ESC: European Solidarity Corps - 3 weeks Social School project

The association runs Gdynian Social School. This primary school as an initiative of the the group of parents and teachers who were looking for an alternative and qulity education for children with special needs. The school exist since 1990 and concenrates on a work with children sight impaired as well as with other health problems. Healthy children are also wellcome to attand the school and experience school life in a differenet than in public schools athmosphere. The entire building and teaching methods are subordinated to the specific needs of children who would not be satisfied elsewhere. It is a small institution (160 pupils) for children from the 1st till 8th grade (6-15 years old), where we work on the relations between younger and older kids, kids and teachers as well as a triangle of relations between teachers, kids and parents. The school is run as part of an NGO, which is of great importance because apart from the framework program, the teacher and parents join in all the extra classes. All optional classes from 14 to 17 are an additional initiative within the association. Parents share their passions and professional experience after lessons as part of their faculties. Teachers often (aa well as parents) join in by conducting additional classes and taking part in various actions (social campaigns, charity campaigns, school events). The minimum of the school program is implemented, and the rest of the working schedule is filled with the optional classes implemented by trainers and parents. They are focused on development, cooperation and discovering passions. Children with sight impairments are covered by typhlological care, help in educational struggles and supporting visual-auditory coordination. However, these children still need extra time devoted to them, supporting them, playing together and integrating. Therefore, we have a lot of extracurricular activities, like volunteering club, meetings with "interesting people", intercultural education workshops etc.