what do we do?

The Lava Legato Foundation carries out activities related to charities, volunteer work and work in aid of the community.

The Lava Legato Foundation focuses on three areas:

· volunteer work & informal learning

· special education

· local community

and works on social entrepreneurship to support the three focus areas.

The Lava Legato Foundation works with a group of professionals and volunteers who organize and coordinate international volunteer activities and develop educational programs. One of the structural activities is facilitating volunteer work, in Rotterdam and The Hague for a great variety of organizations, but also in Vorden at the biodynamic farm Urtica de Vijfsprong. Up to date information about these activities can be found on the Lava Legato Facebook page.

Partners that Lava Legato has collaborated with

AGENTSCHAP NL, agency of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Innovation and Agriculture

LMC (secondary school); special education department

Olympia college (secondary school), special education department

Middin (care organization for 5.500 clients with special needs)

Arosa (women’s shelter)

Da Vinci College (vocational training centre)

Hogeschool Rotterdam (University of Applied Sciences)
Province of South Holland (local government)
The Hague city council
Vocational training centre Zadkine
Rijn IJssel College (Vocational training centre)
Hogeschool Arnhem and Nijmegen (University of Applied Sciences)
Province of Noord-Brabant (local government)
Vocational training centre Mondriaan

and a great variety of international partners to organize international volunteer activities.

international volunteer work

The Lava Legato foundation offers volunteer work abroad for young people between 18 and 30 years old as part of the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) program. The program lasts between 2 and 12 months and offers fulltime volunteer activities, a language course, an additional health insurance and training programs. Food allowance and accommodation are covered.

In order to do international volunteer work, you need to meet certain criteria:

-All ESC volunteer projects need at least three partners: a hosting organization, a supporting (sending) organization and a volunteer.

-You need an English CV and motivation letter to apply for a project. The motivation letter is used to explain why you would like to participate in the project.

More information about the Rotterdam - Zoetermeer project can be found here: INFO KIT

More information about the biodynamic farm can be founde here: INFO KIT

You need to find a project abroad where you can do your volunteer work. Please check the European Solidarity Corps website.

A grant should be applied to finance the project. This is done by the sending or hosting organization. Please take into account the deadlines for applying for a grant. Only after the grant is approved you can go abroad. Contact us to find out about the next deadline.

The volunteer work offered by ESC is not a holiday: it means committing yourself between 2 and 12 months -depending on the offer by the hosting organization- to fulltime volunteer work. The idea is that you learn and develop new skills while being engaged as volunteer.

ESC projects can take place all over the world, but Lava Legato only works on projects that take place in Europe, including the Dutch Caribbean region.

It is possible to obtain a certificate of your participation: a Youthpass. In this certificate you formalise your learning experiences.

Lava Legato sends, coordinates and hosts volunteers. In the Netherlands, the hosting takes place in different areas. In Rotterdam and The Hague volunteers work for a variety of social and educational organizations. In Vorden, volunteers work at the biodyanmic farm Urtica de Vijfsprong.

why us?

For more than 23 years we have been working on activities to support people but also communities and districts that can use help. We set up and execute social projects with international stakeholders, but also with small scale local partners. A few of our well known projects are:

restaurant Trattoria Borgo d'Aneto: a restaurant set up to allow special education students to do an internship. Lava Legato was involved in the set up of restaurant in the first four years.
the Rotterdam Fruit Preserve: an organic delight that we made together with volunteers and interns from special education.
the espresso bar the Polka dot Rabbit at the cube houses in the city center of Rotterdam.

We do not receive structural funding. It is important for us to be self sustaining. We therefore inform young people -volunteers and students- about the impact of being independent. We do our best to teach them basic entrepreneurial skills. New partnerships are always interesting for us, under the condition that we are allowed to think out of the box and work professionally & with our hearts. Inspiration comes from people and organizations who dare to be different and who strive for excellence. We know that it is not always easy to make changes but we stay optimistic in trying to make the world a better place.

JESSIE VOERMANS

BOARD MEMBER

graduated in 1994 in the field of Child & Youth Psychology at Tilburg University. After her studies she started her own company, aimed at developing assessment tools for staff selection and recruitment and personnel management. From 2001 she made a career shift: from working for commercial organizations to being involved in social and educational activities. Creative expression, international activities and special needs students are her fields of expertise. In 2020 she finished her MA (with distinction) in Fine Arts. This allows her to organize more creative and artistic activities to contribute to the mission of the foundation.

EWALD RENAR

BOARD MEMBER

Grew up on the south side of Rotterdam. He knows this area and the developments that took place there like no other. After Ewald finished his studies in the catering business, he started being an entrepreneur. He specialized in mediation of art projects and the stimulation of enterpreneurship among artists. He collaborated with a variety of commercial and governmental organizations like Honda Nederland, Wyett, the ministry of Trafic and Water, the ministry of Security and Justice and DSM.

With his own company Fruit de Renar he started the collaboration with the Lava Legato foundation. Together they founded the Rotterdam fruit preserve in 2011. In 2018 this social -best practice- business was handed over to the Social Delight foundation.

HERMAN DE GROOT

BOARD MEMBER

Herman de Groot studied Architecture at the University of Delft. During his studies he used his free time to support residents’ associations for housing and district improvement in Delft. In the 80’s he worked for the Rotterdam City council on projects that aim to boost the city. In 1990 he started his own business in this area. More than 25 years he was engaged in innovative housing projects, for the most part in Rotterdam. He always strived for solutions that have added value for residents. The appreciation for his work is shown in the fact that local residents named two squares after him, one in Delft and one in Rotterdam.

