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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!
Dates: 01.09.2021 – 31.08.2022
Location: Bremen, Germany
Hosting Organisation: Tobiasschule und Kindergarten e.V.
Together with the Tobiasschule, we are looking for two motivated volunteers from an EU country to join us in Bremen!
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 from Spain and Norway in the past two 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 12 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 12 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.
Logistics
Our organisation, NaturKultur Bremen e.V., will be the coordinating organisation in charge of all logistical matters.
You will be accommodated in a flat or a house in Bremen with 3-4 other ESC volunteers. You will have your private bedroom and share the kitchen, bathroom and other spaces in the flat/house with other volunteers.
Bremen is a city in North-West Germany (around 500.000 inhabitants), not far from Hamburg and the North Sea coast. Bremen is a vibrant, multi-cultural city with a lot of young people and both a historical centre and newer areas of towns.
As an ESC volunteer, you will receive health insurance, monthly pocket money for food and other expenses (246€ + 150€).
Travel costs will be reimbursed depending on the travel distance (normally between 180-360€). Please note that you cannot apply if you need a visa/residence permit.
You will be supported by a Coordinator and a Mentor to help you get settled in your work place and the city of Bremen. You can also attend our German conversation class of at least 1 hour per week.
But – how is it to volunteer at Tobiasschule?
To get a better idea of what volunteering at the school is really about, you can check out the report of Pernille: https://www.naturkultur.eu/pernille-in-bremen-germany-1st-report/
Maria from Spain has been writing regular blogs on her sending organisation’s page – in Spanish: https://www.cmx.es/v_portal/informacion/informacionver.asp?cod=18273&te=57&idage=20363&vap=0
And if you’d rather watch a video – here’s Nikola’s story, who volunteered in another organisation Bremen in 2019: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMKQLzeO2Fs
You can apply, if you…
- … are a resident of an EU Country (not Germany) and do not need a visa/residence permit
- … 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.
- … 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.
Important Notice
This year, the ESC programme was delayed because of political decision making processes in Brussels. That means that our organisation will know in August 2021, if this voluntary service will be funded. The chances are very high that it will be funded, but we can sign the contract with you only in the end of August.
Please note that you can only apply if you live in an EU country and do not need a visa.
Application Deadline: 15.06.2021 – You will receive an answer by 22.06.2021 whether you are in the second round of applications and invited to an online call.
(School building image copyright: Tobiasschule und Kindergarten e.V.)