ESC @ Freie Schule Jahnishausen: Elementary School & Eco-Village

About the project

The project « Freies Lernen Jahnishausen » (Free Learning Jahnishausen) started in 2022, where members of the nearby community revived the old village school of Jahnishausen with a new primary school based on a our special learning concept: There is little frontal teaching, instead students work together on their learning. The school currently has around 20 pupils and follows a very inclusive approach, so that we can respond to the needs of the pupils. We follow an individualised approach to learning that includes students from grade 1 to 4 in the same classroom. We also spend a lot of time on outdoor activities and are very open to your ideas.

Two minutes walk from the school is an old knight’s estate which houses our community (Lebenstraumgemeinschaft Jahnishausen) where the volunteer will live. Our community is part of the GEN network (Global Ecovillage Network) and we are very committed to an environmentally sustainable way of life. At the moment, we have more than 60 residents (including 12 children). It is a very rural area, but there is a lot going on in our community: we cook together every day, have music events, play games, etc., so there is always something to do. You should be open to our way of life, you can take part in our plenaries and become part of our community, but it depends on you how much you want to participate. It is a 20-minute bike ride to the nearest town, Riesa, from where you can take a train to Leipzig or Dresden, which takes 50 minutes.

Tasks

You will mainly be involved in the school, supporting the students in their learning process. You will also help with the after-school care, which is mainly organised by the parents of the students. Depending on your skills and what you want to learn, we will look for suitable tasks. As the renovation of the school is an ongoing process, there might also be tasks where you can support.

During the school holidays, you will be involved in the maintenance of our community. We also have a Community Supported Agriculture that you can help with, so there is plenty to do, and we will try to find tasks that suit your interests and there is plenty of space in Jahnishausen to realize your ideas.

Profil recherché

• aged between 18-26 years
• interest in working with children
• some organizational skills, open-mindedness, own ideas
• able to communicate in english (speaking german is not a requirement, but it’s great if you already know a bit of german)
• willing to live in a community in a rural area of Saxony