European Solidarity Corps volunteering at KIRIKU

What is KIRIKU?

We provide after-school care for 14 children between six and eight years of age. Kiriku is located between the 6th and 7th district of Vienna. We are open from Monday to Friday from 12:00 to 17:30. Kiriku is run by a board which consists of the parents of the kids. In the ‘Kindergruppe’ itself there are two full-time caretakers, who have a pedagogical background and attended some external training, like Montessori-courses etc. Both are very warm-hearted, patient, and competent people, who are doing the best to provide a nice and warm atmosphere and support the international volunteers in the best way they
can.
Our main goals are to let our children live their fantasy and their own ideas and to provide them safe surroundings so that they can express their own opinions and learn to become socially responsible. We also want to stimulate curiosity and open minds for people with different cultural backgrounds and provide the opportunity to learn other languages, what we see as key to understand people from other parts of this world. The best way to achieve these goals is to integrate young people from different countries and cultures into our project.

Proposed activities

Giving the children a first-hand experience with foreign languages, poems, art and music would be a benefit to all of us. Offering art and creativity occupation to the children and working with the children – together with our professional caregivers – would be our most desired approach within this project.
So during the leisure time programme for the children, we want you, as a volunteer, to start and initiate own activities for the children. You will be given the possibility to execute your own projects with the children. Whether you want to engage in arts, sports, music, history, science, language or a political subject is up to you and your interests or background. Any support necessary for your ideas will be provided by us.

Project examples could be a theme week about the country you are from (every afternoon could have a different focus, like: Music, traditions/habits, games, cooking, language etc). Another possibility would be a project about some special talent of yours.
You will also work with the children in their daily activities, like eating, doing homework,playing, and cleaning up.

You will get the opportunity to:
✓ integrate in our team and play an important role in our process of reaching our
goals
✓ learn German
✓ work with children
✓ participate in a non-profit and social project
✓ participate in team meetings as well as meetings with the parents
Your total working hours will be about 30 hours, maximum 38 hours, per week.

Volunteer profile and recruitment process

We are looking for a person who really likes to spend time and work with children. It would be nice if you are creative and willing to bring your own ideas, and able to show initiative. You should also be motivated to learn German.

This European Solidarity Corps (ESC) project in Vienna is coordinated by the association Grenzenlos within the MELANGE program. If you want to apply for this project, please fill in the Melange application form and send it together with your CV (curriculum vitae) and motivation letter to application@melange.wien  

Please state the name of the ESC project (Kindergruppe KIRIKU) in the subject of your e-mail. Grenzenlos will forward your documents to the hosting project, where the selection will be made.  

Important! Your application will only be accepted if it is complete and if you already have a supporting (sending) organisation. 

All ESC placements coordinated by Grenzenlos are generally available to everyone between the age of 18 and 30 who is residing in an ESC program or partner country. However, in the selection procedure, a preference is shown for candidates with fewer opportunities. You will be informed about the outcome of the recruitment process a few weeks after the application deadline. For more information, please visit www.melange.wien.