VTPEDR1

Volunteers with a sufficient level of Spanish are welcome for a minimum of 1-3 weeks.

All volunteers need to be 21 and older.

In this project about 80 young people aged 14 to 18 years old get a second chance to getting back on the right path. They have been detained in a youth prison and are offered the opportunity to learn the necessary skills to survive and not have to resort to crime. They continue their education and attend afternoon workshops such as making handicrafts, clothes, repairing shoes and wood working. They also participate in sports and occasionally learn English. There is a psychologist and a social worker here, and volunteers can help those professionals as well as lead some of the activities. The project has a 94% success rate, meaning only 6% returns to prison once they have been released.

Volunteers do not need to have a background or experience dealing with troubled youth or young offenders, but should expect a challenging environment here. Students of psychology, pedagogy and social studies will find this an excellent place to gain some experience. Volunteer work takes place in the afternoons, for about 4 hours at a time and volunteers should think about activities they would like to lead or create.