Lee la experiencias de nuestra voluntaria

Experiencia de Carmen como voluntaria en República (1)

Carmen en República Checa en proyecto sobre discapacidad (2)

Carmen en República Checa como voluntaria en un centro de mayores (3)

Dates

1 st October 2018 – 31 st September 2019

Places

4 volunteers from Building Bridges

Location

Some towns and cities of Moravian-Silesian region of the Czech Republic

Hosting organisation

Who are we?

“Bringing light into life of the needy.” – Our motto

Our name is Diakonie and we are a non-governmental and non-profit organisation residing in Český Těšín in the Czech Republic. Our organisation is based on the Christian values and we are one of the biggest providers of social services in the area of Moravian-Silesian region. We also provide services in fields of health and education.

We provide the above mentioned services to people in need and we strive to help children and adults with mental and physical disabilities, socially excluded youth and families, elderly people, members of minority groups, people without home, and others who have been caught in various difficult situations of life.

In 2005, we became a coordinating organisation in the EVS framework and established our International Voluntary Year programme (INVY). In the course of time, we developed partnerships with other organisations that provide social services in our region. Since then, almost 100 volunteers contributed to these services and brought light into life of their users.

What is our project about?

Our EVS project for 2017/2018 is called International Voluntary Year – Explore and Inspire Yourself and Others! This project was written for a total of 30 volunteers from Austria, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, and Ukraine. Volunteers will be hosted by 21 hosting organisations that are located in Moravian-Silesian region of the Czech Rep.

The project is following a ten year long tradition of INVY in our organisation and partner organisations throughout the Moravian-Silesian region of the Czech Republic. Our projects aim to provide additional support to the users of our services, and to provide a chance for and support of learning and development of young people – you.

For many of our users, an international volunteer is one of the best (if not the only) chances to get to know a different country and culture with all their specifics. And for our volunteers, it is an opportunity to grow, develop, learn more about themselves and others, and explore different countries, cultures, and customs.

EVS project of our future volunteers will start on 1^st of September and will take place until 31^st of August. The project is written for 30 volunteers and it has already been approved. Volunteer’s will perform their service in various centres which provide social services to various people that are in need (all the centres and their descriptions are here). In the project will participate volunteers from Italy, Germany, Hungary, Ukraine, France, possibly Romania, and if it will work out, you. Volunteers will perform their service at our placements in towns and cities of Moravian-Silesian region of the Czech Republic (see the map with marked cities where volunteers live/perform the service). Some projects are in some distance from accommodation (approx. 30 minutes by bus), this  would be specified when we´d be suggesting particular placement to a particular volunteer (as well as other practicalities). As far as number is concerned, we would like to host 3 Spanish volunteers from Building Bridges.

What are the positions about?

Benjamín

Place of accommodation Town of Krnov + basic orientation map

Benjamín day care centre focuses on work with adults with mental and multiple disabilities (mental disabilities combined with physical or vision impairments, epilepsy, etc.). The mission of the centre isto provide support to its users so they can live an active life. The centre also focuses on development of skills and capacities of its users through educational, therapeutic, leisure time, and other activities.

Your accommodation will be provided in a flat on an address Jiráskova 54, 794 01 Krnov, approximately 30 minutes on foot from Benjamín. The flat has a 3+1 disposition (3 rooms + kitchen + restroom and bathroom) and will be provided for 3 volunteers.

Two volunteers will have to share one room and the other room will be for the third volunteer. Please, note that we reserve any changes in accommodation because of need of higher flexibility.

Your main task will be to provide individual and personal support to people using Benjamín’s services. You will support and assist them during practical activities like pottery and textile workshops, gardening or art workshop. You will accompany them during experiential therapies such as basal stimulation, canine therapy and others. You will take part in activities outside placement (trips, walks, various events). You will also accompany and assist users during activities necessary for everyday life, such as basic education, development of motor skills, memory trainings, care of one’s own body and look, and others. You will cooperate with social workers and workers in social services. You will also have an opportunity to make your own miniproject. You can find more information about the hosting organisation here under activity n. 1.

Betezda and Betania

Betezda centre is a house for people with disabilities that provides long stay living service for at about 20 users with mild and moderate mental disability. Betezda center provides accommodation and food to its users, it also provides assistance during care and hygiene, it organizes various education activities, social events, socio-therapeutic workshops, and also counselling about users’ rights. Its mission is to provide help and assistance to users in everyday situations, development of their skills and competences and fulfilling their individual needs.

Betania is a house for seniors that provides long stay living service for at about 10 elderly people. The center provides them with accommodation and food, assistance during care and hygiene, activation activities, social events, various leisure time activities, and also counselling about users’ rights. Its mission is to provide accommodation to the elderly people whose health and social situation requires help of other person and the situation is not possible to solve by the assistance of family, close relatives or other ambulatory care.

Your accommodation is something that we unfortunately cannot specify right now because it can change. You can find an address of a flat that we count on right now here. This flat is shared by three volunteers. Volunteers usually travel from Český Těšín to Komorní Lhotka by car with employees of Betezda and Betania. Journey takes at about 20 minutes.

What are the main activities?

As a volunteer you will participate in both Betania and Betezda centre ́s activities.

