YOUTH CARE & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

YOUTH CARE & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT - Enhance the Lives of Children and Teenagers

Aldeas de Paz operates a Community Attention Center (CAC) in Samana where our local team consists of teachers, therapists, social workers and a pedagogue who help our beneficiaries from underprivileged communities both individually and as families. At our CAC and also through outreach programs in the neighborhoods we build community support for youth care. We provide a recreational, therapeutic and educational space in which each participant can develop their own skills through games and the arts, active participation in the community and social interaction. 

Aldeas de Paz offers educational support accompanied by awareness activities on inclusion and diversity. Committed volunteers are always welcome since there is constant need for one to one attention and tutoring and sport classes (Football for Peace project). We place volunteers to assist our local team to attend our beneficiaries at the center and on home visits. Whether because of poor study habits or the lack of individualized help, in the Dominican Republic many kids struggle just to keep up. Often a student's lack of confidence is their number one obstacle, so we provide a warm fun learning environment filled with praise and encouragement. That's how our volunteers help children experience success in school.

Aldeas de Paz runs a successful humanitarian campaign and home care plan aimed for people with disabilities whose socioeconomic and health situation is threatened because of the current covid-19 health crisis which has impacted heavily on the economic and social situation of our beneficiaries and their community. Facing the current pandemic, our goal has been to bring physical and mental health, nutrition and inclusion. Now, the combination of our previous work at the Community Attention Center (CAC) and the action plan to alleviate the covid-19 caused food, health and education crisis led us to develop the Community Care & Development program.

What to expect

As a volunteer or intern In this program you will have many opportunities to be involved. You are able to choose activities which fit your skills, abilities and preferences. We are constantly adapting our activities to community needs and volunteer numbers and capacities. If you wish to specialize in a particular activity we will do our best to accommodate your personal preferences. However, you can be asked to be involved in a combination of activities. While being placed at the Community Care & Development program there are three different approaches:

• Community Social Work: Direct family attention, accompaniment, follow-up and referral of cases raised during the Covid-19 crisis
• Raising awareness and sensitize for disabilities: promote equal opportunities for social and productive inclusion and participation 
• Aldeas de Paz Community Attention Center (CAC) in Samana: A space where (specially young) people with disabilities and special needs have access to the acquisition and reinforcement of knowledge, promoting their personal capacities individually and guide them to the experience of inclusion and participation 

Create your own project with our support!

Additionally, volunteers have the unique chance to present and implement their own ideas and projects in Samana! Share your vision and gain our support! Please contact us and we will send you a form where you present your project for evaluation!

Activities can include but are not limited to

• Help our team with activities for special need education on individual and group level at our Attention Center and/or on home visits
• Assist with educational and social support activities
• Take part promoting activities to create didactic materials using recycling techniques
• Help prepare and lead thematic workshops (some Spanish skills are helpful)
• Help design and edit multimedia content
• Assist with direct attention, monitor and accompaniment of users to other goods and services
• Learn how to identify individual/family/community needs
• Help with case studies and Intervention to assess development and methodology
• Assist with recreational, developmental and therapeutic activities for children and young adults with special needs
• Assist children and spend time with them, playing, organizing, teaching and doing craft activities, singing and dancing
• Assist our team with youth, family and community development activities and engaging support for parents & caregivers on home visits. (some Spanish skills are helpful) 
• Help promote the educational and social inclusion process for people with disabilities
• Attend weekly meetings with other volunteers and staff to create weekly lesson plans and educational projects
• Help organize special events like fundraising parties, cooperating with other organisations and supporting community activities when help is needed
• Assist organizing and leading intercultural events and regular meetings for locals and volunteers with cross-cultural activities fostering exchange and integration (some Spanish skills are helpful)
• Plan and execute workshops on disability and related topics based on the characteristics and needs of target groups (advanced Spanish skills are needed)

Requirements

No previous experience or special skills are required but basic Spanish language skills are very helpful. However, all that is truly necessary is enthusiasm, self-reliance, patience and an open mind. Nevertheless, volunteers that already have experience in teaching, working with children or working with people with various challenges are strongly encouraged to apply. We welcome individual volunteers, families and groups regardless of age, experience or background. Basic Spanish skills are helpful, but an advanced level of Spanish experience will open up more opportunities. We provide free Spanish classes on a regular basis, full support and 24/7 backup. An ideal volunteer is proactive, result-focused but still patient and willing to engage in activities autonomously while still having our support and supervision. You are welcome to bring some arts & crafts materials

Volunteer placement or internship

Most of our participants join as volunteers and are free to commit from between 10 to 40 hours per week. That's up to you! As an intern, however you probably have to fulfill requirements set by your school or university. Please inform us of your school or university internship requirements in advance so that we can work out your personalized work plan together. Also tell us about your personal expectations and goals and we will see how we can help you achieve them.

Time Commitment: A minimum of 2 weeks commitment is required 

Placement Location: Samana

Financial Contribution & Benefits

Aldeas de Paz works hard to keep the required financial contribution to an absolute minimum and to offer financial transparency by practicing an open book policy. The calculation of your financial contribution or donation is set up so that the longer you stay the less you give per week. We do this to encourage longer stays, recognizing that longer stays lead to more significant volunteer work and more energy contributed in the form of donated time in place of money! The minimum contribution starts at €140 per week and includes Spanish language classes, double room at one of our fully equipped guesthouse apartments, a special program donation as well as a personal welcome service and pick-up at the airport, transfer to the bus, bus fare and free transfer to your placement location in Las Terrenas or Samana. If you wish a single room upgrade add €50 per week and an all in Host Family homestay upgrade is €150 per week, including a private bedroom and two meals per day. For more information about costs and benefits check out our webpage. 

What is included

• Welcome Service at the airport and transport to your placement location 
• Volunteer or Internship placement
• Accommodation (standard or upgraded)
• Placement introduction, training, supervision, briefings and meetings
• Free regular Spanish lessons throughout your placement 
• Free Wifi and use of washing machine at all our facilities 
• Certificate and/or written reference or student credit 
• Full support and 24/7 backup from local staff  
• Information about adventure packages 

Special Offer

Spanish language classes: Volunteers and interns receive free language lessons every week. The classes focus on developing communication skills so that students are able to put their knowledge to practical use as soon as they step outside the classroom. Our teaching method enables students to develop four basic skills: listening comprehension, speaking, reading and writing. The idea is to learn Spanish in a natural and spontaneous way, just as students have learned their mother tongue. Our students are encouraged to speak Spanish right from the very first day, using it in typical real-life situations: the basic syllabus is supplemented by special exercises, such as role-play, situational dialogues and work projects. Outside the classroom, the learning process continues as you are immersed in the Spanish language and the Dominican culture.  

Contact Information 

Contact Person: Manfred Mönnighoff

Project/charity name: Fundación Aldeas de Paz

Address: Samana, Dominican Republic

Whatsapp: +1 829 7055 123

E-Mail: mail@peacevillages.org

Webpage: https://www.peacevillages.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook/AldeasdePaz

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/AldeasDePaz

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AldeasDePaz

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/Peacevillages