“ACT UPON EVS“ 2010-2011 in Kaunas

Coordinating organisation Public Institution "Actio Catholica Patria" (2007-LT-25)

Hosting institution Kaunas Child development Clinic “Lopselis” (2008-LT-3)

Country Lithuania
Project type Long-term, group EVS
Location of project Kaunas (Lithuania)
Start 01 October 2010
Duration 9 months
Number of volunteers 2 volunteers in the project
Target group Children from 0 till 3 years old if they do not have any developmental problems,
or children from 0 till 7 years old if they have some developmental problems or
disabilities.
What kind of volunteer The volunteer needs a lot of patience and tranquillity, she/ he has to like the
institution needs? children and to be friendly with them, she/he has also to be like a teacher for
them.
Volunteer’s tasks - Assist in daily care of the children and babies activities (dressing up, feeding
children or helping in eating, helping with the toilet);
- Assistance for workers in doing different therapies for the children (music, art
therapy, swimming pool) (bringing children to the therapies, help for the
volunteers in the therapy);
- Playing games, doing tasks for their development;
- Going outside for a walk with the children;
- Organizing festivals for the children;
- And also they would have possibility to do their own initiatives.

Challenges volunteers - Language barrier (most of the staff has poor knowledge in English);
might face - Noisy environment in the group;
- Difficulties managing the calm activities with the kids (because they are very
active);
- All the tasks are specific, so not too much space to own ideas (at least in the
beginning of the project);
- Communication with the rest of the staff (everyone has specific tasks in the
institution and not too much people want to make big friends with the volunteers).

Money 275,2 Litas (80 €) – pocket money; 300 Litas – food money/ per month
Housing - Volunteers are accomodated in a rented flat of two or three rooms;
- Each volunteer has a spare room (some of the rooms are cross-through);
- All the taxes are payed, the volunteers don’t have to take care of it;
- The volunteers are asked to “think ecologicaly” and not to waste energy or water
if they don’t need it (not to leave light on, water tap open and etc.);
- The volunteers are asked to keep their house clean, not to smoke inside and
look after it.
- Some of the flats are located not far from the city center, some a bit outside;
- The volunteers are accomomodated according to the location of their project.

Travels - The volunteers are provided with a monthly ticket for local means of transport in
Kaunas (busies and trolley-buses);
- The travels to National agencie’s and other training are refunded.

Language - English will be widely used during the trainings, group meetings and group
activities, etc;
- Lithuanian language classes will be organized during first 4 months, twice a
week in a professional language school (Lithuanian classes are obligatory and are
a prior to other activities).