EVS vacancy in Estonia>>December 22, 2014 deadline>>Maria and Children Orphan House
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Lilit Hakobyan
Dec 1, 2014, 12:30:10 AM12/1/14
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Dear friends,
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Here we have an EVS vacancy in a very small community in East Estonia, Tudulinna
Duration: 9 months, from September 2015 - May 2016
Details: Children Orphan House
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Maria and Children Orphan House
MTÜ Maria ja Lapsed is non-governmental organization which was established in 2003. It’s working as an orphanage and since October 2012 there are 22 children from age 1 to16 years old living there.
The orphanage has three families. Each family has a maximum of 8 children and taking care of them is shifts are four different grown-up workers.
Family work is organized in such a way that the child would feel safe and at home.
Assignment of the NGO:
• To offer a safe environment for the children - the orphanage;
• To develop the knowledge and skills of the children through various projects, activities and trainings, non-formal education;
• To host volunteers from different countries and in this way to give the children possibilities to practise other language and learn other culture;
• To develop cooperation between Estonia and abroad.
As the community where the orphanage is located is small, then the volunteer is included to activities in the local school and kindergarten.
In summary, the activities, the environment and the motivation itself to have this opportunity are the main keys for the success of that project.
NGO Maria ja Lapsed has participated in EVS since 2010 and already hosted 3 volunteers.
The aim of the NGO Maria ja Lapsed is to take care of the children left without parental care (22 children), to make them be reliable, educated and Estonian speaking active citizens. The idea is to support their independent and critical thinking, understanding of the society and reliable and friendly relationship in the community. The main activities of the organisation are supporting children’s growth and preparing them for the independent life.
The orphanage is small which helps to create cosy and safe environment for the children. There are working a director, 11 educators, 1 social worker, 1 driver .
The orphanage has three families. Each family has a maximum of 8 children and taking care of them is shifts are four different grown-up workers.
Family work is organized in such a way that the child would feel safe and at home.
Assignment of the NGO:
• To offer a safe environment for the children - the orphanage;
• To develop the knowledge and skills of the children through various projects, activities and trainings, non-formal education;
• To host volunteers from different countries and in this way to give the children possibilities to practise other language and learn other culture;
• To develop cooperation between Estonia and abroad.
As the community where the orphanage is located is small, then the volunteer is included to activities in the local school and kindergarten.
In summary, the activities, the environment and the motivation itself to have this opportunity are the main keys for the success of that project.
NGO Maria ja Lapsed has participated in EVS since 2010 and already hosted 3 volunteers.
The aim of the NGO Maria ja Lapsed is to take care of the children left without parental care (22 children), to make them be reliable, educated and Estonian speaking active citizens. The idea is to support their independent and critical thinking, understanding of the society and reliable and friendly relationship in the community. The main activities of the organisation are supporting children’s growth and preparing them for the independent life.
The orphanage is small which helps to create cosy and safe environment for the children. There are working a director, 11 educators, 1 social worker, 1 driver .
NGO Maria ja lapsed situates in Tudulinna parish, which is located in East-Estonia in Ida-Viru county. The county contains large deposits of oil shale - the main mineral mined in Estonia. As oil shale is used in thermal power plants, the earth in Ida-Viru literally holds the largest power capacity in Estonia. Though Tudulinna parish situates in the middle of the county, it is exceptional in the area due to majority of Estonians living there. It has a population of 629 (2006) and an area of 270 km² (http://www.tudulinnavv.ee/).
Tudulinna is a very small town; there is a lack of bus services, which means you always have to consider bus times. Tudulinna is far from big cities; the closest large cities are Jõhvi, which is located 51km away from here, Rakvere, which is located 67km away from here. Tartu is 95km away and Tallinn 160km away.
Tudulinna is very beautiful in terms of its nature, there is a beautiful landscape and Peipsi Lake is only 16km away.
