive queste appartenenze che formano la base di una cultura ambivalente e cosmopolita così come viene sperimentata dai giovani volontari durante l’esperienza di mobilità internazionale da essi vissuta. Il lavoro mira dunque a chiarire il concetto di cosmopolitismo e propone un percorso di ricerca attraverso cui studiare il fenomeno mettendo in luce la nascita di nuove relazioni sociali, pratiche solidali e processi di trasformazione e di comprensione del sé. / Recently the concept of cosmopolitanism raises a great popularity within the sociological research. After several years of theoretical reflections, nowadays, the cosmopolitanism studies focus on the empirical research. According to this trend, this work observes a cosmopolitanism “from below”, among ordinary people as a form of global openness as well as a process of self-transformation. In particular, this thesis focuses on cosmopolitanism as an interpretative category, useful to read young people within an intercultural experience to spend a certain period of time practicing and living abroad, such as the European Voluntary Service. More in detail, this research studies the European Voluntary Service like a field where it is possible to observe new forms of belonging and identification and new practices. By a number of biographical interviews to young volunteers it has been possible to discover that different belongings go together with different attitudes and representations of the local, the national and the European dimension, towards a global openness. The research describes these attachments, which forms the basis of an ambivalent cosmopolitanism culture as it is experienced by young volunteers during their international experiences. Finally, the work aims to clarify the concept of cosmopolitanism and suggest a way to study this fenomenous by documenting the raise of new social relations, practices, solidarities and process of self-transformation and self-understanding.

Diploma thesis "Influence of the European Union on the mobility of volunteers coming to the Czech Republic" deals with the mobility of volunteers from partner countries of the EU who participate in the European Voluntary Service - the EU programme of. non -formal education in the Czech Republic. The thesis follows the existing development of mobility of people till 2004, when the Council of the EU used its increased competence in the area of freedom, security and justice and approved the Directive 2004/114/EC on the conditions of admission of third - country nationals for the purpose of studies, pupils exchange, unremunerated training or voluntary service. It is the first time ever when the Directive mentions the volunteers as a specific target group of the mobility for educational purpose. The paper evaluates if the directive reflects the present challenges of recognition of the non - formal education on the European level. Further on, it focuses specifically on the year 2007 when the influence of the European legislature entered into the immigration policy of the Czech Republic, particularly in the amendment of the act on residence of foreigners on the territory of the Czech Republic n. 326/1999 Sb. which among others allows the volunteers in the age of 18 till 25 years old to apply for the...

The thesis deals with the impact of European Voluntary Service (EVS) programme on civic competences of its participants and their active participation within civil society, both Czech and European. The text is structured into three chapters. The first chapter deals with a definition of the concept of civil society and its historical development, historical development and present situation of Czech civil society and definition of European civil society. The second chapter first explains the phenomenon of volunteering in general and then continues with explaining of functioning and principles of EVS. The third chapter is a result of qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews with six former participants of EVS. At first, the personal story of each participant is written. According to the stories, the cumulative analysis and conclusions of the thesis are formulated.

Dans cette enquête ethno-sociologique sur la solidarité internationale au Maroc auprès de 24 ONG (de nationalités française, espagnole, italienne, canadienne et marocaine), nous avons pris le parti de focaliser notre recherche sur les expatriés et le personnel national (de 9 nationalités différentes) en tenant compte du sens que donnent les acteurs à cet engagement et ces pratiques de solidarité internationale tout en restituant les parcours et les conditions sociales de l’entrée dans la solidarité internationale.La première partie sera consacrée à la description du cadre d’intervention des ONG internationales au Maroc et les catégories objectives du personnel humanitaire : volontaire, stagiaire, bénévole et salarié. Puis, nous présenterons les processus de recrutement et