In Betezda you will also help with everyday activities such as serving food, providing support of users during self- service. You will assist during educational and activation activities – for example, you will accompany them to social meetings, to cinema, theatre, sport events and other cultural programmes. You ́ll help to organize social events, such as meeting of families and friends. You will have a chance to prepare some freetime activities, games or competitions for users according your interests. You will also have an opportunity to realize your own activities and make your own miniproject. You can find more information about the hosting organisation here under activity 2.

In Betania your main task will be to help users with everyday activities such as providing support during self-service, serving food, helping with moving wheelchairs, helping them dress up.

You ́ll have an opportunity to accompany them during walks. You will participate in creative workshops, play games in order to train their memory and motor activity. Moreover, you will help to organize trips and social events – Easter and Christmas meeting, open day etc.) You can also help with decoration and modification of the centre, and others.

Duhový dům

Duhový dům is a place where four types of social services are provided: day care centre, social therapeutic workshops, respite and housing services. Day care centre strives to support people with mental, physical and combined disabilities (aged 15-50) throughout various educational, manual or free time activities so they could use their talents and skills as independently as possible. Social therapeutic workshops support people with mental and combined disabilities in acquirement and development of basic work and social habits and skills on the basis of their individual needs and abilities. Users learn to be independent and self-sufficient. Duhový dům also offers respite services to children and adults (aged 5-65) with mental, physical or combined disabilities. The centre can temporarily deputize a caregiver who needs time to rest, regenerate or deal with personal affairs. Finally, it provides housing services to people with severe physical and combined disabilities (aged 18 – 50) for whom an unassisted life would be too challenging. The centre offers support in basic life competences, however the cooperation with family is very important.

What are the main activities?

Your task will be to provide necessary assistance and support mainly within different activities of day care centre and social therapeutic workshops such as art lessons, hand-craft activities, reading, work on a PC, singing, playing various musical instruments (you are more than welcomed to bring your own) and motoric activities. You will accompany users in the placement but also to different cultural and social events, trips, shops etc. Regarding sport, preparing different types of warm-up exercises will also be very helpful (e.g. ball games, morning exercises etc). If you are interested you can be also involved partly in activities of respite and housing services.

Eben Ezer

Eben Ezer is a community residential facility with social therapeutic workshops for people with mental and combined disabilities. The mission of the centre is to provide users with support in acquirement and development of social habits and skills on the basis of their individual needs and abilities.

The main aim of Eben-Ezer is to support the independence and self-sufficiency of each user and to teach them to take responsibility for some daily life activities. Eben-Ezer offers services in the therapeutic workshops for at the most 35 users a day. Most of the users are either residents of Eben-Ezer or they come from Betezda centre of Slezská dikonie. Workshops are also attended by students of the Secondary school of Slezská diakonie once a week where other volunteer works.

What are the main activities?

Your main task will be to provide support to users during work in therapeutic workshops (ceramics, weaving, art therapy, etc.). You will have an opportunity to know more about various methods of work. You will participate in activities of both, service provided by Eben-Ezer-social therapeutic workshops and community residential facility. You will accompany users during afternoon activities and leisure time activities, including sport and cultural activities and events, trips, and travels, participate in preparing various meetings, events, and celebrations. You will participate in teaching the users and supporting them during the practice of new skills (work, daily activities, etc.) You will help with shopping for the residential facility. You will have an opportunity to plan, prepare and realize activities and do your own miniproject.

Eden

The mission of Eden day care centre is to with everyday activities, such as self-care, facilitating contacts with social environment, and others.

Your accommodation will be provided in a flat on the address Riegerova 1943/11, 741 01 Nový Jičín, approximately 15 minutes on foot from Eden. The flat has a 2+1 disposition (2 rooms + kitchen + restroom and bathroom) and will be provided for 2 volunteers, you and volunteer from Effatha. Even though we do not expect any changes in accommodation, please, note that we reserve any changes that might happen.

What are the main activities?

Your main task will be to provide individual and personal support to people using Eden’s services.

You will support and assist them during practical activities like pottery and art workshops, cooking, baking and others. You will also participate in everyday activities of the centre, especially those focused on direct work with users, like helping immobile users to move around the compound, helping during meals, accompanying users during walks and various visits. You will also participate

in various events organised at the placement and outside it. You will cooperate with social workers and workers in social services. You will also have an opportunity to make your own miniproject. You can find more information about the hosting organisation here under activity n. 4.

Eden Nový Jičín

The mission of Eden day care centre is to support people with mental and multiple disabilities who need regular assistance with everyday activities, such as self-care, hygiene, mobility and communication related to active lifestyle. Basic services of Eden are: assistance with everyday self-care, assistance with personal hygiene/ ensuring suitable conditions for personal hygiene, meals supply/feeding, educational and activation activities, facilitating contacts with social environment, and others.

What are the main activities?

Your main task will be to provide individual and personal support to people using Eden’s services. You will support and assist them during practical activities like pottery and art workshops, cooking, baking and others. You will also participate in everyday activities of the centre, especially those focused on direct work with users, like helping immobile users to move around the compound, helping during meals, accompanying users during walks and various visits. You will also participate in various events organised at the placement and outside it. You will cooperate with social worker and workers in social services. You will also have an opportunity to make your own miniproject. You can find more information about the hosting organisation here under activity n. 4.

