2011-DE-202, Karl-Schubert-Schule

Themes: Art and Culture/ Disability

Duration: 1.9.2014 30.08.2015
Volunteers Profile:
Age: preferably 18-25; 26-30 is possible
Volunteer service period: 12 months
Experience: with small kids; maybe with disabled kids
Other: open to Rudolph-Steiner paedagogy. Basic German needed.

Description:
The Karl-Schubert-Schule Leipzig is an emerging innovative and integrational Rudolf
Steiner school which offers an education based on Waldorf pedagogy for the years one to
twelve for children with and without disabilities (unique in Leipzig). Our association, started
in 2009, is momentarily building up the first classes of primary school. Our fundamental
idea being that of a school for everyone, we include three to five disabled students per
class. We adhere to a two-teacher-concept with one class teacher and one remedial
teacher for each class. By living and learning together with children of different abilities our
students can acquire a substantial measure of social competences and learn and develop
from each other. Philanthropy, empathy, mutual help and cooperation are the fundamental
principles of our work, whilst preserving individuality. Waldorf pedagogy aspires a holistic
education of the child where body, soul and spirit are taken equally into account, and
includes learning through practical activities such as drawing, music, Eurythmy and
handicraft with fabrics and wood.
We also offer full-time supervision in our after-school care facility. We have an extensive
compound with gardens and animals which are looked after by our students. Our school's
staff consists of teachers, educational welfare workers, remedial teachers, educators and
class assistants as well as a caretaker and office workers. Apart from that there are also
more than fifty honorary helpers involved in the building of the school. The atmosphere is
marked by cordial, intimate and enthusiastic cooperation.
The school is situated on the outskirts of Leipzig, with a good and efficient transportconnection to the City Centre. Leipzig, with half a million inhabitants, lies in the Northwest
of the Free State of Saxony, about an hour's drive from the capital, Berlin. It is famous for
its University (the second oldest in Germany), its Convention-Exhibition Centre and its
momentous revolutionary movement of 1989. Leipzig can boast circa one million visitors
per annum who enjoy its multifaceted cultural events and lively atmosphere.
Tasks:
Volunteers are given the possibility to gain insight into our various working domains. They
can experience the teaching methods of a free school in Germany in particular those of a
Steiner school and correlate new experiences in day-to-day life with those of their own
country. We attach great importance to being responsive to the individual abilities of the
volunteers, so as to support them in further developing their potential abilities. Possible
tasks for the volunteers are: organizing games and handcraft work for the children in the

after-school care facility (and we welcome games and songs from other countries
introduced by the volunteers); guiding the children through the school day, including
mealtimes and breaks; support and guidance of our integrative children; independent little
projects with the aim of acquainting the children with the volunteer's country of origin;
helping out in the school gardens and with the animal care; school-outings and schoolfestivities, where the volunteer can introduce specialities from his or her country (e.g. by
holding a culture-comparing speech or linking initiatives from foreign Steiner schools with
our own), thereby reaching a broader circle of parents and friends.
Selection process:
Please hand in the filled application form to application@jahr-fuer-europa.de until
20.12.2012. We will give a first feedback on the application. Those applications who pass
the preselection are forwarded to the project responsables who usually decide within two
weeks after the application deadline.
Selection criteria:
The volunteer should enjoy working with children, be openminded and interested in
Steiner-pedagogy and our inclusive approach and he/she should be comfortable with
working independently. A basic knowledge of German is essential. The volunteers should
also be willing and ready to engage hands-on in our communual project of developing a
young school. All volunteers must first apply to the coordinating organisation and will then
be assesed by our own admission team. At this point great care will be taken that any
needs and capacities of the volunteer can be individually matched by what we have to
offer. Personal contact via Skype, telephone or email would then enable closer
acquaintance.
Link to the Karl-Schubert-Schule