The Solidarit Mission Statement

Solidarit is humanitarian and social awareness activities run by trainees of the European Union Institutions.

The Solidarit Mission The Solidarit Mission is to support and provide opportunities for trainees of the EU Institutions to: Do practical humanitarian and positive social activity in our communities Increase awareness of humanitarian and social issues, and Raise resources to help humanitarian and social issues The Solidarit Values
Solidarit is inspired by a spirit of humanitarian and social consciousness and action. It supports and is directed by EU and Internationally recognised values. Solidarits operational values are: Respect for the individual; People-Centred Service; Integrity; Commitment and Accountability; Trust; Leadership and Teamwork; Transparency and being Impact Focussed.i

The Solidarit Vision

To facilitate accessible opportunities trainees of the EU Institutions to combine their energies to do simple good deeds to help others in their free time. It aims to make small humanitarian and social actions more accessible and encourages the use of each persons skills and gifts to help others under the principle that every small action makes a difference in more ways than one. Through supporting and helping to provide the above opportunities and through trainees being involved together in benevolent humanitarian and social activities, Solidarit hopes to make a positive difference in our world and, essentially, to foster a spirit of humanitarian and social consciousness and action within and amongst the current, and future leaders and policy-makers gathered at the EU Institutions.

The Solidarit Strategy

1. Solidarit is non-profit and non-political and is owned, utilised and maintained by the trainees of the European Union (EU) Institutionsii. It is accessible, flexible and social and based on altruism, friendship and respect. It promotes and encourages united participation and actions and the exchange and combination of ideas, energy, information and experiences from trainees of diverse cultural backgrounds for positive social impact and for the benefit of others. 2. Solidarit invites participation and hopes to strengthen and build bridges between: the staff and trainees of different EU Institutions; between the EU Institutions themselves; and between individuals and those in need. It hopes to inspire and set an example to citizens, civil society, nations and other international organisations of living universal values. It is not formally aligned with any organisation outside the EU Institutions. It may however organise and participate in benevolent humanitarian and social activities in cooperation with civil societyiii (particularly Non Governmental Organisations and International Organisations). It may also provide opportunities for former trainees and family and friends of trainees to participate in certain Solidarit activities. 3. Solidarit operates under democratic mechanisms, as outlined in its various guidelinesiv, which allow for the process of its continuous evaluation, improvement and involvement. It respects any official bodies of the EU Institutions as required. Solidarit coordinates, sustains and develops its operations through the role of the Solidarit Coordinatorsv. 4. Solidarit projects and activities are actions organised and carried out by trainees of the EU Institutions designed to fulfil the Solidarit Mission in their free time. All activities are required to: work in accordance with Solidarit guidelines; to observe the Solidarit Projects, Activities, Promotion and Funding Criteriavi; and to work with clear objectives, in a transparent and practical way and in a socially and financially responsible mannervii. Solidarit sustains and develops its projects and activities through the ongoing interest and ownership of trainees who serve as leaders of Stage Sub-Committees, Project Leadersviii, as Assistant Project Leaders and as Volunteers who are integral to all Solidarit action. 5. Practical humanitarian volunteer work in our communities: Solidarit organises and participates in practical hands-on humanitarian volunteer work in local communities. Often this is in cooperation with Non Governmental Organisations or International Organisations. 6. Increase awareness of humanitarian and social issues: Solidarit aims to find creative ways to raise awareness of humanitarian and social issues in general, but particularly amongst the trainees, and the staff, of the EU Institutions. 7. Raise resources to help alleviate humanitarian and social issues: Solidarit raises resources for two purposes. The first is to assist or raise awareness of humanitarian needs, emergencies and social issuesix. Often this is in aid of Non Governmental Organisations or International Organisations. The second purpose is the Solidarit Central Charity Fund (CCF) which is an overall fund which donates money to the EU staff association, Europe Third Worldx.

8. Solidarit provides the opportunity for positive personal and professional growth, teambuilding and morale; and for its participants to develop skills, knowledge and understanding that can be applied in their current and future endeavours, regardless of their abilities, interests and background.xi 9. Solidarit has a specific liaison process for each new set of trainees inviting ownership of its structure, information and values. Solidarit views each new set of trainees as current representatives of past generations - as such, it hopes to enshrine the legacy and promotion of humanitarian action and social consciousness in the Traineeships of the EU Institutions as the trainees potentially represent one of the most unique and continuous leadership and policy making assemblies in the world. Solidarit encourages new trainees to utilise its structure and resources to reflect their own ideals and aspirations and to build upon the knowledge, experience and progress made with humanitarian and social Projects by Solidarit in the past.xii 10. In addition to the operational values above, Solidarit is inspired by and based on the universal values of love, freedom, good and beauty and it honours and shares the values of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the European Treatiesxiii. As such, Solidarit works: conscious of the responsibility to make a positive difference in our personal and global world conscious of the responsibility to motivate and encourage others to promote harmonious environments and peace wherever they are conscious of the responsibility to bring hope, and to help provide practical opportunities through which the hearts, hands and minds of those involved can be applied with respect and compassion for the benefit of others