Effatha Krnov

Effatha socio-therapeutic workshops focus on work with adults with mental and multiple disabilities in such a way, to allow them to gain and maintain work habits and skills. Effatha gives its users an opportunity to spend their time in an active and enjoyable way while learning new things, meeting new people and gaining interesting experience. In the workshops, Effatha users and staff produce many interesting things like small gift items, decoration items, ceramics, and others.

Your accommodation is something that we unfortunately cannot specify right now because it will most probably change from the last year. It is possible that you will be accommodated in a flat on an address Jiráskova 54, 794 01 Krnov, approximately 20 minutes on foot from Effatha. The flat has a 3+1 disposition (3 rooms + kitchen + restroom and bathroom) and will be provided for 3 volunteers. Two volunteers will have to share one room and the other room will be for the third volunteer. Please, note that we reserve any changes in accommodation because of need of higher flexibility.

What are the main activities?

Your main task will be to provide individual and personal support to people using Effatha’s services. You will support and assist them during various therapeutic workshops like: pottery, creative workshop, textile workshop, and others. Accompanying and assisting users during various activities and events like: cooking, gardening, trips, memory trainings, relaxation activities, and others. You will also assist in preparing materials and workspace, and scheduling of the work of service users. You will cooperate with social workers and workers in social services. You will also have an opportunity to make your own miniproject. You can find more information about the hosting organisation here under activity n. 6.

Effatha Nový Jičín

The mission of Effatha workshops is to support adult people with disabilities in acquiring and strengthening their work and social skills and habits, as well as their self-sufficiency and independence. By means of work therapy, trainings and discussions, the workshops help clients to get ready for their potential participation in sheltered or standard labour market. Main objectives of the service are: maintaining and developing manual skills of users, developing their independence and social skills, helping them to overcome isolation, passivity and dependence on other people, and integrating users in common society. Effatha puts great emphasis on independence of volunteer and on her/his active involvement in work with individual clients as well as on realisation of own ideas and projects. We motivate our clients to be responsible and to fulfil their duties, we expect the same from our volunteer. Volunteer is a part of our team and that puts certain demands and expectations on him/her.

What are the main activities?

Your main task will be to provide individual and personal support to people using Effatha’s services. You will support and assist them during various therapeutic workshops like: pottery, textile workshop, basketry workshop, woodworking and others. You will also accompany and assist users during various activities and events like: cooking, gardening, trips, memory trainings, relaxation activities, and others. You will also participate in regular discussions and presentation for Effatha users on various topics (such as health, relations, rights of citizens and others). You can find more detailed description of activities here under activity number 7.

Eunika is a day care centre and an early intervention consultancy located in the town Karviná. The day care´s main objective is to provide regular service and support to children and adults with physical disabilities aged between 2 and 45, according to their individual needs, demands and possibilities. Eunika personnel concentrate their effort on helping their users to develop skills that make them more independent in their everyday reality.

The early intervention consultancy supports families and their children with disabilities from their birth to the age of 7. The purpose of this service is to ensure that the child can grow up in the family where its members possess strength, knowledge and necessary skills to deal with the special tasks related to the particular condition of the child.

What are the main activities?

Frequently, activities depend on the users and their imminent mood. Some of them want to rest and watch TV or read magazines, others prefer to spend their time more actively. You will empathically react to users’ needs and accompany them. The list of activities that will involve you: walks in the park, assistance in workshops that specialize in the production of decorative or practical items, desk games, singing or playing the instrument. Eunika offers hippotherapy and dog therapy where you will also take an active role. You should pay attention to non-communicative users and find an individual approach. About 60 percent of users are non-communicative, immobile and unable to take care of themselves. You can produce communication workbooks in an alternative language. It is also possible to be involved in an early care where most of the children are autistic. 5 times a year the centre organizes meetings for parents and their children. You will be asked to babysit during this time.

Harmonie – home for people with disabilities

Harmonie – Home for people with disabilities focuses on work with adults with mental and multiple disabilities. The mission of the home is to provide all year long support and care to people with disabilities to meet their individual needs and wishes. Workers of the home delicately support and maintain family, friendship, and partner relations of people living in the home, and enable them to use usual services (shop, hairdresser, contact with authorities, various establishments, etc.) in their usual environment.

Your accommodation is something that we unfortunately cannot specify right now because it will most probably change from the last year. Our current plan is to provide accommodation in a flat with a 3+1 disposition (3 rooms + kitchen + restroom and bathroom) for 3 volunteers.

What are the main activities?

Your main task will be to provide individual and personal support to people living in the home.

You will assist during various activities (singing, visiting shop, cooking, serving food, etc.) and you will have an opportunity to plan your own activities for them. You will also have a chance to present your country, traditions, national food, and others. You will cooperate with social workers and other workers. You will also have an opportunity to make your own miniproject. You can find more information about the hosting organisation here (the information is combined with 2 other volunteer positions) or here under activity 8.

Harmonie – sheltered housing

Harmonie – Sheltered housing focuses on work with adults with mental and multiple disabilities. The mission of the housing is to provide support to people with disabilities to such an extent, so they are able to live in regular households. Workers support the users in making their own decisions about things that concern them and they respect users’ needs and support them in their fulfilment.

