***call closed***If you are a caring, open-minded person and would love to work with children with special needs – this volunteering project is for you! For 12 months, you can support the team at Tobiasschule in Bremen, learn and grow together with the students, and make a positive impact!
About the hosting organisation
Tobiasschule is a Waldorf pedagogical school. It has small classes which include children with special needs, such as disabilities, learning difficulties or other needs. The Waldorf education method is one that strives to develop its pupils’ artistic, intellectual and practical skills using an integrated and holistic approach. Therefore, the school has a lot of art classes, gardening lessons, students cook their meals together, frequently stage theatre plays and are a close-knit community.
Tobiasschule uses methods to give children with special needs, from kindergarten until high school graduation, the opportunity to get a quality education, and to provide a level playing field for everyone.
The school has great facilities. Located slightly on the outskirts of central Bremen, the school building is a beautiful old building which is surrounded by gardens, playing fields and woods. Despite the age of the building, it has a theatre stage and rooms for carpentry and practical activities like repairing bicycles.
“Receive the children in reverence, educate them in love, and send them forth in freedom” – Rudolf Steiner, founder of the Waldorf Pedagogy
The school has hosted ESC volunteers in the past years, and they regularly also hosts apprentices, interns and volunteers on other programmes. As such, they have experience in having international team members and provide an inclusive working environment.
Position #1
- Working with the students at the school, particularly the gardening and outdoor lessons, and sport lessons
- Helping with the maintenance of the school grounds (gardening, taking care of the school chicken)
- Helping out in the kitchen – the students and teachers cook their own lunch together
- Helping out at events organised for the students, parents and community
- Organising small local projects for the community of Bremen together with the other 14 ESC volunteers in Bremen
Position #2
- Working with the students at the school, especially supporting teachers in the lessons, the kitchen and after school activities
- Organising your own small activities for the children during the school day
- Helping out at events organised for the students, parents and community
- Organising small local projects for the community of Bremen together with the other 14 ESC volunteers in Bremen
Depending on your skills and interests and those of your fellow volunteer, the tasks can also be slightly adapted, swapped and changed. When you get invited for a Skype call with the Teachers during the selection process, you can ask for more details.
To get a better idea of what this position entails, you can read Saida’s Final Report and Vladislava’s 1st Report about their voluntary service.
Logistics
NaturKultur e.V will be the coordinating organization in charge of all logistical matters.
You will be accommodated in a house just for ESC volunteers in Bremen, where you will have your own room.
Bremen is a city in North-West Germany (around 500.000 inhabitants), close to Hamburg, the border with Netherlands and the North Sea coast. Bremen is a vibrant, multi-cultural city with a lot of young people and where you can find a historical centre, modern and cultural areas, in a small area.
As an ESC volunteer, you will receive health insurance, 180€ monthly pocket money, 266€ for living expenses. Travel costs will be reimbursed depending on the travel distance (normally between 180€-360€).
You will be supported by a Coordinator, an internal Mentor to help you get settled in your work place, and an external mentor to you get to know the city of Bremen. You will also receive German language lessons (once per week) together with all volunteers and have access to OLS, the online language learning platform.
But – how is it to volunteer in Bremen?
If you’d like to watch a video – here you can check out some stories from our volunteers.
Or find out more about Maria, who was volunteering in a school in Bremen.
You can apply, if you…
- … are a resident of an EU / partnering country
- … are between 18-30 years old (on the day you start your ESC)
- … can communicate in English (A2-B1) OR German (A2) OR Spanish and are willing to improve your language skills in German and English. Our NaturKultur team speaks English and German, and a teacher at the school speaks Spanish.
- …are vaccinated against the measles and can provide a certificate of good conduct
- … love working with young people and want to learn more in that field
- … love to be creative and are passionate about making a positive change in society
- … have patience and care about helping other people grow
- … are an open-minded person, motivated to work in a team and with people from different religious, cultural and social backgrounds
In short, this project will give you the chance to become a part of a school community, learn what it’s like to work with a variety of young people, form friendships and learn how to work in a team – while living in a new city and culture together with other young Europeans!
The European Solidarity Corps is financing the voluntary service. The mission of the ESC is to bring people from different backgrounds together to form a society based on mutual acceptance, solidarity and cohesion.
If you have any further questions, please get in touch with Lina: [email protected]
Sounds like your dream project? Apply below!
E-Mails that contain CV’s or motivation letters, will not be answered. Please only apply through the form.
Application Deadline: 03.03.2024
(School building image copyright: Tobiasschule und Kindergarten e.V.)