Tudulinna is located in Ida-Viru County. Ida-Viru County has a lot of Russian-speaking people, and therefore it is a great volunteer opportunity to see two different cultures: the Estonian and Russian.
The Tudulinna population however, is relatively unactive, initiative to organize cultural events together as one community rarely takes place. However, participation in events organized by other people inside the community is common. And when the event is organised together as one community (Orphanage, School, Nursery and volunteers) the people of the town have shown a big interest in the events and activities.
The climate in Estonia varies, the summer’s (June to August) are warm usually ranging between 10-28C, Some years even reaching up to 30-35C. Autumn (September-November) is a rainy season and relatively cold and windy, winter’s (December-February) allow plenty of snow fall and quite cold weather, usually between 5 to -25C. In spring time (March to May) it’s sunny but relatively cold. The weather is not very reliable and often it is warm and sunny one day and the next day will be raining and cold.
Living and working with us, the volunteer can always count on our assistance and we will help with clothes and other necessities
Whilst working with our organisation we provide the apartment (living room, kitchen, toilet and bathroom). The volunteer can spend their spare time in the apartment as long as they follow the rules and regulations of any rental accommodation agreement.
As Tudulinna is a rather small community, then EVS volunteers work will be connected with all community and most likely will directly or indirectly influence majority of the population.
Volunteer will work with 2 different target groups:
- children and young people in the Orphanage, children in the kindergarden
- youngsters in the local school
Working in the orphanage the volunteer has a wonderful opportunity to work with children of different ages ranging form 1-16.Different activities on different days allow something new and interesting every day.
* The NGO MTÜ Maria ja Lapsed can offer to volunteers :
• the opportunity to carry out a well-defined set of tasks, creative ideas, different kind of activities,
• guidance through experienced staff ,
• personal supporting by well integrating the volunteer in the organisation.
In the organisation, the volunteer has possibility to learn and experience how children from different background behave and act, support their development in everyday bases. The contact with the orphans or to deal with their problems and develop activities for them is part of the wide range of learning possibilities that the volunteer will pass through. The environment of a small village can also create bonds in the sense of community which helps the volunteer to adapt him/herself easily. The daily work with the children in the orphanage and with the whole community is a great challenge that the volunteer can get various experience, knowledge and skills. There’s a possibility to develop activities with the young people in the local school and around the village.
In the orphanage it is possible to learn Estonian and Russian language, as these are the languages children and workers are using mostly. As well, some of the kids in the organisation have disabilities, which the volunteer will be encouraged to develop activities to work with them. This situation can also be an add value for the volunteer which may transform his/her attitude regarding the most fragile members in the society. Different games and exercises will be in the list of the possible activities to develop either.
As the orphanage is situating in rural area, then it is great opportunity for the volunteer to get to know Estonian nature and village life, cultural, traditional music and dances. The aim to host volunteers is to introduce foreign culture and languages to the children, encourage them to be more opened and tolerant. We believe that the contact with the orphans and the community can develop attitudes of tolerance and understating, breaking stereotypes and helping the volunteer and the small community to deal with the difference, but above all to cooperate and understand the similarities.
Sample of activities, where volunteer can participate in the orphanage are following: sending children to school and kindergarten; in the evening picking up children from school/kindergarten; settlement of homework, studying; leisure fitting.
Weekends are the main assignment leisure premises in the yard, where in the room. Sports, hiking, walking outdoors is one of the top priority. We have children go to music schools, learn to dance and take part theatre group.
By choice and when help is needed the volunteer may also work on weekends, when doing so the volunteer can then pick a day off whenever he/she wishes. Working during the weekend is good because the children are home and he/she can plan activities with the children so that everyone can take part.
Though there is a lot of work to do in the orphanage, we have also seen that volunteer will work in the local school in order to have more variety in the tasks. In the school volunteer will help the hobby teacher in preparing the activities, support the teacher in after school activities and study groups etc.
