COMMUNITY CARE & DEVELOPMENT - Enhance the lives of disadvantaged children, their families and the

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Recruiting Organization: Aldeas de Paz - Peace Villages

Aldeas de Pazoperates a Community Attention Center (CAC) in Samana where our local team consists of teachers, therapists, social workers and a pedagogue who help our beneficiaries from underprivileged communities both individually and as families. At our CAC and also through outreach programs in the neighborhoods we build community support for youth care. We provide a recreational, therapeutic and educational space in which each participant can develop their own skills through games and the arts, active participation in the community and social interaction.

Aldeas de Paz offers educational support accompanied by awareness activities on inclusion and diversity. Committed volunteers are always welcome since there is constant need for one to one attention and tutoring and sport classes (Football for Peace project). We place volunteers to assist our local team to attend our beneficiaries at the center and on home visits. Whether because of poor study habits or the lack of individualized help, in the Dominican Republic many kids struggle just to keep up. Often a student's lack of confidence is their number one obstacle, so we provide a warm fun learning environment filled with praise and encouragement. That's how our volunteers help children experience success in school.

Aldeas de Paz runs a successful humanitarian campaign and home care plan aimed for people with disabilities whose socioeconomic and health situation is threatened because of the current covid-19 health crisis which has impacted heavily on the economic and social situation of our beneficiaries and their community. Facing the current pandemic, our goal has been to bring physical and mental health, nutrition and inclusion. Now, the combination of our previous work at the Community Attention Center (CAC) and the action plan to alleviate the covid-19 caused food, health and education crisis led us to develop the Community Care & Developmentprogram.

What to expect

As a volunteer or intern In this program you will have many opportunities to be involved. You are able to choose activities which fit your skills, abilities and preferences. We are constantly adapting our activities to community needs and volunteer numbers and capacities. If you wish to specialize in a particular activity we will do our best to accommodate your personal preferences. However, you can be asked to be involved in a combination of activities. While being placed at the Community Care & Development program there are three different approaches:

• Community Social Work: Direct family attention, accompaniment, follow-up and referral of cases raised during the Covid-19 crisis
• Raising awareness and sensitize for disabilities: promote equal opportunities for social and productive inclusion and participation
• Aldeas de Paz Community Attention Center (CAC) in Samana: A space where (specially young) people with disabilities and special needs have access to the acquisition and reinforcement of knowledge, promoting their personal capacities individually and guide them to the experience of inclusion and participation

Create your own project with our support!

Additionally, volunteers have the unique chance to present and implement their own ideas and projects in Samana! Share your vision and gain our support! Please contact us and we will send you a form where you present your project for evaluation!

Activities can include but are not limited to

• Help our team with activities for special need education on individual and group level at our Attention Center and/or on home visits
• Assist with educational and social support activities
• Take part promoting activities to create didactic materials using recycling techniques
• Help prepare and lead thematic workshops (some Spanish skills are helpful)
• Help design and edit multimedia content
• Assist with direct attention, monitor and accompaniment of users to other goods and services
• Learn how to identify individual/family/community needs
• Help with case studies and Intervention to assess development and methodology
• Assist with recreational, developmental and therapeutic activities for children and young adults with special needs
• Assist children and spend time with them, playing, organizing, teaching and doing craft activities, singing and dancing
• Assist our team with youth, family and community development activities and engaging support for parents & caregivers on home visits. (some Spanish skills are helpful)
• Help promote the educational and social inclusion process for people with disabilities
• Attend weekly meetings with other volunteers and staff to create weekly lesson plans and educational projects
• Help organize special events like fundraising parties, cooperating with other organisations and supporting community activities when help is needed
• Assist organizing and leading intercultural events and regular meetings for locals and volunteers with cross-cultural activities fostering exchange and integration (some Spanish skills are helpful)
• Plan and execute workshops on disability and related topics based on the characteristics and needs of target groups (advanced Spanish skills are needed)

Program Highlights

• Experience the Dominican style of live and chill by the rhythm of Caribbean music!
• Gain Spanish fluency with the help of our free Spanish classes and share daily life with locals
• Become more passionate about your studies and propel your career with international experience!
• Make memories you never forget during weekend excursions with your fellow participants!
• Enjoy the gorgeous beaches of Samana, climb the mountain peaks of pico Duarte and visit historical sites in Santo Domingos' colonial town!

