Cadip - Volunteer Opportunities in Belgium

SUPPORT THE SOCIAL INTEGRATION AND DAILY ACTIVITIES OF PEOPLE WITH MENTAL DISABILITY
Brussels          3 to 12 months

Volunteer project: The project is organised with a Center for people with mental disability, which is dedicated to providing safe environment and social integration to its residents and has a long tradition of welcoming volunteers of all countries, of different social and cultural backgrounds. The center has 4 houses located near the European institutions in Brussels.

The originality of these small houses is based on a family like atmosphere, where people having mental disabilities, professionals and volunteers of all origins, social, cultural backgrounds, ages and beliefs walk side by side and help each other in their daily lives. Each one is invited to assume tasks and responsibilities adapted to his capacities and to take part in the activities proposed by this type of structure.

The proposed activities are ordinary and “extra-ordinary”: daily responsibilities (maintenance, attendance, cooking, etc), supporting residents (accompanying, transport, support in different learning and working projects), number of meetings, leisure activities, celebrations, holidays, etc.

In addition to the life in the houses, which is really the key point, there's also a day center where activities like craft-work, occupational therapies or services are proposed to the wider community.

The residents are between 18 and 70 years old and have various forms of developmental disabilities (most often Down syndrome) exceptionally linked with a physical handicap. They are assisted by teams of professionals (teachers, welfare officers, etc) supported by volunteers. The aim is to ensure an adequate approach and relationship among volunteers and the residents.

Volunteer work: The volunteers will provide support, will collaborate on different education tasks and various forms of aid involved in the care of people with mental disabilities.

Among the activities proposed to the volunteers we distinguish:

§ Assisting with everyday domestic activities:
- Maintenance: cleaning and arrangement of common spaces with the residents,
- Logistic: purchase of equipment and foodstuffs,
- Daily services: cooking, waking up residents, dishwashing, talks, improvement of living and activity spaces, etc.

§ Support for the people with learning disabilities:
- Joining a member of the educational team for medical consultations, going to the pharmacy, to do shopping, etc.
- Help with apprenticeship programs: cooking, clothing, shopping, walks, etc.
- Accompanying residents on the way to the work place or leisure activities (e.g. soccer)

§ Internal meetings in the houses and the day center:
- Weekly meetings with all residents: discussing and exchanging ideas in order to prepare activities.
- Team meetings: evaluation of the individual projects, suggestions…
- Celebrations: birthdays, visits, welcoming new residents, etc.

§ Meetings outside the houses and the day center:
- Monthly meetings or festivities with other residents of the center
- Meetings and festivities with other associations in Belgium (mainly from the French speaking part)
- Meetings with other organizations

§ Joining in the weekend and evening leisure activities with the residents:
- Individual activities: workshops, outings, visits, sport and recreation
- Group activities: performances, walks, excursions, etc.

§ Internal training at the center:
- On matters related to intellectual disability, communication, teamwork, etc.
- Theme lectures by experts
- Learning French: conversations in groups supervised by qualified volunteers

§ Training and activities outside the center:
- With different socio-cultural associations working with the center
- French language course in a public school

The role of the volunteers will be above all to acquire experiences, to learn by doing, to express their competences by their implication in the project. Each volunteer is thus invited, according to his personal rhythm, to let his personality grow, to bring his creativity and his dynamism in daily life.
Each volunteer will have a Tutor to facilitate his/her integration.

Free time: Volunteers will have three hours of free time each day, with evening and weekend off.
Bruxelles, the Capital of Europe, is a multicultural city with a thousand faces: a majestic historic centre, a unique ambiance, a huge array of activities for both younger and older people. Visit the Manneken-Pis, the Atomium, the Art Nouveau Houses (Horta) and the Belgian Strip Cartoon Centre. And last but not least, taste our famous chocolate!

 Profile of the volunteer: The volunteer must be between 18 and 30 years of age, be open to different experiences, and motivated to dedicate himself to the less privileged people in our society. A minimum commitment of 3 months is required. The volunteer must be ready to take responsibilities and initiatives, and to be able to cooperate with the team and the residents.
Knowledge of French is desirable but not required. The volunteer will have the opportunity to attend French classes on site if interested.

Language: English

Documents to be submitted: A motivation letter and a resume should be sent along with the application form.

Duration of the project: The project is running until September 2014. Minimum stay of 3 months is required.

Accommodation: In a house, with a shower, washing machine, and kitchen. Sleeping bag is needed. Within each house, the volunteer has a "private space" - a small bedroom. However in order to guarantee each volunteer a well balanced life, a place for relaxation and recovering outside of the house has also been arranged for his/her free time. The house is near a supermarket, a cinema, a bakery, and a train station.

Location: Brussels

Age range: 18 - 30 years old

Pocket money: The volunteers get an allowance of 140 Euro per month.

