Lithuania

Vilnius

Description

(Female) volunteers live in the house of the community of the Sisters with other young women (students or young professionals), who form the Samaritan community. They work in the Assumption school as teaching assistants in French, English, or German; take part in extracurricular activities, and in the pastoral care of the pupils; offer assistance to students with disabilities.

The Sisters offer personal and spiritual accompaniment (in French, English, or Spanish). The school’s educational staff is used to welcoming and helping foreign volunteers. A French-speaking or English-speaking teacher accompanies them and coordinates their work. Volunteers can, as much as they wish to, participate in the life of the Samaritan community, which includes weekly meetings and three annual weekends. This gives the volunteer the opportunity to create friendships and thus get to know the culture better.

Duration

One year, from the beginning of September to the end of June. Short term volunteers can stay for a minimum of 2-3 months.

Skills & Languages

• Preferably female (however, accommodation for male candidates can be found elsewhere) • Ability to communicate in English • Ability to experience a certain loneliness and isolation because the official language is Lithuanian which is not easy to learn. At school, the students express themselves well in English, the Samaritans too, but this is not the case for all adults. • Desire to get involved in the school project: find joy working in education, especially with young people with disabilities • Be ready to live in community with young Lithuanian women.
"The Assumption Volunteer programme was a humbling experience for me because it allowed me to witness what poverty means. Working with a marginalised sector is more meaningful and fulfilling because you see the impact of the work that you do.”