Organizing a summer feast in a Home for mentally handicapped people and studying German in Berlin

  Germany

• Berlin: 
Berlin

Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: August 23 - September 10, 2008

Description: In the Koepenick district on the outskirts of Berlin, within close proximity to two rivers, lakes and extensive forests, there is a Home for mentally handicapped people run by the social foundation Koepenick.

Your main task will be to organise and run a summer fete together with the residents. We would hope that the preparation of decorations, games, entertainment (for example, music and theatre) and food would mirror the varied cultural backgrounds of the participants. Other tasks are the creation of a herb and vegetable bed for each of the groups living in the home, and taking day trips with the residents. Most of the residents work in workshops until early afternoon and you will need to be flexible in arranging your working time and be prepared to work in the afternoons.

Köpenick is the largest geographic section of Berlin. Seventy-five percent of the district is water, forests, and meadows. For the people of Berlin, this district serves as a recreational area.

Highlights: This year, the international volunteer project will offer you, next to work and meeting residents of this centre, the possibility to learn and improve your German. You will have two hours of intensive German classes every day, followed by 3 to 4 hours of work. All tutors are experienced teachers of German as a foreign language and they are participants in this workcamp as well.

A special contribution of 240 Euros is payable to the hosting organization for the language tuition.

Qualifications: A basic knowledge of German is an advantage for this project.

Cost in US$: $290 US

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: motivated to work voluntarily within an international youth team, tolerant, open-minded and cooperative young person with adventurous spirit.

Age Range: 18 - 26 years old

This Program is open to American and Canadian Participants.

Participants Travel to Germany Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups

CADIP - Canadian Alliance for Development Initiatives and Projects's Mission Statement: CADIP promotes peace, cooperation, tolerance and understanding in international, multi-ethnic, multi-cultural surroundings. The organization also promotes patterns and examples of civil activities focused on serving others, on building social ties and strengthening communities, on supporting civil society development. Aims and general objectives: * To promote volunteering as an expression of civic contribution * To strengthen the international contacts among young people * To build tolerance and understanding in multicultural and multi-ethnic surroundings *To promote multiunderstanding among youth all over the world * To facilitate the individual growth of the volunteers through the acquisition of work, life and learning skills * To work for the recognition and promotion of non-formal learning * To support the community initiatives and assist in community development.