Service Volontaire International - ESC: SPJ/Le Relais

Presentation of the programmeLe Relais is a home for around 15 children who have been placed in care by the authorities. These are not typical children and their behaviour can often reflect the circumstances which have motivated their placement in the home, that's to say, different traumatisms due to the fact their parents cannot or do not take care of them as they should. The volunteer should expect to accompany the children in their daily lives (meals, taking them to and picking them up from school - but not driving, trips to the dentist, leisure activities, games, homework...). However, an important part of the service is to be able to spend some quality time individually with one or two children, to listen to them tell you about their day, to read them a bedtime story, wash the dishes with them, help them tidy their bedroom, take them to the park to feed the ducks... It's not easy to live in a children's home, but they are there to learn how to survive once they move out and have to live alone.

Local accommodationThe volunteer will have their own room in the institution and share a bathroom with a couple of kids. Meals can be taken with the staff and children, but it is also possible to cook for yourself. Any transport undertaken for the home will be covered by the project.

About the leisure activities possibleSPJ, as a supporting organisation, offers around 14 days' training in the form of 4 residential seminars spread throughout the year. We also host three one-day meetings and visit the projects at least twice during the volunteer's service. There is a mentor in the project and also an external mentor via SPJ. The National Agency also organises two residential seminars. During the seminars, there are sessions on the type of learning possibilities and also evaluations geared to enhance and develop learning. Where possible, the volunteer can attend in person French lessons as well as online.

RequirementsThe Participant profile: The volunteer should be very motivated to work with children in care and patience is an important quality. Someone who is creative and or sporty can organise such activities with the kids, but it is also very valuable just to walk beside them in their everyday lives.
Deadline: Application deadline: 30/06/2024

Extra info about the projectThe 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.

Price descriptionProjects from the european commission are free for volunteers