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Supported by Erasmus + Programme

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Open Digital Europe

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Out of the Box International develops a tailor made open data model and policies based on open digital environment which is transparent, accountable and secured.

Social Businesses

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Out of the Box International works with already existing hubs, various local and national stakeholders and social entrepreneurs in order to further develop and promote successful social entrepreneurship policies and practices.

Solidarity Europe

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Out of the Box International delivers expertise in the field of cohesive policies by using cross-sectorial approach and non-formal  education, in a global perspective.

European Project

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Out of the Box International  works further to enhance current cooperation in South East Europe region and actively supports the integration of all European countries in common European project.

V-CALC Platform is Out of The Box Now!

January 18, 2024

Dear audience, the V-CALC Platform is finally launched!! We are thrilled to present here the freshly baked outcomes of the Platform Testing Session carried out by us, OTB International, aimed at enhancing the V-CALC Platform’s user-friendliness and coherence.

First of all, we would like to introduce you to the V-CALC project. V-CALC was conceived to tackle the prevailing issue of a lack of standardised methodology for measuring the impact of volunteer involvement across nations on a European scale. Our mission is to develop a user-friendly online platform that efficiently gathers data about volunteer engagement, volunteer impact and volunteers themselves. Throughout the project, volunteer managers and coordinators will undergo comprehensive training on utilising this innovative platform.

Importance

This report serves as a comprehensive overview of the V-CALC Platform Testing Session. Fifteen enthusiastic youth workers from diverse organizations across Europe participated in the session, registering and navigating through the platform for the first time. The primary objective was to refine the user experience and ensure the seamless functioning of the V-CALC Platform.

Methodology

Out of The Box International conducted the data collection through evaluation questionnaires during the V-CALC Platform Testing Session. In an engaging online Zoom meeting, participants were introduced to the V-CALC Project, registered on the platform, and role-played as both volunteer coordinators and volunteers. Their queries were addressed in real time, and their valuable insights and suggestions were carefully recorded. The subsequent evaluation questionnaires provided crucial data about their user experiences.

Main Findings

The insights gathered during the testing and subsequent participant feedback have provided invaluable recommendations for enhancing the V-CALC Platform user experience.

  1. Clarification Needed: Participants highlighted the need for further clarification in certain indicators. A suggestion was made for a pop-up window to provide clarity on confusing items, such as “Volunteer Beneficiaries” and “Final Beneficiaries.” A concise description of technical terms would greatly enhance user understanding.
  2. Economic Impact Calculation: There is a desire for the platform to include the ability to calculate economic impact through hourly wages and input on the number of hours volunteered.
  3. Objective Setting: Participants suggested setting additional empty lines to establish more objectives for organizations or pre-establish more objectives.
  4. Enhanced Measurement Tools: Participants expressed the need for more and varied ways to measure decarbonization and energy impact in general.

Next Steps

The feedback from the Platform Testing Session is crucial for the quality assurance of the platform, and the project consortium is already working diligently to implement the suggested enhancements. We are committed to ensuring that the V-CALC Platform becomes a valuable tool for organizations, volunteers, and policymakers alike.

Thank you to all the enthusiastic participants for their cherished input. Together, we are making a significant impact on the world of volunteerism!

Stay tuned for more updates on the V-CALC Project and our Out of The Box youth work!

 

 

Why Out of the Box International

The seemingly ever-lasting depression of European economies has shaken the very foundations of many European societies. The shear rate of unemployment in Europe and the omnipresent environmental crisis coupled with the often frustratingly slow process of decision making in the EU, are calling for civil society actors to step in and fill the void.

In the aftermath of the 2008. economic crisis, the apprehension of falling under the spell of apathy of economic depression across the continent has not been easy to shake off. However, pinpointing the culprits for the current state of affairs on any particular EU decision maker is not the answer. Nonetheless, the fact remains that the current approach to the economic and environmental crisis hasn’t yet shown the affected citizens the light at the end of the tunnel.

As representatives of the civil society we feel the need to make our voice heard in the midst of the current debate on economic crisis. Being a social enterprise we offer new and feasible ideas in education and community work, creative cross-sectorial cooperation among different actors and strong networking coalitions to turn these dire economic challenges into possibilities through social entrepreneurship initiatives which aim at benefiting wide range of citizens, particularly vulnerable groups and those affected by the economic crisis.

Social entrepreneurship is a simple concept that has been put into practice by civil society actors for the benefit of a specific social group or people, and this is precisely what we want: to create projects and initiatives with fresh ideas in different policies, educational programs or tools, support businesses, empower cultural initiatives and offer different solutions to individuals, corporate bodies, everybody who believe that we can have more Creative, Innovative and Cohesive Europe.

 

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