Social and recreation activities for the orphans of "Rodopski pansion" in Plovdiv, Bulgaria

  Bulgaria

Plovdiv

Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: July 5 - August 2009

Description: CADIP welcomes motivated and enthusiastic young volunteers to help brighten up the summer of the children in an orphanage. The workcamp participants will initiate and organize varied social, educational, sports and cultural activities for the kids.

"Rodopski pansion" is one of the biggest social establishments in Bulgaria providing home and care for more than 140 young people at the ages of 7 to 16. The Home is situated on the bank of Maritza River, in the second largest Bulgarian town - Plovdiv. The socially disadvantaged background of most of the children is considered to be the reason for many problems, which they face in school, in their contacts with other people, in their everyday life. That's why the interaction with other young people from different countries, while working, playing, learning together in the frame of an international volunteer project is essential for their socialization and adaptation.

Participants in the volunteer project will organize variety of activities for the children and the youngsters. This will include sports events, gardening, group games, thematic workshops, walks in the city of Plovdiv, visits to different sights and events, etc. Some maintenance and domestic works will be done together with the residents.

The workcamp is a part of a summer social program run by CADIP in the orphanage in Plovdiv. This is the fourth one of a sequence of four social workcamps in the frame of the program. Depending on the availability of free places, a volunteer may apply for more than one project. Keep in mind that a short-term volunteer workcamp is a very dynamic and emotionally intense experience and requires higher personal commitment, somehow comparable to that in middle or long-term volunteering.

Cost in US$: $290 US

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Motivated to work for a charity project within an international youth team, tolerant, open-minded and cooperative young person with adventurous spirit.

Age Range: 18 - 35 years

This Program is open to American, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi and Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Bulgaria Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups of 15

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.