International Youth Volunteer - Fully Funded Placement

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The British Red Cross has been hosting German volunteers on UK projects for over ten years, and, we have been sending volunteers to projects in Braunschweig and Halle over the last few years.

In September 2019, we are looking to send 7 volunteers to kindergarten and after-school club based placements in Halle.

**Please note as part of the ESC programme, applicants through our programme must be currently resident in the UK. For more info, please visit https://jobs.redcross.org.uk and search with keyword GERMANY**

QUALITIES WE ARE LOOKING FOR

The successful candidates will be aged 18-28, and will also demonstrate the following:

• An interest in working in the social and/or youth fields
• Committed, mature and independent work ethic
• Excellent communication and social skills
• Sensitivity to service users needs and an understanding of working with vulnerable people
• Willingness to work with young people in the age of up to six years (Kindergarten) or up to 10 years (after school care) and to face the challenges which go hand in hand with this age
• Flexibility and an ability to deal with challenges in a constructive manner
• Creativity and willingness to take the initiative
• Realistic expectations regarding the benefits and challenges of volunteering overseas for 12 months
• Prepared to live with a modest allowance and accommodation
• Spoken English & a reasonable level of German (at least GCSE equivalent )
• And most importantly, a commitment to the Red Cross, volunteering and global humanitarian issues

PRACTICALITIES

The placement will run from September 2019 for 12 months until the end of August 2020. The successful candidates will be funded and accredited through the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) scheme of the European Commission.

Our priority is to recruit young people who would otherwise not have access to such international opportunities. Accommodation will be provided as well as food or an allowance for food. Travel to and from work will be via public transport or by bike. In addition, each volunteer will receive a small personal allowance of 150 Euros per month.

Volunteers will work an average of 7 hours per day, 5 days per week. Some flexibility is required to accommodate activities that run in the evenings or weekends. There are also circa 24 days of holiday during the placement (not including national public holidays), which can be taken with prior arrangement with your supervisor.

Volunteers at the Red Cross are highly valued for the skills and energy they bring to our work. The successful candidates will receive pre-departure and on-arrival training from both the Red Cross and the European Commission, as well as have access to confidential support and supervision throughout the placement.

Volunteers will be based at kindergartens (pre-school age children) or after school centres (similar to homework/ play clubs) which are affiliated to the German Red Cross. Volunteers will be encouraged to share their own culture imaginatively and creatively with the children through a range of structured and unstructured educational and playtime activities. Based in Halle in former East Germany the centres all have an emphasis on encouraging tolerance and inclusion from an early age. The voluntary placements are orientated in assisting full-time workers and teachers in the kindergartens and after school centres and take place in the different institutions across Halle:

1) After School Care

The children at this day care centre have a diverse social background, thus the process of intercultural integration is a priority. The interests and talents of the children are supported by a number of activities i.e. music, languages and sports.

2) Kindergarten

The day care centre "Kita Herweghstraße" has the main focus of promoting intercultural understanding. Teachers and volunteers supervise children from all kinds of social classes and nations and work in a bilingual (English and German) setting. Volunteers will support the professional staff in the daily activities and promote the English language among the young children.

3) Kindergarten

The kindergarten promotes intercultural understanding during early childhood. Their participation in the project "Kindergarten ohne Rassismus" (German program “kindergarten without racism") underlines how important it is that young children develop an awareness towards democracy, diversity and moral education and on the same time exclude xenophobia and racism.

4) After School Care

Our after school care center August Hermann Francke follows the same goals and principles as our kindergarten. The children (primary school age) come to this day care center to do their homework from school and participate in afternoon activities. The children have a diverse cultural background, so the center works with an intercultural approach celebrating international holidays and experiencing a variety of culture (e.g. through cooking events)

5) After School Care

The day care center "Bunte Welt" (colorful world) provides supervision for children from all sorts of national and social backgrounds. This is a child-parent center, which means that not only the children but also the parents and families are welcome. The focus is on promoting healthy lifestyles. Due to the specific requirements of this day care center, German language skills as well as a pedagogic interest is warmly welcome among the volunteers.

6) Registered society for people with special needs

The registered society for people with special needs is a big established provider of different opportunities for people with special needs and their families. From kindergartens to after school care and living groups, the Lebens(t)raum e.V. provides different opportunities. The focus lies on integration and inclusion. The society is open for two volunteers, but it is not finally decided which exact placement will be supported by them.

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