German-French Day Care Centre "Kita Les Explorateurs"

The French-German daycare centre "Kita Les Explorateurs" is located near the city of Karlsruhe. The Kita hosts 90 children aged 1 to 6 years. The daycare centre welcomes all children, regardless of their nationality or social background.

The bilingual pedagogical approach of the Kita aims to promote social skills, strengthen the child's personality, and support their independence and creativity. The team of educators is international, speaks both German and French, and combines both languages while interacting with the children, fostering a bilingual environment. Additionally, the daycare centre has an inclusive concept, integrating children with and without disabilities into the same group. The kindergarten's concept emphasizes social inclusion, supporting each child individually based on their abilities. Another pedagogical focus of the Kita is to introduce children to the world of natural sciences, mathematics, and technology. The core of the educational approach is that the educators and volunteers support the interests of the children.

Additionally, excursions to museums, the city, parks, or playgrounds, and collaborations with other institutions take place. It is essential to the pedagogical concept that the children have as much contact with nature and their surroundings as possible.

34 hours in the Kita:

• Supporting the educators in one group of children in their daily activities
• Accompanying the children in free play and excursions
• Taking part in reflections and discussions with colleagues
• supporting the kitchen (preparing, cleaning after breakfast and lunch),
• Optional - realizing your own activity with the children

4 hours in the KJW:

• Attending feedback meetings
• Helping with the organisation of intercultural events and attending them. These are mostly in the evening.
• Organizing your own event about your culture and/or knowledge in a specific field, such as sport, art, music, university studies... This will be part of a cycle of events called „Livin‘ Culture“. You want to check out previous events? Have a look at our ESC volunteers Instagram profile!

Bonus activity: become a youth leader in summer camps

• The KJW offers a pedagogical training to become youth leader. As the training takes place in 3 weekends, you have the free choice to attend it if you are interested in the field.  
• After the training, you have the opportunity to become a summer camp youth leader. Summer camps take place in and outside of Germany and last between one and two weeks. The camps are an amazing chance for you to work and travel for free at the same time.

In addition to the general benefits as stated above, you will receive the following:

• free lunch in the Kita
• the opportunity to attend a free course as a youth leader, including a first aid course, climbing course and the chance to work and travel in Germany or Europe
• an international environment in the Kita and at home and the possibility to spread your own passions in dedicated events

•  Creative and open minded
• Possessing a basic knowledge of German and/or French (preferred but not mandatory)
• Motivated in working with children and all the connected duties
• Motivated in working with children with disabilities and fostering their integration
• Willing to organize events and present your own culture and knowledges
• Excited in sharing an international environment and flexible when it comes to integration