Tudulinna’s school has 9 grades and attending the school are 32 students. As there are few pupils two different year groups may be put into one classroom with about 2-6 students. The school organises event for the children where the children are happy to participate. Under the schools organization there is a youth club where the children can spend two days a week spending their spare time using the gym, workout room or playroom.
The volunteer will work maximum 36 hours a week having two consecutives days in the weekend as free time. If there are specific weekend activities, the free days can be negotiable. The volunteer will have 2 days per month of voluntary project as vacations either.
Under our supervision the volunteer will never work alone and neither takes full responsibility over the children. The volunteer is working with us helping the instructor of the orphanage take care of the children and fill the children’s free time. The volunteer can help the instructor with the children’s homework and doing activities with the children. There will always be a worker to help the volunteer and tell them what to do when needed.
* We would like to receive volunteer, who is friendly, good communicator, helpful, active and should have some basic knowledge of English. Knowledge in music and have a healthy life style is going to be an add value to the candidate.
She/he should be interested of working with children and youth. We are ready to host both- female and male volunteers and age is not important, nevertheless we see that person who is coming to volunteer in our project is mature, since working in a small community with different target groups is not always easy. Also we wait from the volunteer some pro-activity, initiative and creativity to come up with new ideas and suggestions. A capacity of improvisation, dynamism, sense of responsibility to work with disadvantage children’s will be taking in count. A person who like to play games and do leisure activities (dance, singing, instrument, art, sport, acting) so he /she could teach it to the children.
Tudulinna is a very small town; there is a lack of bus services, which means you always have to consider bus times. Tudulinna is far from big cities; the closest large cities are Jõhvi, which is located 51km away from here, Rakvere, which is located 67km away from here. Tartu is 95km away and Tallinn 160km away.
Tudulinna is very beautiful in terms of its nature, there is a beautiful landscape and Peipsi Lake is only 16km away.
Tudulinna is located in Ida-Viru County. Ida-Viru County has a lot of Russian-speaking people, and therefore it is a great volunteer opportunity to see two different cultures: the Estonian and Russian.
The Tudulinna population however, is relatively unactive, initiative to organize cultural events together as one community rarely takes place. However, participation in events organized by other people inside the community is common. And when the event is organised together as one community (Orphanage, School, Nursery and volunteers) the people of the town have shown a big interest in the events and activities.
The climate in Estonia varies, the summer’s (June to August) are warm usually ranging between 10-28C, Some years even reaching up to 30-35C. Autumn (September-November) is a rainy season and relatively cold and windy, winter’s (December-February) allow plenty of snow fall and quite cold weather, usually between 5 to -25C. In spring time (March to May) it’s sunny but relatively cold. The weather is not very reliable and often it is warm and sunny one day and the next day will be raining and cold.
Living and working with us, the volunteer can always count on our assistance and we will help with clothes and other necessities
Whilst working with our organisation we provide the apartment (living room, kitchen, toilet and bathroom). The volunteer can spend their spare time in the apartment as long as they follow the rules and regulations of any rental accommodation agreement.
As Tudulinna is a rather small community, then EVS volunteers work will be connected with all community and most likely will directly or indirectly influence majority of the population.
Volunteer will work with 2 different target groups:
- children and young people in the Orphanage, children in the kindergarden
- youngsters in the local school
Working in the orphanage the volunteer has a wonderful opportunity to work with children of different ages ranging form 1-16.Different activities on different days allow something new and interesting every day.
* The NGO MTÜ Maria ja Lapsed can offer to volunteers :
• the opportunity to carry out a well-defined set of tasks, creative ideas, different kind of activities,
• guidance through experienced staff ,
• personal supporting by well integrating the volunteer in the organisation.