Your accommodation is something that we unfortunately cannot specify right now because it will most probably change from the last year. Our current plan is to provide accommodation in a flat with a 3+1 disposition (3 rooms + kitchen + restroom and bathroom) for 3 volunteers.

What are the main activities?

Your main task will be to provide individual and personal support to people living in individual houses. You will assist during various activities (cooking, visiting shops, organising various games and sports with users, serving food, etc.) and you will have an opportunity to plan your own activities for them. You will also have a chance to present your country, traditions, national food, and others. You will cooperate with social workers and other workers. You will also have an opportunity to make your own miniproject. You can find more information about the hosting organisation here (the information is combined with 2 other volunteer positions) or here under activity 8.

Harmonie – social therapy workshop

Harmonie – Social therapy workshop focuses on work with adults with mental and combined disabilities. The mission of workshops is to provide conditions and options for people with disabilities to spend their time meaningfully and to good purpose. Workshops want to teach and improve basic work habits of their users and also support them in their independence and social inclusion.

Your accommodation is something that we unfortunately cannot specify right now because it will most probably change from the last year. Our current plan is to provide accommodation in a flat with a 3+1 disposition (3 rooms + kitchen + restroom and bathroom) for 3 volunteers. You will have to travel from Krnov to Město  Albrechtice every day for about 40 minutes in total.

What are the main activities?

Your main task will be to provide individual and personal support to people who visit workshops. You will assist them during various activities (art workshop, ceramics, and work with textiles, woodworking/cabinetmaking and others) and you will have an opportunity to plan your own activities for them. You will also have a chance to present your country, traditions, national food, and others. You will cooperate with social workers and other workers. You will also have an opportunity to make your own miniproject. You can find more information about the hosting organisation here (the information is combined with 2 other volunteer positions) or here under activity 8.

The community centre Mojska, o.s. DEN

The Community centre is a civic association, which includes a total of 5 branches in the Czech Republic and its work is based on voluntarism. Centre is visited by school children and young people from socially excluded families. Centre was established in 2007 as a voluntary initiative of the members of the Christian assembly (Krestansky sbor) and it provides services in form of different clubs taking into account users’ age and interests. Each day, the centre is visited by approximately 20 children and young people ranging from 8 to 22 years of age. On a weekly basis, the centre is visited by approximately 10 adults who take active part in various activities and clubs. There are approximately 12 volunteers involved in the centre’s activities.

Accommodation is something that we unfortunately cannot specify right now because it can change.

Volunteers usually live in the flat that is situated in the Community centre or in a flat nearby in a walkable distance from the centre. Flat is usually shared by 2 or 3 volunteers.

The aim of the centre is to provide

– social counselling, leisure-time activities and an offer for a safe background for educational and social development of the users free of charge,

– an environment of mutual trust and safety between users and the staff of the centre,

– primary and secondary prevention of socially pathological phenomena (undesirable behaviours),

– education, training and activation programmes, personality development of children and young people while respecting individual needs of single person,

– support of the centre’s users regarding their social skills, offering new opportunities, support of personal growth.

– The aim is also imply Christian ethics in the activities carried out.

What are the main activities?

Your main task will prepare and lead free-time activities for children and young people, you will have the opportunity to talk and listen to them. You will watch children during the morning club for mothers with pre-school children. Then you will work in the office and the library (photo and video processing, preparing poster, filing documents, cataloguing in the library). You will prepare your own workshop according your skills and abilities or an activity for the local community (e.g. language course – German, English, and French). You will do a bit of gardening (cutting grass, raking leaves, cleaning-up snow in winter), help by preparing refreshments for KC events followed by cleaning. You will have space to plan, prepare and realize activities and make your own miniproject.

You can find more information about the hosting organisation here under activity 10.

Rodinná kavárna

Family café is a café that focuses on families with small children aged from 0 to 6 years. The premises of the café are adjusted to this target group and so the café encompasses a spacious kid’s corner full of toys. Purpose of the café is to provide families with children a space, where the parents can rest and children play. The café employs people who deal with social exclusion from various reasons (limited capability to work due to disability, long-term unemployment, etc.). The café is also frequently visited by Slezská diakonie international volunteers in Krnov.

Your accommodation will be provided in a family house on an address Brožíkova 1102/31, 794 01 Krnov, approximately 20 minutes on foot from the café. The family house provides 2 rooms for 3 three volunteers + kitchen + restroom and bathroom, and it is inhabited by a family with 2 children who provides the accommodation. Two volunteers will have to share one room and the other room will be for the third volunteer. Please, note that we reserve any changes in accommodation because of need of higher

What are the main activities?

The main two tasks will be to provide help to the headwaiter to prepare drinks and attend customers (person with limited capability for work), and to provide (and plan) activities for children that visit the café with their parents. You will have an opportunity to play games with them, draw, make paper cut outs, and others. Help by assisting employees with cleaning will be also one of your tasks. You will also have an opportunity to make your own miniproject according to your interests  course open to the public. You can find more information about the hosting organisation here under activity n. 14. Based on the character of main activities and work of the café, the future volunteer should be able to approach children and to be proactive and initiative.

