The young people have "English" at school, but literally learn nothing. We show them how they can acquire English knowledge with apps and other digital tools. We use English-language music and film in our teaching and we have not least many simple conversations.
Albalab
If there is anything that can create peace and development in Colombia, it is a young generation who have experienced that it is fun to learn, and who have learned how it is possible to learn things themselves. We are working on this in Centro Cultural La Provincia in our Albalab youth program, and for these youths we need more
VOLUNTEERS
In Cartagena, Colombia, we run a training program for disadvantaged youth, the Albalab Juvenile Innovation Center.
Here young people learn English, technology and gastronomy, among other things. But primarily they learn how to acquire knowledge on their own and how knowledge and skills can contribute to improving the quality of life in their communities.
Apart from the English part, all teaching is project-based. That is, they learn a topic by working on a specific project that someone in the comnunity needs and benefits from. Young people who have completed the first steps in the program get to work as instructors for the younger ones, and thus the status of knowledge in society is slowly raised.
Who do we need?
On one hand we need English instructors . You must speak good English, but it is not necessary to know Spanish. The purpose is precisely for the young people to get practice in understanding and making themselves understood in English.
It is an advantage if you can also contribute in an area in addition to English practice. You do not have to be an expert, because the intention is to show the young people how to explore an area and learn through project work. But you must have a basic knowledge and interest in the topic.
It is however indispensable that you have an interest in young people, a deep respect for others and a strong desire to help improving their lives.
In 2021, we need instructors in the following five areas:
ENGLISH
WEB DEVELOPMENT
During this year the Albalab participants will launch an online newspaper for the village of Punta Canoa based on the publishing tool WordPress. They will learn to make articles, notices and interviews, and illustrate this with graphics and pictures.
SOUND PRODUCTION
This group will learn about recording, playing and disseminating sound by participating in the work at the cultural center. They will participate in the planning and rigging of equipment for concerts and festivals, sound recordings in the studio as well as mixing and sound processing.
VIDEO PRODUCTION
This group will work on developing marketing materials such as images, videos, texts, slideshows and ads for use in social media. They will learn to plan, implement and analyze systematic campaigns on various digital platforms. They will work with marketing both of the cultural center and other local companies and organizations.
GASTRONOMY
This group will work on developing and preparing dishes based on local ingredients and traditions, and as inspiration will also learn about international culinary traditions and nutrition. The group will actively work with office support tools and image processing programs to learn how to handle weight and volume units, documentation of recipes, presentation of dishes, development of menus etc.
How does it work?
Joakim from Norway, who volunteered at Centro Cultural La Provincia in 2020, shows here the area where the volunteers live and the two Albalab centers nearby where they work with the young people.
A stay as a volunteer at Centro Cultural La Provincia must be at least two weeks. You will work 4-5 hours every day and have two days off per week. There will thus be plenty of time to learn Spanish, explore beautiful Cartagena or to experience concerts or other activities at the cultural center.
Centro Cultural La Provincia does not receive any public support for this work, and is dependent on the volunteers paying for board and lodging. You pay 190 USD a week covering three meals, and accommodation in twin rooms with air conditioning (250 USD if you want single rooms).
For stays of more than 5 weeks, other conditions and prices apply.
Sounds interesting?
Contact us here!