In the organisation, the volunteer has possibility to learn and experience how children from different background behave and act, support their development in everyday bases. The contact with the orphans or to deal with their problems and develop activities for them is part of the wide range of learning possibilities that the volunteer will pass through. The environment of a small village can also create bonds in the sense of community which helps the volunteer to adapt him/herself easily. The daily work with the children in the orphanage and with the whole community is a great challenge that the volunteer can get various experience, knowledge and skills. There’s a possibility to develop activities with the young people in the local school and around the village.
In the orphanage it is possible to learn Estonian and Russian language, as these are the languages children and workers are using mostly. As well, some of the kids in the organisation have disabilities, which the volunteer will be encouraged to develop activities to work with them. This situation can also be an add value for the volunteer which may transform his/her attitude regarding the most fragile members in the society. Different games and exercises will be in the list of the possible activities to develop either.
As the orphanage is situating in rural area, then it is great opportunity for the volunteer to get to know Estonian nature and village life, cultural, traditional music and dances. The aim to host volunteers is to introduce foreign culture and languages to the children, encourage them to be more opened and tolerant. We believe that the contact with the orphans and the community can develop attitudes of tolerance and understating, breaking stereotypes and helping the volunteer and the small community to deal with the difference, but above all to cooperate and understand the similarities.
Sample of activities, where volunteer can participate in the orphanage are following: sending children to school and kindergarten; in the evening picking up children from school/kindergarten; settlement of homework, studying; leisure fitting.
Weekends are the main assignment leisure premises in the yard, where in the room. Sports, hiking, walking outdoors is one of the top priority. We have children go to music schools, learn to dance and take part theatre group.
By choice and when help is needed the volunteer may also work on weekends, when doing so the volunteer can then pick a day off whenever he/she wishes. Working during the weekend is good because the children are home and he/she can plan activities with the children so that everyone can take part.
Though there is a lot of work to do in the orphanage, we have also seen that volunteer will work in the local school in order to have more variety in the tasks. In the school volunteer will help the hobby teacher in preparing the activities, support the teacher in after school activities and study groups etc.
Tudulinna’s school has 9 grades and attending the school are 32 students. As there are few pupils two different year groups may be put into one classroom with about 2-6 students. The school organises event for the children where the children are happy to participate. Under the schools organization there is a youth club where the children can spend two days a week spending their spare time using the gym, workout room or playroom.
The volunteer will work maximum 36 hours a week having two consecutives days in the weekend as free time. If there are specific weekend activities, the free days can be negotiable. The volunteer will have 2 days per month of voluntary project as vacations either.
Under our supervision the volunteer will never work alone and neither takes full responsibility over the children. The volunteer is working with us helping the instructor of the orphanage take care of the children and fill the children’s free time. The volunteer can help the instructor with the children’s homework and doing activities with the children. There will always be a worker to help the volunteer and tell them what to do when needed.
* We would like to receive volunteer, who is friendly, good communicator, helpful, active and should have some basic knowledge of English. Knowledge in music and have a healthy life style is going to be an add value to the candidate.
She/he should be interested of working with children and youth. We are ready to host both- female and male volunteers and age is not important, nevertheless we see that person who is coming to volunteer in our project is mature, since working in a small community with different target groups is not always easy. Also we wait from the volunteer some pro-activity, initiative and creativity to come up with new ideas and suggestions. A capacity of improvisation, dynamism, sense of responsibility to work with disadvantage children’s will be taking in count. A person who like to play games and do leisure activities (dance, singing, instrument, art, sport, acting) so he /she could teach it to the children.
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APPLICATION PROCESS
Interested volunteers, please send your filled EVS form (which can be found enclosed) and Motivation Letter tohak.l...@gmail.com by December 22, 2014.
NOTE:
1. There is a section for Sending Organisation in the form, pls leave the space for us to fill in.
2. Please mark clearly the service you are interested in.
3. If you are interested in more than one project , pls mark your order of preference and write different Motivation Letters.
4. While filling the form pls be as detailed as possible.
5. Selected volunteers might be asked for a skype interview with the host organisation.
Good Luck!
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