Pro bohatší život (For a Full Life) community centre is a Christian NGO that focuses on enhancing the quality of public life in terms of culture, education and personal growth. The target group of the centre are pre-school and elementary school children, as well as grammar school students and adults. The centre cooperates with schools, social care institutions, health and charitable organizations.

What are the main activities?

You will be involved in numerous activities organized by the community centre such as the language club where you can give conversation classes to children as well as general public. The community centre also runs the theatre club Mraveneček where you can help with the preparation of performances, props, games for kids etc. During the summer time the centre organizes a Fulhaus summer language camp with workshops, canoeing trip and other activities. As for the life of the centre during the week, you will prepare program for kids that visit the centre after school, you can give cooking classes, presentations on various topics, prepare posters and graphic invitations for events. The idea is to give you a chance to show your creativity and enthusiasm to work with young people. Often during the events, you will be asked to take photos, shoot videos and prepare refreshments. Other tasks might include gardening, help with cleaning after events. Many activities are group activities, you can therefore learn new skills of group leading and presentation. It is crucial that you have a positive attitude towards sport in general as sport activities form an integral part of the centre’s life.

Low-threshold centre for children and youth in the region of Město Albrechtice offers wide range of ambulatory, outreach, group and individualized activities for children and youth aged 6 – 20. The centre is focused on children and youth living in or threatened by unfavourable social conditions brought about by social conflicts, unforeseen events, life-limiting conditions, specific lifestyle, emergency situations or other serious reasons.

The service tries to achieve positive changes in the lives of children and youth, provide information, professional assistance and support in difficult life situations, as well as conditions for establishing new contacts, thus preventing the children and youth from being socially excluded. The objective of the service is to guide children and young people through the period of their adolescence, showing them alternative solutions for their situation and alternative leisure time activities, thus creating suitable conditions for their healthy development and personal growth. While doing this, it is important to not impose our own ideas about what life of other people should look like. Another objective consists in enhancing the users’ capacities to make decisions on their own and to assume responsibility for their own acts.

What are the main activities?

-Participation in usual activities offered by the centre (table football, board games, conversations) – 60%

-Preparation and implementation of group activities for service users – 10%

-Presentation of various features of volunteer’s native country (cuisine, education system, institutions, leisure time activities, plays and games typical for the country, etc.) – 10%

-Teaching foreign language (English or volunteer’s native language) in an entertaining manner – 10%

-Tidying-up with service users – 5%

-Mini-project of the volunteer according to her/his interests – 5%

Club OnLine is a centre which provides low threshold facility and street work for socially excluded youth and kids, Roma youth and kids, unemployed young people, youth with personal problems and drug addicted youth. The low-threshold facility Klub OnLine creates a place of security and trust for adolescent youth in the town of Karvina from the age of 14 to 22. The programme is focused on contacting youth in the club and in their natural environment. Street work programme attempts to create rapport with kids and young people in their natural environment (housing estate, parks, and skate-parks) and offers them social support. Street workers tutor children and youth, play various games, teach them social skills, and others. Street work is divided into two programmes: ‘Teenstreet’ for young people from 13 to 20 of age, and ‘6ka’ for kids in Roma ghetto at the age of 6 to 13 years.

What are the main activities?

The activities will be divided between the Klub Online and street work. Your main task will be to supervise users in the PC nook and observe if they follow Klub´s rules. You will have an opportunity to seek active contact with users during leisure time activities, therefore it´s really great if you start to learn Czech language as soon as possible. You will participate in counselling with users (after user´s permission). Occasionally, you will help with administration, creation of propagation materials and others. As for the street work, you will talk with children and listen to them. You will create leisure time activities, play games, draw, you will be engaged in sports, tutoring, you will also practice reading and writing. You will have an opportunity to realize your own activities and do your own miniproject.

Family café (or Rodinná kavárna in Czech) is a café that focuses on families with small children aged from 0 to 6 years. The premises of the café are adjusted to this target group and so the café encompasses a spacious kid’s corner full of toys. Purpose of the café is to provide families with children a space, where the parents can rest and children play. The café employs people who deal with social exclusion from various reasons (limited capability to work due to disability, long-term unemployment, etc.). The café is also frequently visited by Slezská diakonie international volunteers in Krnov.

What are the main activities?

The main two tasks will be to provide help to the headwaiter to prepare drinks and attend customers (person with limited capability for work), and to provide (and plan) activities for children that visit the café with their parents. You will have an opportunity to play games with them, draw, make paper cut outs, and others. Help by assisting employees with cleaning will be also one of your tasks. You will also have an opportunity to make your own miniproject according to your interests (organised events in the café) or you can organise language course open to the public. You can find more information about the hosting organisation here under activity n. 14. Based on the character of main activities and work of the café, the future volunteer should be able to approach children and to be proactive and initiative.

Salome is a day care centre which provides services to children and adolescents from 2 to 26 who have mental and physical disability; multiple disability including combination with sensory disability if the sensory disability is not decisive for the child or parents; developmental disorders, including autistic spectrum disorders; severe communication disorders (e.g. dysphasia, dysarthria, dysphagia, aphasia).

