Volunteering project „Mobility for Solidarity” - working in school and kindergarden

We are currently on the hunt for volunteers for the School and Pre-School Complex nr.11 (ZSP 11) in Krakow, 1 volunteer for the Kindergarden and 3 volunteers for the Primary School. ZSP11 is a school with about 800 students between 3 -15 years old. As a volunteer, you will mainly assist the pupils and teachers in their daily activities such as English class, library, day care room, homework and school trips. There will also be opportunities to organise your own activities and workshops. You will thus be fully and actively involved in the daily school life. The working schedule is flexible and will be adapted to your interests.

The volunteering activity is part of a bigger project called ‘Mobility for Solidarity’, hosting 13 volunteers in total. Its goal is to integrate the School and Pre-School Complex nr.11 with the Special School Complex nr.11, a school complex for students with disabilities.

⏳Duration: 10 months
?Start: September/October 2019
?Finish: June/July 2020

Recruitment process

1^st step : Please fill the application form

2^nd step: Skype interview. We will contact only chosen candidates

Training during the opportunity:

1) On-arrival training in Warsaw – Polish National Agency (6 days)

2) Mid-term training in Torun – Polish National Agency (5 days)

3) Polish language course provided by Coordinating organisation. Course will be held by professional teacher of Polish as a foreign language. 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.).

4) Additional workshops and meetings (individual and in group)

Organisation name

Zespół Szkolno-Przedszkolny nr 11

Address

Ul. Aleksandry 17, Kraków

Tasks

Volunteer will work at School and preschool complex no 11 in Cracow (Zespół Szkolno-Przedszkolny nr 11 w Krakowie). The main goal of the Volunteer activities will be supporting both pupils and staff in various activities. Volunteer will be actively involved in school and pre-school daily life.

The volunteer’s in Kindergarden tasks will include:

assisting the teacher during conducting art, music and movement classes, supporting children during classes and games
helping children during meals, toilets and afternoon naps
helping children in self-service activities (dressing, undressing, feeding).
accompanying children in walks to the garden, walks, various themed trips, events, etc.
co-organizing and / or co-conducting classes for children (educational games, sports activities, foreign language classes, music or theater, depending on the skills of the Volunteer),
implementing own ideas, such as classes about culture and language of the country of origin, conducting informal activities that bring children closer to other cultures
learning Polish language and culture by participating in a number of kindergarden activities related to religious or national holidays

The volunteer’s in Primary School tasks will include:

organizing activities for children and youth in the day care room (educational games, sport activities, activities related to music or theatre, depending on the volunteer skills),
involvement in activities conducted by other teachers in the day-care room,
leading intercultural workshops and interests circles about volunteer’s native culture, tradition, language for pupils (in their free time- before or after regular lessons),
accompanying students during different trips, events, etc.
helping the pupils with the homework
writing short monthly reports/notes describing EVS experience (reports will be published online)
preparing and organizing own mini-projects/ activities/ workshops for pupils or cooperate with the school in the preparation of campaigns, workshops, competitions, courses on the different topics (f.e: environmental issues, art and culture).
promoting European citizenship, tolerance and positive attitude towards new cultures, languages and the idea of voluntary work as well
help in organizing events of local and neighborhood range (bazaar, local picnic, Open Day

Volunteer will also have separate time to prepare for upcoming activities.

The schedule and plan of excursions will depend on group in which the Volunteer will be engaged. The schedule will be flexible due to the high number of events taking place at Hosting Organisation and current needs.

Volunteer will be supported by the coordinator from Hosting Organisation and school and pre-school staff throughout the project. Activities proposed for Volunteer will be adapted to one’s interests and possibilities of Host Organisation.

With time, Volunteer will also receive chance to introduce own workshop, that he/she will need to prepare as a part of the project with the support of his/her coordinator and teachers from Hosting Organisation and coordinators from Coordinating Organisation.

The working languages are English and Polish. However, a Volunteer is recommended to practice Polish as it is most often used in everyday work.

