Volunteer with Disabled in Jerusalem

  Israel

Jerusalem

Durations of Program: 3-6 months, 7-12 months and 1-2 years
Typical Duration of Program: 3-6 months
Dates: throughout the year

Description: Volunteers primarily assist the residents with daily needs by providing physical care and morale support. Activities include helping out of bed, showering, using the toilet, dressing/undressing clothing and serving food. Volunteers also accompany residents to the supermarket, bank, clinic, hospital, park etc. Occasionally volunteers may go with residents on shopping trips, out for coffee, to a movie, to visit their family or to take a mini-vacation.

Work Hours: There are 4 shifts available: 06:00-14:00, 07:00-15:00, 12:00-20:00 and 14:00-22:00. Shifts may be assigned as to where volunteers are needed the most. Volunteers work 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. Volunteers also get two 15 minute breaks on a shift as well as 30 minutes for lunch and 30 minutes for dinner.

Housing: Male volunteers stay in a large dorm room at the end of one of the wards. Female volunteers live in a private apartment which is attached to the main residence. The living room and kitchen in the apartment are for all the volunteers to enjoy, both male and female.

Food: Lunch and dinner are served daily at the Ma'on. Food is supplied to the volunteers for them to make their own breakfast.

Emergency: In case of an emergency at the residence, a volunteer may be asked to accompany a resident to the hospital outside of his/her shift.

Important Things to Bring to Israel

1. Medical insurance.
2. Medical note indicating good health and no back nor heart problems.
3. At least one reference from your last employer or school.

Additional Info. Ma'on San Simon will provide volunteers with sheets, pillows, blankets, towels, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, coffee, tea, sugar, milk, cleaning supplies, laundry soap and much more. Laundry machines are also available.

Free usage of internet

Free Hebrew lessons

Volunteers can also use the services of onsite nurses and a doctor free of charge.

Ma'on San Simon is located in a historic building and has a very peaceful and pleasant atmosphere. All in all the work can be very enjoyable and rewarding.

Highlights: Vacation - During 3 months of working, you are entitled to one week vacation.

Living quarters and personal arrangements: Our Home provides special living quarters for volunteers, which are organized for your convenience. You are obligated to keep them clean and orderly.

Laundry: You can do your laundry in washing machine at the Home during the afternoon. The house mother will show you how to use the machine. Laundry powder will be supplied to you as necessary.

Personal supplies: Soap, shampoo, toothpaste, coffee, tea and sugar will be supplied to you by the house-mother. Likewise, sheets and towels will be supplied to you once a week.

Meals: You will have 3 meals a day at the Home. Lunch and dinner will be taken in dinning hall, while groceries for breakfast will be supplied to your room once a week. (There is a refrigerator in the volunteers quarter) You are requested not to enter the kitchen without permission, except if this required within the context of your work. Please be at the dinning room for lunch at 12:00 p.m. and for dinner at 6:00 p.m. that will give the volunteers who working on that shift the opportunity to help the residents while eating.

Medical assistance: If you need medical assistance, there is a nurse at the Home each day. Our physician is present almost every day. Medical treatment away from Ma'on San Simon (hospital, etc) will be paid by you through your medical insurance.

Meetings: During your stay, you are entitled for volunteers meeting once a week every Sunday (2:00 until 3:00 p.m.) led by our social worker and volunteer coordinator Ms. Ofra Gur-Ary, this will give you the opportunity to discuss the various difficulties that will probably arise during your work, as well as to receive information about the diseases and disabilities of the residents, their psychological and behavioral problems, reasons for some of their reactions to you and some ways to react back etc. Also you will have the opportunity to learn a little of Israel and the Israelis, our holidays and general information. Many times the subjects of discussion will be up to you. In addition, you are invited to meet personally with Ms. Ofra Gur-Ary, if need arises.

Qualifications: Healthy persons without heart or back problems or contagious disease. The job is hard to deal, work is with handicapped people confined to wheel chairs. English or Hebrew speaking with communicative abilities.

Cost in US$: 0

Credit Available: yes

Salary / Pay: Pocket Money: On the first of every month, you will be given pocket money by Ma'on San Simon's treasurer. The amount of money will be paid according the decisions (from time to time) of the volunteers' unit at the Labor and social affairs.

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Average age 27 from Europe, duration 4 month, helping doing ADL activities, people with strong feeling towards the Holy Land.

Age Range: 18-65

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Israel Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Physical Exam/Health Records
• Resume
• Written Application