Kanutiaia Noortemaja/ School for Young Managers

EI ref: 2009-EE-50

Project environment :
School for Young Managers is the unit of Kanutiaia Youth House, the organisation founded 1990 with the aim to offer young people a possibility to attend various hobby groups like music, choreography, theatre, art, handicrafts, etc. More than 1300 Estonian and Russian-speaking youngsters attend the Youth House; around 200 of them are students of Schools for Young managers.

School for Young Managers is one of the most popular among the youngsters of the Youth House. It is for Russian-speaking children aged 12-18. The mail idea of the school is provide knowledge about management in broad sense. Learning process lasts for 2-3 years and includes following subjects: theory of management, informatics, economics, psychology, business English and Estonian, banking, basics of self-development, carrier planning, human rights, children rights, etc. One of the important events is organizing of summer camps. Last 7 years these camps took place on Hiiumaa, second biggest island of Estonia, where Russian-speaking children could learn Estonian history, culture and traditions, which helps their further integration.

The educational process in the School is based on the game methodology. Children attend the School 2-3 times in a week. There are 8 teachers, majority of them are young and able to speak foreign languages. Besides classes children organise humorous shows, participate in intellectual games like "What? Where? When", "Brain Ring", various quizzes, etc.

The volunteer will be based in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, which is located in the north of the country and has a population of about 400 000 inhabitants. It is one of the most developed areas in Estonia with a lot of enterprises, businesses, organizations, etc. Governmental institutions and representatives of international organizations are situated here as well.
For detailed information please visit www.tallinn.ee


Tasks :
The main objective of the EVS project is to provide children with the experience of foreign languages and intercultural learning, which is recognized as an important part of children general education, especially in a view of further integration of Estonia to the European Union. One should keep in mind that in a few years these children will become the active citizens of European Union.
The project should also have an intercultural learning impact on the staff of the School and the parents.
Last not least, participation in such project gives the young volunteer a great possibility to experience multicultural life in the Estonian capital as well as to try to develop own initiatives and/or run own project in the area of informal education, culture and work with children and teenagers.

EVS volunteer will be carrying out the following tasks:
" presenting his/ her home country and its culture as a part of intercultural learning and involving other foreigners (e.g. volunteers) staying with host coordinating organization to these activities (25%);
" acting as the leader of the English Language Club to provide linguistic practise for children 2-3 times a week (25%);
" arranging outings, excursions, study visits, exhibitions, etc (10%);
" preparing teams of the children to the debates (10%);
" arranging charity event in cooperation with sponsors (e.g. Red Cross) (10%);
" providing technical support, e.g. systemise photo and video archives (10%)
" supporting staff in all other requested activities (10%).

In order to facilitate the intercultural learning volunteer should be willing to present his/her own country and culture by introducing songs, games, different forms of activities to the children, local personnel and parents keeping in mind that cultural exchange will be going on all of these levels.

According to the volunteer skills and project needs priority tasks and detailed working schedule (including holidays, breaks, etc.) will be worked out together with head of project and the staff of the School. Generally the working hours will be around 30 - 35 during working week with 2 days off.


Target group :
Volunteer is expected to be positive, open-minded, flexible, friendly, helpful. He/ she has to be active, taking initiatives, be responsible and reliable. He/ she has to be willing to to work with youngsters. Previous experience in work with youth is an advantage as well as possession of knowledge in English.
The host project is open to work with any sending organisation.