Bona Fides Association has an opportunity for a Polish volunteer (citizen or resident of Poland, aged 22-30 yo) to join a long-term volunteering project with Cologne Volunteer Center: Kölner Freiwilligen Agentur in Cologne, Germany!
Location: Cologne, Germany
Dates: 5th February 2025 – 14th February 2026
Duration: 12 months
Information for applicants
The Cologne Volunteer Center is a local coordinating organization and we coordinate several hosting projects in Köln/Germany. We are open for applicants who are interested in a 12-month-service, have good knowledge of German and are under the age of 30.
Next starting date is February 15th 2025.
More information about the international voluntary service in Köln can be found on our website:
https://koeln-freiwillig.de/international-volunteers/
We coordinate the following hosting projects:
· Cologne International School / Internationale Friedensschule Köln – Boarding
For project descriptions go to our website https: https://koeln-freiwillig.de/volunteer-projects-in-cologne/
If you are interested, please send us your application in German. Your application should include these documents:
· the application form.
See download: https://koeln-freiwillig.de/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ESC_application_form_KFA_2024_2025.pdf
· a CV with foto
· a priority list
Which hosting project are you interested in? You can tell us up to three priorities for hosting projects in Köln.
Please only choose those hosting projects where you meet the criteria (see project description)
· a letter of introduction including your motivation for each chosen project of your three priorities
We are looking forward to your application until December 15th, 2024.
Project location
In the International Peace School in Cologne, pupils are already literate in the primary school in two languages, the best prerequisite for the acquisition of two languages at native language level and the learning of other foreign languages. They learn in an international context, both in terms of curriculum content as well as classmates and teachers from over forty countries and all cultures in the world.
The institution is a boarding house, affiliated to the International Peace School Cologne. The pupils who attend the boarding school are of international origin and attend the secondary school, there either the gymnasiale or the international branch. The boardinghouse therefore speaks German and English.
The target groups for the boardinghouse are students between the ages of 15 and 18 years. They are located in apartments that are equipped for three to four students. A total of 16 teenagers can be accommodated in the boardinghouse.
There is a group room with a kitchen, where boarding students can have meals together, watch TV, play games or just meet up to talk.
The employees of the boardinghouse accompany the students in everyday life away from the school, but also support them in school matters. Above all, the young people are supported in their independence, for example domestic skills are learned together, so that the students can live alone after their schooling. For example, they cook together, order and structure are worked out together and hygiene education takes place.
In addition, the boardinghouse is also about learning social skills. In an international setting with young people from different countries of origin and different socialization, this is essential. On a recreational pedagogical level, activities are therefore regularly undertaken in order to increase acceptance and tolerance for one another and to facilitate a cultural exchange.
Tasks of the volunteers
The volunteers should be involved in the daily life of the boarding school. The volunteers help with the daily routines: prepare meals, support the students in everyday activities (homework, tutoring, household issues, etc.) and support the full-time staff.
The volunteers should contribute and carry out their own projects in the field of leisure time activities. Here the volunteers have the opportunity to contribute their own interests or talents and to integrate the boarding students. These can be sports activities, artistic hobbies or excursions. With the support of the full-time staff, such projects can be carried out, especially on weekends or during school holidays.
Some days a week, the volunteers work in the clubs of the school. After the lesson is over, the students visit clubs in the afternoons where they can pursue their interests or deepen their learning content. The volunteers make offers to the students, e.g. Language training in the mother tongue of volunteers, music, sports or creative offers, depending on the interests of the volunteers.
Operating time: On the days volunteers work in the clubs: usually from 2pm to 8pm. On days when volunteers do not work in the clubs: usually from 4pm to 10pm.
Accommodation and meals
Accommodation in a single room in an apartment of the boardinghouse.
Meals in the school canteen or in the canteen of the boardinghouse.
Requirements
• Enjoy working with young people.
• Tolerance to different cultures.
• Inventiveness in terms of leisure activities.
• Reliability.
• Helpfulness.
• Desired are German and English language skills.
• Between 22 and 30 years old.
Application
If you are interested in applying for this project please contact us at: a.siembab@bonafides.pl & anna@bonafides.pl. Write ‘ESC projects in Cologne, Germany‘ in the title of your e-mail.