A. Project environment

Szczecin is a port city situated in north - west part of Poland (30 km from Polish - German border, 150 km from Berlin, 100 km from the seaside). It's a capital of the West Pomerania Region, broad and open gate in the southern Baltic Sea.

Szczecin - for centuries - has provided a centre from which Europe's transit routes have crossed from west to east and from north through the Balitc to the south of Europe. It is a city of merchants and travellers, enjoiyng an unique geograpfical location from sailors' point of view. Of its entire area, 24,4% is water: arms of the Odra River, Lake D¹bie, a network of port cannals and channels, the southern part of Zalew Szczeciñski, Lake G³êbokie, Lake Szmaragdowe and some smaller water courses meander and connect with ponds situated in enormous green areas of the city in Arkoñski Forest.

There are several cultural centres such as cinemas, theatres, museums, The Pomeranian Dukes' Castle. A various attractions - pubs, student clubs and galleries are a quarantee that everyone can find something interesting here. It is also quite a big students' city - many colleges such as the University of Szczecin, Technical University, Agricultural Academy or Medical Academy and several private colleges are located here.

Although Szczecin is a great tourist attraction, many tourists visit the city (and West Pomerania Region) and many different cultures meet here, it still has its' own atmosphere and you can realy taste the "Polish way of living" living here.

B. Proposed activities for EVS volunteers

The organization by everyday activities implements programs which aims are to support development of children attending there through various activities. Actions undertaken by teachers aim to increase level of social activeness of young citizens. Daycare centre takes care of cooperation with parents. Through implementation of suitable programs children gain skills of interpersonal communication, empathy, cooperation with other people and they are able to find themselves supportive in many difficult situations. Through spreading knowledge about the region and country daycare centre is biulding in children attachment to national culture and by cooperation with similar organizations from other countries - makes children realise existing of european community, and gives them opportunity to get to know other cultures and languages.

By EVS projects daycare centre implements its' own goals but also promotes intercultural dialogue and goals of Youth in Action program.
  Volunteer's main goal

Other volunteer's tasks will involve:
- help professional staff in everyday caring activities - such as: feeding children, dressing up and changing children, help in higienic activities (but it will be once in a while and not everyday duty of the volunteer),
- support proffesional staff in everyday educational activities - such as: active participation in group or individual care, specially activities inspiring children to learn english language,
- be part of activities which aim is to run the organization and realize its' goals - such as: help in organization of cultural and integration activities, active participation in cooperation with parents, help in preparing decorations, etc.

Continuation of EVS hosting activities is next step of planned by daycare centre european activities. EVS volunteer who will be hosted in daycare centre is for children "fresh accent", chance to gain new, interesting experiences. Everyday contact with someone who represents other culture, speaks different language and represents different, interesting experiences in field of work with children is for proffesional staff an impuls to take new actions and look at the whole educational process differently.

EVS volunteer who will be part of our community - will have many opportunities to gain intelectual, emotional and cultural experiences by contact with other culture, getting to know our values and social rules. Besides tasks implemented in frames of the project EVS volunteer will have an opportunity of implementing his / her own ideas and presenting his / her own opinions. As EVS volunteer will gain more experience he / she will be able to run some activities himself / herself - always with supervisor (proffesional teacher).

C. Volunteer profiles and recruitment process

We would like to host someone who is highly motivated to work with children (age 3 - 6), some esperience in work with children will be benefitial to the project. Ideal person for this project should have the ability to cooperate in a group and make new contacts easily. Basic knowledge of english and strong motivation to learn polish are required.

100% of proffesional staff of daycare centre are women, that is why we would appreciate male volunteer - who would be able to make up the male model - in relation specially with children which are not raised by both parents. By that volunteer will be able to present to the children proper social models - in this limited by specific occupational community of daycare centre teachers - of contact with both genders.

It is important that EVS volunteer will take an active aprt in everyday activities of the organization, share his / her own ideas and be willing to implement various, new methods in work with children. EVS volunteer should be aware of rutine, repeated activities in everyday work of daycare centre.
Daycare centre cooperates with coordinating organization which takes care of the recruitment process by announcing free placements in the project in Eurodesk newsletter. The informtion is also spread in cooperation with other partner organizations which cooperate with hosting and coordinating organization.