Kindergarten

Aim

This project aims to provide children aged 5 or 6 with a solid educational foundation. It also aims to help them adjust to a learning environment, and teaches them basic life skills so that they will be more likely to successfully continue the education process. CENIT hopes that children who participate in this program will be motivated and permitted to attend a public educational institution upon completion of the kindergarten. Many of these activities are specifically designed to promote dexterity, positive hygiene practices and social development.

Project Information

CENIT's Kindergarten program greatly resembles a normal kindergarten, the primary difference being that the Kindergarten students at CENIT all either work or accompany their parents to work. In order to prepare them to go to elementary school, the Ecuadorian teacher and volunteers teach various subjects including pre-school math, writing, reading, English, play therapy, dance therapy, and art. Many of these activities are specifically designed to promote dexterity and mental, emotional, and social development. The kindergarten places a huge emphasis on personal development and hygiene. In cases where the children suffer from abuse, have aggressive or violent behavioural problems, or have learning disabilities, the kindergarten staff of an Ecuadorian teacher and several volunteers will work together with psychologists, social workers, and other specialists to ensure that these problems will not affect the child's future productivity. Although the program only lasts 5 hours a day, including lunch, it is extremely effective in promoting the importance of education to the children's parents, and the kindergarten kids are highly likely to go on to an age-appropriate primary school. From the 2003-4 school year, 100% of the kindergarten students matriculated into formal educational institutions. There is an Ecuadorian teacher in charge of Kinder, and volunteers are required to help with all aspects of the program.

Volunteer Requirements

Kinder functions Monday through Friday, from early morning to early afternoon. Volunteers must be at CENIT for a minimum of 6 months, and have an intermediate to advanced level of Spanish. Kinder volunteers must be caring, patient, creative, and dynamic. Previous experience in early childhood development is a definite plus. Some volunteer duties include: helping the children complete projects, teaching basic life skills (e.g., manners, appropriate behaviours, dexterity, hygiene, washing hands, sitting at a table when they eat, cleaning up the room, teaching them that discussing problems is better than fighting etc.), helping escort the children from the class to the patio, cafeteria and the other places in the school, playing and organizing games for the children, working with the Kindergarten teacher to create projects for class themes and if possible, teaching them a little basic English.

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