More about volunteering projects led by Internationaler Bund Polska:

https://ib-polska.pl/co-robimy/wolontariat/english/

MORE ABOUT THE PROJECT:

The main objective of our project „Mobility for Solidarity” implemented within the framework of the European Solidarity Corps is the common work and integration of volunteers, teachers, students, their families and the local community around the Special School Complex No. 11 (ZSS 11) and School and Pre-School Complex No. 11 ( ZSP 11) in Krakow. Volunteers will become the integral part of the local community. In the project there will participate 13 volunteers from programme countries.

The objectives of the project „Mobility for Solidarity ” are following:

Work of volunteers for the beneficiaries of the two hosting organizations: Special School Complex No. 11 (ZSS 11) and School and Pre-School Complex No. 11 ( ZSP 11) in Krakow and support in the implementation of their educational mission. In the case of the work for the Special School Complex No. 11, an additional aspect will be to support the social inclusion of people at risk of exclusion due to disability. Volunteers working with disabled students, supporting them daily, will have an impact on the students’ feeling of being a full-fledged part of the community (via f.e. trips, walks, participating in concerts and other cultural events). In addition, in both institutions, volunteers will take care to provide information about their cultures.
Promoting the idea of solidarity and volunteering. Volunteers will organize workshops during which they will reflect together with mentees about what the solidarity really is, how it can manifest itself and why it is an important element of the social life. The result of such meetings will be the joint activity of host institutions and volunteers involved.
Personal and social development of volunteers participating in the project. Thanks to the opportunity of working in a new, multicultural environment, volunteers will gain a number of new competences such as team work skills, individual work, communicating in Polish language, English and other languages that they will be able to use during the project.

INSURANCE:

Please consider that SO have to organize CIGNA insurance for volunteer. Volunteers have to be acquainted with insurance rules before arrival. If it is possible, please take with you European Health Insurance Card

TRAVEL COST:

Please consider that we can use only the cheapest way of transport: by plane, train or by bus.
Remember please that you can spend money on tickets 1 month before start of volunteer activity, not earlier.
Please keep original tickets/invoices/boarding cards as they are needed for reimbursement purposes (after your arrival volunteers have to give all documents to project coordinator).
Please make sure that travel documents include date of purchase as well.
Please send us the approximate cost of transport to Krakow and from Krakow and please do NOT buy tickets yet
As soon you know your arrival date/time inform us so we can arrange picking you up from airport/station

Travel budget for a round trip for one volunteer depends on the distance “in straight line” according to distance calculator between sending organization and Internationaler Bund Polska in Kraków, Poland.

Travel distances	Amount
Between 100 and 499 KM:	180 EUR per participant
Between 500 and 1999 KM:	275 EUR per participant
Between 2000 and 2999 KM:	360 EUR per participant
Between 3000 and 3999 KM:	530 EUR per participant
Between 4000 and 7999 KM:	820 EUR per participant

INFORMATION ABOUT LIVING CONDITIONS AND SUPPORT:

Accommodation:

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.
Volunteers will share a flat together, they usually have double rooms.
Flats are furnished and equipped with pillows, duvet covers, pillow cases and washing machine.
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). INFO: Please remember to take small photo which is needed to local transport ID.

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 31^st birthday.

Weather in Poland/Krakow:

As the weather here can be quite unpredictable, to get the best out of your Polish experience it is important to include both an umbrella and sunglasses, necessary equipment all year long, so warm clothes for winter time and some things for summer time.

During the autumn and spring the weather is often changeable – you are likely to enjoy moderately warm temperatures from April to June and from September to October, but it is also possible to see snow in April or people wearing short-sleeves in October. The weather in Poland is also characterized by transitional periods between the four seasons of the year.

The city of Kraków has a problem with smog pollution from ~ November till ~March. People who suffer from respiratory system diseases and chronic disease such as astma should consider their application because SMOG may influence them.

Mentor:

The coordinating organization provides the volunteer with a mentor’s support who will help the volunteer set learning goals and together they may evaluate them after the project has finished. Also, the mentor can help the volunteer with emergency situations, such as going to the doctor.

Contact:

Links do not work or you have questions? Please write to us: evs-ib-polska@ib.de or ib.polska.krakow@gmail.com