Capacity of the day care centre is 35 persons. Maximum of 17 persons is daily using Salome’s services.
Operation of the centre is similar to usual kindergarten. Additionally, employees use various therapies, e.g.  music therapy, canine therapy, hippotherapy. Children and adolescents take part in activities according to their possibilities. Centre works with users individually and develops their motor, speech, social and physical skills. One of the centre´s goals is to enable children to attend kindergarten or elementary school (e.g. integration into regular class or to class with special educational programme).

What are the main activities?

Your main tasks will be to prepare, lead or assist educational and leisure time activities on various topics – game, pictures, theatre, music therapy (play on the musical instruments), hippo therapy (riding horses), taking a walk, work with ceramic clay or drawing, etc. according to the timetable. You will participate in the organisation of special events such as Easter and Christmas meetings, Abilympics, visiting of culture events – theatre and sport events outside. You will help during self service activities (serving food, changing clothes), accompany users during different events and walks. You will have space to plan, prepare and realize activities and realize your own miniproject.

Sarepta is a centre for the elderly whose health and social conditions require assistance and their situation cannot be resolved by family members or by home care service. On the other hand, Sarepta personnel encourage the users to maintain their already accustomed way of life, taking into account safety measures and capacities. The centre stresses individual approach with regard to users´ needs and preferences so that they can continue with a dignified and contented life.

What are the main activities?

Among your most typical tasks will be the support of seniors in their frequently complicated life situations. In practise, it is your presence and time investment that is most valuable. By quality time is meant listening, reading, watching old photo albums, playing cards and other board games, engaged talks about subjects that have beneficial influence to the well-being of the senior. You should bear in mind that frequently the senior does not have a supportive family, so this interaction and concern are extremely important. Reading aloud and singing accompanied by playing the instrument, are invaluable services. The seniors also like walking in the garden and in the surroundings of Komorní Lhotka (a picturesque sub mountain village that offers beautiful views). Accompanying the senior in the open air will therefore be a frequent activity. You will quickly improve Czech language as communication is an important part of the work with seniors.

The school provides children and pupils with education in a kindergarden, primary school and secondary school for children and pupils with special education needs. The school runs detached facilities in the towns of Český Těšín, Karviná, Bohumín and Ostrava.

Kindergarden is attended by children aged 2 – 7 with mental disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, communication and speech impairments, physical disabilities, multiple disabilities and other impairments. There are 6 – 10 children within the class.

They are mostly communicative and active. Task of the teacher is to find out which kind of education will be best for every child.

Primary school offers education to pupils aged 6 – 26 with moderate, severe and profound mental disabilities, as well as to pupils with autism spectrum disorders. There are 6 – 14 pupils within the class. Currently, most pupils aren´t communicative, they use alternative ways of communication. Activities in primary schools are focused on e.g. development of communication, sensory perception, movement etc., pupils get the lowest level of education.

Secondary school: 1-year practical programme and 2-year practical programme provides education to pupils aged 15 – 26 with moderate and severe mental disabilities, autism, multiple disabilities or mild mental disabilities combined with other physical disabilities.

There are also 6 – 14 students within the class accompanied by one teacher and 1 – 3 assistants. Students are being prepared for daily life e.g. how to take care of their household, cooking, cleaning etc.

Schools combines educational activities and social services of Slezská Diakonie. Children are thus provided both with education and with comprehensive social services. The school is focused on inclusive education. Staff members participate in thematic educational events and the school acts as regional promoter of the idea of including pupils with mild mental disabilities in the mainstream education.

What are the main activities?

Activities usually vary according to the level of pupils´ disabilities however your main tasks will be following: you will accompany and assist immobile pupils during movements within the school premises and during trips and events organized by the school. You will assist teacher and pupils during lessons and educational programmes adapted for pupils with special education need such as drama activities, art lessons, dressing trainings, walks, locomotor skills games, working with interactive board, working on PC, singing, listening to relaxation music, you will help pupils to play musical instruments. You will have an opportunity to work with educational tools adapted for children with limited fine motor skills.

You will talk to pupils, listen to them, assist during conflicts among pupils, and help them to develop their social skills. You will supervise the safety of children and their behaviour, help pupils to do their homework and assignments, accompany pupils to physiotherapy sessions, prepare and participate in events organized by the school (Christmas meeting, New Year’s concert, Mother’s Day, etc.) You will have an opportunity to plan, prepare and realize activities and make your own miniproject.

Special Kindergarten and Elementary School of Slezská diakonie in Krnov focuses on the education of children with graver forms of mental and combined disabilities, and different kinds of autism. Some of the school’s pupils have to use wheelchairs, have problems with verbal communication or need to wear nappies.

The whole education facility comprises of the Elementary School, the after-school care centre, and the preparatory class for pupils with special needs, and the Kindergarten for children with special needs. Education provided by the school follows individual lesson plans or individual education plans, which are adapted to the needs of pupils.

Elementary School provides education to pupils with special education needs who have learning difficulties and/or mild forms of mental disabilities. The school includes after-school care centre. Classes are attended by a smaller number of pupils which enables more personal approach and better atmosphere. The school provides pupils with a slower pace of teaching and simplified curriculum. The work with this group of pupils requires better language skills, because these pupils can communicate normally (it could be demanding but on the other hand you will improve your Czech language faster).