les activités menées dans les ONG internationales tels qu’ils sont décrits par les acteurs. En définitive, nous questionnerons la tension entre travail et engagement, l’enchantement et le désenchantement.Dans un deuxième temps, nous nous attacherons à décrire les caractéristiques sociologiques des 68 acteurs humanitaires rencontrés en mettant en exergue les déterminants objectifs et subjectifs de l’engagement et du travail dans ce domaine d’activité. Nous finirons par établir une typologie des pratiques de la solidarité internationale donnant à voir un éthos commun d’une communauté partageant des affinités et des expériences culturelles d’autre part nous envisagerons les acteurs de la solidarité internationale comme un groupe professionnel.Enfin, la troisième section sera consacrée à questionner d’une part la pratique migratoire que constitue la mission de solidarité internationale et d’autre part les capitaux et pré-dispositions nécessaires pour la concrétiser. Nous montrerons que l’analyse du travail et de l’engagement via le cosmopolitisme permet de comprendre le sens à la fois objectif et subjectif que revêt ce type d’activité expatriée. Finalement, le travail en ONG est un moyen pour se réaliser et s’émanciper entre filiation et désaffiliation. Alors que cette action transnationale, orientée en valeurs et vers les autres, suppose une rencontre cosmopolite réussie, nous examinerons, à l’aune de la vie quotidienne, les décalages entre la rencontre attendue et la rencontre réalisée. / This dissertation contributes to the work of international solidarity NGOs in Morocco through examining the motivations and commitments of their personals. The research focuses on expatriates and national staff, by analysing their career paths and social background, as well as taking into account the sense given to their personal commitments and professional practices while involving in the international solidarity work. The first part devoted to describe the intervention framework of international NGOs in Morocco and the objective of different categories of their humanitarian personals: trainee, volunteer and employee. It examines the processes of recruitment and activities / projects implemented by these international NGOs. Hence, it sought to understand the tensions between job requirements and personal commitments that produced both enchantment and disenchantment among the international solidarity staff. The second part intended to study the sociological characteristics of 68 humanitarian personals that are interviewed from French, Canadian, Spanish, Italian and Moroccan organizations. It highlights the objective and subjective factors that determine their personal commitments and professional performance in this field of work. Therefore, a typology of practices for international solidarity work was set to identify the common ethos within a shared community of different affinities and cultural backgrounds. In addition, it considered the international solidarity actors as professional group. The third part was questioning the migratory practice of the international solidarity mission on the one hand and the financial and pre-arrangements necessary to realize it on the other hand. Furthermore, cosmopolitanism analysis of job requirements and personal commitments was conducted in order to understand the meaning of both objective and subjective in this type of work for the expatriates. Finally, working with international solidarity NGOs becomes a way of achieving and emancipating between affiliation and disaffiliation. While this transnational action is based on values toward others and supposed to develop a successful cosmopolitan encounter, findings from this study reveal the gaps between the expectations and the achievements. / En esta investigación etno-sociológica sobre la solidaridad en Marruecos (24 ONG de nacionalidad francesa, española, italiana, marroquí, canadiense), hemos centrado el estudio sobre los empleados expatriados y locales (de 9 nacionalidades diferentes) considerando a la vez el significado que los actores dan a este compromiso y a las prácticas de solidaridad restituyendo las carreras y las condiciones sociales de la entrada en la ONG. La primera parte está dedicada a la descripción del marco de intervención de las ONG internacionales en Marruecos y las categorías objetivas de los empleados humanitarios: voluntarios, asalariados, voluntarios no retribuidos y pasantes. Después, expondremos los procedimientos de selección y las actividades cumplidas. Finalmente, preguntaremos la tensión entre el trabajo y el compromiso, el encanto y el desencanto que produce el trabajo humanitario. Luego en la segunda parte, realizaremos la descripción de las características sociales de los 68 empleados destacando los determinantes objetivos y subjetivos del compromiso y del trabajo en este sector profesional. Acabaremos estableciendo una tipología de las prácticas de la solidaridad