Participation fee: $590 CAD

                                                                                                          

   

BE A PARK RANGER IN THE CAVES OF HAN WILDLIFE RESERVE
Han-sur-Lesse          2 to 4 months

Volunteer project: The little village of Han-sur-Lesse, at the gateway to the Ardennes and one hour by road from Brussels, is home to one of the most famous caves on the continent, the Cave of Han. The Cave of Han is exceptional in terms of the beauty of its concretions and the immensity of its chambers fashioned by the river Lesse that flows through it from one side to the other.

Over 100,000 years ago the Lesse, a river flowing within the confines of the Ardennes, left its natural valley and forced its way into the limestone massif known as the Massif de Boine. It resurfaced 2 km further along, having crossed the massif from side to side. By crossing the massif, it contributed to the formation of an extraordinary network of underground caves, the Caves of Han.

This phenomenon of disappearance and re-emergence of a river is unique in Western Europe. The network of caves that has been discovered under the massif is of exceptional beauty. With their three stars in the Michelin Guide, the Caves of Han have been visited for 150 years and have already attracted over 20 million visitors.

The site of the Massif de Boine and of the “chavée”, the ancient abandoned valley of the Lesse, has been laid out as a nature reserve for wild animals: wolves, lynx, bears, bison, red deer, fallow deer, wild boar, ibex… This 250-hectare site of unspoilt nature allows you to contemplate these animals roaming free or semi-free in a natural setting of exceptional beauty.

Since the Neolithic age, the Han site has been known and venerated, and the place of the re-emergence of the Lesse became a cult and pilgrimage site. Very many archaeological objects have been discovered at the bottom of the Lesse and on its banks, probably thrown in as offerings.

An interactive exhibition and a museum will help you relive the “prehistory” of the Caves of Han and the daily rural life of the inhabitants of Han of a hundred years ago.

Volunteer work: The walking route in the Wildlife Reserve is about 2,5 kilometers long and allows the visitors to cross the upper part of the Reserve. During this walk, panoramas, lookouts and hides give one the opportunity to get as close as possible to nature and the animals. There can be around 500 people a day on this route. The safari bus will drop them off at the peak of the Massif de Boine and pick them up again at Tivoli, at the end of the walk, to complete the tour by bus in the plain where the animals roam semi-free.

The tasks of the volunteers are:
• To watch over the path, while walking and observing the visitors in order to guide and help them.
• To prevent the visitors from leaving the path and venturing in other parts of the Reserve (there is a danger due to wild animals).
• To ensure that the visitors do not damage equipment or harm the animals and that they do not adopt dangerous behaviors (like to pass their hand through the enclosures), as well as that they do not disturb the environment (noise, garbage, etc)
• To be in charge of activities and giving information along the path: to inform the visitors on practical questions (distances, timetable of the safari-bus, localization of the toilets, rain shelters, etc.) and to provide further information concerning the animals and the nature to the visitors (a basic training in that field will be given to the volunteers upon arrival).
• To ensure the maintenance of the path: every evening, to empty the garbage cans; to collect waste; to ensure some maintenance work (e.g.: painting of furniture)
• Certain days, to organize the picking-up of the visitors by the safari-bus at the end of the path (while being in contact with the central service and the drivers of the safari-bus by phone).
• When there are less visitors, the volunteers can carry out other tasks from time to time, for example some maintenance work in the Reserve or to create pedagogic tools.
• Occasionally, participating in the preparation and animation of different events which take place in the park.

The working hours are from 10.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. with a break for lunch. The volunteers will work 5 days a week, which will generally include Saturday and Sunday.

The volunteers will be supervised by a mentor, and will be part of the team of experienced workers and volunteers, as well as many students working in the park during holidays.

Transport from the reception of the caves to the site of the project is provided. The volunteers will also be provided with a bike for their own transport on the walking path.

Profile of the volunteer:
• To like animating people, to want to speak with other people, to be sociable and able to provide information.
• To be able to show authority towards the visitors when necessary.
• To love nature and animals, as well as walking and being outside.

It is necessary to have a good level in French. The volunteers need to understand and be understood by the people on the walking route to answer their questions and to guide them. Knowledge of other languages is also welcomed, such as English, German or Dutch.

Language: French, English

Duration of the project: The project is running from July 1, 2013 to November 3, 2013. Minimum stay of 2 months is required.

Accommodation: The volunteers will be hosted in a tourist inn just in front of the caves reception. 4 or 6-bed room with all the facilities provided. All meals will be provided. The volunteers will eat at the inn restaurant for breakfast and dinner, and in the park for lunch.

Location: Han-sur-Lesse, Namur Province

Age range: 18 - 30 years old

Participation fee: $590 CAD

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