Our Talent School
The Talent School project is in a nutshell where Local Dreamers stands for. Sharing our talents, knowledge, passion and experiences with people that do not or barely have the opportunity to discover and develop their own talents.
Give talent the tools
The Talent School started in the fall of 2014 and has seen different courses and classes. With this project, kids and youngsters in the age of 7 to 12 years are able to discover and develop their talents. National and international volunteers, interns and professionals give practical workshops in sectors as Sports & Health, Theater & Music, Creativity & Technique and Digital Media, and by doing so they stimulate the assertiveness and self-confidence of the youth.
Since our pilot in 2014, workshops have been given on self-defense, mathematics, handicraft, theatre & magic tricks, cooking, ICT and leadership. They have been received enthusiastically. Furthermore, we try to teach both the kids and the parents that by developing one’s talent, it is possible to earn a living.
Note: we do not offer the Talent School project on a weekly basis, but based upon supply and demand. It is about a talent that you as a volunteer or intern have and would like to use to set up a project of your own. Let us know if you are interested in setting up a course and have specific knowledge, a talent or a passion to share!
Just by visiting the bakery or a nearby restaurant you could notice that Local Dreamers has a good reputation by providing not only lessons but also activities ‘outside of school’.
My most beautiful moment was the lesson in which I wanted to repeat something from last week. The kids didn’t give me the chance, because they were already practicing. Amazing!
How can I help?
Spanish
Location
Costs
Requirements
Typical day
At the Talent School you can take the role of manager/project coordinator or as a teacher/assistent to the manager.
- Share your knowledge, experiences and talent with the students;
- Generate enthusiasm with the students for your passion/profession;
- Safeguard the balance, structure and progress of the project;
- Actively search for national and international visiting lecturers;
- Prepare the classes, workshops and trips;
- Keep in touch with the kids´ parents, connect with them before or after workshop if necessary;
- Chair and prepare our monthly Talent School team meetings or weekly evaluations;
- Actively involve yourself with the organization and the project: what is needed? What can be improved?;
- Encourage discipline, self-confidence and a proactive mentality;
- Create a safe and stimulating sport environment;
- Promote important values like respect and collaboration.
It is important to take spanish lessons to be able to participate and communicate with local people. In our office in Quito we have experienced teachers. During the lessons besides Spanish you will learn about culture and get enough experience. This is ideal because you will also have the opportunity to participate in all our projects in Quito: English school, swimming school, soccer school and other interesting activities, see our Spanish course page.
Local Dreamers offers its volunteers and interns excellent Spanish classes for the price of only € 11 per lesson. Every volunteer and intern are very excited about our Spanish lessons.
- Spanish Basic: €264,-24 lessons
- Spanish Intensive: €440,- 40 lessons
- Spanish Specialist: €660,- 60 lessons
The main office of Local Dreamers is in Quito the capital of Ecuador. There is also the meeting point to direct our volunteers and interns to the different projects. Our facilities have everything you need to prepare your lessons. We have a pleasant working environment with computers, internet and printers. In the cafeteria you can prepare a good cup of tea, coffee and a snack. Outside our office, just one step away, you will have access to all the facilities you need, for example, a large supermarket, restaurants (with a full menu for less than three euros) stationery stores, bakeries and even hairdressers, etc.
Upon your arrival at the airport, José Luis (our driver) will be waiting to take you to our office, where one of our guides will be waiting to take you to your lodging and will also teach you everything you need while you get used to the projects and how to get around in Ecuador.
First 4 weeks: €790,-
From the 5th week: €150,- p.w
WHAT IS INCLUDES?
- Preparation and guidance
- Management of your accommodation
- 24/7 in-country support
- In-country program orientation
- Pre-departure support from your Program Manager
- Airport pick-up
- Personalized guide, orientation and preparation with our team in Ecuador.
- Access to all computer equipment, printers, paper, internet, and other materials necessary for planning.
- Accommodation
- Breakfast and dinner included if you stay with a host family
- Freedom to prepare your own food and have full access to a clothes washer and dryer if you stay in our volunteer house.
By choosing one of our projects in the city of Quito you have the opportunity to participate in all the other projects in Quito at no additional cost
As a serious and responsible organization we ask for the following requirements to participate in our projects:
• Fill out registration form
• Sign general terms and conditions
• Sign code of conduct
• Have travel insurance
• Vaccines
• Criminal background check
• Copy of passport
Important: to reserve it is necessary to pay a registration fee
Former volunteer Sterre de Geus (21) described a day as an English teacher for us:
- 07:45 Alarm goes off, I put on my non-fashionable-but-decent clothes and have desayuno with my host family
- 08.30 In 10 minutes I walk to the office of Local Dreamers, on the way I take the Metro Newspaper and try to decipher the local and global news
- 09.00 Working time! All volunteers and interns are at the office and in small teams we start preparing lessons and trainings. Today my fellow teacher and I have to prepare the afternoon´s lesson, and we have to finish the monthly schedule for the upcoming volunteers.
- 10.30 Coffee break. Let´s check if there is some news from the home front
- 11.00 I have some time to finish my Spanish homework, since I have a new class in the afternoon. To prepare my English class even better I decide to already translate my lesson preparation to Spanish.
- 12.00 English teacher’s team meeting. Together we discuss the progress of the classes and give feedback and suggestions
- 12.30 Lunch. Today we try another lunch spot around the office. It will probably be soup, followed by rice with chicken for about $2.00
- 13.30 Spanish lesson. Today Paulina (my Spanish teacher) and I discuss the imperative; really effective for my English lessons
- 15.00 Tea break. On the roof terrace we have some chill time, to talk about other things than work…
- 16.00 English Class. My class consists of children aged from ten to twelve, stubborn and active, but challenging! Today they will learn how to tell the time.
- 17.30 End of the day. Tired but satisfied I take my bag and walk back home. My host mom prepares rice with chicken, while I try to show her my newly learned words.
PHOTOS