Requirements

No previous experience or special skills are required but basic Spanish language skills are very helpful. However, all that is truly necessary is enthusiasm, self-reliance, patience and an open mind. Nevertheless, volunteers that already have experience in teaching, working with children or working with people with various challenges are strongly encouraged to apply. We welcome individual volunteers, families and groups regardless of age, experience or background. Basic Spanish skills are helpful, but an advanced level of Spanish experience will open up more opportunities. We provide free Spanish classes on a regular basis, full support and 24/7 backup. An ideal volunteer is proactive, result-focused but still patient and willing to engage in activities autonomously while still having our support and supervision. You are welcome to bring some arts & crafts materials

Volunteer placement or apprenticeship

You can join this program as a volunteer or apprentice. That's up to you! As a volunteer you are free to commit any number of hours per week. That's up to you! As an apprentice however you probably have to fulfill requirements set by your school or university. Please inform us of your school or university requirements in advance so that we can work out your personalized work plan together. Also tell us about your personal expectations and goals. We are happy to give students academic credit or provide a report outlining the learning outcomes and deliverables achieved during the placement.

Availability

This program is ongoing throughout the whole year

Time Commitment

A minimum time commitment of 2 weeks is required and can be extended up to one year

Placement Location

Samana

About your Placement Location

The Aldeas de Paz Foundation headquarters are located in the villages of Samana and las Terrenas, located at the heart of Samana province and peninsula in the north-eastern corner of the Dominican Republic. These villages with about 15000 inhabitants are very peaceful and safe and are constituted by a community with a strong sense of social responsibility. The people themselves consider their towns very safe, there is no more crime here than in any average small European town. The Dominican Republic's countryside as a whole is very peaceful, and certainly one of the safest regions in the Caribbean.

Travel Logistics

The Foundation will do everything to make sure our volunteers remain safe during their arrival and stay in the Dominican Republic. On arrival at the airport you will be welcomed by our english speaking driver who will help you personally during your transit from the airport to the bus terminal granting you peace of mind and tranquillity. The driver will purchase your bus ticket while you catch the direct and comfortable bus to Samana, your placement location. Travel-time on the bus is two hours only. On arrival at the placement location, fellow volunteers and our Staff will welcome you and bring you to your accommodation.

Financial Contribution & Benefits

Aldeas de Paz works hard to keep the required financial contribution to an absolute minimum and offers financial transparency by practicing an open book policy. We encourage longer stays, recognizing that longer stays lead to more productive volunteer work, whereby more energy and time is donated in place of money! We offer free Spanish language classes, a double room at one of our fully equipped guesthouse apartments, personal airport welcome, pick-up & transfer to the bus, bus fare and free transfer to your placement location in Las Terrenas or Samana. If you wish a single room upgrade add €50 per week and an all in Host Family homestay upgrade is €150 per week, including a private bedroom and two meals per day.

What is included

• Volunteer or Internship placement
• Personal airport welcome, pick-up & transfer to our location
• Fully equipped Accommodation, free WiFi & and laundry
• Placement introduction, supervision, certificate, student credit
• Free regular Spanish lessons throughout your placement
• Full support and 24/7 backup from local staff
• Information about adventure packages & in-country travel

Special Offer

Volunteers and interns receive free language lessons throughout their placement duration. Classes focus on developing four basic communication skills: listening, comprehension, speaking, reading and writing. Students are encouraged to speak Spanish right from the very first day, using it in typical real-life situations as soon as they step outside the classroom where learning continues as they are immersed in the Spanish language and the Dominican culture.

Covid 19

Our primary responsibility is the well being of our volunteers, our staff, our beneficiaries and of everyone involved in our programs. The Covid 19 health situation in the Dominican Republic is managed quite well and precautionary measures are very dynamic, similar to European and international standards. Traveling to and from the Dominican Republic is possible without difficulty. Aldeas de Paz is completely operational - all our programs are active! For extra peace of mind we offer a free flexible travel date change. We are standing by to answer any questions or concerns you might have and look forward to hearing from you!

Description Video of the program: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGXTmnEbBsA

Description Video of Our Mission & Vision: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVj9K0VDEio

Contact Information

Contact Person: Manfred Mönnighoff

Project/charity name: Fundación Aldeas de Paz

Address: Samana, Dominican Republic

Whatsapp: +1 829 7055 123

E-Mail: mail@peacevillages.org

Webpage: https://www.peacevillages.org/youth-care-community/

Facebook: https://www.facebook/AldeasdePaz

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/AldeasDePaz

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AldeasDePaz

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/Peacevillages

Stipend ProvidedFalse

Training Provided

Housing Available

Language/Cultral Support Available

Wheelchair AccessibleFalse

Fee Required

Fee Amount: 1238.00

This opportunity is recurring