The association runs Gdynian Social School. This primary school as an initiative of the the group of parents and teachers who were looking for an alternative and qulity education for children with special needs. The school exist since 1990 and concenrates on a work with children sight impaired as well as with other health problems. Healthy children are also wellcome to attand the school and experience school life in a differenet than in public schools athmosphere. The entire building and teaching methods are subordinated to the specific needs of children who would not be satisfied elsewhere. It is a small institution (160 pupils) for children from the 1st till 8th grade (6-15 years old), where we work on the relations between younger and older kids, kids and teachers as well as a triangle of relations between teachers, kids and parents. The school is run as part of an NGO, which is of great importance because apart from the framework program, the teacher and parents join in all the extra classes. All optional classes from 14 to 17 are an additional initiative within the association. Parents share their passions and professional experience after lessons as part of their faculties. Teachers often (aa well as parents) join in by conducting additional classes and taking part in various actions (social campaigns, charity campaigns, school events). The minimum of the school program is implemented, and the rest of the working schedule is filled with the optional classes implemented by trainers and parents. They are focused on development, cooperation and discovering passions. Children with sight impairments are covered by typhlological care, help in educational struggles and supporting visual-auditory coordination. However, these children still need extra time devoted to them, supporting them, playing together and integrating. Therefore, we have a lot of extracurricular activities, like volunteering club, meetings with "interesting people", intercultural education workshops etc.

The Social School is run by the association to introduce alternative methods of education. It focuses on working with kids also with special needs e.g. children with sight impairment, autism and other disorders or health problems. It is a small institution for 160 pupils 6-15 years old. We work in small groups of around 10-15 pupils. You will work in a group of 3 volunteers from different countries under the supervision of the school’s pedagogist. You will create integration and energizing games for kids, organize workshops, help teachers during the classes, work with kids with special needs, organize charity events, teach languages etc. All depend on your skills and interests! We are searching for a person who can stay with us for min 10 months, preferebly 12 🙂

Volunteer will be provided with monthly pocket money and tickets for buses to go to work. Volunteer will share a room with another volunteer in a rented flat. Gdynia ESC volunteers live in a few flats in different districts of the city and work in more than 10 different locations (libraries, NGOs, neighbourhood centres etc). Together with their mentors (local volunteers) they create a large, international and lively community of around 35 young people.

Volunteer is obliged to participate in training provided by National Agency (On-arrival training and Mid-term training) as well as trainings run and and organized by supporting and lead organization.

The Participant profile: We are looking for the volunteers who: belive that education is everyday experience through having fun and being together; percesive education as a tool of change in the organization of society; percesive education as a development of passions; like to be in close contact with people; are creative, independent, patient; search for new inspiration and methods in education; are residents of EU or Eastern Europe and Caucasus country. If you are interested in the activity, please check all info at https://cwm.org.pl/wolontariat-miedzynarodowy/556 and apply with the on-line application.
Deadline: 20/07/2025 23:59

The project is implemented under the European Solidarity Corps Programme, financed by the European Commission.
The participating organisations have to be mindful of these needs as they are responsible for providing a respectful and trusting hosting environment. At the same time, the organisations participating in the initiative devote a great deal of time, energy and resources to set up a high-quality activity; they should therefore expect that European Solidarity Corps participants show a similar level of respect for the local communities and the people that are directly concerned by the activities (https://youth.europa.eu/solidarity/mission_en).
What do we provide ?

• Training before and after the project
• Health insurance during your project
• round-trip travel reimbursement
• accommodation and food
• pocket money
• language course
• Return Week-end
• Youth Pass and SVI international Volunteer passport

Before applying for this volunteering project, you need to enroll yourself at European Solidarity Corps Platform (https://europa.eu/youth/solidarity_en) and specify your European Solidarity Corps Participant Number (PRN).
This organisation holds a European Solidarity Corps Quality Label.
Contact the ESC coordinator at +32 2 888 67 13 to get more informations.