internacional dando a ver un ethos común de una comunidad compartiendo experiencias culturales considerándola como un grupo profesional. Por fin, la tercera parte será centrada por una vez preguntando la práctica migratoria que constituye la misión de solidaridad internacional y por otra vez las predisposiciones necesarias para su realización. Vamos a demostrar que el análisis del compromiso y del trabajo humanitario vía el cosmopolitismo permite entender el sentido objetivo y subjetivo que lleva este tipo de actividad. Finalmente, el trabajo humanitario es un medio para realizarse y emanciparse entre filiación y desafiliación. Mientras esta actividad internacional de valor y dirigida hacia los otros, supone un encuentro cosmopolita exitoso, examinaremos la vida cotidiana de los actores para destacar las disparidades entre un encuentro tan esperado y el encuentro cumplido. / In questa inchiesta etnico-sociologica sulla solidarietà internazionale in Marocco – che prende in esame 24 ONG (di nazionalità francese, spagnola, italiana, canadese e marocchina) – abbiamo scelto di focalizzare la nostra ricerca sugli espatriati e sul personale nazionale (di 9 nazionalità diverse) tenendo conto del senso che gli agenti hanno dato a questo impegno e a queste pratiche di solidarietà internazionale e ricostruendo i percorsi e le condizioni sociali dalla loro entrata nella solidarietà internazionale. La prima parte sarà dedicata alla descrizione dell’intervento delle ONG internazionali in Marocco e alle categorie oggettive del personale umanitario: volontari, stagisti, impiegati. Successivamente, presenteremo in cosa consiste il processo di selezione e assunzione del personale e parleremo delle attività svolte nelle ONG internazionali, esattamente come vengono descritte dagli agenti stessi. In ultima analisi, ci interrogheremo sulla tensione tra lavoro e impegno, ciò a cui aspiriamo e ciò che effettivamente realizziamo. In un secondo momento, descriveremo le caratteristiche sociologiche dei 68 agenti umanitari che abbiamo incontrato, valorizzando le caratteristiche oggettive e soggettive dell’impegno e del lavoro in questo campo di attività. Finiremo per stabilire l’esistenza di un modello di pratica di solidarietà internazionale, mostrando che esiste un ethos comune in una comunità che condivide delle affinità e delle esperienze culturali simili, e dall’altra parte prenderemo in considerazione gli agenti della solidarietà internazionale come gruppo professionale. Infine, la terza sezione sarà dedicata ad approfondire da una parte la pratica migratoria che la missione di solidarietà internazionale costituisce e dall’altra parte i capitali e le predisposizioni necessari per concretizzarla. Mostreremo, poi, che l’analisi del lavoro e dell’impegno permette di comprendere, attraverso il cosmopolitismo, il senso alla volta oggettivo e soggettivo che questo tipo di attività riveste. In ultimo possiamo dire che il lavoro in un’ONG è un mezzo per realizzarsi ed emanciparsi al di là dell’affiliazione e della disaffiliazione alle società. Poiché questa azione trans-nazionale, orientata ne dare valore agli altri, presuppone un incontro cosmopolita funzionante, esamineremo nella vita quotidiana, la differenza tra l’incontro atteso e quello che effettivamente abbiamo realizzato. / تعالج هذه الأطروحة القضايا المتصلة بالتضامن الدولي في المغ رب، وقد تم التركيز فيه على المغتربين والموظفينالوطنيين أخذا بعين الاعتبار المعنى الذي يعطوه هؤلاء الفاعلون لهذا الالتزام ولممارسات التضامن الدولي، مع استحضارالمسارات والشروط الاجتماعية التي أدت إلى دخولهم هذا العالم.وقد خصص الجزء الأول من هذه الأطروحة ل وصف إطار عمل المنظمات غير الحكومية الدولية في المغرب وأنواع أهدافهذه الفئة من الموظفين المشتغلين في المجال الإنساني: المتطوع وذا العالمن والمتدربون والموظفون. وكذا وصف مسلسلات انتقاءالمتعاقد معهم في كل واحدة من هذه الفئات والأنشطة التي تنظمها المنظمات غير الحكومية الدولية كما جاء وصفها علىلسان الفاعلين أنفسهم. حيث درسنا التوترات القائمة بين العمل المهني والالتزام الجمعوي، بين الرغبة الجامحة والإحباط.وقمنا في مرحلة ثانية بوصف الخاصيات والسمات الاجتماعية للفاعلين 68 الذين تم اللقاء بهم بمناسبة إعداد الأطر وحة،وكذا إماطة اللثام عن المحددات الموضوعية والذاتية للالتزام والعمل في هذا المجال. حيث انتهى بنا المطاف بتحديد نوعيةممارسات التضامن الدولي، القائمة على فكر مشترك تتقاسمه مجموعة لها قواسم وتجارب ثقافية مشتركة، على اعتبار العاملينفي هذا المجال مجموعة مهنية قائمة الذات.وعالج الجزء الثالث من الأطروحة ممارسة الهجرة المرتبطة بمهام التضامن الدولي وكذا الرساميل والمؤهلات المستبقة الضروريةلتجسيدها. وسنظهر أن تحليل هذه الجهود وهذا الالتزام عبر منظور الكونية كفيل بتوضيح الصورة وفهم المعاني الموضوعيةوالذاتية المتصلة بهذا النشاط. هذا ويعتبر العمل داخل المنظمات غير الحكومية أخيرا وسيلة لتحقيق الذات والتحرر ما بينالارتباط وفك الارتباط. حيث يقتضي هذا العمل العابر للحدود الوطنية، الموجه من حيث القيم والمستهدف للآخرين،نجاح اللقاء الكوني، وهو ما قمنا بفحصه انطلاقا من الحياة اليومية والتفاوت بين اللقاء المنتظر واللقاء الحقيقي.