ESC Centre for All: Adventure Afloat

CODE: SDA 26-ESC-A2

Work:

During preparatory days, volunteers will help clean the camp premises, organise art materials and games, and prepare activities. Once the day camp starts, volunteers will support Czech staff in working with children and young people (from 6 to 25 years old) with physical and mental disabilities (like Down syndrome, Aspergers, people with cerebral palsy…) Tasks include assisting during activities, providing individual support, helping serve meals, washing dishes, and other daily operational duties. Volunteers often provide hands-on assistance adapted to each child’s or youth´s needs. The work can be mentally demanding and mildly physically tiring. Activities take place indoors or under shelters, allowing work to continue in all weather conditions. Children will be on-site from the 13th to the 17th of July, and each day they leave at the end of the afternoon. The rest of the time, the volunteers will have their free time and/or help the running staff.

Accomodation and food

Volunteers will stay in shared accommodation, either all together in one room or divided into up to four rooms, depending on group preferences. Participants must bring their own sleeping bag and pillow. The accommodation includes a washing machine, refrigerator, kitchenette, and Wi-Fi. There are three toilets and three showers. Volunteers prepare breakfast and dinner on their own or together. During the camp programme, meals are fully provided by the host and eaten together with the children.
On days spent outside the camp, meals will be organized by volunteers together with their leader, either through provided food supplies or individual purchases as needed. During the camp program, volunteers eat together with the children, and all meals are fully provided and organized by the host organization.

Location and leisure

Nymburk is a larger town with full civic amenities, including a hospital, shops, educational facilities, and options for leisure and relaxation such as museums, breweries, and a swimming pool. Volunteers can also take day trips to Prague. Velký Osek is a smaller village with basic amenities, where volunteers will stay during the suburban camp, mainly in the Sokolovna complex. An ATM, pharmacy, and reliable mobile phone reception are available nearby. To go to the worksite, you have a 10 minutes walk to the train, 15 minutes train ride, 1 minute to the destination in the morning and back in the evening.
Popular excursion destinations could include Spa town Poděbrady, Prague or Kutná Hora, among the most visited and culturally significant locations in the region. It will depend on the group's decision.

Project hosted by

This project is organised with cooperation with the local NGO The Center for All - a family-oriented community center offering inclusive leisure and educational activities for people of all ages and abilities, including children with disabilities. The organization supports volunteer involvement as a key part of community life, encouraging learning, cooperation, and active participation. The main goal of the project is to provide respite care for families with disabled children through cooperation between Czech and international volunteers. Volunteers gain practical experience in inclusive care, communication, and community support while contributing to improved care practices. The project supports SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

Directions to meeting point

The journey will last approximately 2h and will need from 3 to 4 changes.
We will provide more details in the specific infosheet.

Additional comments

Study part: Volunteers will take part in a lecture on Centrum for All, learning about its mission, values, and approach to volunteering and community support. The session will introduce everyday experiences of people with mental disabilities and explain how to approach, communicate with, and support individual clients in a respectful and sensitive way. The programme could also include guided visits to the local museum, brewery, town centre, and municipal office. These activities offer insight into local institutions, civic life, and community cooperation, while encouraging dialogue and active participation.