📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
The Vulkanschule is a primary and secondary school for pupils aged 6–14. It is a small school, with all together 45 pupils, situated in the countryside in South-Eastern Austria. The Vulkanschule is a private school with „Öffentlichkeitsrecht“, which means that we are legally like any other public school, with the only exception that the association financially sustaining the school is private: a registered society, „Verein“. We are a parents` initiative, and, not only financially dependent on the involvement and honorary participation of the parents.
The Vulkanschule is the only school following a reformist education in the region of Feldbach. We teach according to Maria Montessori and Peter Petersen`s Jenaplan principles. Central ideas of our pedagogy are a holistic, project-oriented, interdisciplinary and mixed-age education, learner-centered, action-oriented and eager to keep up the joy of learning.
Our main task is to provide the children with help and opportunities to become critical, decision-making, self-confident and responsible persons. We focus on exercise, experience in all phases of development.
This is done through the following pedagogical principles:
• Strengthening of self-confidence and self-worth in one appreciative social environment;
• Transfer of responsibility; Building personal responsibility for work materials, work posture, personal well-being and Wellbeing of others;
• Developing talents in a learning environment without pressure
• Individual learning support
• Developing problem-solving strategies in the sense of “nonviolent communication"
• Respectful and attentive treatment of fellow persons and of environment
• Environmentally conscious thinking and acting with regard to the sustainability and the ecological footprint
• Healthy diet and lifestyle
At the same time, we would like to fulfil our educational mission: We as a school aim to foster a child's development, so that he/she can become a free, self-confident and responsible person, who is able to take care about himself/herself, other people and environment.
💼 What the programme involves
The Vulkanschule is a primary and secondary school for pupils aged 6–14. It is a small school that consists of 47 pupils, situated in the countryside in South-Eastern Austria.
They aim to create a home-like atmosphere and inspire kids to learn with joy, teaching according to Montessori and Jenaplan methods. Their principles are: non-violent communication, respect for the development of the child, and respect for each human being.
The central ideas of their pedagogy are a holistic, project-oriented, interdisciplinary, and mixed-age education, learner-centred, action-oriented, and eager to keep up the joy of learning. The volunteer will support the school staff mainly during the classes and afternoon activities. He/she will help prepare learning materials, assist during lunch time and breaks, and develop his/her own project.
🏠 Accommodation on site
The volunteer will either live with one of the school’s families, or in Graz.
He/she will get a monthly allowance of 400€ (250€ regarding food money, and 150€ regarding pocket money), and the travel costs from and back to Italy will be reimbursed..
🎒 Leisure activities
You will receive a pre-departure training in Italy with your sending organization, and will as well attend in Austria the on-arrival and mid-term trainings organized by the National Agency. Also, you will be provided with a German language online course, and training from the school as well as support, supervision, and guidance.
⚠️ Requirements
The Participant profil: We are looking for volunteers who are responsible and motivated to help students and assist teachers. Youngsters who are open-minded, active, and have an initiative. It is important to be able to deal with children of different ages and social backgrounds, as well as to have an interest in alternative pedagogy and specific skills in arts, music, handcrafts, or sports.
Deadline: No application deadline
ℹ️ Additional information
Participants are entitled to receive a Youthpass certificate from the organiser, for recognition of their competence development during the activity. Read more about Youthpass:https://www.youthpass.eu/en/
This organisation holds a European Solidarity Corps Quality Label. The Quality Label certifies that the organisation is able to run projects in compliance with the principles and objectives of the European Solidarity Corps.