On a social care project, you will be
working in one of the many orphanages, childrenīs homes or care centres that we
support, giving urgently needed practical help and support to the staff in
their daily duties. Most establishments are privately run, with no external funding,
relying heavily on donations of clothing, food, equipment, and of course,
volunteer assistance for their day to day survival.
Volunteer duties in the projects are many
and varied, but never predictable. One day you may be cooking in the kitchen; the
next, collecting donated bedding; the next, painting a dormitory.! The work is
sometimes difficult and emotionally challenging, but always rewarding,
and whichever project you choose, whilst they are an advantage, no experience,
formal training or qualifications are required.
More important are compassion, flexibility, patience, and above all, enthusiasm.!
STREET CHILDREN
Dedicated to reintroducing street children back
into society, the project gives you the opportunity to change their lives for the
better, by supporting full-time staff and other volunteers to offer a crucial
support system that includes education, health care, social and psychological
assistance. By providing them with education and guidance, it is possible for
the children to reform themselves and regain their self-confidence so they can
begin to take control of their lives once more. Over the years, thousands of
boys and girls, aged from 4 to 18, have benefited from the project, set in a
variety of locations, providing accommodation, food and clothing, a day nursery,
primary and junior schools, a single mothers' refuge offering temporary
child-care, a home for teenage boys and girls, a bakery, a wood shop and a
handicrafts centre.
Children are encouraged to attend school, rather than spend the day on the streets, with its temptations to enter a world of crime, drug and alcohol addiction, and as a volunteer you will have the chance to encourage and assist them with their schoolwork, (such as English, maths, sports, and domestic studies), whilst developing in them a sense of self-esteem, responsibility and giving them a brighter future to look forward to.
ORPHANS
Caring for children from new born infants to young adults, the project
provides a day nursery, school, medical and dental facilities, and some limited
accommodation. Your duties will be many and
varied, and may include meal preparation and feeding, bathing, dressing,
hospital visits, washing clothes and general cleaning duties. Child development
also plays a major role, and you may choose to become involved in teaching,
music, art, drama and sports.
The older children generate funds to support the project through the bakery, carpentry, metalwork and dressmaking businesses that have been established, in partnership with the Street Childrenīs project.
The Social Care projects are open every day of the week, giving a great deal of flexibility in the hours you can attend. Your
time schedule will be arranged with your local co-ordinator, and there are
usually other volunteers on this project at any given time, with a
member of the full-time staff supervising and co-ordinating the group.
