📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
This project is organized for local children by The Language School In Down-Town and the non-profit educational association Alternative Language Programs Satellite (ALPS) as part of their annual activities on multicultural issues for youth. Some international teenage participants may randomly join. The common project s aim is to introduce the diversity of world cultures to children and provide them with good practices in intercultural communication using the learning-by-doing method and organizing alternative English language practice. The project gets youngsters familiar with customs and traditions of the countries from all over the world and encourages them to develop their cross-cultural thinking and tolerance as well as global thinking and individual initiative. This summer we offer you to participate in our project called KALEIDOSCOPE . We invite camp participants to discuss ideas of chaos and order, mess and harmony. Together, we will discover our own infinite potential and freedom to create new patterns of life, same way as we create patterns out of random single pieces of colourful glass twisting a kaleidoscope. We will learn how to find harmony in apparent disorder and use chaos as a tool for stress relief, how to turn imperfection into the source of true beauty and embrace uncertainty to make our life journey more successful, unique and vibrant. Camp participants will gain ideas and skills how to deal with millions of combinations of the world s reality. Meetings with local and/or international professionals in the field will take place. Thematic photo and video contests for camp participants will be organized.NB It is possible and you are welcome to apply for 2 shifts in a row EST DT1 EST DT2 or EST DT3 EST DT4
💼 What the programme involves
Activating kids in the city camp and providing them with cross-cultural learning experience. Volunteers will do it by using various informal methods of teaching as well as small group techniques. The activities to be held by a team of volunteers may include the following: playing the games and performing music that are popular in the countries the volunteers represent; training kids to perform pieces of amateur drama; preparing festivals; providing intellectual and sport games as well as discussions; preparing quests to combine with excursions round the places of interest; organizing actions for peace and nature protection; leading and supporting kids in their work on the team projects within the topics related to the main theme of the summer. Volunteers are responsible for the day activities in the camp. The work can be quite hard, involving long working hours, requiring high level of commitment and responsibility. You will stay with campers from 10:00 to 17:00 (45-minute lunch is included) and spend about another hour to prepare and finalize next day activities and feedback. Working days are from Monday to Friday plus one duty Saturday; Sundays are days off except the one after arrival. The local participants are mainly youngsters from minority groups of Tallinn whose family s languages include Russian. Based on the previous year, we expect a number of kids/teens participants in one camp shift as up to 40. Volunteers will work in pairs facilitating and leading a smaller group of 10 - 12 children or less during the day and change the groups every 2-3 days.During the first three days of the workcamp after arrival, volunteers will be given the training on the camp methodology and some time to prepare themselves to meet the kids/teens on Monday and further carry out their tasks in the camp. For this reason, it is important to arrive on time.
🏠 Accommodation on site
There are 2 options possible (subject to availability, which will become clear by the start of the project):1) The premises of The Language School In Down-Town located on the 4th and 5th floors of a business building in the city centre. In summer time, a part of the school is reserved for the volunteers accommodation that includes several separate dormitory bedrooms, a fitted kitchen, a small dining area, a large shower area and two separate toilet cabins. Bed linen, towels, pillows and blankets will be provided, so you do NOT need to bring a sleeping bag unless you want so. For the reasons of security, volunteers will be issued only one set of keys. To facilitate a smooth and safe environment at school during the off-hours, the entrance to the school must be kept closed at all times. The access to the school and accommodation areas will be managed by long-term volunteers or school staff. Please be aware that between 01:00 a.m. and 09:00 a.m. the access to the building will be closed. Catering will be organized by the school on an agreement with the volunteers (selection of times, meals - provided or volunteers cook, etc.).2) A furnished shared apartment in the residential area of Tallinn. Volunteers will be issued two sets of keys. The apartment has three-four dormitory bedrooms and all necessary facilities, and it takes about 20 minutes to get to the city center by public transport. Public transport cards will be provided. Volunteers will cook their breakfast meals themselves (food for a standard European breakfast will be provided); dinner meals will be served at school between 18:00 and 19:00; lunches will be organized for the whole camp (including kids/teens) in the city centre.Please note: it is not possible to stay at any of the camp accommodation options before or after the camp arrival and departure days. If you need a place to stay before or after the workcamp dates, we can help you to book a hostel in Tallinn.
📍 About the location
LocationCamp takes place in the school that is situated in the center of Tallinn, Estonian capital www.visittallinn.ee/eng Leisure timeThere are a lot of possibilities for leisure time activities as the camp takes place in the capital where one can find attractions for all tastes: sightseeing and museums, festivals, concerts, live music, pubs, etc. The camp provides an excellent opportunity to establish contacts with young Estonians and to experience the local life.
⚠️ Requirements
Special requirementsYou have to be really motivated to work with kids. Please provide a letter of your motivation along with the application form. An experience of working with children is an advantage. Your ideas and actual preparation to do the activities for kids are essential, so a successful volunteer will be required to meet the team online to discuss and complete some preliminary preparation. We ask you to bring some materials: postcards, posters, symbols of your country, music or popular national games etc., which can be used during your country presentation. We expect active volunteers with a good knowledge of history and culture of their country as well as with an ability and wish to present it to others in a creative way. B2 level of English is required. The age of volunteers is from 20 to 33. Please note that before making a final decision about your participation in the camp, the project coordinator will have a video interview with you.Participation feeWe ask participants to contribute 50 Euro towards the costs of general administration. If you apply for two shifts in a row the participation fee is 80 Euro. This fee has to be paid by bank transfer before the beginning of the camp. If you cannot make it, please contact your sending organization for a solution.
