Volunteer in Greece

Food Outreach in

For centres such as nursing homes, schools and kindergartens, meal time is a busy but important time of the day - ensuring the vulnerable people who use these centers are fed a healthy, nutritious meal.

If you’re someone who has some experience in food preparation, is willing to work hard and be part of the rewarding experience of assisting in kitchens to distribute meals, then this is a great project for you! Experience does not need to be extensive but you should be competent and confident in a kitchen. Your tasks will include assisting in basic food preparation, distributing meals, washing dishes and cleaning up.

Depending on your specific placement, you can expect to assist with up to two meals per day, and possibly also mid-morning snacks.

Volunteers can be placed in an elderly nursing home, which is supported by the local community and is home to the majority of elderly people in Chios. Another placement option is in kitchens in kindergartens, helping to prepare and distribute meals to children. This placement relies heavily on volunteer support to lighten the workload of teachers so it can make a bigger impact.

During the school holidays, some Food Outreach placements will close, but work continues by supporting summer activity projects for children run by our local team in Greece. These are often run outdoors and encourage learning through games rather than in a classroom. Volunteers can be creative in designing activities which fit the topics being covered at the time. In addition to running games and activities, you may also be given other tasks such as painting in schools, helping with beach litter cleanups and participating in cultural events.

School Holidays 2019/2020:

• 10th June 2019 - 20th September 2019
• 24th December 2019 - 10th January 2020

Kindergarten Support in

The early years are hugely influential for growing children, and positive influences at the kindergarten stage can make a significant difference to a child’s development.

On the Kindergarten Support project volunteers are placed in kindergartens and nursery schools throughout Chios. You can expect to assist local teachers and staff with their daily routine, caring for children between 3 - 6 years old. Volunteers should not expect to teach and your main role is to assist local teachers and placement staff, which may mean playing a supporting or observational role. Please note, language barriers may also restrict your ability to do hands-on work.

Classroom activities include helping the local teachers and staff with arts and crafts, mealtimes, cleaning, administration work, classroom preparation and re-arrangements as well as supervising during break time. Volunteers need to take initiative, improvise, be flexible and willing to get involved in a variety of different tasks as needed.

As volunteers work with the support of IVHQ’s local team and placement staff, you do not need to have prior kindergarten teaching experience, however you are required to have some experience helping to care for children.

Volunteers who apply for the Kindergarten Support project over school holiday periods will support summer activity projects run by our local team in Greece. These are often run outdoors and encourage learning through games rather than in a classroom. Volunteers can be creative in designing activities which fit the topics being covered at the time. In addition to running games and activities, you may also be given other tasks such as painting in schools, helping with beach litter cleanups and participating in cultural events.

School Holidays 2019/2020:

• 10th June 2019 - 20th September 2019
• 24th December 2019 - 10th January 2020

School Support in

School support staff play an important but often overlooked role - empowering teachers and helping to stimulate an interest in learning through an additional layer of support.

As a volunteer on the School Support project in Greece, you’ll be on hand to assist teachers with all aspects of their day-to-day activities. This is a dynamic role that will throw unexpected challenges at you, but reward those with initiative and flexibility.

Volunteers are placed in local schools, assisting teachers in a variety of areas and helping to inspire an interest in learning among the students, who range in age from 6-12.

Your tasks may include assisting local teachers during their lessons, helping with arts and crafts, cleaning, administration work, classroom preparation and re-arrangements as well as supervising during break time. Volunteers need to improvise and be willing to get involved in a variety of different tasks as needed. Most classroom lessons are in Greek, which means your role will be mostly supporting or observational, and it’s unlikely you will teach classes independently.

You do not need to have prior teaching experience to participate in the School Support project, as you will receive guidance and support from the local coordinator and teacher. However, you are required to be fluent in English and have had some previous experience working with children.

Volunteers will benefit from having taken a teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) course, and IVHQ offers an internationally-recognised TEFL certification at a discounted rate. Visit our Online TEFL page for more information.

Volunteers who apply for the School Support project over school holiday periods will support summer activity projects run by our local team in Greece. These are often run outdoors and encourage learning through games rather than in a classroom. Volunteers can be creative in designing activities which fit the topics being covered at the time. In addition to running games and activities, you may also be given other tasks such as painting in schools, helping with beach litter cleanups and participating in cultural events.

School Holidays 2019/2020:

• 10th June 2019 - 20th September 2019
• 24th December 2019 - 10th January 2020

Special Needs Support in

For people who live with disabilities, having personalised care can make a big difference to their ability to live productive lives. By volunteering on the Special Needs Support project, you’re able to be a part of that care and see the importance of it in action.

As a volunteer, you’ll assist either in a school for people with special needs or in a specialised centre for people with special needs. Both the school and the centre provide education and care to people who have a range of disabilities from mild physical and mental disorders to severely limiting conditions such as cerebral palsy.

Working with trained staff, volunteers assist teachers with their daily routine, which can involve arts and crafts, administration work, classroom preparation and re-arrangements, preparing creative activities and festivities, and assisting with meal times and physiotherapy routines. Volunteers may also help with student supervision, assisting with excursions, general care and cleaning/chores as required.

Duties will be primarily supporting and observing local staff, so you should be flexible in your approach and open to helping wherever it’s required.

Volunteers who apply for the Special Needs Care project over school holiday periods will support summer activity projects run by our local team in Greece. These are often run outdoors and encourage learning through games rather than in a classroom. Volunteers can be creative in designing activities which fit the topics being covered at the time. In addition to running games and activities, you may also be given other tasks such as painting in schools, helping with beach litter cleanups and participating in cultural events.

School Holidays 2019/2020:

• 10th June 2019 - 20th September 2019
• 24th December 2019 - 10th January 2020