ARE BRITS BEHAVING ABROAD?

FOREIGN OFFICE RELEASES FIGURES ON BRITS IN TROUBLE OVERSEAS

The number of Britons arrested overseas has fallen by over 10%, according to the new Foreign and Commonwealth Office British Behaviour Abroad report.  Drug arrests have decreased by almost 20% over the past year.

Despite this positive trend, Foreign Office staff still handled 5,700 arrest cases last year with Spain and USA showing the highest figures. Drug arrests continue to be a significant problem for some countries, particularly parts of South America and the Caribbean where a high proportion of total arrests are drug related.

Ciao, my name is Paris. I volunteered through EIL on the Leonardo da Vinci programme and I had the time of my life! I spent a month in a city called Altamura in Southern Italy with a not-for-profit organisation called Link. Link engages young people in non-formal educational activities and promotes creativity through arts and media education. My project was mainly media related, but I did a little bit of everything.

I was also a guest on the local radio every week, which was always hilarious! All the people I met there were genuine people who treated me as if I was family and I can’t wait to go back on another project.

Two new programmes have been added to the opportunities available for volunteers interested in a medical / health placement.

 A project is available in Cordoba in Argentina to volunteer with orphaned and disadvenateged children. For 1 - 3 months volunteers can assist with many different tasks to support the children and staff in the centre.

Over the summer last year, EIL ran a Grundtvig Senior Volunteering exchange project. Four UK volunteers aged 50+ went to Altamura in Italy for 4 weeks to volunteer alongside Italian staff on a Summer Camp for young people. They also helped out at a 'Riding for the Disabled' donkey centre for children who have a disability . Here in Malvern and Worcester, we hosted four Italian ladies aged 50+. For three weeks they were environmental conservation volunteers working alongside local people of all ages.

EIL is urgently seeking young people aged 18 - 30 for a 2 week work placement in Hungary this June at Debrecen University Botanic Gardens and surrounding National Park. The work includes habitat conservation, propagating and re-establishing rare plant species, and monitoring bird boxes. Cultural visits are also included. This trip is just one of the Leonardo da Vinci placements that EIL has to offer young people looking to combine foreign travel with work experience. Flights, accommodation, food, pocket money and an excellent support structure are all paid for. There is no need to speak the language as all placements have English speaking staff and language training is included. For more details please contact Lauran Jones on 01684 562577 or email her at l.jones@eiluk.org.