Teacher at a Swimming School

At the Swimming school of Local Dreamers children of parents, who do not have the possibility to pay for an expensive swimming course, can literally learn to keep their heads above the water at the swimming school of Local Dreamers. On Friday afternoons, we teach them the basic techniques of swimming in the two swimming pools that we rent in the neighborhood of La Arcadia. We take their safety very serious, swimming classes are always joined by a supervisor of Local Dreamers. The Swimming School project is a great joy for both the children as the volunteers. The focus of the classes is on fun, motion and swimming techniques.

Mission

Within the Swimming School project of Local Dreamers we want to offer children from the south of Quito education and movement in a safe surrounding, just like we do at the Soccer School. Besides stimulating development of the children in terms of self-confidence, taking initiative and learning norms and values like respect, discipline and collaboration, in this specific project self-reliance in the water is priority number one. 

Vision

By offering education through movement and sports at the Swimming School, Local Dreamers hopes to contribute to the personal and social development of the children of the vulnerable neighbourhoods of South-Quito. Besides that, we want to give the children from the poorer neighbourhoods in Quito the opportunity to learn how to swim.  

At the Swimming School you can take the role of manager/project coordinator or as a swimming teacher/assistant to the manager.

• Prepare and give swimming classes in a safe and structured manner;
  
• Introduce the kids to sport and motion;
  
• Oversee the swimming classes;
  
•  Safeguard the balance, structure and progress of the project;
  
• Keep in touch with the kids´ parents, talk to them before or after workshop if necessary;
  
• Chair and/or prepare our monthly Swimming School team-meetings;
  
• Actively involve yourself with the organization and the project: What is needed? What can be improved?;
  
• Create a safe and stimulating sport environment;
  
• Promote important values like respect and collaboration.
  
  

What can you expect from us?

As a foundation we already work in Ecuador for a long time. Our team in Quito consists of experienced and passionate coordinators, who know the country and city like the inside of their pocket. Our coordinators are available 24 hours a day, to accompany our volunteers with everything they run into during their stay in Ecuador. Local Dreamers is a very small-scale and personal foundation and we encourage volunteers to get the most out of their time in Ecuador. Everything is possible, even starting your own project, we are open to assist you in any way and are always open for new suggestions and ideas.

As you're going to assist in our sports projects, we expect you to bring some sporty clothes. We always appreciate some donations, think about clothes, pencils or notebooks.

Location

Our central office is located in La Villaflora, a lively working-class district in the heart of Quito. La Villaflora can be seen as the gateway to the less developed south of the city. In addition, the district is also ten minutes away from the historical and tourist center. La Villaflora has best of both worlds, we are based close to our projects in the south of Quito but also close to the more modern center of the city. As a volunteer you will live in host families based around the La Villaflora neighborhood.

Our Swimming School is located in the La Arcadia district, a cozy working-class neighborhood that is slightly less developed than La Villaflora. Every day we depart together from our central office towards the projects in this district.

Spanish course

To be of more added value for our projects, we expect you to take a Spanish course at our foundation, unless you already have a B-1 level in Spanish. You can choose between a Spanish Basic, Intensive or Specialist course. The costs of the Spanish course are not included in the mentioned prices. Feel free to contact us and we will let you know.

Make your decision

In order to make a well-considered decision, it is essential that you are well-informed by our organization. Our Volunteer Coordinator will inform you about everything you need to know. Via Skype, you can meet our team in Quito.

Get ready

Once you have chosen a project, it is important that you are well prepared before you travel. This is not only a welcome relief for you, but for your home front as well. Our team will help you to get ready for the adventure.

Onwards to Ecuador

In Ecuador you will be picked up at the airport by our Quito team; a special mix of Dutch and Ecuadorian professionals, on which you always can rely.

The working environment of Local Dreamers has been the source of special friendships more than once. This is because we tend to hang out and make fun together after work. You´ll get so familiar and close with your fellow volunteers that the ties you have built with them in Ecuador will often continue to exist when you return home.

Former volunteer Sterre de Geus (21) described a day as a swimming teacher for us:

07:45     Alarm goes off, I put on my non-fashionable-but-decent clothes and have desayuno with my host family

08.30     In 10 minutes I walk to the office of Local Dreamers, on the way I take the Metro Newspaper and try to decipher the local and global news

09.00     Working time! All volunteers and interns are at the office and in small teams we start preparing lessons and trainings. Today I have to prepare a swimming lesson. With the help of project bundle of Local Dreamers’ I decide what to practice today.

10.00     Coffee break. Let´s check if there is some news from the home front.

11.00     Spanish lesson. Today Paulina (my Spanish teacher) and I discuss the imperative and my prepared swimming lesson, very effective because I can use it right away😉

13.00     Lunch. Today we try another lunch spot around the office. It will probably be soup, followed by rice with chicken for about $2.00

14.00     Time to take the bus to the South of the city, where the Swimming school is located. Together with fellow volunteers we take a 25 cents bus from the office to the Swimming school.

15.00     The swimming class starts, I´m teaching in the deep bath today. Together with my fellow volunteer we practice floating and the backstroke with our four kids. Between the exercises we play a ballgame with the kids in our bath.

17.00     All kids have left the pool, we decide to play a short game of water polo.  Time for a short evaluation of the kids´ progress.

17.45     End of the day. With all other volunteers I take the bus back from the South to our host families. My host mom prepares rice with chicken, while I try to show her my newly learned words.

During your stay with Local Dreamers you will live with one of our local host families or you will have a room in our volunteer house. It's completely up to you. Both the host families and volunteer house (located above our office) are located in central Quito, near the historical center and the tourist center.

In the weekends you are free to come and go wherever you want. Ecuador is incredibly versatile, but still relatively small and easily accessible. From Quito you can easily go on a discovery tour and get to know more of this fantastic country. Our coordinators are happy to help you on your way. If you want to take a little more time for a trip, that is of course always possible. We are a flexible organization and are happy to think along with you.