Volunteer in Tallinn

                                            (Tallinna Lasteaed-Pohikool)

Start: 03.10.2013

End: 02.06.2014

Deadline: 25.07.2013

Project environment:
Our institution was founded in 1981 in Tallinn in Pinna street and named 155th kindregarten. First years we had several groups in the kindregarten. From year 1986 we opened first groups for the children with special needs (speech or moving problems). In 1995 the first school class was opened and the building was called Tallinna Laagna Lasteaed-Algkool (Tallinn’s Laagna Kindregarten-primary School). In 1996 first groups for children with physical disabilities were opened. In 2006 there was opened basic school for children with special needs in our organisation.

The project takes place in the Capital of Estonia, Tallinn, in one of its residential areas, Lasnamäe, where our school is located. Local residents belong to middle-class with average level of income. Geographically the site of the project is conveniently located with the centre of the city: it takes about 10 minutes to reach it by bus.

Proposed activities for EVS volunteers:

• The experience in our organisation will help the volunteer to acquire different social skills, such as dealing with disabled children, learn more about their needs and abilities, understand their and their parents psyhology, as well as the process of integration children with special needs into social life.
• From another side volunteer will learn how to accept different culture and live independent in new environment. Volunteer will have oportunity to get to know life in Estonian capital. Should be mentioned that Estonian society is quite closed and getting friends with local people usually needs bigger effort.
  
• The EVS volunteer will be supporting the project personnel in looking after the children and running daily tasks such as: looking after the children and helping project staff during the lessons and free time; playing with children; arranging children’s outings, e.g. culture visits, excursions, hikes, picnics, etc. 
  
• Volunteer will be encouraged to propose his/her personal micro-projects/ initiatives related to the theme of this EVS project, which will be supported by the host and coordinating organisation in all ways.
  
• The volunteers are supposed to render assistance to children between and during the lessons, as well as during different events, such as performances, excursions and etc, and help the staff to organise leisure time activities. We also need a person, who can help our organisatsion to take part in other different international projects. This is person is supposed to be able to write applications for international projects and make contacts to other organisations.

We would like to invite volunteers to assist the lessons of such subjects as art and craft, English and physical education. We mainly need their assisstance during the breaks and after lessons to organise different indoor and outdoor games with children. These could involve different table games, ball games, etc.

During the lessons sometimes our children need individual assistance in performing such simple tasks as: opening books, taking a pen into his hand, switching a computer and so on. There also could be such moments when some children experience emotional breakdowns during the lesson and they need to be taken out from the classroom and calmed down individually.

Typical day in the school looks like follows:
8:15 Lessons begin
12.00/13:00 Lunch
13:30 Lessons continuing
15:15 Aftenoon snack
15:45 Time for leisure activities and homework
18:00 Children go home

Volunteer profiles and recruitment process:
We are interested in people, who are willing to work with disabled children and understand their specific needs. We would certainly prefer mature volunteers. As for personal profile, we would like to welcome a sociable, cheerful and considerate person. All sorts of artistic skills are welcomed.

MTÜ EstYES will take the role of coordinating organisation and will make the primary selection of possible candidates. We are open to work with any sending organisation.

Number of volunteers hosted: Laagna Lasteaed Põhikool is interested to host 2 volunteers at the same time.

Project will cover:
Travel costs - 90% 
Visa costs – 100%
Accommodations and food – 100%.

If you are interested  please send me your CV and motivation letters in [email protected]

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me!