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School and daycare centre for disabled children
1. Basic activities and goals
"Los Pipitos" is a school and day care centre for children with a handicap. They do not receive and funding from the government and are therefore dependent on donations from (mostly foreign) institutions. In Nicaragua there are no special schools for these children, so the mayority attends the regular primary school, although they do not learn a lot there. The goal of Los Pipitos is to offer these children a better chance to get some special education and, apart from that, understanding for their handicap.
In Nicaragua, there are about 80 locations of this organization, some more professional than others. In León, the number of children is about 20 children, most of them deaf and some with other physical of mental handicaps.
They receive class in 3 class rooms and there is also a room where they can play and train their locomotion and speech skills. Professional assistance most of the times is lacking, because it mostly depends on professionals who are normally not being paid for their contribution.
2. History
Around 1990, a group of parents of handicapped children decided to take matters into their own hands and started a special school, where their children could develop and blossom just like other children. At the same time, a similar development took place in Managua and both groups of parents joined forces and started their search for funding. The current building was donated by German development funds and the national organization of Los Pipitos still has several European donors.
3. Organisation
Apart from the director, three teachers are working at the centre and they are the backbone for Los Pipitos León. Depending on funds and availability, a speech teacher, a physiotherapist, a mental therapist and an art teacher work at the centre now and then. For the administrative issues, an administrator and the board of the parents are present.
4. Tasks of the volunteer
The regular daily routine is: class starting at 1 p.m. and in the end in the afternoon some time for other activities until around 5 p.m.
Sometimes, there are also activities in the weekends. At this organization the volunteer should really have a broad interest and a lot of initiative: you will have to find out for yourself what your role could precisely be or become. The volunteer will assist in different activities: primarily in class, but also in all other activities. Organizing and planning an own (weekend) activity might be a great idea as well, as well as discovering of how life actually is as a handicapped child in an underdeveloped country.
Having some knowledge of sign language is very recommendable, as many children at Los Pipitos are deaf.
Of course you will have an educational role for the children at school: smoking should only take place outside the premises, you have to react when children are fighting, throwing trash on the ground, are disrespectful, etc. Always observe the way teachers and the director handle these kind of things, so that you can learn the Nicaraguan ways to deal with this.
If you can not come on a work day, always let them know as soon as possible and communicate well about working hours and tasks.
Info box:
Location: León, Nicaragua
Duration: Minimum 2 weeks
Special qualifications needed: no
Costs: none, the trouble-free package is optional
Accommodation: Not included
Meals: Not included
Included: Placement in the project; if
you opt for the trouble-free package the whole range of services which
is part of the trouble-free package is included
Not included: Travel to Nicaragua, health insurance, visa
Book this placement now!
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