The operational values are elaborated upon in the Solidarit guideilnes. Solidarit hopes to continually inspire, represent and serve the purposes of the European Union, its values and citizens.

ii

European Institutions in this sense includes all EU Institutions (notably the Institutional triangle of the European Parliament, the European Council and the European Commission including its delegations and representations) and all official EU Bodies and Agencies; see see http://europa.eu/about-eu/institutions-bodies/index_en.htm.

iii

Civil Society refers to the totality of voluntary civic and social organisations or institutions which form the basis of a functioning society. It refers generally to non-profit making organisations, networks and voluntary associations. It may include universities, consumer, privacy, online democracy advocates, environmental movements, indigenous peoples' associations, organised local communities and trade unions, the formal and informal welfare sectors, community-based organisations, religious organisations delivering welfare services, occupational social work, corporate social investment and employee assistance programmes. In this instance it also includes the Offices of the permanent representatives of the member states in Brussels and the Associations Sans But Lucratif (ASBLs) and associations informally connected to and working within EU Institutions (notably Europe Tier Monde, Femmes dEurope, Give Eur-Hope and the careers association of former European Commission trainees, ADEK).

iv

The Solidarit guidelines passed onto Coordinators each Stage contain: the general principles under which Solidarit operates; the organisational structure of Solidarit and the Responsibilities and Roles performed by those involved.

Trainee(s) appointed through the Commission Association of Trainees each Commission Traineeship period who are responsible for the overall management of Solidarit of their Stage

vi

Projects, Activities, Promotion and Funding Criteria All Projects, volunteer work and humanitarian or social issues can be supported, carried out, funded or promoted by Solidarit if they are compatible with, and in accordance with: - The Solidarit Mission Statement, Philosophy and any Regulations - The Universal Declaration of Human Rights - The European Union Treaties - EU Institution policies, activities or projects - Common sense and general consensus at Solidarit Meetings

vii

Solidarit Projects and activities are underpinned by a sense of community and common humanity, aiming to bring about social change and improve people's lives, and may aim to help both local and global causes. They may also entail positive social or uplifting activities. For practical reasons, hands-on volunteer work is usually focussed on local communities in the vicinity of those involved (unless otherwise organised), awareness-raising and resource-raising activities focus on both local and worldwide interests. Stage Sub-Committees simply connect their interests to good causes and actions and all other actions are run by trainees serving as Project Leaders / Project Teams. Activites range from collecting clothes for the poor, teaching computer skills to the disabled, collecting rubbish next to a river and visiting the elderly - to organising and participating in sporting events with orphans or refugees, parties, awarenessraising conferences, concerts or even dance classes which raise awareness and resources for landmine victims for example, or others in need. They could use for example, practical, sporting, technical, artistic or social means depending on the needs, abilities or goals of those involved. In many cases, family and friends of staff and trainees may be involved in activities. Individuals from diverse backgrounds work with heads and hearts on the activity and build a sense of community and shared ownership for the benefit of others.

viii ix x

Project Leaders are passionate about their project idea and receptive to skills and ideas enhancing their vision. Such resources may be used by Solidarit Projects to achieve this purpose. Europe Third World is a charity organisation whose members are predominantly officials of the EU Institutions (plus retired officials etc) who donate a minimum 0.3% of their gross salary to a common fund which is distributed to development projects in countries of the southern hemisphere. Each Stage Solidarit donates money for a project they fund.

xi

In doing so, Solidarit aims to nurture: a place of support, acknowledgment, bonding and acceptance; opportunities to expand ones experience; encouragement for ones self expression, independence and power; and, the adventure of giving of ones self to represent and defend principles and values.

xii

Solidarit was originally set up by and for Trainees of the European Commission in 1998/99 with the aim of raising the social and humanitarian consciousness of trainees and of using their skills and gifts in order to help others.

xiii

Solidarit aspires to a spirit of kindness, courage, creativity and ownership by those involved. It seeks truth, justice and the unification of participants by a desire to make a positive difference in their world, their lives and the lives of others.