AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM
Fondazione Stella Polare Onlus
Catania (CT), Italy
Description
We are a friendly international community of 12-15 people that runs a social project and lives in it. We communicate mainly in English and Italian, but German, Spanish and Russian are widely used, too. The project has no religious or political colors, but its founder is a yogic monk and some of the volunteers are meditators, so for those who are interested, it will be possible to learn about meditation and yoga philosophy. Our focus is an afterschool program for kids ranging between 6 and 13 years of age who live in a disadvantage area of Catania. Our mission is provide them with a safe place where they can feel loved and cared for, as well as learn and expand their creativity and sense of self-worth. Our volunteers are here to embody healthier life choices and bigger dreams and ambitions than the ones those children can absorb from the environment they grow up in, where criminality, lack of proper education, early motherhood and rigid gender roles are often the norm.
Accommodation, food and transport arrangements
We host our EVS volunteers inside the project, in large double rooms with private showers and toilets. The kitchen and the dining hall are shared with everyone else. Cooking ingredients are provided by the project. We are against violence of any kind, hence, we only cook vegetarian food. You will get a pocket money of around 180 euro per month plus 60 euro per month for meals out. Bikes are available. The travel expenses to the project and back to your country of residence will be reimbursed according to the European Commission’s procedure. We keep our place free from smoke, drugs and alcohol.
Training during the activity
General volunteering training will be provided upon your arrival to Catania. You will also get specific pedagogical and teaching training with special attention to the local social and cultural context. During your stay here, we will have meetings to discuss your progress, ideas you want to contribute with and difficulties you are facing. You will also have a mentor ready to answer your questions and help you navigate through your doubts and difficulties.
Participant profile
We do not expect you to be a professional teacher or have experience in working with children. We have a qualified and experienced staff from which you will be able to learn on site. What we expect you to have is genuine desire to support children’s growing process, be able to offer love, patience, while also teaching them discipline and respect towards the others. Ideally, we are looking for volunteers with a vocation for teaching/educating, arts or sports. Qualties you will need: flexibility in living and working with other people, tollerance towards cultural differences, creativity in your work with children.
Activity dates
A total of 52 week(s) during the period 29/09/2024 to 29/09/2025
Activity location
Via Villascabrosa, 128, 95121 Catania CT, Italia, Catania (CT), Italy
Activity type
Individual volunteering
Looking for participants from
Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Aruba, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bonaire Sint Eustatius and Saba, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Curaçao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Territories, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kosovo * UN resolution, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova (Republic of), Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, New Caledonia, North Macedonia, Norway, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Barthélemy, Serbia, Sint Maarten (dutch part), Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, St Pierre and Miquelon, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, Türkiye, Ukraine, Wallis and Futuna
Activity topics
Education and training
Deadline for applications
Application deadline: 18/08/2024 12:00