MARTA BARROS

MENTOR

Marta has been a volunteer as part of our Zoetermeer team. After her project, she decided to stay and work in the Netherlands. She now supports the seven current volunteers in Zoetermeer, togther with our senior mentor Robert. Her experience on working as a volunteer herself is very beneficial for her role as mentor. She knows as know other about the possible challenges of each specific location and also how to possible overcome. Marta is originally from Portugal. She studied psychometry in Portugal and aims to eventually work in this field in the Netherlands.

ROBERT WULFFELE

MENTOR

Robert has extensive experience in the educational field, aimed at vocational training. For years he worked as team manager for Vocational training centre Zadkine for the educational programmes in the catering business. Cooking and catering are his passions and he can teach you everything about etiquette and wine. A few years back he made a change to the Da Vinci College in Dordrecht where is the team manager for the vocational training programmes in the care/educational sector.

SIGOURNEY BANDJAR

MENTOR

Sigourney was born in Suriname, but grew up in the same area as where the Rotterdam volunteers live. He was a professional soccer player and obtained his UEFA-C coaching license after his professional soccer career. Together with his wife he ran a day care center. He and his wife have two children. He likes to spend time with his family, play soccer and go on trips to France and Spain. Sigourney's team-oriented mindset, penchant for enjoying life, and positive outlook make him an ideal addition to our team. We are thrilled to have him onboard for these and many more reasons.

OKT PREPARING HOSTING PROJECT IN ANDALUSIA, SPAIN

TOGETHER WITH PATRICIA, A FORMER VOLUNTEER FROM SPAIN, WE ARE EXPLORING THE POSSIBILITY OF LAUNCHING A VOLUNTEER PROJECT IN SPAIN. WE ARE IN CONTACT WITH ALBUÑOL, A SMALL TOWN BETWEEN MOTRIL AND ALMERÍA. AFTER YEARS OF PREPARATION, WE ARE NOW READY TO TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL: WE ARE HOLDING MEETINGS WITH VARIOUS ORGANISATIONS WE PLAN TO COLLABORATE WITH, APPLYING FOR THE QUALITY LABEL TO ENABLE THE TOWN TO HOST VOLUNTEERS, AND EXPLAINING WHAT INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEERING REALLY ENTAILS AND HOW IT CAN BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY. OUR WORKDAYS ARE COMPLETELY PACKED!

JULY HELLO QUENTIN AND CLAIRE

QUENTIN FROM FRANCE AND CLAIRE FROM BELGIUM HAVE EMBARKED ON A NINE-MONTH PROJECT AT THE BIODYNAMIC FARM DE VIJFSPRONG IN VORDEN. DURING THIS PERIOD, THEY WILL ASSIST WITH TYPICAL FARM ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING MILKING COWS, GROWING VEGETABLES, AND PRODUCING DAIRY PRODUCTS. THE TWO VOLUNTEERS RESIDE TOGETHER IN A SMALL CABIN ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE PICTURESQUE TOWN OF ZUTPHEN.

MAY GOODBYE TO MENTOR JAANIKA

WE ARE VERY SORRY TO SAY GOODBYE TO JAANIKA, OUR MENTOR IN ZUTPHEN. JAANIKA STARTED WITH US AS VOLUNTEER IN VORDEN AND DECIDED TO STAY IN THE NETHERLANDS AFTER HER VOLUNTEER PROJECT.

LAST YEAR SHE STARTED WITH A STUDY IN AGRICULTURE. HER WORKING SCHEDULE IS FULL AND SHE IS UNABLE TO CONTINUE WITH HER MENTORSHIP. WE ENJOYED WORKING WITH HER AND WISH HER ALL THE BEST IN THE FUTURE. AS A RESULT OF JAANIKA'S DEPARTURE, WE ARE CURRENTLY RECRUITING A NEW MENTOR FOR THE TWO VOLUNTEERS WHO AT THE BIODYNAMIC FARM IN ZUTPHEN. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL TO INFO@LAVA-GROUP.COM. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS ACTIVITY WILL ONLY TAKE ONE HOUR PER MONTH. A VOLUNTEER ALLOWANCE WILL BE PART OF THE PACKAGE WE OFFER.

WELCOME TO SERENA, BERNARD, COSTANZA, IRIS, LUCREZIA AND GIUDITTA

NEW VOLUNTEERS FROM ITALY: SERENA, COSTANZA, IRIS, LUCREZIA AND GIUDITTA AND BERNARD FROM POLAND HAVE STARTED THEIR PROJECT IN THE BEGINNING OF MAY. THEY WILL BE ACTIVE IN ZOETERMEER AND THE HAGUE (IRIS, LUCREZIA, GIUDITTA) AND IN ROTTERDAM (BERNARD, COSTANZA AND SERENA), TOGETHER WITH THE VOLUNTEERS THAT HAVE STARTED THEIR PROJECT 4 MONTHS AGO. THEY ALL SUPPORT PEOPLE WITH LIMITATIONS AND ORGANISATIONS THAT ARE ACTIVE IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. CHECK OUT OUR SOCIAL MEDIA TO FIND OUT WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY DO.

