Project Description:

 

In Sri Lanka kindergartens with children aged from about 3 to 6 years old. This phase of a child’s life and the support they receive is incredibly important, so the positive influence a volunteer can have during their pre-school years will we hope be long lasting.Volunteers take part in a wide variety of activities within the kindergartens and your own ideas for games, songs, or new activities will be greatly appreciated. 

 

If you have experience or interest in special needs, you can work at a special education centre for children aged from 6 to 20 who have a variety of disabilities, including Down syndrome and autism. Please let us know if this is the case when you apply. Please do not imagine Sri Lanka to be your typical poverty stricken third world country. The kindergartens, care centers, and special needs placements are well organized and the children are disciplined, although sometimes the institutions may be understaffed.

 

Project Activities:

 

• Pre School Education

• Teacher Training

• Special needy Children Education

• Diploma course for Pre-School teachers.

• Health and NutritionProgram for malnourished children

 

Location : Colombo ( Western Province )

Start dates : Every week on a Sunday (this is flexible)

Project : Open Year Around

Duration : 4 - 12 weeks, possible to extend (max. 6 months)Availability :

Spaces : Available

 

 

Typical Day at Work:

 

• 7:30 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. School opens,

• free play inside with manipulative activities, crayons, art, singing songs, etc.

• 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Outside

• free play (weather permitting) or inside activities until 8:55am when circletime begins.

• 9:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.

• Circle time with daily Montessori activity presentation (outlined in the monthly newsletter)

• 9:15 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.

• Work time with Montessori materials, computer class time using Apple iMac Wi-Fi compatible computers

• 10:15 a.m. - 10:25 a.m.

• Snack Time (fresh fruit or crackers w/cheese, milk, juice)

• 10:25 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Work time continued until

• 10:45am, clean up and second circle time with presentation

• 11:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.

 

Above schedule may vary Kindergarten to Kindergartenl, this is flexible.

 

Duties and Responsibilities: 

 

• Provide a variety of materials and resources for children to explore, manipulate and use, both in learning activities and in imaginative play. 

• Teach basic skills such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal hygiene, and social skills. 

• Establish and enforce rules for behavior, and procedures for maintaining order. 

• Read books to entire classes or to small groups. 

• Organize and lead activities designed to promote physical, mental and social development, such as games, arts and crafts, music, storytelling, and field trips.

• Observe and evaluate children's performance, behavior, social development, and physical health. Identify children showing signs of emotional, developmental, or health-related problems, and discuss them with supervisors, parents or guardians, and child development specialists. 

• Meet with parents and guardians to discuss their children's progress and needs, determine their priorities for their children, and suggest ways that they can promote learning and development. 

• Enforce all administration policies and rules governing students. 

• Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities. 

• Teach proper eating habits and personal hygiene. 

• Serve meals and snacks in accordance with nutritional guidelines. 

• Meet with other professionals to discuss individual students' needs and progress. 

• Plan and supervise class projects, field trips, visits by guests, or other experiential activities, and guide students in learning from those activities. 

• Select, store, order, issue, and inventory classroom equipment, materials, and supplies. 

• Provide disabled students with assistive devices, supportive technology, and assistance accessing facilities such as restrooms. 

• Perform administrative duties such as hall and cafeteria monitoring, and bus loading and unloading. 

• Administer tests to help determine children's developmental levels, needs, and potential. Prepare and implement remedial programs for students requiring extra help.

 

Physical Fitness :

• Good Mentality

• Ability to work under pressure

• Ability to work with Children with good patience

• Be a Sportive character

• Creative

• Innovative

• Fun Loving

• Open minded

• Adventurous

 

Requirements :

 

• 18 + years of age•

• Native English Speakers/Near Native English Speakers•

• Good health•

• Being open-minded, adaptable and flexible•

• Respecting the local culture, religion and customs•

• Completion of high school/secondary school is required•

• You must hold a full police check from your home country

 

Volunteer Qualifications:

 

• Have experience in Montessori  education ( be an advantage )

• Having obtained Montessori Diploma or Degree ( be an advantage )

• Be able demonstrate an ability to work independently

• Be able demonstrate a passion for using education for development

• Have the ability to successfully manage their time and prioritise tasks

• Be fluent in English.

• Be capable and comfortable adapting to life in a least developed country with sometimes basic living conditions

• Be able to adjust to life in another culture and a foreign language,

• and be able to work at all times with cultural sensitivity Ideally have previous experience living, working or travelling in a developing country, though is not essential

• Be able to financially support themselves.

 

Accommodation:

 

You will be accommodate in Host Family or in Hostel of the premises or elsewhere close to the project, within walking distance or use a foot cycle ( will be provided ),Three times meals will available in Host Family as well as in the Hostel, tea and snack is provided in sometime. Your will have to share a room with other volunteers or you will have your own room according the availability. Basic bathroom facilities in good condition, pipe borne water or well water, in some areas you will be advised to drink bottled mineral water for your safety, most part of Sri Lanka well water is very good for drinking as well as the pipe water, Electricity, Internet are widely available in Sri Lanka,

 

Hospital, Banks (ATM), Hotels, Restaurant are available in every corner of Sri Lanka, western Union money transfer facility is in each and every bank in Island wide.Big shopping malls with western type food items, good condition of road for you to travel, most of people can communicate in English, you can visit surrounding touristic places when you have a free time to visit. Please avoid travelling in the dark or in the night, always use public transport, it is cheap and safe, do not travel with un known person or vehicle, if you travel by Trishaw(tuk tuk)Get onto metered Taxi, Please take care of yourself,

 

please always get our assistance and advice before you do need to travel anywhere in Sri Lanka, if you feel or suspicious of anything , please call us immediately , we will take necessary action within seconds, as your safety is our priority. 

 

Project Fees include :

 

• All entrance ticket to the tourist hot spots

• Airport pick up 

• Accommodation during orientation and entire project time 

• Breakfast every morning 

• Lunch & Dinner every work day 

• One day  Orientation 

• Onsite Coordinator 

• 24 hour emergency assistance 

• Written record of service completion (for volunteers that successfully complete their project).

 

Project Fees Does Not Include:

 

• Travel to/from Home to suburbs.

• Sri Lanka visa costs (if applicable)Visa extensions

• International Medical Insurance

• Cost of criminal police background check (required for this project)

• Transport from Project to Project

• Cost of transportation to and from Project site and accommodation Meals on weekends.