VOLUNTEER IN ANTONIO MACHADO

Start: January 2025

End: July 2025.

The schedule for volunteer activities will range between 30 and 38 hours per week, from Monday to Friday. The general hours will be from 8:30 to 14:30, except on Tuesdays and Wednesdays when activities will extend until 15.00. Occasionally, volunteers may be asked to come in during an afternoon to participate in community-building events or help with school maintenance activities. Additionally, there will be one Saturday morning required during the entire project for special activities.

Volunteers are warmly invited to actively engage in all activities proposed by the school community and are encouraged to suggest their own initiatives or personal projects that inspire them and foster personal growth. This involvement will always be guided and supported by the teachers in charge and other members of the school community, ensuring meaningful learning and support throughout the experience.

We are seeking a volunteer who is enthusiastic about contributing to the daily tasks of our community. We highly value traits such as responsibility, autonomy, and creativity. Volunteers must understand that the school operates as a screen-free and technology-free environment. The use of mobile phones or any other devices is strictly prohibited in the presence of children to maintain focus on personal interaction, creativity, and experiential learning. Volunteers are expected to respect and uphold this policy at all times.

We are looking for volunteers to carry out the following tasks:

1. Assisting in Multidisciplinary Workshops.

Examples of tasks:

• Helping organize hands-on workshops in areas like art, science, and sustainability.

• Preparing materials for creative projects such as painting murals or crafting with recycled materials.

• Supporting small groups during practical lessons, like building sustainbale structures to support s flora and fauna at the center or planting herbs in the school garden.

• Assisting in storytelling sessions with interactive elements like puppet shows or role-playing.

• Maintaining the workshop spaces and ensuring materials are stored properly and ready for the next session.

  
  

  2. Organizing Well-being Activities.

  Examples of tasks:

• Leading mindfulness sessions using nature-based practices such as outdoor yoga or quiet reflection by a stream.

• Organizing games that promote teamwork and emotional intelligence, like cooperative obstacle courses or trust-building exercises as well as participating in relational psychomotricity and free movement activities, as well as supervising playgrounds during breaks.

• Facilitating discussions about emotions using storybooks or nature-inspired

  metaphors

• Ensuring that spaces used for well-being activities remain clean, organized, and inviting for future sessions.

  
  

  3. Facilitating Experiential Learning Projects.

  Examples of tasks:

• Assisting with project-based learning activities.

• Supporting outdoor expeditions, like treasure hunts or school trips.

• Preparing and organizing all necessary materials for experiential activities, ensuring smooth implementation.

  
  

  4. Supporting Inclusive Education Initiatives.

  Examples of tasks:

• Assisting children with special needs in accessing sensory activities or differentiated learning tasks.

• Organizing games and events that celebrate cultural diversity, such as an “International Food Day” or storytelling from different cultures.

• Creating visual aids or tools for children with learning difficulties, like picture schedules or simple vocabulary flashcards.

• Facilitating peer mentorship programs where older students help younger ones with tasks or skills.

• Ensuring that classroom materials and spaces are properly arranged and accessible for all students.

  
  

  5. Assisting with English Language Learning.

  Examples of tasks:

• Hosting conversational English circles, using role-plays or storytelling to practice everyday language skills.

• Designing fun activities like English scavenger hunts, word bingo, or creating illustrated storybooks.

• Providing one-on-one support to children struggling with vocabulary or pronunciation, using games and interactive apps.

• Ensuring that English learning materials are prepared, organized, and stored correctly for easy access in future sessions.

  
  

  In addition, our volunteers will participate in the following activities:

  - Promotion of European and mobility projects and programs among the young people of the Region of Murcia, as well as among the users of our organization.

  - Participation in workshops and presentations of the European Solidarity Corps (CES) program in youth organizations, secondary schools in the city of Murcia and the University of Murcia.

Our volunteering project seeks to promote the values promoted by the EU and the ESC Programme, such as solidarity, equality, justice, respect, fight against exclusion and xenophobia, etc.

Practical arrangements: The schedule of the volunteer activities will be between 30 and 38 hours per week. The volunteer will work max. 38 hours on 5 days per week.

Holidays: According to the rules of ESC, volunteers must have 2 working days off per month.

Accommodation: TVolunteers will be provided with a private room in a shared apartment located in Bullas, shared with another volunteer. The apartment will be fully furnished, with utilities such as electricity, water, gas, and internet covered by the lead organization (up to 30€ per volunteer).

Pocket money: Each volunteer will receive a monthly allowance of 186€, as determined by the Spanish National Agency.

Food allowance: A monthly food allowance of 184€ will be provided to the volunteer.

Local transport: Volunteers will have the option to choose between a bicycle or travelling with families from the town of Bullas to the village where the center is located.

Language support: Volunteers will have access to language learning resources through an online platform, as outlined in the ESC program guidelines.

