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Brazil - Creche, child and youth care with homework support and organizing activities in the slums o |
Organization - This is an NGO founded in 1991 in São Paulo. The organization receives revenues from among others Switzerland. They work well and thorough with various pedagogical programs for the various age categories and problematic groups. They work according to a thoughtful plan and with vision.
Project activities - This has grown into an adult, large scale project at the edge of São Paulo., outside of the urban chaos in a more green environment near the slums. The project is committed to children from the surrounding slums. It consists of a crèche, children and youth care, an orphanage, and a home for teen moms. Children from 8 months to 18 years can go there. Besides receiving training they get good nourishment and there is medical attention. When you come to work here you will first join the different groups for a while in order to become familiar and to know at what department you would like to start. There is a sympathetic Swiss lady who guides you and there are many possibilities. Working at the crèche with the very young, homework support to students of the primary school, or secondary school. These children often go to state schools where the level is very low. Extra education, homework support and school money from the foundation give these children a chance to join the vocational education. By that they make a chance for a better future. Further you can organize all kinds of activities in the creative, game and sports field to give these children attention, improve their social skills and to withhold them from roaming the streets or the criminal realm.
What’s expected of the volunteers? - 21 years or older
- Independent and pro-active
- Speak well Portuguese (it is advised before you start to follow a number of weeks Portuguese lessons in Brazil to acclimatize and to become acquainted with the local Portuguese/Brazilian language)
- A positive, happy attitude
- Flexible and motivated
- Like to handle children
- A pedagogical or social education is an advantage but not a requirement.
Accommodation and living environment - You live in a volunteer home with 2 bedrooms at the complex. At the project is room for 4 volunteers. Throughout the week you can eat in the canteen, in the weekend you often cook yourself. Seen you live outside the city close to the favela, the entertainment is at a distance and sometimes you’re on your own. Board and lodging at the terrain is for free.
Period / duration - Throughout the year with a minimum of three months.
- You usually work eight hours a day, five days a week.
Local costs - Board and lodging included.
Experiences “The first two months I did all sorts of things, helped at the elder project, worked in the kitchen, at the crèche, and besides organized during two weeks activities for the children of the favela. The last 3 months I worked at the crèche in a group children from 2 – 3 years.”
Sylvia
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