Peace Villages Foundation


Mobile School - The perfect project for energetic, creative, and outgoing people

The Mobile School consists of five interconnected boxes on wheels. These boxes slide in and out of each other and provide for a constantly changing and transportable classroom. With the boxes extended we can attach a variety of fun and educational exercise cards. The cards vary in level of difficulty and contain a broad range of educational material. The core themes are literacy, mathematics, creative therapy, healthcare education and human rights. We are also able to create our own educational themes. Clean water conservation and waste/pollution awareness are two examples of such themes.

The Mobile School was orginally invented by a Belgian organization which sought to serve street children. Peace Villages has adapted this original purpose to use the school as a tool to teach children who are not served by a school system, helping them with the goal of getting them to enter into the public educational system. We also educate children who are already in school, reinforcing what they learn through their traditional education. Traveling through the streets of Santa Elena, the Mobile School presents educational material in a lively and engaging manner. We aim not only to educate, but also to have fun!  We help raise the children’s self-esteem by teaching them that they are valued members of their communities.

Read the report from long-term Mobile School Volunteers Sofie and Lena

Peace Village Foundation’s Mobile School Program focuses on three groups of children: those who have dropped out of the traditional school system, the local indigenous communities, and the children who live in poorer settlements on the outskirts of Santa Elena.

Background: Santa Elena is a town which is growing far too quickly for infrastructural services to keep up. The existing school systems are overpopulated, which keeps them from reaching their full potential of quality education. As a result of the poor quality of education, children have little motivation to continue attendance, and many children drop out at a very early age.

Further out of the town limits are the indigenous communities, which are served by school systems with fewer resources and which do not rely on the common teaching material of the national educational systems. This can create a population of children and adolescents who are disenfranchised from their peers.

The problem is aggravated by the rising numbers of “invasions.” Located in the outskirts of Santa Elena these are residential zones of poor and landless families. The families come to Santa Elena looking for improved lives for their children and better economic opportunities. These invasions often do not have basic infrastructure. Electricity, running water, and sewage are unlikely to be found, and the children who live there are often not served by an education system. The Mobile School visits children in these three groups on a weekly basis.

Activities can include:

  • Helping to plan and prepare the classes, and regular maintenance of the Mobile School (MR: E1, L0, C0) 
  • Assisting in the movement of the Mobile School to street locations in Santa Elena and to other communities (MR: E0, L0, C0)
  • Helping to teach literacy, math, creative therapy, healthcare education, children's rights and other topics (MR: E0, L1, C0)
  • Assist with supervising  sport, recreational and development activities, organizing special events (MR: E0, L0, C0)
  • Helping with Mobile School administration work: Reports, Statistics, general planning, documentation (MR: E1, L0, C0)

Requirements:

No previous experience or special skills are required, but participants need to be enthusiastic,
willing to learn, ready for a challenge and have a desire to work with children. Friendliness, care,
commitment and patience are among important qualities. Take delight in the children’s progress through
interaction and play, as well as the charming nature of the bonds formed between children and
volunteers. Some knowledge of Spanish language would be advantageous. You do not necessarily need to
have previous teaching experience. Staff and other volunteers will support you when you start teaching.
Please check each activity for its specific Minimum Requirements ( MR )
Level of Experience  None: E0; Little: E1; Advanced: E2; Experts: E3 
Spanish Language Skills  None: L0; Basic: L1; Conversational: L2; Fluent: L3
Minimum Time Commitment  None: C0; 1 Month: C1; 2 Months: C2; 3 Months: C3

Availability:

Ongoing throughout the year.


  Photos    Cost


 

Fundación Aldeas de Paz
Lomas de Piedra Canaima via Sampai, Santa Elena de Uairén,
La Gran Sabana, Estado Bolívar, Venezuela
Phone: 0058 - 289 - 4160820  Email: mail@peacevillages.org
We are a registered charity: RIF J-30872287-1 (Vz) 
   

Copyright © 2008
Peace Villages Foundation
 
Mobile School Children & Youth Care Teaching & Tutoring Conservation Pemón Aboriginals Ecological Building Community Radio NGO Administration Horse Therapy Medicine & Healthcare Virtual Volunteering Other Programs Learn Spanish
Volunteer Intern Jobs Apply
Venezuela Santa Elena Treks & Tours Travel Information Safety Why Volunteer?
Cooperative Living Host Family Independent
Our History Mission & Vision Staff Testimonials Contact Us Join Our Mailing List
What to Bring Venezuelan News Books & Articles