NOV TRANSNATIONAL MEETING IN MADRID

IN NOVEMBER WE HAD THE FINAL TRANSNATIONAL MEETING FOR THE PROJECT EMPOWHERMENT LAB IN MADRID. WE DISCUSSED MULTIPLIER AND HUB EVENTS AS WELL AS FUTURE AMBITIONS. ONE OF OUR VOLUNTEERS: ANN-KATHRIN FROM GERMANY, WAS PRESENT TO EXPLAIN HER ACTIVITIES RELATED TO SUPPORTING CLIENTS WITH LIMITATIONS THAT SHE WORKS WITH. SHE HELPS THEM WITH DIFFERENT DIGITAL ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS CREATING A CV ON THE COMPUTER, IMPROVING TYPING SKILLS AND MAKING PRESENTATIONS ON CANVAS AND WITH POWERPOINT. SHE ALSO LEARNS A LOT FROM ONE OF THE CLIENTS HERSELF. THIS CLIENT IS AN EXPERT IN VIDEO-EDITING AND HELPS HER TO DEVELOP SKILLS IN THIS FIELD. IT IS GREAT TO SEE ALL THE LEARNING THAT IS HAPPENING, IN A NATURAL, EASY ACCESIBLE WAY!

SEP ANTÍA, ELEFTHERIA ZUZANA AND LUISA HAVE STARTED THEIR VOLUNTEER PROJECT.

NEW VOLUNTEERS HAVE COMMENCED THEIR PROJECTS IN BOTH ZOETERMEER AND ROTTERAM. THEIR FOCUS IS ON PROVIDING SUPPORT TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, ADDRESSING THE NEED OF INDIVIDUALS WITH LIMITATIONS, AND COLLABORATING WITH SOCIAL ORGANISATIONS. THESE ORGANISATIONS INCLUDE URBANG GARDENS, A PRIMARY SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY CENTERS. THE VOLUNTEERS ARE DEDICATED TO MAKING A POSITIVE IMPACT IN VARIOUS FACETS OF THESE COMMUNITIES, FOSTERING INCLUSIVITY AND CONTRIBUTING TO THE WELL-BEING OF THOSE THEY SERVE.

AUG TAISIA IS DOING A SHORT TERM PROJECT ON PHOTOGRAPHY

TAISIA, AN ENTHOUSIASTIC ITALIAN VOLUNTEER, IS CURRENTLY ENGAGED IN A SHORT-TERM PROJECT IN ZOETERMEER. IN THREE WEEKS, SHE WILL USE HER OUTSTANDING PHOTOGRAPHY SKILLS TO CAPTURE THE ESSENCE OF OUR VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES IN ROTTERDAM AND ZOETERMEER, CREATING COMPELLING VISUAL NARRATIVES THAT HIGHTLIGHT THE IMPACT OF THE WORK.

BEYOND DOCUMENTATION, TAISIA PLANS TO ORGANISE DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS TAILORED FOR CLIENTS FACING LIMITATIONS, AIMING TO EMPOWER THEM THROUGHT THE ART OF PHOTOGRAPHY.

TAISIA'S DEDICATION REFLECTS A COMMITMENT TO IINCLUSIVITY AND EMPOWERMENT, MAKING A LASTING IMPACT BY BRIDGING COMMUNITIES AND BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS THROUGH THE POWERFUL MEDIUM OF PHOTOGRAPHY. HER EFFORTS CONTIRBUTE TO THE BROADER NARRATIVE OF VOLUNTEERISM, EMPHASISING POSITIVE CHANGE WITHIN DIVERSE AND UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS. THE ACTIVITIES ARE PART OF THE EMPOWERHERMENT LAB THAT WE EXECUTE TOGETHER WITH INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS FROM SPAIN, SLOVENIA, ITALY, CROATIA, AND GERMANY.

JULY 4 MONTHS VOLUNTEER PERIOD AND THE VOLUNTEERS WHO WILL START IN THE SUMMER

FROM LAST YEAR, WE'VE INTRODUCED A NEW APPROACH FOR OUR VOLUNTEER PROJECTS. VOLUNTEERS NOW HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN 4-MONTH PROJECTS. COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE VOLUNTEER AND OUR PARTNERS, WE COLLECTIVELY DECIDE ON THE POTENTIAL EXTENSION OF THE RPOJECT AFTER ITS INITIAL FOUR-MONTH DURATION. IT OFFERS MORE FLEXBILITY AND OFFER A TAILOR MADE APPROACHED, BASED ON THE WISHES OF THE VOLUNTEERS.

AS WE STEP INTO THE SUMMER, WE ARE THRILLED TO EXTEND A WARM WELCOME TO TARA FROM IRELAND: SHE WILL START IN JULY IN ZOETERMEER. TAISIA, SARA, CHIARA FROM ITALY AND ANN-KATHRIN FROM GERMANY ARE JOINING OUR DEDICATED TEAM IN ZOETERMEER FROM AUGUST ONWARDS. ADDITIONALLY WE ARE PLEASED TO HAVE DORA JOINING US IN ROTTERDAM FROM AUGUST ONWARDS.

THIS EXPANSION OF OUR TEAM NOT ONLY BRINGS DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES BUT ALSO ENHANCES OUR CAPACITY TO MAKE A MEANINGFUL IMPACT IN SUPPORTING PEOPLE WITH LIMITATIONS THAT THESE VOLUNTEERS FULLTIME SUPPORT. WE ARE EAGER TO EMBARK ON THIS NEW PHASE AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE POSITIVE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT EACH VOLUNTEER WILL UNDOUBTEDLY BRING.