Practical Secondary School educates pupils (age 15 +) with severe mental and combined disabilities, it is a next level of education for students from Elementary school. Our students are mostly from Krnov, but some of them are commuting from near towns (Bruntál etc.). The curriculum is based on developing their basics skills and competencies, the aim of the school is to prepare our students for their future adult´s life (for example they learn the cooking, the housekeeping). There are 2 classes with 13 students in 2016/2017.

What are the main activities?

The activities of your service will be divided between two schools – Special Kindergarten + Elementary School and Practical Secondary School. At the beginning of the service, you will participate only in these two buildings. After your Czech language skills get better, you will be involved in the activities at the Practical Elementary School as well – working with the pupils in the lessons or attend the afternoon club and help there. All your activities will be done in cooperation with teachers or assistant teachers.

Your main task will be to provide individual and personal support to pupils during classes and in between. What does it mean exactly? You will assist pupils with severe disabilities during meals (serving, feeding, cleaning), help them to participate in lessons (drawing, counting, working with various educational tools), art therapy, music therapy, rehabilitation, practice of delicate motor activity and others. You will cooperate with teachers and their assistants on preparation of various products and artwork for future lessons. You will help immobile students to move. You will also have an opportunity to realize your own activities and make your own miniproject.

The day care centre Siloe, situated in Ostrava, strives to provide dignified and empathetic support and care to people with memory disorders such as Alzheimer´s Disease, Parkinson´s Disease and different forms of dementia. The target group are residents of Ostrava region aged 50 and over. They are trained and treated to maintain their abilities for the longest time possible. Siloe emphasizes good cooperation with caregivers to whom it provides quality consulting through the contact place of Czech Alzheimer Society. Siloe is also active in raising public awareness of the type of support people with memory disorders require.

What are the main activities?

Your main task will be to provide support to people with memory disorders. This work might be challenging, especially mentally. You will usually work within the group of 10 users, however it may vary. There are 24 users staying permanently within Siloe. You will assist during various activities: walking with users, reading, chatting, sharing, and cognitive exercises (e.g. Bingo, word formation, identification of shapes, animals etc.). In this area your imagination can flourish because you can come up with ideas for new games and memory exercises that will stay around even after you finish your service. Art and music lessons are also popular among users. Other creative activities relate to participation in workshops which specialize in making seasonal articles, decorations for holidays such as Christmas or Easter. The regular activities also incorporate fitness exercises, you can prepare a warm-up morning exercise. You can also help with the organization of various events at the placement.

We are not alone to deal with it (We are not alone) is project that is organised by the Social Assistance of Slezská diakonie in Krnov. Tutorial club of Slezská diakonie is realised by Reintegra organisation in cooperation with Social Assistance of Slezská diakonie in Krnov, Rýmařov and Elementary school in Krnov at Smetanův okruh 4. Both Tutorial club of Slezská diakonie and We are not alone are focusing on work with families and children who are going through certain difficulties in their lives. We are not alone project is focused on activities which allow parents in unfavourable social condition and their children to spend their time in a purposeful way. The project aims to support interpersonal relations, personal development of children within safe environment, due parental care and prevention against further deterioration of the family’s social condition. Mission of Tutorial club of Slezská diakonie is to support children in their preparation for schooling. The project focuses on activities supporting quality education of children and pupils with socioeconomically disadvantaged and culturally different background. These activities will be balancing pupils’ differences in education.

What are the main activities?

You will participate in both Tutorial club of Slezská diakonie and We are not alone. You will spend most of your time at Tutorial club of Slezská diakonie (approx. 85%) and smaller portion at We are not alone (approx. 15%). The description of activities is following:

We Are Not Alone to Deal with It

– Educational activities: activities focused on psychomotor development of children, such as puzzle, cubes, board games, storytelling, rhymes, fairy tales, drawing, colouring books, paper cut outs, ball games, rope skipping, and other – 40%

– Training activities: e.g. preparation of meals, money management, communication with children, hygiene habits and other – 18%

– Psycho-social activities: interaction with other service users – communication, learning from one another, sharing experience e.g. in the fields of children’s upbringing, family relations, money management, etc. – 35%

– Activities outside the placement: project activities organized twice a year: one of them consists in spending night in the premises of games room. The second one is a 2-day event with thematic programme focused on visits to interesting places. Volunteer is involved in organizing competitions, trips, cooking practices and he/she is also responsible for supervision during the events – 2%

– Mini project of the volunteer according to her/his own interests

Tutorial club of Slezská diakonie

– Playing with children: mostly individual activities with didactic games; however, the volunteer also helps children to interact during social games – 30%

– Art activities for children: volunteer helps children and their parents to schedule activities where art tools are used and he/she also supervises the children’s safety – 20%

– Art activities for children: explaining proceedings and playing with children – 20%

– Helping children with preparation for school, especially with foreign languages (English and German), supporting them in practicing subject matter and reinforcing knowledge – 20%

– Helping with organisation of workshops for parents – 3%

– Trips – 2%

– Miniproject of the volunteer according to her/his own interests – 5%

Zámek Dolní Životice is a semi-budgetary organisation which is established by the municipality authority of Moravian-Silesian region. The organisation provides social services to adults with mental disabilities, namely to adults with combined disabilities (mental, physical and mental, sensory), who need different kinds of support.

