Short term volunteering project in Italy!
Location: Catania, Italy
Project name: AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM
Hosting organization: Fondazione Stella Polare Onus
Sending organization: “Common Sense” Youth Organization
Purpose of the project: We are an international community of around 12 people who live inside the project itself. The community is run by a yogic monk and many of our volunteers practice meditation, but it is not a must. Languages spoken inside the project are mainly English and Italian, but German, Spanish and Russian are widely used too. Our focus is an afterschool program for kids ranging between 4 and 14 years of age who live in a disadvantage area of Catania. Our mission is provide those children with a safe place where they can feel loved and cared for. Our volunteers are here to embody healthier life choices, dreams and ambitions. We assist children and youngsters with their homework, hold literacy skills workshops, offer creative activities, artistic workshops, teach English, organize team games and train kids in football, rugby and volleyball, do gardening with children, organize daytrips to natural sites, museums, factories and farms. In June -July we have a summer camp and take kids to the beach.
Number of volunteers: 1 volunteer between 18-30 years old (Only Azerbaijani citizenship)
Project period – 01/02/2024 to 31/08/2024 (total of 1 week)
Deadline: 20/12/2023
How to apply? – Please get a registration number, and apply through European Youth Portal (click the link).
Note: Please, apply as soon as possible, otherwise the application will be closed before the deadline!
How to get a registration number? – If you don’t have account on European Youth Portal, please watch our instruction videos from this Link
All costs are covered by European Solidarity Corps
No participation fee!
Language: English
Accommodation, food and transport arrangements: We host our EVS volunteers inside the project, in large double rooms, each with a private shower and toilet. The kitchen and the dining room are shared with other volunteers. Cooking ingredients will be provided by the Foundation. Part of our philosophy is nonviolence, hence, we only cook healthy vegetarian food. You will get a pocket money of around 180 euro per month. 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. Smoking, drugs and alcohol are not allowed inside the Foundation
Training during the activity: General volunteering training will be provided upon your arrival to Catania. You will also get specific teaching training for the kind of work you will have to do inside the project 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. An Italian language course will be provided for you to improve your communication skills with locals. You will 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 educator or have experience in working with children. You will work side by side with people from who you will be able to learn. 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. Ideally, we are looking for volunteers with a vocation for teaching/educating, arts or sports. Qualties you will need: fkexibility in living and working with other people, tollerance towards cultural differences, creativity in your work with children.