JUNE

AFTER A FULLFILLING 7-YEAR JOURNEY, OUR BELOVED COFFEE BAR THE POLKA DOT RABBIT IN THE CUBE HOUSES AREA IN ROTTERDAM WILL BE CONCLUDING ITS OPERATIONS THIS SUMMER. AS WE REFLECT ON THIS CHAPTER, WE RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO PRIORITIZE OUR ENERGIES AND RESOURCES. OUR COMMITMENT LIES IN FOSTERING THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF OUR VOLUNTEERS, AND CHANNELING OUR EFFORT INTO THE SUCCES OF OTHER SIDE PROJECT WE'RE CURRENTLY ENGAGED IN. WHILE OUR COFFEE BAR'S PRESENCE WILL BE MISSED, WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE POSSIBILITIES THAT LIE AHEAD. WE EXTEND OUR HEARTFELT GRATITUDE TO EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN PART OF THIS JOURNEY, AND WE EAGERLY ANTICIPATE THE NEW AVENUES OF IMPACT AND COLLABORATION THAT AWAIT US.

MAY EMPOWHERMENT LAB MEETING IN NL

MAY IS AN EXCITING MONTH! FROM 15 TO 17 MAY WE HAVE HOSTED THE THIRD INTERNATIONAL MEETING FOR THE ERASMUS+ PROJECT EMPOWHERMENT: SEE THE PROJECT WEBSITE FOR MORE INFO. THE MAIN PROJECT'S OBJECTIVE IS TO EMPOWER LESS PRIVELEGED WOMEN VIA DIGITAL LITERACY.

WELCOME BIANCA, MARLÉNE, MARTA II, CIAN AND THOMAS IN ROTTERDAM AND ZOETERMEER SAYING GOODBYE TO VOLUNTEERS IS ALWAYS SAD, BUT IT PROVIDES COMFORT THAT NEW VOLUNTEERS STEP IN. WE WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME BIANCA FROM ITALY, MARLÉNE FROM FRANCE, MARTA II FROM SPAIN, CIAN FROM IRELAND AND THOMAS FROM FRANCE. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU!

NOV TOGETHER WITH PARTNERS FROM GERMANY, SPAIN, CROATIA, SLOVENIA AND ITALY WE CAME TOGETHER IN DÜSSELDORF TO DISCUSS THE NEXT STEPS IN THE INTERNATIONAL PROJECT EMPOWHERMENT LAB. THE NEXT MONTHS ARE GOING TO BE USED TO DEVELOP A MOOC AND EACH PARTNER WILL FOCUS ON THE DIFFERENT DIVISIONS OF THE MATERIAL.

OCT A NEW VOLUNTEER FROM GERMANY HAS ARRIVED TO SUPPORT THE BIODYANMIC FARM URTICA DE VIJFSPRONG IN VORDEN. SHE WILL HELPOUT WITH REGULAR FARM ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS HARVESTING, MILKING THE COWS, AND WORKING IN THE GARDEN.

SEP NEW VOLUNTEERS HAVE ARIVED IN ROTTERDAM AND ZOETERMEER., 11 IN TOTAL. THERE ARE VOLUNTEERS FROM SPAIN, PORTUGAL, CROATIA, GERMANY, FRANCE, AND ITALY. WHEN SELECTING THIS GROUP MORE ATTENTION WAS GIVEN TO YOUNG PEOPLE WITH AN INTEREST IN THE SOCIAL SECTOR. AS A RESULT, MANY VOLUNTEERS OF THIS NEW GROUP HAVE EXPERIENCE IN DOING VOLUNTEER WORK IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY AND/OR HAVE A DIPLOMA IN THE SOCIAL FIELD.

AUG THE PEER EER TO PEER AUDIT PROJECT IS FINISHED AND THE END POJECT IS SUBMITTED. MAIN AIM OF THE PROJECT HAS BEEN TO CREATE DIALOGUE WITH PARTNERS IN ORDER TO IMPROVE QUALITY AROUND NON-FORMAL LEARNING. NON-FORMAL LEARNING IS AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT OF VOLUNTEERING AND LAVA LEGATO IS THEREFORE KEEN TO FOCUS ON IMPROVING THE POSSIBILITIES AND QUALITIES OF IIT. PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE FOR MOE INFO.

JULY FOR OUR 11 INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEERS WHO WILL START IN SEPTEMBER, WE ALREADY STARTED AN ONLINE LANGUAGE COURSE TO PREPARE THEM BETTER FOR THE ACTIVITIES THAT ARE PART OF THE INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER PROJECT. WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE EXCELLENT LANGUAGE TOOL DUOLINGO, WE MEET EACH OTHER ONCE A WEEK TO PRACTICE PRONOUNCIATION AND COMMONLY USED SENTENCES IN DUTCH.

JUNETOGETHER WITH CARE ORGANISATIONS WE WORK TOGETHER ON THE PROJECT EMPOWHERMENT LAB. THIS IS AN INTERNATIONAL PROJECT, THAT AIMS TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF DIGITAL SKILLS TO EMPOWER ESPECIALLY WOMEN IN CHALLENGING CIRCUMSTANCES. VIA WORKSHOPS AND PRESENTATIONS, WE WANT TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF RISKS AND OPPORTUNITIES OF THE INTERNET. THE FIRST ACTIVITIES WE ARE GOING TO ORGANISE ARE INFORMAL TALKS WITH PEOPLE TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY ARE INTERESTED IN LEARNING TO USE THE INTERNET IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY.

