Erste Schritte - Support Families with Children Ages 1–3
LebensWelt
- Families
- Kids & Teenagers
- Mentoring, Sponsoring & Career Coaching
About the volunteering opportunity
"Erste Schritte..." offers volunteer support for families with children ages 1–3
Being there for the child around the clock, sleep deprivation, and a lack of rest have come to define daily life with an infant. Parents’ reserves of energy—especially for single parents—are often depleted, and their nerves are on edge.
Being there for the child around the clock, sleep deprivation, and a lack of rest have come to define daily life with an infant. Parents’ reserves of energy—especially for single parents—are often depleted, and their nerves are on edge.
Now the child is taking their first steps and wants to explore the world on their own. Parents face a new challenge: meeting the child’s desire for greater independence and their thirst for discovery. Supporting the child’s development until they start school presents a new challenge for parents. To do this, parents need to be well-organized in their “completely normal everyday life” and generally require support from their family, friends, or outside sources—such as volunteers.
Your Tasks
A volunteer looks after the child once a week for about 2–3 hours. During this time, the parents have the opportunity to take care of their daily routines in peace, perhaps do something with the child’s siblings, or simply recharge. This respite care program is initially planned to last for half a year.
The volunteer assistance provides practical support with daily life, such as
- hourly childcare
- Accompanying the child to activities or doctor’s appointments
- Taking the child to and from activities
- A point of contact for the parents
What's needed
For this volunteering opportunity, intermediate German skills are required.
Volunteers must provide an extended police background check and proof of measles vaccination—both must be requested and submitted after the initial meeting; only then can a placement be arranged.
It’s great if volunteers already have some experience working with children, as well as empathy, sensitivity, reliability, and the ability to dedicate their time to families with children.
It’s great if volunteers already have some experience working with children, as well as empathy, sensitivity, reliability, and the ability to dedicate their time to families with children.
Time required
Regularly
Discussed individually
On weekdays, during the day
The volunteer work usually takes place once a week for about 2–3 hours; the days and times are to be arranged on an individual basis.
Important notice
Our project is a long-term commitment, with no compensation.
Location
LebensWelt
LebensWelt provides social-educational support and care for children, adolescents, and their families to help them cope with crises, parenting challenges, and everyday problems. LebensWelt, a nonprofit, intercultural organization, was founded in 1999 and is primarily active in outpatient child and youth welfare and integration assistance in Berlin, but also offers partially supervised group homes for young, unaccompanied refugees.