Medical insurance: The ESC program provides private insurance that covers any health, accident, or civil liability expenses not included in the public health system.

Travel costs: Financial support will be provided to cover travel expenses to and from Spain, up to the maximum amount established by the European Commission based on distance bands.

Visa and residence permit fees: If applicable, the volunteer will receive support with visa-related expenses.

Deposit: Volunteers will be required to provide a 370€ deposit, which will be refunded at the end of the project, provided that the private room and shared areas are left clean and undamaged and that the volunteer completes the project without unjustified early departure.

Anyone interested after reading the info above, fill in the ONLINE APPLICATION FORM and attach their CV and motivation letter (in English or Spanish).

This project is aimed at young people between 18 and 30 years old who have not participated in any European volunteering project (EVS or ESC) before. We will give priority to the selection of young people with fewer opportunities.

The selection will be made based on the attitude, the willingness to participate, the motivation and the commitment to the values of the project rather than knowledge and skills of the candidates .

We value the responsibility, the spirit of initiative, the patience and the ability to step back from interpersonal conflicts in order to deal with them more effectively, and the enthusiasm and willingness to participate in the different activities offered.

No young person willing to participate in our project will be excluded for any reason (economic difficulties; social or geographical obstacles; cultural or ideological differences; sexual orientation, age, ethnicity, gender and gender identity, etc.).

CEIP Antonio Machado is a public school located in the rural hamlet of La Copa, a charming village in the Bullas municipality, nestled in the natural beauty of the Murcia region. This area is characterized by its rich cultural heritage, close-knit community, and commitment to preserving the traditions and values of rural life. The village, with its welcoming atmosphere and vibrant community, provides an ideal setting for innovative and experiential education.

At CEIP Antonio Machado, our mission is to foster the holistic development of our students in a nurturing, respectful environment. We prioritize autonomy, self- determination, responsibility, and active learning, ensuring that every child thrives both academically and personally. Our educational approach is rooted in active and experiential pedagogy, emphasizing cross-disciplinary learning that integrates cognitive, emotional, social, and physical dimensions.

Our vision is to create a creative, inspiring, and inclusive educational center that engages not only students but also families, faculty, and the wider community. By embracing the natural environment and leveraging cultural diversity, we aim to establish strong connections with the local community, fostering a shared commitment to innovation, sustainability, and personal growth.

Our Core Values are respect, creativity, action, empowerment, cooperation, autonomy, and sustainability form the foundation of our educational philosophy. We strive to offer meaningful, experiential learning opportunities that address all aspects of human development, with particular emphasis on the psycho-emotional dimension.

Volunteer Activities at CEIP Antonio Machado:

The volunteer experience at CEIP Antonio Machado is designed to be an enriching exchange of knowledge, values, and skills between the volunteer and our educational community. Volunteers will have the opportunity to engage in various activities aligned with our educational project, including:

• Project-Based Learning: Supporting student-led projects, learning tasks, and creative activities that promote curiosity and exploration.

• Holistic Workshops: Assisting in multidisciplinary workshops focused on theater, creative writing, radio podcasts, storytelling, and art.

• Experiential Learning: Facilitating hands-on learning in areas such as manipulative math, sustainability education, and ecological awareness.

• Art and Music: Engaging students in artistic and musical activities that enhance creativity and emotional expression.

• Inclusive Teaching: Working with mixed-age and small groups to support inclusive teaching practices tailored to individual needs.

• Community and Intergenerational Engagement: Collaborating with families and local community members, including elders, to enrich educational experiences and foster intergenerational learning.

• Well-Being and Values Education: Participating in initiatives that promote physical and psycho-emotional health, empathy, tolerance, and peaceful conflict resolution.

• Sustainability Initiatives: Assisting with ecological projects such as gardening, recycling, and creating structures to support local flora and fauna.

  
  

  Additionally, volunteers will play a role in maintaining the organization of spaces and materials, ensuring the learning environment is conducive to creativity and growth.

  
  

  Technology-Free Learning Environment:

  It is important for volunteers to understand that CEIP Antonio Machado operates as a screen-free and technology-free zone for children. The use of mobile phones or electronic devices in the presence of students is strictly prohibited to maintain focus on human connection, creativity, and hands-on learning.

  
  

  Alignment with ESC Principles:

  Through these activities, volunteers have the opportunity to grow personally and professionally while contributing to a shared vision of solidarity, respect for human rights, and social justice. The work aligns with the core principles of the European Solidarity Corps, fostering tolerance, empathy, and global citizenship in a welcoming and supportive environment.

  
  

  By joining our educational community, volunteers become part of a transformative journey that not only enriches the lives of our students but also provides invaluable experiences of collaboration, cultural exchange, and personal growth.

As a participant, the European Solidarity Corps allows you to learn through non-formal experiences, improve existing skills or acquire new ones for your personal, educational or professional development.

Click on the image for more information.