Project dates: 01.10.2019 – 31.07.2020 (or later, in agreement with the hosting organization)
Project place: Krakow, Poland
Deadline for applying: URGENT!
ABOUT THE PROJECT:
The main purpose of our project reACTogether is to increase the sensitivity and social involvement of project participants, stimulate them to respond together to the recognized challenges and social problems and to build a more integrated and solidarity society. Volunteers in their daily work will support the students of the Autism Center in Krakow, School Complex of Stanisław Wyspiański in Waganowice, children from Public Kindergarten No. 92 and our Foundation Internationaler Bund Polska. In project 8 volunteers will participate from: Egypt, North Macedonia, Georgia, Turkey, Russia, Germany, Spain and Hungary.
We want that the volunteers during the 10 months of voluntary service will feel that through their involvement they become an important part of the local community and feel the positive impact of their daily work and additional activities they undertake, and simply their presence and willingness to help on society and reality around them. We want to increase their sensitivity, initiative and sense of agency. We want them to recognize how important their commitment is, but also to cooperate and support each other in changing the reality around them.
The objectives of the project „reACTogether” are following:
1) The first objective of the project is the support of volunteers in educational institutions in the implementation of their educational and educational mission. Volunteers will be included primarily in the elements of the work of institutions, which will allow them to use informal ways of learning. In the Center for Autism and the ZS in Waganowice, an important dimension of this work will be supporting pupils with disabilities, often with communication problems, which will allow on the one hand to increase volunteers’ sensitivity and sense of solidarity, but also to notice the diversity that is an integral part of society. Volunteers will also prepare presentations and workshops on their countries in this way, showing a different dimension of diversity. The similarity of the experience of diversity in different dimensions of life will allow volunteers as well as students, teachers and parents to experience the sense of community.
2) The second objective of the project is to promote social commitment and taking responsibility in the local community. Volunteers through their daily work with the needy will be able to learn to recognize and respond to the needs of others. They will also have the chance to look at social support programs, activities of non-governmental organizations and grassroots initiatives in Krakow, and will be able to support these groups with their work. It will be an inspiration for them and a school to respond to the needs they perceive.
3) The third goal of our project is the personal and social development of volunteers. Thanks to work in the above-mentioned facilities we hope to develop a their sensitivity that helps in recognizing and responding to the needs of those around us. Staying in a new, multicultural environment, participants will acquire (or develop) a number of competences, including ability to work in a team, individual work, learn Polish language and culture, improve communication in English and other languages and the ability to plan and carry out a mini-projects. Thanks to the development in these areas, volunteers will strengthen their position in the labor market.
Organization description:
The Autism Centre is an educational centre comprising a kindergarten, primary school, secondary school and vocational centre for people aged between 4 and 25 with autism. During your volunteering activity here, you will have the opportunity to work in different classes, with different age groups, different stages of autism and different activities. There are 4 pupils per class to ensure a personal approach to each pupil.
Volunteer’s activity:
Your tasks will be to assist the teachers and children during their classes, which could be an art workshop, language development class, music, animal therapy, physical education, going to the swimming pool etc. Additionally, you will also assist teachers during the mealtime and with the personal hygiene of the pupils. Among other skills, you will certainly have the opportunity to develop your (alternative) communication skills as this is a very important aspect of your work at the Centre.
Volunteer profile:
Experience in work with children and youth will be an additional asset, however it is not compulsory. Good communicational skills are also and additional asset because the project is based on communication with other people. All creative skills – artistic or motor skills – can enrich the project. The same relates to computer skills. Volunteers should be open-minded and sensitive towards needs of others.
Due to the nature of the target group and special focus on work with children/young adults with disabilities, volunteer should not be afraid of disabled kids/youngsters and their reactions.
INFORMATION ABOUT LIVING CONDITIONS AND SUPPORT:
Accommodation:
a) Volunteer will be accommodated in a room in rented flat (in most cases shared with another volunteer the same sex) with access to kitchen and bathroom.
b) Volunteers will share a flat together, they usually have double rooms.
c) Flats are furnished and equipped with pillows, duvet covers, pillow cases and washing machine.
d) Internet connection /Wi-Fi is not provided, however it is possible to arrange it (prices vary from 15-30 PLN/monthly per person).
The practical arrangements (working hours, days off, holidays):
– Each volunteer will work from Monday to Friday, 30 hours per week, that is, no longer than 6 hours a day. Usually from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m
– Volunteers will have 2 days off per month (altogether 20 days throughout the 10 months project, which can be taken off monthly or all together for a bigger holiday, but it has to be discuss and agreed with host organization and coordinating org.). Volunteers have to inform their hosting organization and coordinating organization about their whereabouts (also in case of health problems/sicknesses).
– All polish holidays are also free for the volunteer (if there are no activities in host org.)
Food:
Volunteers will get money for food every month from coordinating institution (around ~350 PLN) + there may be a possibility to eat meals in host institutions. Volunteers have to do grocery shopping and cook for themselves, or eat out (more expensive option).
Pocket money:
Volunteer will get pocket money every month – 120 euro (in Polish zlotys PLN). Money will be transferred every month to volunteers.
Bank account:
We organize for every volunteer Polish bank account after arrival and money (pocket money/food allowance) is transferred to that account.
Local transport:
Volunteer will get monthly ticket for trams and buses in Krakow (including the workplace to the residence, the whole city, night buses).
Language support:
Language support will be arranged by coordinating institution. Course will be held by professional Polish as a foreign language teacher. Duration of the course depends on the length of the project. As a coordinating organization, we will provide other opportunities to practice Polish (tandem meetings etc.). Besides regular classes volunteer will be obligated to fill up test on OLS platform (system provided by European Commission) in the beginning and in the end of the project activity.
YouthCard:
It is a special edition card dedicated to people who participate in European Voluntary Service. It gives an opportunity to travel/ try out new things – all this the cheapest possible way. The card has to be given to all volunteers up to the age of 30, and is valid for one year (or until the last day before the volunteer’s 31st birthday.
Travel costs will be reimbursed up to 275 euros according to the rules and conditions of Erasmus+ programme. Visa costs will also be covered.