📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
Imaginatorium is an alternative educational center located in the mahala, the Roma district of Gracanica. Since its beginning in September 2016, Imaginatorium is a space in which children and teenagers of the mahala come to learn and play. The center mainly functions through long term volunteers and local members of the organization who offer support with maths and literacy as well as activities such as games, learning languages, arts and crafts... Imaginatorium also creates opportunities for the youth to develop other skills through music, video, photography workshops and much more.
There are around 30 children and teenagers currently coming by and participating in the activities and workshops of the center.
💼 What the programme involves
During the camp, you will be involved in the organization of the daily activities of the center with the children and teenagers, and will help with their running.
Activities can include:
- arts and crafts workshops, organizing event, exhibition or similar,
- gardening workshops,
- music workshops,
- indoor/outdoor drawing and painting activities,
- sports and recreation activities.
You are always welcome to share your own ideas and use your knowledge, crafts and skills to create your own workshops or activities as part of the program of the workcamp; possibilities are vast!
Even though most of the activities will take place in Imaginatorium and the mahala, you will also participate and help with the excursions outside of Gracanica, supervising the group of kids and teenagers.
🏠 Accommodation on site
You will be staying at GAIA’s volunteers’ house in Gracanica or in tents in the yard, next to Imaginatorium. You should bring your sleeping bags. The house has a bathroom and a kitchen that will be shared by all. Cooking will be done together with all volunteers and food will be vegetarian and local. We have cats and dogs, so you should be animal friendly.
📍 About the location
The camp will take place in Gracanica, located 7 km away from Pristina, the capital. It is a Serbian enclave and is mainly known for its 14th century Orthodox monastery, which made the city a centre of Serbian culture and Orthodox church after the conflicts.
It counts around 11 000 inhabitants, out of which around 1 800 are members of the Roma community.
There are a few nice places nearby, such as an artificial lake (Badovac), an archeological site dating back to the Roman period (Ulpiana) and Bear Sanctuary Prishtina. There are also some small mountains for small hikes close to the camp.
⚠️ Requirements
Previous experience working with children is a plus, but you should mainly be motivated and flexible. People with various interesting and unique skills and talents are always welcome! As it is summer school break kids will be full of energy, so be prepared to invest a lot of your own :).