Upon arrival in Granada, you will settle in with your host family. You will receive information on how to go to the project (walking distance, or by bike or taxi) on the first working day, on Monday (unless there’s a National Holiday). On Monday, once you arrive at the project, you will have an orientation meeting to discuss the rules of the project, and be provided with general information about the activities during the following days. It is also discussed what the expectations are and what talents and passions you want to use as a volunteer to contribute to the project with the aim that your time in the project makes an impact for the project and yourself. It is therefore best if prior to arrival, you already think about activities that you can contribute to the kids, such as: arts and crafts, sports, games from your country, health presentations, a presentation about the country you come from or anything else you may be interested or passionate about sharing. **Be aware that if your activity requires specific materials, you would please need to bring them with you.

Now it’s time to work… please take into account that not all days will be the same, so your activities will be defined depending on the daily needs. But mainly consist in being active with the chavalos (as the local children are called) on both academic and social activities around 4 hours a day, in the morning or in the afternoon. It will usually be 3 to 5 volunteers working together and there are usually also plenty of foreign students attending the Spanish classes. We count on your flexibility to help at the project. Around noon, you will go back to your host family home for lunch and in the afternoon volunteers who do a combination of
volunteering with Spanish, will assist to their Spanish classes or, if not, they would have the rest of the day free to enjoy the city or to participate in optional excursions that the school offers as well. Working the entire day as a volunteer is also an option (depending on your level of Spanish). For the following days, the schedule is similar, working from 8am to 12pm (or 1pm to 5pm) from Monday to Friday. The coordinator will indicate you where you will be most needed, and of course if you have ideas, these are always welcome!! Organization and the pace at which things run may be very different to what you are used to, but please take into account that these are cultural differences that you should respect. Don’t get frustrated, be patience, and see this as an opportunity, and please be an example of appropriate behavior at all times. Each and every volunteer is a role model to the children, and your behavior will be mirrored by them. Your volunteer work is extremely valuable and can make extraordinary impacts, engaging the children in new cultures, learning them different values, languages, games, educacional insights and many others.

Show initiative that you are willing to work hard, be happy and motivated and you will
feel the warmth and positive energy of the chavalos. It awakens the inner child in you and this way you will get the most out of your time as a volunteer.