MAY A NEW VOLUNTEER HAS BEEN SELECTED FOR BIODYNAMIC FARM URTICA DE VIJFSPRONG: LISA FROM ITALY. SHE WILL JOIN JAANIKA FROM ESTONIA IN SUPPORTING THE BIODYNAMIC FARM URTICA DE VIJFSPRONG IN VORDEN FROM JUNE 1ST.

LAVA LEGATO GIVES A PRESENTATION ON PEER TO PEER AUDITS AT THE NETWORK MEETING THAT WAS ORGANISED BY THE NATIONAL AGENCY OF EUROPEAN SOLIDARITY CORPS. OTHER ORGANISATIONS ARE AS ENTHOUSIASTIC AS WE ARE AND ARE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN PEER TO PEER AUDITS.

APRIL THE FIRST MEETING OF THE PROJECT EMPOWHERMENT LAB WILL TAKE PLACE IN CROATIA. THE MAIN GOAL OF THIS INTERNATIONAL PROJECT IS TO STIMULATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF DIGITAL COMPETENCIES OF ESPECIALLY WOMEN IN MARGINALISED POSITIONS. LAVA LEGATO'S AIM IS TO STIMULATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF VERY BASIC DIGITAL SKILLS OF WOMEN WHO FACE COGNITIVE CHALLENGES AND THEREBY TO OVERCOME DIFFICULTIES AND AVOID RISKS THAT ARE RELATED TO USING DIGITAL TOOLS.

FEB THE PROJECT ESC 3.0: TO MAKE THINGS BETTER, HAS COME TO AN END. WITH GREAT SATISIFACTION WE LOOK BACK ON THE EXPERIENCE THAT THE PROJECT PROVIDED IN LEARNING FROM EQUAL PARTNERS IN A CONSTRUCTIVE AND ACTION DRIVEN WAY. WE WILL CONTINUE TO USE THE PEER TO PEER AUDIT METHODOLOGY TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF OUR

DEC WE SAY GOODBYE TO 11 VOLUNTEERS IN ROTTERDAM AND ZOETERMEER AFTER 8 MONTHS OF VOLUNTEERING. AS ALWAYS, THE GROUP HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN FULLTIME VOLUNTEER WORK FOR SOCIAL ORGANISATIONS IN THE ROTTERDAM AND THE HAGUE DISTRICT.

MANUAL AND WORK SHEETS OF NEW PEER REVIEW METHOD IS READY. THE WHOLE METHOD WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR FREE IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2022.

OCT THE RECRUITMENT OF ELEVEN VOLUNTEERS WHO WILL START IN JANUARY, HAS ALMOST COME TO AN END. THIS YEAR. ESPECIALLY FEMALE VOLUNTEERS HAVE APPLIED AND HAVE BEEN SELECTED; ONLY 2 MALE VOLUNTEERS WILL JOIN THE GROUP.

SEP WELCOME KLARA FROM GERMANY SHE STARTED HER PROJECT AT DE VIJFSPRONG, A BIODYNAMIC FARM. SHE WILL WORK THERE WITH VOLUNTEER SARA FOR THE DURATION OF NINE MONTHS.

AUG JEREMIAH FROM SABA ARRIVED TO DO VOLUNTEER WORK AT MONTEIRO GYM, DE BUITENHOF AND PAAL AND PERK. HE ALREADY SPEAKS A BIT OF DUTCH, AND LEARNED TO RIDE A BICYCLE IN THE BUSY CITY OF ROTTERDAM IN THE FIRST WEEK AFTER HIS ARRIVAL.

JULY WE ARE PREPARING FOR A NEW ARRIVAL: A VOLUNTEER WHO IS GOING TO WORK AT URTICA DE VIJFSPRONG, OUR LONG TERM PARTNER IN THE ZUTPHEN AREA. THE VIJFSPRONG IS A BIODYNAMIC FARM WHERE PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS WORK TOGETHER WITH HEALTH AND FARM PROFESSIONALS TO CREATE BEAUTIFUL BIODYNAMIC FOOD PRODUCTS.

JUNE THE QUEEN OF FREEDOM PROJECT CENTRED AROUND 75 YEARS OF FREEDOM IS FINISHED. WITH A GROUP OF LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEERS, WE CREATED ANIMATIONS, A FREEDOM CITY TOUR, AND THE ART OF FREEDOM CONTEST TO CELEBRATE FREEDOM.
 A NEW BOARD MEETING IS PLANNED TO DISCUSS THE FINANCIAL YEAR REPORT OF 2020 AND THE MIDTERM PROGRESS REPORT OF 2021.

MAY NEW APPLICATION FOR THE ESC QUALITY LABEL IS SUBMITTED TO ENSURE HIGH QUALITY OF INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER WORK.
WE ARE PREPARING A PROJECT THAT AIMS TO DEVELOP A NEW TOOL AND AND AN INTERNATIONAL NETWORK OF 50 PARTNERS THAT PROMOTES A QUALITY IMPROVEMENT FOCUS IN INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER & YOUTH WORK.
A NEW SET OF PEER 2 PEER AUDITS WILL BE EXECUTED TOGETHER WITH ITALIAN AND SPANISH PARTNER PORTA NUOVA AND TACC IN ORDER TO IMPROVE SENDING ACTIVITIES OF INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER WORK.

