A. Project environment: profile of the organisation and local community
The project is located in the 4th district of Vienna. Vienna is the capital of Austria and has about 1.8 million inhabitants. The 4th district is central and has lots of unique shops and restaurants. The kindergarten is located directly in a semi-private community access park frequented by a high percentage of creative, open-minded parents with alternative lifestyles. It is right next to Vienna's largest market, a central subway station, and several beautiful churches and museums. It is within walking distance of the Vienna Opera House, the museums of natural history and of art, the newly opened Museum Quarter, and the very center of Vienna, Stephansplatz.

As described already above the volunteer will be part of the MELANGE programm which offers a special support for EVS projects in Vienna.

B. Proposed activities for EVS volunteers
The main task of the volunteer will be playing with the children and adding a cultural influence to our group. This could be by playing games, speaking to the children, singing, music, cooking some special dish form his/her country or any other idea the volunteer has. All activities and project ideas will be implemented together with the support of the teachers. This will give the volunteer the oportunity to learn from the pedagogical principles the group is working with and have the chance to also use these methods. The volunteer will not be expected to cook, clean, or do other such maintenance tasks on a routine basis other than as tasks shared equally with the teachers and children. Having a volunteer be part of our group enables us to make even more excursions into the nature surrounding Vienna and to visit cultural sites and events. The children love being outside and trips to the woods and to parks are even more enjoyable with a volunteer offering a helping hand.

An average day in the Kindergruppe looks like this: Mornings (08:30) - the children arrive - common breakfast - playing in the park or an excursion or indoor games if the weather is poor, Midday - mealtime, Afternoon - arts and crafts, reading, indoor and outdoor playing. In the afternoon there is also time for special theme weeks (the four seasons, animals, different cultures….). By 15:30 the children have all been picked up.

The volunteer can especially involve him/herself in the morning, after breakfast and in the afternoon after lunch, with the theme weeks or the activities that are offered then. The volunteer is welcome to develop new project ideas and implement them with the help of the staff, either with the whole group of children or with just a few children, or even with a single child. We would also like him or her to help with lunchtime, sharing the tasks equally with the two teachers and involving the children whenever possible. He/she will work 6 hours per day, 9:30-15:30 from Monday to Friday.

Our kindergarten is very much like a family in that all parents know each other and are actively involved not only in decision-making processes, but also in the daily upkeep of the rooms. Every day a different parent is responsible for cooking and cleaning. This provides the volunteer the opportunity to interact with adults and ensures that she or he will not be isolated among children. The volunteer will also take part in the monthly teacher-parent meetings and be invited to such seasonal events as are organised (Christmas party, summer camping, etc.). If necessary for work we offer supervision. One of the parents is a mentor and will check in regularly with the volunteer to discuss problems or questions that may arise about work or personal matters. The parents of our group are all very active and creative and there is a great potential for making friends and contacts. The volunteer will most likely be quickly integrated into the community and offered a variety of activities to attend or participate in, if he or she wishes.

C. Volunteer profiles and recruitment process
The volunteer should like to work with children, be reliable and open-hearted. It would be a great benefit if the volunteer has some basic German skills and the motivation to learn more of the language, in order to be able to communicate more easily with the children.

E. Risk prevention, safety and protection
Please describe how you will guarantee a safe living and working environment for the EVS volunteers, how you will prevent risks and crises and how - in the case of EVS volunteers aged 16 or 17 - you ensure appropriate supervision, child safety and protection.
Within this project only volunteers over 18 will be hosted.
Grenzenlos will provide a support structure within the frame of MELANGE for the volunteer: Grenzenlos will organise the accomodation, transfer the pocket money, be of assistance when the volunteer needs a doctor and will also provide a leisure time programm. Grenzenlos will make sure the volunteer will get in touch with other volunteers and will not be lonely in Vienna. Grenzenlos will also stay in touch with the project to follow up on the volunteer in the project and will ensure that the project provides a mentor/supervisor who will guide the volunteer with his/her tasks in the project.
The volunteer will also be part of the MELANGE programm. MELANGE is the EVS programm in Vienna coordinated by Grenzenlos, which is strongly supported and funded by the City of Vienna. Each year Grenzenlos sends and receives an average of 30 young people each, plus short term exchanges. The main priorities are working with disadvantaged youth (e.g. handicapped people, young migrants, long term unemployed,...) and exchanges with countries in Eastern Europe, Southern Eastern Europe and the MEDA region.
The volunteer will not have the sole responsibility. More staff members will be present at all time. He/she will receive clear instructions on what to do in cases of emergency and whom to contact. He/she will also be supported by Grenzenlos within the Melange programme.