📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
Our facility is the Special School and Educational Center, which deals with education, therapy and upbringing of children and adolescents with autism and related disorders aged 3 to 24 years. Classes are held in two buildings. At Szopkarzy Str. 8 there are: a kindergarten and a primary school for younger children with intellectual disabilities. Early development support activities for young children are also held here.
In the second location at Spadochroniarzy Str. 1 there are: a primary school and a school preparing for work for older children with intellectual disabilities as well as a primary school, a trade school and a general secondary school for students with an intellectual standard.
Our students spend time at school from 7 am to 5 pm. Some students live in the boarding school, which is open 24 hours a day from Monday to Friday. Depending on their abilities, we provide them education at various levels and various activities. An important aspect in working with our students is the use of supportive methods of communication (alternative communication), as they are partially non-speakers.
Depending on the current needs of the facility, volunteers can help: in self-service activities (in classes for children with intellectual disabilities), take part in activities in the swimming pool, in the garden, art and cooking classes, English, French and Russian lessons. They will also assist students during social training, school and / or boarding activities.
💼 What the programme involves
The Autism Centre is an educational centre comprising a kindergarten, a primary school, a secondary school and a vocational centre for people aged between 4 and 25 with autism. You will work in different classes, with different age groups, different stages of autism and different activities. For children, there are 4 pupils per class to ensure a more personal approach. Your will assist teachers and children during their classes, which could be art workshop, language development class, music, animal therapy, physical education, going to the swimming pool. Additionally, you will also assist teachers during the mealtime and with the personal hygiene of the pupils. Among other skills, you will certainly have the opportunity to develop alternative communication skills, as this will be a very important aspect of your work at the centre.
🏠 Accommodation on site
You will be accommodated in a room in Krakow, shared with another volunteer, in a flat with access to kitchen and bathroom. Flats are furnished and equipped with pillows, duvet covers, pillow cases and washing machine. Internet connection is usually provided, but not assured 100%. You will get enough money for food every month, and there may be a possibility to eat meals in the hosting institution. You will also receive an allowance as pocket money of 120 euros per month, paid in a local bank. The travel from Italy to Krakow and back is reimbursed, as local trasports.
🎒 Leisure activities
You will attend three official training sessions: a pre-departure training before leaving Italy; an on arrival training in a few weeks after their advent in Poland; a midterm training, around the half of the volunteering experience. Other meetings will be frequently organized with people concerned with the projet. A mandatory course of Polish language held by professional teacher is provided, together with other means to learn the language (tandem meetings and access to online courses).
⚠️ Requirements
The Participant profile: If you have experience in working with children and youth, this would be an additional asset. Good communicational skills are also an additional asset, because the project is based on communication with other people. All creative skills - artistic or motor ones – can enrich the project. The same relates to computer skills. You should be open-minded and sensitive towards needs of others. Due to the nature of the target group and special focus on work with children/young adults with disabilities, you should not be afraid of disabled kids/youngsters and their reactions.
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.