{"id":31097,"date":"2025-03-10T10:13:23","date_gmt":"2025-03-10T09:13:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/?p=31097"},"modified":"2025-12-01T12:17:52","modified_gmt":"2025-12-01T11:17:52","slug":"solidarity-in-action-esc-sunce-projects-as-examples-of-good-practice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/news\/solidarity-in-action-esc-sunce-projects-as-examples-of-good-practice\/","title":{"rendered":"Solidarity in action: ESC Sunce projects as examples of good practice"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Margaret Mead<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We at Sunce truly believe in this saying, because it is exactly how our organization was born \u2013 a small group of passionate individuals believed they could make a difference in protecting nature and the environment within their community. Over 25 years, we have grown into an organization that has been enabling both local and international volunteers to collaborate with us to make the world a better place. From 2016 until today, 19 volunteers <\/strong>have left their mark through the European Voluntary Service<\/strong><\/em>, which in 2019 evolved into what is now known as the European Solidarity Corps<\/a><\/strong><\/em> program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What are the European Solidarity Corps?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To understand what the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) program entails, we first need to understand the concept of solidarity<\/strong> itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Language portals offer many definitions, as solidarity is one of those concepts to which people can attach personal meaning based on their own experiences. It involves selfless help and cooperation with other people, communities, or the environment, and the conscious effort to contribute to improving existing conditions. According to the Croatian language portal, words associated with a \u201csolidary\u201d person include: tolerant, united, empathetic, socially sensitive, principled, humble, truthful, patient, reconciled, close, selfless, benevolent\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Volunteering<\/strong> can be described in almost the same way. It is at the heart of the European Solidarity Corps<\/em> program<\/strong>, which promotes volunteering as a means to strengthen solidarity within a community. This valuable European Union initiative<\/strong> allows young people to volunteer across Europe, enriching their own lives while positively impacting the communities they serve. Individual volunteering can last from two to twelve months, and at Sunce, we typically focus on year-long projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Solidarity for Green Dalmatia<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In 2021, we applied for multi-year accreditation to implement ESC projects and have since held the Quality Label<\/a><\/strong>. This accreditation allows us to run projects both as a host organization and as a coordinating organization, and it enables us to support Croatian volunteers participating in international projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every year, under the ESC program, we run the Solidarity for Green Dalmatia<\/strong><\/em> project, where volunteers help achieve the vision of a “greener” Dalmatia through volunteering and participation in solidarity-based activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The volunteering program is structured around four main activities:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Organizing and delivering educational activities aimed at creating positive change in the community.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Encouraging active engagement through the creation, development, and distribution of communication materials.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Bringing the local community together through public events (exhibitions, celebrations, the annual Split Biking Tour, etc.).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Improving existing Sunce activities and projects based on research of best practices related to environmental protection and sustainable development.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    What have we achieved so far?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The project\u2019s overarching goals include raising public awareness about the importance of environmental protection, nature conservation, and sustainable development, promoting volunteering and other core program values, and facilitating personal and professional growth for volunteers. Through multiple completed projects, we can proudly say that we have achieved these goals while positively impacting our community, and volunteers have returned home with a wealth of new skills and experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Educational activities for various age groups are usually conducted under the mentorship and presence of Sunce educators<\/strong>. Volunteers gain knowledge on topics such as composting and waste separation, marine habitats and protected species, sustainable practices like beeswax wrap-making, and more. They then share this knowledge with workshop participants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    To engage the community and encourage active participation, volunteers have also created publications such as eco-calendars<\/a>, brochures<\/a> with ideas for sustainable crafts, program and city guides<\/a>, and more. They have designed <\/strong>logos, flyers, infographics, and even Sunce membership cards<\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Volunteers have also contributed to spreading sustainable ideas, creating opportunities for young people, and promoting volunteering through articles they have written, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n