Volunteers who dedicate time and energy at a daycare center in Samana have an opportunity to make an important difference in the lives of children even with little Spanish skills! This voluntary role is very rewarding if you enjoy interacting with children, guiding them as they grow and learn. Volunteers usually perform a variety of duties as they assist a daycare supervisor, teacher or primary caretaker. Our aim is to provide educational assistance and help create an environment where children can be supported through early childhood development (ECD) which refers to the physical, psychological, cognitive and social development that a child experiences between birth and school-going age. The 6 principles of child development are: Emotional and Social Development, Language Skills Development, Cognitive Skills Development Physical Development, Motor Skill Development, Self Help Development.
ECD often focuses on learning through play based on the research and philosophy of Jean Piaget, which posits that play meets the physical, intellectual, language, emotional and social needs of children. Children learn more efficiently and gain more knowledge and develop cognitively through activities such as dramatic play, art, and social games. ECD has the capacity to pre-emptively close the educational achievement gap between low and high-income students before formal schooling begins. (Children of low socioeconomic status (SES) often begin school already behind their higher SES peers; on average, by the time they are three, children with high SES have three times the number of words in their vocabularies as children with low SES.)
What to expect
Working hours can be all day but you can choose to assist half days and spend the rest of the day at the beautiful palm fringed beaches of the area! As a volunteer you will help the local staff in providing love, care and much needed attention to the children. Volunteer work varies from day to day but you would be generally acting as mentors for the children, provide individual love and affection for the children, organize different activities for the children, help the local staff in their work and make suggestions to them for improvement. Volunteers spend their time taking care of children, usually playing games and reading them books. Also, volunteers will assist the staff as needed. The volunteers will work from Monday to Friday, at least 4-5 hours a day but are welcome to work full days. At times, the volunteer will work more or less hours, depending on the coordinators needs. Volunteers who dedicate time and energy at a daycare center have an opportunity to make an important difference in the lives of children. This voluntary role requires dedication but it is very rewarding if you enjoy interacting with children and guiding them as they grow and learn. Some Spanish skills are helpful but not mandatory!
Requirements
No previous experience or special skills are required. Basic Spanish skills are helpful but not mandatory. We provide free Spanish classes on a regular basis, full support and 24/7 backup. However, all that is truly necessary is enthusiasm, self-reliance, patience and an open mind. An ideal volunteer is proactive and result-focused. We welcome individual volunteers, families and groups regardless of age, experience or background. 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 20 to 40 hours per week. That's up to you! As an intern however you most 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.
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 €40 per week and an all in Host Family homestay
upgrade is €145 per week, including a private bedroom and two meals per
day. For more information about costs and benefits check out our webpage.
Activities can include but are not limited to
Assist with age-appropriate activities like arts and crafts, reading, writing, dancing, singing, playing games
Take care of children and assisting the local staff in everyday activities
Help monitoring children to ensure they remain safe as they go about their activities
Research, plan and prepare educational, development and care-related activities
Assist stock supplies and help with cleanup of school rooms or play areas
Help staff during meal times and assist toddlers and preschoolers
Engage children in interactive activities and read books to them
Engage the children in whatever activity or skill you posses, such as dancing, singing, painting.
There is no end of activities and sights to visit in your spare time.
Visit the north coast for some of the best windsurfing or kite boarding found in the world, go whale watching, try fun hiking, biking or even white water rafting for those adrenaline seekers! You may also like to visit the Caribbean's highest peak or the Playa Rincon, said to be one of the best beaches in the world. Hunt round the quaint town of Monte Cristo for some great finds including bargain priced jewellery made from handcrafted beads, and try some with some of the local rum in one of the colourful bars!
We are a registered tax exempted charity and all monetary contributions are referred to as donation since what you pay is generally 100% tax-deductible for you. Speak with your tax adviser to learn how the cost of international airfare can be tax-deductible as well. Please also read our Terms & Conditions. Check out how your donation is spent, and read our Financial Reports.
The Foundation will do everything to make sure our volunteers remain safe during their stay in the Dominican Republic.
On your way to Santa Barbara de Samana you will most likely fly into Las Americas airport near Santo Domingo, where we have established a great cooperation with a very personal welcome service for our incoming volunteers! Your driver will help you personally and thoroughly during your transit from the airport Las Americas to the bus terminal which is only 10 minutes away, therefore granting you peace of mind and tranquillity during your travel. The driver will assist you with purchasing your bus ticket and bring you to the bus terminal where you will catch the direct and comfortable bus to Samana, the last stop on the route. Travel-time on the bus is two hours only. On arrival at the placement location, fellow volunteers and our Staff will welcome you and bring you to your accommodation.
The Foundation’s popular volunteer guesthouse apartments are located in the center of the seaside towns of Samaná and las Terrenas, both scenic, laid back and peaceful towns, with friendly and easy-going Dominicans, living their life with tourism, agriculture and fishing activities, all set to the beat and rhythms of Merengue, Bachata and Salsa music.
Our Volunteer Guesthouse Apartments are extremely conveniently located only a few minutes from school or the hospital, the village center and to the beaches and the Malecon, the gorgeous seaside walking promenade, where you will find a lot of restaurants, bars and shops. The villages and their surroundings are very safe and our apartments in Samana and Las Terrenas have lovely neighbors who constantly look after us. All important locations are only minutes away and it’s safe to walk at night. A shared room with two beds is the standard option. Upgrades are available for single room occupancy. Free wifi and use of a washing machine is, of course, is standard at all Aldeas de Paz facilities.
All our apartments are fully furnished and have WIFI and washing machine
Living together with volunteers from all over the world is a unique chance for cultural exchange and can be an exciting and new way of living compared to anything you’ve ever experienced before. It has certainly been a key experience in the lives of many past volunteers! Volunteers work and live together and learn how to be empathetic and considerate of others’ needs. They share their free time, house cleaning tasks and cooking (optional). It means they also become close, develop lifelong friendships and have immense fun along the way! We feel that it is important to highlight that we have created an environment of respect and consideration.
Time Commitment: A minimum of 2 weeks commitment is required. It´s up to you when and for how long you want to work.
Availability/Holidays: The Daycare Center remains open all year but closes through christmas holidays
Early Childhood Education & Development
Assist enhance early childhood education in disadvantaged communities!
$251/week
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