Service Volontaire International - Working with children

About the local hosting organization

ICJA - one of the ICYE founding members – was established in 1949. It is an independent organisation with links to different networks of volunteering and civil society organisations. There is a strong regional structure with 15 support groups all over the country. Most volunteers and co-workers have participated in the exchange program themselves. The national office is located in Berlin.

Presentation of the programme

Brief description and main aims:
Looking after small children aged 2 – 6 years. Supporting the development of their physical, language and social skills.

Main Activities:
Taking care of and doing activities with the children.

Volunteer's Tasks:

For the staff, it is important that the volunteer gets to know the project and the language, but it is also important that the volunteer presents his/her own country to the children. In the beginning of the exchange year, the volunteer has time to get used to everything. He/she handles small tasks like playing with the children or helping them to tidy up and to set the table. Later, the volunteer can take on responsibilities within small groups. This depends very much on the skills of the volunteer.

Local accommodation

The volunteer will live with a host family.

Requirements

The volunteer should be:

Interested in working with small children
Flexible
Cooperative
Patient
Creative
Ready to fulfil tasks in the project

Extra info about the project

Working with children gives you a good chance to learn and practice the language because the children will just start talking to you. You get to know new games, creative activities and educational methods and maybe you can also show the children games from your country. This kind of work demands a lot of patience from you and you should like to be with children and to play with them. You should also be good in setting limits for the children and sometimes say ”no” to what they want. Working in a kindergarten helps you to experience many traditional (i.e. carnival), religious (i.e. Easter) and other cultural events.
Work usually starts at 8 o’clock a.m. and lasts until 2 or 4 o’clock p.m. every week day.
Work usually starts at 8 o’clock a.m. and lasts until 2 or 4 o’clock p.m. every week day.

Work usually starts at 8:00 a.m. and lasts until 2 or 4 p.m. every week day.