APRIL GOODBYE AND A BIG THANK YOU TO 7 INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEERS IN ZOETERMEER AND 4 IN ROTTERDAM WHO SUPPORTED THE LOCAL COMMUNITY WITH A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES.

MARCH NEW MENTOR MANUELA WILL START WITH A NEW GROUP OF INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEERS IN MAY 2021.
FEB DIFFERENT PEER AUDITS HAVE BEEN EXECUTED TOGETHER WITH THE ITALIAN PARTNER PORTA NUOVA AND SPANISH PARTNER TACC IN ORDER TO STIMULATE QUALITY IN THE PROCESS OF FACILITATING INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER WORK.

JAN DURING THE BOARD MEETING, THE YEAR REPORT OF 2020 AND YEAR PLAN FOR 2021 ARE PRESENTED. LAVA LEGATO IS READY AND EXCITED TO START THE NEW YEAR.

DEC NEW INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEERS HAVE BEEN SELECTED FOR ROTTERDAM AND ZOETERMEER. THEY WILL START IN MAY 2021.

NOV THE SELECTION HAS STARTED FOR VOLUNTEERS WHO WILL START THEIR PROJECT IN APRIL 2021.

OCT THE ROTTERDAM FREEDOM TOUR IS RECORDED AND PUT TOGEHTER BY OUR INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEERS. CHECK THE WEBSITE REGULARLY BECAUSE THE CITY TOUR WILL BE PUBLISHED ONLINE. PETER VAN HEEMST IS INVOLVED AS CITY GUIDE.

THE ART OF FREEDOM COMPETITION IS CLOSED AND THE JURY WILL DECIDE ON THE WINNERS IN TWO CATEGORIES: 18+ AND UP TO 18 AND YOUNGER.

THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL MEETING FOR THE PROJECT ESC 3.0: TO MAKE THINGS BETTER TOOK PLACE ON 12 AND 13 OCTOBER TOGETHER WITH A SPANISH AND ITALIAN PARTNER. UNFORTUNATELY WE WERE NOT ABLE TO ORGANISE THE MEETING IN ROTTERDAM AS WE PLANNED, BUT IT WAS ORGANISED ONLINE. THE RESULTS WERE VERY CONSTRUCTIVE AND INSPIRING AND WE ARE READY TO TAKE THE NEXT STEPS.

SEP NEW VOLUNTEERS FROM ITALY, SPAIN, FRANCE, GERMANY AND ESTONIA ARRIVED, AND WILL START WITH THEIR 8 MONTHS LASTING VOLUNTEER PROJECT IN THE HAGUE AND ROTTERDAM.

AUG WE RECEIVED THE KEYS FOR THE NEW LOCATION IN ZOETERMEER AND ARE DECORATING THE 8 ROOMS FOR THE VOLUNTEERS WHO WILL ARRIVE IN SEPTEMBER.

JULY OUR APPLICATION FOR A VOLUNTEER PROJECT TO HOST YOUNG PEOPLE FROM THE BES ISLANDS IS GRANTED. THIS MEANS LAVA LEGATO CAN START WITH THE PREPARATION TO INVITE YOUNG PEOPLE FROM THE CARIBBEAN WHO NEED EXTRA SUPPORT TO DO A VOLUNTEER PROJECT.

JUNE DESPITE THE CURRENT GLOBAL SITUATION WE ARE VERY HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE ARE GOING TO EXPAND OUR VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES IN THE REGION OF THE HAGUE. MORE THAN EVER, WE BELIEVE IN SUPPORTING SOCIAL ORGANISATIONS WITH ACTIVITIES THAT HELP PEOPLE IN NEED. ON SEPTEMBER 1ST A NEW GROUP OF 12 INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEERS WILL START THEIR ADVENTURES IN THE NETHERLANDS.

MAY AFTER TWO MONTHS OF A SEMI-LOCKDOWN PERIOD, OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE SLOWLY STARTING UP THEIR ACTIVITIES. THEY ARE WELL-INSTRUCTED AND FOLLOW RULES AND SAFETY PROCEDURES RELATED TO THE COVID-19 SITUATION.

APRIL START STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP ESC 3.0: TO MAKE THINGS BETTER IS POSTPONED UNTIL SEPTEMBER 2020, BECAUSE OF COVID-19.

MARCH ADJUSTMENTS ARE MADE FOR THE PROJECT QUEEN OF FREEDOM AS PART OF THE 75 YEARS ANNIVERSARY OF FREEDOM.

FEB ESPRESSO BAR POLKA DOT RABBIT IS CLOSED BECAUSE OF COVID-19.

JAN INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEERS IN ROTTERDAM FINISHED THEIR PROJECT AND A NEW GROUP OF FOUR VOLUNTEERS WILL START IN FEBRUARY

The Lava Legato Foundation carries out activities related to charities, volunteer work and work in aid of the community.

The Lava Legato Foundation focuses on three areas:

· volunteer work & informal learning

· special education

· local community

and works on social entrepreneurship to support the three focus areas.

