Placement: YOUTH, CARE AND COMMUNITY - Help us enhance the lives of children and teenagers

About the Placement

We cannot pretend to remedy serious social and economic conditions, but volunteers in Santa Elena have plenty of opportunities to make a difference to young people who would otherwise lack educational and creative opportunities. Community projects are typically under-resourced and under-staffed, so volunteers and resources are always welcome. In addition to established community activities and programs, motivated volunteers who bring ideas for projects have the chance to set up their own volunteer opportunities in Santa Elena with the financial and organizational support of Peace Villages Foundation. The foundations established relationships and contacts with various schools and social organizations in the town and the help of the Volunteer Coordinator enable volunteers to create their own exciting work placements. Whether your skills lie in music, sports, drama, art or handwork, PVF and Santa Elena can offer you a unique chance to implement your own ideas, while giving you valuable experience and realizing personal ambitions and goals. The towns Casa de la Cultura (Cultural Center) and Fundacin del Nio (Childrens Foundation) are some of the organizations which are open to the input of volunteers, from English teaching, theater and music projects, to computer and ceramics classes. In the past, volunteers have formed teams working on community projects such as the maintenance and painting of playgrounds and community centers, the organization of litter collections and environmental education activities, the planning of cultural events and festivals in conjunctions with the town council. We also would like to set up a month-long summer camp for underprivileged and street children from around Venezuela on the Foundation grounds, and are looking for a committed volunteer to organize and implement this exciting idea. There are no limits to the work a motivated and enthusiastic volunteer can set up in Santa Elena, but achieving a successful independent project does require a longer stay than participation in PVFs already established volunteer programs.



ACTIVITIES CAN INCLUDE:

Help teaching simple wood work to young people at our Community & Therapy Center or by passing on vocational carpentry & building skills

Assist teaching at the local music school or arts, craft and ceramics at the cultural center and our Community & Therapy Center

Assist with supervising recreational, developmental and therapeutic activities for special need kids who visit our Community & Therapy Center

Help organize special events

Bring joy and warmth to hospitalized children by participating in visits to the pediatric ward for recreational activities like story telling, theater and play sessions

Make and decorate wooden didactic toys and materials for our play-therapy program for underprivileged children and special need kids

Play and take care of underprivileged children, bringing joy and love to local day care centers

Help restore and maintain childrens playgrounds and school facilities and furniture. Assist with painting and restoring work, help with landscaping, redecorating and maintenance.



REQUIREMENTS:

No previous experience or special skills are required, but participants need to be enthusiastic, willing to learn, ready for a challenge and have a desire to work with children. Friendliness, care, commitment and patience are among important qualities. Take delight in the childrens progress through interaction and play, as well as the charming nature of the bonds formed between children and volunteers. Some knowledge of Spanish language would be advantageous. A typical volunteer with this program comes without a lot of previous experience but has a number of ideas and enthusiasm, takes initiative and dedicates a lot of caring and passion to the position. However, Volunteers with experience are strongly encouraged to apply.



AVAILABILITY:

Ongoing throughout the whole year. Mobile School and educational/recreational activities run by our Foundation are ongoing throughout the whole year. Public school related activities are not taking place during holidays

Role of Volunteer

VOLUNTEERING WITH ALDEAS DE PAZ

Volunteering is a great way to experience another culture, make new friends and learn new skills. The beauty in volunteering lies in the fact that you are not simply passing through as a tourist. You are interacting with the community, building relationships and making a positive impact. It is an experience that may well change your life! Volunteers are the driving force of Peace Villages’ work, both through their volunteering and through their financial contributions. We have various programs currently underway and run by volunteers, as well as the long term expectation of opening a large multi-faceted Therapy Center. Volunteers, through their donations and through volunteer work done on the Foundations grounds are helping us to create this center. We encourage volunteers to form schedules which work for them, and to work in any combination of programs. Volunteers decide how many hours they want to work. We recommend a minimum of 4 hours daily for 4 days a week. You may work as many days/hours you wish. We emphasize that we focus on excellence and not on quantity! All travel costs to Santa Elena, Venezuela must be covered by the volunteer. Budget at least 35 Euro for in-country travel (including meals along the way) on top of whatever your plane ticket costs (likely at least 330 Euro depending on where you are coming from).



TYPICAL VOLUNTEER

A typical volunteer/intern needs to be enthusiastic, willing to learn, ready for a challenge, has a desire to take initiative and dedicates a lot of caring and passion to the position. Friendliness, care, commitment and patience are among important qualities. We welcome individual volunteers, families and groups regardless of age, experience or background. You don’t have to speak fluent Spanish as we provide full support and 24 hour back-up from our local staff. Volunteers and interns are the driving force of Peace Villages’ work, both through their volunteering and through their financial contributions. Volunteering with us is a great opportunity to work side by side with locals, learn new skills, study Spanish, and immerse oneself in the Latin and indigenous culture. The beauty in volunteering lies in the fact that you are not simply passing through as a tourist. You are interacting with the community, building relationships and making a positive impact. It is an experience that may well change your life!



APPLICATION

Please fill online-application. Web-site available to members only

Travel Information

Travel Information for Venezuela

Just two steps away from Aldeas de Paz:

Flight to Caracas, Luxury bus ride to Aldeas de Paz location

Arriving at Caracas Airport: In the airport your first stop will be Immigration where you will be given a three months tourist entry stamp in your passport. (Extendable later on) If you previously booked the Pick-Up Service, Omar your driver, will be waiting for you and bring you directly to the Bus Terminal.

From the Airport to the Bus Terminal

Here starts the second step on your way to Santa Elena. "Terminal de Oriente", is the bus terminal that has luxury buses leaving directly to Santa Elena. You have three options to transfer from the Airport to Terminal de Oriente:

From Caracas Bus Terminal to Aldeas de Paz in Santa Elena

Direct luxury buses are the fastest, cheapest, and most convenient way to travel from Caracas to Santa Elena. They are equipped with new, stretch reclining seats, air conditioning, a bathroom, and DVD system. Several companies operate ultra-modern buses to Santa Elena. Three buses are leaving daily from Caracas to Santa Elena. Two are traveling directly and the third requires a step over halfway.

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