Volunteer in a Community with Adults with Special Needs

Location: Ireland: Rural Areas

Program Duration: 3-6 months (includes high school academic semester abroad), 7-12 months (includes high school academic year abroad), 1-2 years, over 2 years

Typical Duration of Program: 1-2 years

Dates: one year commitment

Camphill Community Grangemockler

Templemichael Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary Ireland

Description

In our community we work together to create an environment that encourages each person to develop his or her full potential and volunteers play a very important role. Volunteers help us with the day to day care of adults with special needs, which may include physical care, emotional support, or simply companionship. You may be asked to help us maintain our houses, cook meals with veg from the organic garden, or help out in one of the workshops (especially the garden and weavery). The contribution volunteers make to our cultural life brings diversity and an every-changing dynamic to our community life. We are situated on 50 acres with four households, an organic farm and garden, and a weavery. We are in the process of developing new workshops and ideas are welcome!

Highlights

Volunteering in Camphill offers a rich social and cultural experience. Our community is part of a network of Camphill Communities in Ireland and we offer an Introductory Course for all volunteers in the area where you can learn more about life and work with people with special needs while meeting other international volunteers in the area. We are within walking distance to a bus stop, and just about half-way between Dublin and Cork for those who wish to travel while they are here. We are about 20 minutes by bus from Callan, where there is the excellent KCAT center for the arts. After completing one year voluntary work in the community, volunteers may enquire about being supported to join KCAT for a second year, either part-time or full-time.

Qualifications

An interest and enthusiasm for working and living with adults with special needs is essential.

Languages
  • English

Cost in US$:

Free, but volunteers who are not from the EU need to provide their own health insurance

Cost Include Description:

Credit Available

no

Salary/Pay
Volunteers receive free room and board as well as 50 euro per week stipend. Those staying for one year receive a contribution towards their travel costs at the end of their stay (ask for details).
Volunteer Types
  • Adult Education
  • Agriculture
  • Building Maintenance
  • Community Development
  • Community Organizing
  • Consciousness-raising
  • Cooking
  • Culture
  • Digging
  • Disability Issues
  • Environment
  • Festivals
  • Fixing Fences
  • Food
  • Gardening
  • Handicapped
  • Health Care
  • Human Rights
  • Nutrition
  • Organic Farming
  • Organizational Development
  • Peace
  • Recreation
  • Volunteering
Typical Volunteer
Typical volunteers are over the age of 18 and open to a variety of tasks. Most volunteers come for one year to experience a different culture and life in a community with adults with special needs. Those who are a bit older and with more life experience are welcome to take on more responsibility according to their skills, such as taking responsibility for the management of a household, helping with accounts, liasing with other agencies, etc.
Age Range
18 and up
This Program is open to

American, Asian, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African, Worldwide Participant. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements
  • Group living

Participants Travel to Ireland

Independently

Application Process Involves
  • Letters of Reference
  • Online Application plus Application Assessment
  • Other
  • Phone/Video Interview
  • Resume
Typically The Application Process Time is
1 -2 weeks
Camphill Community Grangemockler's Mission Statement

The Camphill Movement, which was founded in 1940, works to create communities in which vulnerable children and adults, many with learning disabilities, can live, learn and work with others in healthy social relationships based on mutual care and respect.

Year Founded

1988

GoAbroad.com