Partners that Lava Legato has collaborated with

AGENTSCHAP NL, agency of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Innovation and Agriculture

LMC (secondary school); special education department

Olympia college (secondary school), special education department

Middin (care organization for 5.500 clients with special needs)

Arosa (women’s shelter)

Da Vinci College (vocational training centre)

and a great variety of international partners to organize international volunteer activities.

news

NOV PREDEPARTURE MEETING FOR NEW VOLUNTEERS IN ROTTERDAM AND ZOETERMEER

OKT PREPARING HOSTING PROJECT IN ANDALUSIA, SPAIN

SEPT SAYING GOODBYE TO IRIS,BIRGITA, JUSTINE, WELCOMING MONICA, CATERINA, YANN, SEBASTIEN, AND CHARLOTTE

JULY HELLO QUENTIN AND CLAIRE

APRIL LAST ONLINE MEETING EMPOWHERMENT LAB PROJECT

ON APRIL 8TH WE HAD THE LAST ONLINE MEETING FOR THE EUROPEAN PROJECT EMPOWHERMENT LAB. WE ARE NOW WORKING ON THE END REPORT AND WE AS LAVA LEGATO ARE DETERMINED TO USE THE PROJECT RESULTS TO FURTHER SUPPORT THE CLIENTS WITH LIMITATIONS THAT ARE PART OF OUR LOCAL NETWORKS.

MARCH WELCOME TO NÁYADE FROM SPAIN

WE WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME NÁYADE FROM SPAIN, WHO JOIN THE ROTTERDAM TEAM TO SUPPORT THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND WHO WILL ALSO BE INVOLVED IN SUPPORTING PEOPLE WITH LIMITATIONS AS WELL AS FACILITIES THAT SUPPORT THIS GROUP. CHECK OUR SOCIAL MEDIA TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT HER.

FEB ROUNDING UP EMPOWHERMENT LAB!

DEC WELCOME TO THE NEW VOLUNTEERS!

PATRICIA FROM SPAIN HAS ARRIVED!

A NEW VOLUNTEER: PATRICIA FROM SPAIN, HAS JOINED THE ZOETERMEER TEAM. PLEASE CHECK OUR SOCIAL MEDIA TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT HER. IN JANUARY A WHOLE GROUP WILL START IN ZOETEMEER AND WE WILL SOON PRESENT THEM!

NOV TRANSNATIONAL MEETING IN MADRID

OCT EMPOWHERMENT LAB METHOD GUIDE

SEP ANTÍA, ELEFTHERIA ZUZANA AND LUISA HAVE STARTED THEIR VOLUNTEER PROJECT.

AUG TAISIA IS DOING A SHORT TERM PROJECT ON PHOTOGRAPHY

BEYOND DOCUMENTATION, TAISIA PLANS TO ORGANISE DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS TAILORED FOR CLIENTS FACING LIMITATIONS, AIMING TO EMPOWER THEM THROUGHT THE ART OF PHOTOGRAPHY.

JULY 4 MONTHS VOLUNTEER PERIOD AND THE VOLUNTEERS WHO WILL START IN THE SUMMER

JUNE

MAY EMPOWHERMENT LAB MEETING IN NL

MAY IS AN EXCITING MONTH! FROM 15 TO 17 MAY WE HAVE HOSTED THE THIRD INTERNATIONAL MEETING FOR THE ERASMUS+ PROJECT EMPOWHERMENT: SEE THE PROJECT WEBSITE FOR MORE INFO. THE MAIN PROJECT'S OBJECTIVE IS TO EMPOWER LESS PRIVELEGED WOMEN VIA DIGITAL LITERACY.

APRIL GOODBYE NICOLE, INÊS, ALMA, EMMA & ALICE

THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT WE ALLOWED VOLUNTEERS TO PROLONG THEIR PROJECT FOR THE ACTIVITIES IN ROTTERDAM AND ZOETERMEER. AS A RESULT, SOME VOLUNTEERS STAYED AND SOME VOLUNTEERS LEFT AFTER BEING IN THE PROJECT FOR 8 MONTHS. WE SADLY SAID GOODBYE TO THE GIRLS FROM GERMANY, PORTUGAL AND FRANCE.

MARCH OSCAR AND ILJA

OSCAR AND ILJA ARE TWO NEW VOLUNTEERS WHO JOINED OUR TEAM. OSCAR WILL WORK IN ZOETERMEER AND THE HAGUE, ILJA WORKS IN VORDEN AT THE BIODYNAMIC FARM. PLEASE CHECK OUR SOCIAL MEDIA FOR MORE INFO.

FEB ANIMATIONS ABOUT DIGITAL LITERACY

JAN TWO NEW VOLUNTEERS

IRENE FROM SPAIN AND LUCINE FROM FRANCE HAVE JOINED OUR TEAM IN THE ROTTERDAM/THE HAGUE AREA. TOGETHER WITH 9 OTHER VOLUNTEERS THEY SUPPORT PEOPLE WITH LIMITATIONS AND LOCAL ORGANISATIONS WITH A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES.

OCT A NEW VOLUNTEER FROM GERMANY HAS ARRIVED TO SUPPORT THE BIODYANMIC FARM URTICA DE VIJFSPRONG IN VORDEN. SHE WILL HELPOUT WITH REGULAR FARM ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS HARVESTING, MILKING THE COWS, AND WORKING IN THE GARDEN.

MAY A NEW VOLUNTEER HAS BEEN SELECTED FOR BIODYNAMIC FARM URTICA DE VIJFSPRONG: LISA FROM ITALY. SHE WILL JOIN JAANIKA FROM ESTONIA IN SUPPORTING THE BIODYNAMIC FARM URTICA DE VIJFSPRONG IN VORDEN FROM JUNE 1ST.

