Young Workers Volunteer Program @ Montessori Kindergarten in Göttingen

Work experience is essential for getting a job. The Young Workers Volunteer Program is aimed at young adults who want to clarify career goals and gain intercultural knowledge.

This 12-months program provides you with an easily accessible opportunity for effecting positive societal change through volunteering, while improving your skills and competences for personal, educational, and professional development. Non-formal and formal learning opportunities during the program will enable you to acquire essential competences for personal growth in order to become an Active Global Citizen, thereby improving your employment prospects and facilitating your transition into the labor market.

The various projects in this program are looking for young, highly motivated team members to play an active part in their organization and to contribute to the daily work routine of the organization. The following project is one of the projects participating in the program.

Project Description: Montessori Kindergarden in Göttingen, Lower Saxony

Within the Young Workers Volunteer Program, AFS Germany offers the possibility to work in a Montessori Kindergarden in Germany. The project is located in Göttingen in the south of Lower Saxony, Central Germany. As a Young Worker you will work in an integrated institution with several Kindergartens with children aged from one year to six years old, including children with disabilities. The pedagogical concept is based on the principle of progressive education created by Maria Montessori as well as the latest pedagogical insights. For the kindergarden it’s important not to exclude anyone and create an atmosphere of tolerance and trust as well as a loving and understanding interaction.

“Help me do it myself”, that is Montessori’s motto. The staff supports children in their development by creating an environment that does not restrict the child, but allows it to become active and learn according to its personality. Children should have the opportunity to pursue their natural curosity and their urge to discover in order to develop in this way.

Montessori Kindergarten in Göttingen

Work with children of various ages
Get to know the Montessori system
Working language is German and English
12-months program participation

Overview

Program Type
- Internships
- Language
- Volunteering
Location
- Göttingen, Lower Saxony
Program for an individual or for a group

Individual
Program highlights
- Complementary health, liability, and accident insurance
- 12 months in Germany
- 25 vacation days
- 25 training days and additional online training
- Certificate of intercultural training
- Certificate of employment and qualified reference from project
- Networking activities with international program participants and German AFSers
- Administrative and personal support for participants before and during the program
- Young Workers do not need any specific training to participate in the program

Specifics

Volunteering field
- Children and Youth
- Education
Internship fields
- Education
- NGOs, Non-Profits
Internship details

A typical daily schedule is:

07:30 - 08:00 : Welcoming the children, prepare breakfast with the children
08:30 - 10:00 : Free Plays (handicrafts, reading books, etc.)
10:00 - 12:00 : Outdoor time: playing games outside
12:00 : Setting the lunch table with the children. After the lunch: Clearing and wiping the tables with the children
From 13:30 : Nap time. Prepare the beds and read a story to the children.
After the nap: outdoor time
16:00 : End of the volunteer's day
Instructional hours per week

39
Working days per week

5

Requirements

Age Range
- 18
- 30
Educational requirements

The project prefers university students or participants who already have work experience through internships or former employment. Prior experience will strengthen your application. You should be motivated to work in various fields of activities, take on different supporting tasks, as well as introduce your own ideas. You should enjoy working with children and be creative.
Language at work
- German
- English
Language at project
- German
Language details

It is a requirement to speak German at least at a good A2 level or B1. Working language at the project is German. Working language during AFS seminars is both German and English. You must be able to understand given instructions at the project and handle daily life situations solely (!) in German.

Housing and Meals

Housing type
- Not Included
Meals included
- 1 per day
Housing / meals details

You are welcome to eat lunch within the organization during working days. The pocket money will not be enough for covering your living expenses. Make sure to bring extra savings of minimum 300 – 400 Euro monthly. The project does not provide accommodation: You are responsible to find your place to live. We recommend, you start searching for accommodation a couple of months before your arrival in Germany

Extra

Social life

The project is located in the city of Göttingen ( 117,000 inhabitants) in the South of Lower Saxony, central Germany. The city is well connected to local and national public transport. It is a university city and the social impact of students is clearly noticeable. The city has a lot to offer in terms of cultural and social activities.

During Christmas and Easter, you are invited to stay with a German host family.

You will be paired with a German AFSer in a so-called "peer contact". AFS peers belong to the same age group and support each other throughout the program. Most German AFS peers have been abroad as AFS participants themselves. This peer networking approach is meant to encourage interaction between current and former AFS participants and to kick-start your social life in Germany.
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