Hello upcoming volunteers,
My Name is Lena and I was volunteering with the Ipauratu Foundation, for three weeks. Maybe you are wondering about how important volunteers are here and if they are really needed. I had the same concern like you before I came here. But now I am really enjoying to work with the kids.
Every morning there are five children coming to a kind of community center in Galapa. All of them have some difficulties in learning as fast as other children and that’s why they cannot go to the “normal” school in town. But because all of them have a different age and level it can be quite difficult for the teacher to spend enough time with each of them. So that’s when we volunteers are really helpful. For example today I practiced with a seven year old boy the numbers one to ten and yesterday we were learning the vocals a, e and i. Since it is not an easy thing for him to learn it is great when there is a person there, only for him. And without volunteers this wouldn’t be possible.
Then in the afternoon there are a lot of other children coming to the community center. To use the computers, dance in the audio hall or do other activities. For them it is great too when there are volunteers there. It is interesting for them to meet foreigners who speak different and can help them to learn some English words or to do their homework. Besides it is a nice change for the kids when you come up with little activities because I have the feeling sometimes they run out of ideas what to do except to play games on the computer. And they always show great interested in all different sorts of activities. Today, for example, we were making simple bracelets out of wool and another day we played bingo to learn the English numbers.
So I hope I could give you a little impression of the work with the kids here. I am really enjoying it and I can assure you that if you show interest and initiative it will be a rewarding experience, for you and the kids!
Best whishes
Lena