Peace Villages Foundation

Come and help us enhance the lives of children and teenagers

We cannot pretend to remedy serious social and economic conditions, but volunteers in Santa Elena have plenty of opportunities to make a difference to young people who would otherwise lack educational and creative opportunities. Community projects are typically under-resourced and under-staffed, so volunteers and resources are always welcome.

In addition to established community activities and programs, motivated volunteers who bring ideas for projects have the chance to set up their own volunteer opportunities in Santa Elena with the financial and organizational support of Peace Villages Foundation. The foundation’s established relationships and contacts with various schools and social organizations in the town and the help of the Volunteer Coordinator enable volunteers to create their own exciting work placements. Whether your skills lie in music, sports, drama, art or handwork, PVF and Santa Elena can offer you a unique chance to implement your own ideas, while giving you valuable experience and realizing personal ambitions and goals.

The town’s Casa de la Cultura (Cultural Center) and Fundación del Niño (Children’s Foundation) are some of the organizations which are open to the input of volunteers, from English teaching, theater and music projects, to computer and ceramics classes.

In the past, volunteers have formed teams working on community projects such as the maintenance and painting of playgrounds and community centers, the organization of litter collections and environmental education activities, the planning of cultural events and festivals in conjunctions with the town council.
We also would like to set up a month-long summer camp for underprivileged and street children from around Venezuela on the Foundation grounds, and are looking for a committed volunteer to organize and implement this exciting idea. There are no limits to the work a motivated and enthusiastic volunteer can set up in Santa Elena, but achieving a successful independent project does require a longer stay than participation in PVF’s already established volunteer programs.

Activities can include:

• Help teaching simple wood work to young people at our Community & Therapy Center (MR: E1, L0, C0) or by passing on vocational carpentry & building skills (MR: E2, L1, C1)

• Assist teaching at the local music school or arts, craft and ceramics at the cultural center and our Community & Therapy Center (MR: E1, L1, C1)

• Assist with supervising recreational, developmental and therapeutic activities for special need kids who visit our Community & Therapy Center (MR: E0, L0, C0)

• Help organize special events (MR: E1, L1, C2) 

• Bring joy and warmth to hospitalized children by participating in visits to the pediatric ward for recreational activities like story telling, theater and play sessions (MR: E0, L1, C0) 

• Make and decorate wooden didactic toys and materials for our play-therapy program for underprivileged children and special need kids (MR: E0, L0, C0)

• Play and take care of underprivileged children, bringing joy and love to local day care centers (MR: E0, L0, C0)

• Help restore and maintain children’s playgrounds and school facilities and furniture. Assist with painting and restoring work, help with landscaping, redecorating and maintenance.  (MR: E0, 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.
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 through the whole year. School related activities are not taking place during holidays (Mobile School works through the whole 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: info@peacevillages.org
We are a registered charity: RIF J-30872287-1 (Vz)    

Copyright © 2008
Peace Villages Foundation