Hi, my name is Gvantsa and I am working in the Autism
Center. As the name might suggest I am working with children and youngsters
with an Autism spectrum disorder.
If you decide to volunteer for this Job you are going to
work in two different places. The first is located in Szopaky 8. There you will
work in an elementary school and support the teacher during the classes. The
special thing about this place is, that not only children which suffer from the
Autism spectrum disorder but also children which suffer from various other
mental disabilities.
The other place you will work at is in Spadochroniarzy and
it is specialized in secondary and high school education.
I’m working from Monday until Friday. Mondays and Tuesdays, I’m with my first-grade
class in Szopkazy. In this class I am supporting three boys, the special thing
is that none of them are able speak, though they understand everything. We
communicate through a special book designed to help them to express themselves
which is called “Mowik”.
The day starts at 09:00am with having breakfast together
with the students. Our main tasks include that we support the kids during their
meals, show them how to brush their teeth after finishing their meals. After
that we start the lessons which consist out of various activities to improve
their motoric skills, the way they express and handle their emotions, followed
by gymnastic lessons as well as a training on how to recognize people. Once in
every two weeks we have an outdoor activity which is held in the climbing
center in Krakow. During those trips each teacher/volunteer is supposed to take
care of one student in particular and take care of him. Of course, over the year
we have way more activities always connected with the seasons and festivals
which are going to be celebrated such as “Teachers day”, carnival, Halloween or
Christmas. Especially in those days you will be needed to support the school in
decorating, organizing and of course taking care of the children. If there is
no special event, then you’ll probably finish around 01:00pm. Also, you will
never be totally alone with the children, there will always be another teacher
or a responsible person which is with you in the room
In Spadochroniarzy, I only support the school during the English
lessons, with several different classes, and one ceramic class. You will be
there only from Wednesday to Friday. Maximum amount, of students per class is 4,
so you can see that they are rather small. Usually, teachers have their schedule and program and they
are following it, during this time I’m helping the pupils, who need my help
while the class is ongoing. This help varies from writing over reading to the organizing
of their materials.
Sometimes we have special events there too, like in
Szopkazy. Meaning, they also need my help to organize, decorate or take care of
one pupil. There is one different kind of English class, which is dealing with
the improvement of their ability to speak and express themselves in which the
students and I are discussing different topics, are playing some board games or
watch movies in English. As I mentioned you
will have ceramic lesson once in a week in which the teacher, our students and
I are producing mugs, bowls as well as Angels or other motifs etc. and color
them. So, you are producing actual art! The walls of the school are full of the
student’s works. I finish my working day a 1 o’clock, if there is no special
event.
I have two coordinators, because of the two schools. In the
school in Spadocronyarzy it’s Anna, here is, in Szopkazy school it’s Sylwia.
In my opinion I think that if you’re going to work in the
Autism center for those next ten months you will be the luckiest person in
life. For me it is the best workplace in the whole world. The students are
super active and kind, though sometimes there can be difficulties you will
enjoy this time for sure.
-
Gvantsa from Georgia, 2020
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