Vacancy: Volunteers wanted for a life-changing sabbatical

The Johannesburg School for the Blind, Low Vision and Multiple Disability Children (Beka) is based in Auckland Park, Johannesburg, and it relies on donations and the work of volunteers to be able to keep open. The school is looking for qualified primary school volunteer teachers from Blind Schools across the world who would be interested in working in South Africa and willing to share their expertise with the children at the school. We are looking for people who are passionate about what they do, enthusiastic and innovative in their lessons, and who are nurturing and caring towards children with special needs.

In 2006 Geerlande Homburg, a senior teacher from Bartimčus School for the Blind, in Zeist, The Netherlands, spent three months at our school and made a huge difference in the lives of the children. She continues to visit and helped with mobility training in 2009.

In 2009 Barbara Lechner from the School for the Blind in Vienna, Austria, volunteered at the school, and other volunteers from France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom have also shared their time and skills with the children at Beka. Over the years the school has had teachers and volunteers from Tunisia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Australia, Germany, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

Children attending the school range in age from three years to seventeen years old, all of whom are from disadvantaged backgrounds. The focus is on pre-primary and primary schooling, but some assistance is given to older pupils who are educationally behind. The children enjoy their music lessons, reading and typing Braille, cooking classes, growing their own vegetables, playing on the swings and going on outings. Many children come and go while they have surgery through the linked charity, Children of Fire - see www.firechildren.org

The ideal volunteer can take a sabbatical from their school and work with us in Africa for a three-month to one-year period, self-funded. There is rudimentary accommodation on site, but candidates usually find their own accommodation, once they have settled in.

If you think you would be interested, please send your CV and a short motivational letter stating why you think that you would be a suitable candidate to work at Beka. Primary school teachers without Braille skills may also apply, but those with experience at schools for the blind will be given preference.

Contact Details:
Life-Changing Volunteer Work in Africa
Johannesburg School for Blind, Low Vision and Multiple Disability Children
PO Box 1048, Auckland Park 2006
Tel: +27 11 726 6529 Email: firechildren@icon.co.za

Written March 1st 2010