ESC Summerland for Children

CODE: SDA 26-ESC-A4

Work:

Volunteers will work directly with children aged 4–9 as part of a suburban day camp running from Monday to Friday. They will support and lead prepared daily activities together with the group. The camp theme is Ferda the Ant and life in the meadow and focuses on playful, creative, and experiential learning. Activities include artistic, musical, physical, and simple technical elements, with space for volunteers’ own ideas. Volunteers will also accompany children on one full-day trip. Activities take place outdoors when possible and indoors if needed. The work is moderately physically demanding and involves no manual or technical labour.

The worksite is situated at the same address as the accommodation, no commute needed. Also, the children will be with the volunteers during the day (day camp) and leave in the afternoon.

Accomodation and food

Volunteers will stay together in one shared room and sleep on their own sleeping pad and in their own sleeping bag. The accommodation includes a refrigerator, kitchenette, and Wi-Fi. Sanitary facilities are shared and consist of five toilets and two showers. Volunteers will prepare their own breakfast and dinner.

Location and leisure

The project takes place in a newly built community center in the village centre, equipped with a kitchen, clubhouse, classroom, gym, and garden with a fireplace. The village offers basic amenities such as a grocery store, pub, and post office, as well as sports facilities. A swimming lake with a restaurant and beach volleyball is located about 2 km away. Plzeň is reachable by bus, approximately 6 km away, with hourly connections. The surrounding area is forested and suitable for nature trips. Mobile phone reception is available.

Volunteers can relax by the water at nearby sites such as Lake Ejpovice or the Huť swimming pool. A visit to Plzeň is planned, offering opportunities to explore the city’s cultural life and landmarks. Community-oriented evenings will be organised with local residents, including singing by the fire and informal gatherings. Volunteers can also enjoy international evenings, board game nights, and full-day trips into the surrounding nature for hiking, relaxation, and exploring the local landscape.

Project hosted by

The project is organised in cooperation with a local initiative focused on community life, mental well-being, and non-formal education in a rural area of the Czech Republic. The organisation runs cultural and educational events, leisure activities for children and adults, psychotherapeutic counselling, and supports intergenerational networking. The main goal of the project is to offer children direct experience of cultural and linguistic diversity through shared activities with international volunteers, while allowing volunteers to gain insight into everyday life and values in rural Czech communities. The project contributes to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 4 (Quality Education).

Directions to meeting point

The journey will last approximately 2h30 and will need from 3 to 4 changes.
We will provide more details in the specific infosheet.

Additional comments

Study part: Volunteers will be introduced to basic concepts of developmental psychology relevant to working with children aged 4–9. The programme covers different approaches to working with children, including communication and respectful conflict resolution. Volunteers will learn about the mental health prevention programme Zipy’s Friends, focused on emotional resilience. Educational films on topics such as lack of freedom, social networks, and the environment will be screened, followed by discussions on children’s mental well-being and prevention.