The mission of the organisation is to provide daily support and care on the basis of individual needs and wishes of the users. The idea is to empower the individuals for living independently as much as possible. The users are also trained to use their skills and abilities in order to be integrated in local community activities. The dignity of each individual is protected and their competences are strengthened.

The organisation provides social services as followed: community residential facility, sheltered housing, support living and social therapeutic workshops EMA.

What are the main activities?

You will assist the users during common activities of everyday life according to the individual plan of each user in order to support his/her independent living by getting to know and using his/her rights and responsibilities and making decisions by themselves. This also includes the training and educational activities ( e.g. training of memory, development of already gained knowledge and skills, using of practical skills in everyday life). You will participate and assist the users during work activities – e.g. in pottery, art and textile workshop, gardening. The activities focus on the development of motor activity, coordination of the movements, development of aesthetic perception and expression and communication with the external environment –50%

You will participate and assist the users during experiential therapies – these activities are perceived as relaxing activities. The techniques such as using different balls, positioning, singing and playing instruments, as well as others are used – 25%

You will participate and assist the users during individual activities – individual motoric activation, exercises, stretching, making the users familiar with assistive devices, individual meetings with the users in order to plan user´s service – 10%

To develop the individual skills, the facilities such as shops, public transport, cultural and sport centres, restaurants, excursions are used. Here are involved as well the activities which will be organized outside of the placement, for example walks and trips with the users and participation in different events – 10%

You will have an opportunity to realise a mini project according to your interests – 5%

How does INVY work?

In order to achieve our aims and to help you achieve yours, we will provide you with support. This is how we handle things.

Personal support is mainly provided by three people. First of them is your supervisor who is named by the hosting organization and who works there. S/he will be responsible for your support at the hosting organisation. The second person is your mentor who is a sort of ‘appointed friend’ that will help you to get inside of the local community, find various interesting places, and connect with new friends and locals. The third person will be your coordinator who will take care of organising your voluntary service and coordinating all its participants.

Supervision is how we call a meeting with your supervisor or coordinator that focuses on evaluation of your service.

We use various creative methods to assess your wellbeing and to help you to reflect how the things are going.

Supervisions with supervisors are on monthly basis, and supervisions with coordinator take place every 3-4 months. The frequency can of course change, depending on how much support you need.

Seminars are events we organise for our volunteers and supervisors. During your service, you and your fellow volunteers will participate in three of these seminars – On Arrival seminar, Midterm seminar, and Evaluation seminar. During seminars, you will enjoy various activities, processes, and games focused on your expectations and fears from the service, your motivation, reflection of your service and your learning outcomes, and many other topics.

Czech language will be an important part of your learning here. To support you in the learning, you will have at least 1,5 hours of Czech language lessons every week and possibly a crash course at the beginning of your service.

Financial support for you consists of two parts, pocket money and food allowance. Pocket money is 90 EUR per month and food allowance is approx. 130 EUR per month. We send it at the beginning of each month to your Czech bank account that will be set up at the beginning of your service.

Accommodation is provided by us in flats that are usually shared by 2 to 4 volunteers. We strive to provide an individual room for every volunteer but unfortunately such an option is not always available for everyone.

Travel costs to the Czech Republic, to all official events connected, and possible commuting to the hosting organisation are reimbursed. We reimburse 90% of travel costs to the Czech Republic and back.

Other official travelling is reimbursed in full.

Arrival

Depending on the country you are travelling from, you’ll go by train, long haul bus, plane, public transport, or combination of those. If you’ll travel by plane, you’ll arrive in Václav Havel airport in Prague. From the airport you’ll travel by bus to the Prague’s Main Train station and from there by train in the direction to Ostrava. If you’ll live in Karviná or Český Těšín, you’ll most probably be able to take a direct train from Prague to Karviná or Český Těšín (depending on the specific train connection). If you’ll live in Krnov or Nový Jičín, you’ll have to change in Ostrava and take another train or bus. If you’ll be selected, the coordinators (me or my colleague) will send you more specific info pack, suited to your particular project, and they will be also reachable if you’d like to help finding the right connections for travelling.

What do we expect from you?

Our main requirement is your motivation. We want you to be motivated to do your EVS and to be open to everything that comes with it. To a certain degree, you should also be resolute, self-reliant, and willing to accommodate and adapt to a new environment. You should be also prepared that during your experience you will come in contact with people who are in difficult life situations, and thus you will have to deal with things like poverty, exclusion, position of people with disabilities in society, and others.

Important aspect is also your willingness to learn Czech language because it will be the key to better integration here and connection to others. Our future volunteers should be also tolerant to the Christian profile of our organisation.

Selection process

We will study carefully all application and selected candidates will be invite for Skype interview. The selection of volunteers will take place in the middle of September.

For the selection of the volunteers we will need:

– Europass CV with picture (made in the last month)

– Motivational letter, writing that your sending organisation will be “Building Bridges”. We ask all candidates to send a specific letter of motivation – why they want to volunteer with us rather than just a general EVS one.

• Send us two reccomendation letters from their former teacher, employer, best friend…)
• Application form

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Remember to write in the motivation letter that your sending institution is “Asociación Building Bridges”.

All documents written in english you can send to: asociacionbb@gmail.com with subject “EVS Czech Republic Nivach”.