SMART Volunteering_Learner Pack- NGOs

that can be gained while volunteering and help improve the chances of migrant women to achieve better integration in their host-countries were determined. The interviews included questions regarding the main challenges and opportunities for migrant women when volunteering and how to find the right volunteering opportunities so female migrants can gain valuable work experience. This way, the challenges in hiring volunteers and national perception of volunteering in each partner countries were identified. The main findings were:  The legal framework on volunteering varies in partner countries. In some of them, law clearly defines volunteering, while there is no legal framework on voluntary work in other countries.  NGOs agree that volunteering is helpful for migrants and refugees but some find unpaid volunteering unfair, therefore prefer interns supported by universities.  Only few NGOs offer professional tasks to volunteers, helping acquire transferable into labour market skills. Most organisations provide informal volunteering not clearly defined with an agreement.  Volunteering is unpaid and can only be done in non-profit organisations, charities and public services. Spain is the only country where for-profit companies can engage with volunteers.  TCN women mostly volunteer to help other newcomers through interpretation & sharing information on legal-administrative system. Ethical reservations of NGOs about unpaid tasks limit the chances of TCN women for whom volunteering is the only opportunity to develop their skills.  There is a shortage of information & lack of awareness about the ‘formal’ volunteering and the advantages it might bring, among CSOs. You can find the full report on the website of the project: http://www.smartvolunteering.eu/en/news-events/22-the-volunteering-competence- framework