MARCH  HELLO TO MAYA AND CLÉMENCE

SAYING GOODBYE TO VOLUNTEERS ALSO MEANS WELCOMING NEW ONES. MAYA AND CLÉMENCE ARE THE NEW VOLUNTEERS AND THEY ARE BOTH FROM FRANCE. THEY BOTH STARTED THEIR PROJECT AT URTICA IN THE BEGINNING OF MARCH. THE LONG CYCLE TOURS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY NEED TO GET USED TO, AS WELL AS THE PHYSICAL FARM WORK,. AFTER THE FIRST WEEKS, THEY LOVE THE FARM AND THE WORK, SO THE SIGNS ARE GOOD THAT THERE IS A GOOD MATCH! 

FEB  GOODBYE TO QUENTIN AND CLAIRE; WELCOME TO MAYA AND CLÉMENCE FROM FRANCE

TIME FLIES! QUENTIN AND CLAIRE ALREADY SAY GOODBYE AGAIN. WITH PAIN IN OUR HEART WE SEE THEM LEAVE! BUT THERE IS NOT MUCH TIME FOR SORROW! WE NEED TO PREPARE OURSELVES TO WELCOME THE NEW ONES WHO WILL ARRIVE ON MARCH 1ST!

JAN  WELCOME TO NOA, JESSICA, NAOMIE, ANNAËLLE, ISABELLA AND ANUSHYA

WE ARE READY FOR A NEW START OF THE YEAR: NEW VOLUNTEERS WILL START IN ROTTERDDAM AND ZOETERMEER, WITH THE MAIN FOCUS ON SUPPORTING CLIENTS WITH DIFFERENT FUNCTIONALITIES. 

'25

'24

DEC THERE ARE MANY GOOD VOLUNTEERS!

THIS IS THE ONLY CONCLUSION WE CAN DRAW FROM WORKING WITH GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE JUST SPENT 8 MONTHS IN ROTTERDAM AND ZOETERMEER. THIS TIME ALL VOLUNTEERS HAD A BACKGROUND IN PSYCHOLOGY, SOCIAL WORK OR NURSERY. THIS ADDED A SPECIAL DIMENSION TO THE SUPPORT THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE! THANK YOU SO MUCH LUCREZIA, GIUDITTA, BERNHARD, CONSTANZA, NÁYADE, AND SERENA. 

NOV  PREDEPARTURE MEETING FOR NEW VOLUNTEERS IN ROTTERDAM AND ZOETERMEER

IN JANUARY 2025 NEW VOLUNTEERS WILL ARRIVE IN ROTTERDAM AND ZOETERMEER. WE FINISHED THE SELECTION AND IN NOVEMBER WE HAD THE FIRST PREDEPARTURE MEETING TO INFORM THE NEW VOLUNTEERS ABOUT ALL THE STEPS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN PRIOR TO ARRIVAL. IN DECEMBER A NEW PRE-DEPARTURE MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE THAT WILL MAINLY FOCUS ON THE DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO OFFER TO THEM. 

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!

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

WE SADLY SAY GOODBYE TO IRIS, BRIGITA, AND JUSTINE: WONDERFUL VOLUNTEERS WHO LEFT AT THE END OF AUGUST TO MAKE ROOM FOR MONICA AND CATERINA FROM ITALY, CHARLOTTE FROM GERMANY, AND YANN & SEBASTIEN FROM FRANCE. THEY WILL AL BE LOCATIED IN ZOETERMEER AND WILL SUPPORT ORGANISATIONS IN ROTTERDAM AND THE HAGUE.

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.

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!

WE ARE ROUNDING UP THE EMPOWHERMENT LAB PROJECT  AN INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION BETWEEN CROATIA, SPAIN, ITALY, SLOVENIA AND GERMANY. OUR FOCUS HAS BEEN TO WORK EMPOWER PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ANF PHYSCIAL CHALLENGES IN DEVELOPING DIGITAL SKILLS TO EMPOWER THEM, IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEERS. 

'23

DEC  WELCOME TO THE NEW VOLUNTEERS!

AT THE END OF THE YEAR WE BID FAREWELL TO OUR VOLUNTEERS ANN-KATRHIN, LIESBETH, ELEFTHERIA, ANTIA, AND CHIARA AND NOW WE ARE WELCOMING FIVE NEW VOLUNTEERS! THEY WILL ALL BE LOCATED IN ZOETERMEER: ANABEL FROM SPAIN, ANTHINEA AND JUSTINE FROM FRANCE, BRIGITA FROM SLOVENIA, AND JULIA FROM GERMANY. WE HOPE THAT THEY WILL ENJOY THE ACTIVITIES THAT WE OFFER, PRIMARILY FOCUSSING ON SUPPORTING PEOPLE WITH LIMITATIONS. 

 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

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!

OCT EMPOWHERMENT LAB METHOD GUIDE

IN OCTOBER THE DIFFERENT PARTNERS OF THE EMPOWERMENT LAB PROJECT IN SPAIN, CROATIA, ITALY, SLOVENIA, GERMANY AND THE NETHERLANDS HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD TO PUT TOGETHER THE METHOD GUIDE. IT COVERS TOPICS SUCH USING NON-TECHNICAL LEARNING METHODS, EMPOWERING WOMEN AND SUPPORTING PEOPLE WITH LEARNING CHALLENGES. SEE OUR WEBSITE ABOUT THE PROJECT AIMS AND RESULTS  (ONLY IN DUTCH).  

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!  

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

LAVA LEGATO IS WORKING ON ANIMATIONS ABOUT DIGITAL LITERACY. TOGETHER WITH PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL AND MENTAL LIMITATIONS, THE FOUNDATION CREATES VIDEOS TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF WOMEN IN PARTICULAR ABOUT USING DIGITAL DEVICES AND BEING ACTIVE ONLINE. THE ACTIVITIES ARE PART OF AN INTERNATIONAL ERASMUS+ PROJECT CALLED EMPOWHERMENT. 

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. 

'22

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 

'21

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. 

'20

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

'19

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.

'18

DEC END OF THE YEAR  BOARD MEETING OF THE LAVA LEGATO FOUNDATION . WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT YEAR CONTINUING WITH CURRENT PROJECTS AND INTERESTING NEW ONES. 

OCT LAVA LEGATO  PRESENTS THE  SOCIAL BUSINESS IDEAS DURING THE FINAL YSE MEETING FROM 1 TO 4 OCTOBER IN ANDUJAR, SPAIN. 

AUG THE EVS VOLUNTEERS IN ROTTERDAM ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THE YSE PROJECT. THE WORKSHOPS BRING A LOT OF GREAT SOCIAL BUSINESS IDEAS ON THE TABLE.

APRIL ESPRESSO BAR THE POLKA DOT RABBIT IS BORN. CHECK THE INSTAPAGE

LAVA LEGATO HOSTS THE SECOND MEETING FOR THE YSE PROJECT 2-5 APRIL IN ROTTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS. 

MARCH IT'S A WRAP! SEVEN YEARS  AFTER FOUNDING THE ROTTERDAM FRUIT PRESERVE WE TRANSFER THE SOCIAL BUSINESS TO THE SOCIAL DELIGHT FOUNDATION.