LAVA LEGATO GIVES A PRESENTATION ON PEER TO PEER AUDITS AT THE NETWORK MEETING THAT WAS ORGANISED BY THE NATIONAL AGENCY OF EUROPEAN SOLIDARITY CORPS. OTHER ORGANISATIONS ARE AS ENTHOUSIASTIC AS WE ARE AND ARE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN PEER TO PEER AUDITS.

DEC WE SAY GOODBYE TO 11 VOLUNTEERS IN ROTTERDAM AND ZOETERMEER AFTER 8 MONTHS OF VOLUNTEERING. AS ALWAYS, THE GROUP HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN FULLTIME VOLUNTEER WORK FOR SOCIAL ORGANISATIONS IN THE ROTTERDAM AND THE HAGUE DISTRICT.

SEP WELCOME KLARA FROM GERMANY SHE STARTED HER PROJECT AT DE VIJFSPRONG, A BIODYNAMIC FARM. SHE WILL WORK THERE WITH VOLUNTEER SARA FOR THE DURATION OF NINE MONTHS.

AUG JEREMIAH FROM SABA ARRIVED TO DO VOLUNTEER WORK AT MONTEIRO GYM, DE BUITENHOF AND PAAL AND PERK. HE ALREADY SPEAKS A BIT OF DUTCH, AND LEARNED TO RIDE A BICYCLE IN THE BUSY CITY OF ROTTERDAM IN THE FIRST WEEK AFTER HIS ARRIVAL.

APRIL GOODBYE AND A BIG THANK YOU TO 7 INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEERS IN ZOETERMEER AND 4 IN ROTTERDAM WHO SUPPORTED THE LOCAL COMMUNITY WITH A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES.

JAN DURING THE BOARD MEETING, THE YEAR REPORT OF 2020 AND YEAR PLAN FOR 2021 ARE PRESENTED. LAVA LEGATO IS READY AND EXCITED TO START THE NEW YEAR.

DEC NEW INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEERS HAVE BEEN SELECTED FOR ROTTERDAM AND ZOETERMEER. THEY WILL START IN MAY 2021.

NOV THE SELECTION HAS STARTED FOR VOLUNTEERS WHO WILL START THEIR PROJECT IN APRIL 2021.

OCT THE ROTTERDAM FREEDOM TOUR IS RECORDED AND PUT TOGEHTER BY OUR INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEERS. CHECK THE WEBSITE REGULARLY BECAUSE THE CITY TOUR WILL BE PUBLISHED ONLINE. PETER VAN HEEMST IS INVOLVED AS CITY GUIDE.

THE ART OF FREEDOM COMPETITION IS CLOSED AND THE JURY WILL DECIDE ON THE WINNERS IN TWO CATEGORIES: 18+ AND UP TO 18 AND YOUNGER.

SEP NEW VOLUNTEERS FROM ITALY, SPAIN, FRANCE, GERMANY AND ESTONIA ARRIVED, AND WILL START WITH THEIR 8 MONTHS LASTING VOLUNTEER PROJECT IN THE HAGUE AND ROTTERDAM.

AUG WE RECEIVED THE KEYS FOR THE NEW LOCATION IN ZOETERMEER AND ARE DECORATING THE 8 ROOMS FOR THE VOLUNTEERS WHO WILL ARRIVE IN SEPTEMBER.

JULY OUR APPLICATION FOR A VOLUNTEER PROJECT TO HOST YOUNG PEOPLE FROM THE BES ISLANDS IS GRANTED. THIS MEANS LAVA LEGATO CAN START WITH THE PREPARATION TO INVITE YOUNG PEOPLE FROM THE CARIBBEAN WHO NEED EXTRA SUPPORT TO DO A VOLUNTEER PROJECT.

MAY AFTER TWO MONTHS OF A SEMI-LOCKDOWN PERIOD, OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE SLOWLY STARTING UP THEIR ACTIVITIES. THEY ARE WELL-INSTRUCTED AND FOLLOW RULES AND SAFETY PROCEDURES RELATED TO THE COVID-19 SITUATION.

APRIL START STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP ESC 3.0: TO MAKE THINGS BETTER IS POSTPONED UNTIL SEPTEMBER 2020, BECAUSE OF COVID-19.

MARCH ADJUSTMENTS ARE MADE FOR THE PROJECT QUEEN OF FREEDOM AS PART OF THE 75 YEARS ANNIVERSARY OF FREEDOM.

FEB ESPRESSO BAR POLKA DOT RABBIT IS CLOSED BECAUSE OF COVID-19.

JAN INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEERS IN ROTTERDAM FINISHED THEIR PROJECT AND A NEW GROUP OF FOUR VOLUNTEERS WILL START IN FEBRUARY

DEC BOARD MEETING TOOK PLACE TO CLOSE THE YEAR 2019 AND TO PRESENT THE 2020 PROGRAM

NOV PREPARATION OF NEW PROJECT STARTS AS PART OF THE CELEBRATION OF 75 YEARS OF FREEDOM IN THE NETHERLANDS SINCE WO II

SEP NEW INTERESTING SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR PROJECT COMING UP.

JULY BOARD MEMBER JESSIE BACK FROM ACTIVITIES IN THE CARIBBEAN AFTER 4,5 YEARS.

MAY NEW GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS START IN ROTTERDAM.

MARCH NEW DESIGN OF GARDEN SQUARE IN FRONT OF THE POLKA DOT RABBIT TOGETHER WITH OTHER LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS.

The Lava Legato foundation is active since 2001. Are you interested in activities that we did before? Please get in touch witth us.