Episode III: Summer camps for kids

Hi volunteers in Lithuania, I'm Luca from Kurtuvenai. Today I want to write about Summer Camps for Kids in Kurtuvenai Regional Park. For 2 months during the summer, the Park has organized summer camps for kids: the main activity during the day was horse riding but with did also others; exursion in the forest, archery, birds watching, bats watching, traditional lithuanian game and sports. For 4 weeks I was one of the group leaders, a wonderful experience, I learned more and more about the nature and culture of Lithuania and it was a good opportunity to improve my lithuanian :) (was very funny when I tried to talk in lithuanian with the kids). Definitly, summuer camps were a very good manner to spend my summer here in Kurtuvenai Regional Park.

EVENTS IN OUR CARE HOME

Hello everybody!!!

It is Esther from Birstonas another time.

Today i am going to speak about the differents events tha

t we had and in wich we participated in our care home during this months.

My and my colleague Iryna participated in differents events in Poland with our care home, this events consisted in do diferents activities with other cares homes from Poland, Lithuania, Latvia etc.

The activitis consist in sing typical songs, make theater, show the works and projects etc. We was helping that everythings was ok with the residents of our care home, their needs etc.

For me this activities was really funny and the big oportunity to saw another country and how they work there. It was a very enriching experience.

Now I show you some photos of this events.

Other event in wich our care home participate was in Vilnius, a Talent Competition.

I was singing and dancing with our resedents and we won diploma for international participation, original and funny.

This event was really important for me, cause I felt fully integrated, could sing in Lithuanian...

I put here the pictures and a video in the next page.

Episode II: the first 3 months

Hi volunteers, it's Luca from Kurtuvenai. Let me tell you about our (me and Diana) first task. In the first 3 months we checked the conditions of the information system objects around the park, for example information panels or road signs. It was a great opportunity to discover the park and go in all the most important places, we saw a lot of beautiful nature and natural monuments. Finally we wrote a report about the problems we have seen and it was a very useful job for the responsible for land management. In the picture you can see Diana while is checking the conditions of that road sign.

See you in the next episode

Luca

Better later than never!!!

Hi dear volunteers in Lithuania (the land of the beautiful ladies), I'm Luca, an italian volunteer in Kurtuvenai Regional Park. I've been here since the 5th of may and i'm leaving in december, so i'm in the middle of my experience. I know, it's too late to write only now about my experience, but let me try to start now to be more responsable.

Do you want to learn how to ride a horse? Come in Kurtuvenai, is the perfect place!! Never in my life i could imagine to learn how to ride a horse...and now, thanks to my EVS, i'm learning and it's wonderful. One of my dream, when I was a child, was to become a knight (not only a Jedi) or a wanderer in the Middle Earth...and this is my first step :).

Of course, here in Kurtuvenai there are other works to do, we are not playing all the time...but I leave this topic for the next episode in this EVS diary!!!!

A lot of kisses

Luca

EVS in Birstonas

Hi another time!!! It is Esther from Birstonas

Today I am going to talk a bit about my volunteer work. Throughout the week I do differents activities with the residents of the care home.

Weekly activities:

With people without dementia:

Crafts, such as decorated with tapestries, bracelets, necklaces of felt, crochet etc.

Recreational activities and training, helps to fill the leisure time, acquire knowledge and tools that can help prevent damage caused by risk behaviors: boredom, incorrect dietary patterns, etc ...

ORIGAMI:

Make figures from colored paper. Helps to improve fine motor skills and concentration.

CROCHET WORKSHOP:

It consists in the manufacture of decorative objects and jewelry with crochet. People who do this workshop they know this type of work but it is for given some company environment and new models and traditional colors of Spain. Improves fine motor skills and knowledge of different cultures.

JEWELRY WORKSHOP:

It consist in make necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings from beads. To occupy free time and improve fine motor skills and concentration. Learning to make different models in different cultures (Spanish).

RECYCLING WORKSHOP:

It consit to collect materials of the care home not used as boxes and decorate it for their own use. This workshop is good for learning mechanisms, improve eye-hand coordination, enhance concentration and creativity. Increase self-esteem and feeling useful. Promotes networking and teamwork.

YOGA:

The yoga workshop will allow tospend their time constructively, creating feelings of belonging to a group.

This is an adaptation of traditional yoga for people with some kind of limitation. The dystonia and muscle elasticity of many of these people suffer the consequences of a sedentary lifestyle without activity. It can help to relax and get a better quality of life, both in physical appearance, as the search for inner peace and improve their social relationships with others.

With people with dementia:

PAINTING:

This workshop was conducted with p eople who have some type of dementia to paint different pictures which help in fine motricity, in attention and concentration as well as helping to distinguish colors and shapes.

FLOWER PAINTING WORKSHOP

It consists in painting with watercolor paper flowers. Helps to improve fine motor skills with both hands.While a hand paints, the other holds the flower, improve atention.

ANIMALS PAINTING WORKSHOP:

It consists inpainting with watercolor paper animals. Helps to improve fine motor skills with both hands.While a hand paints, the other holds the flower, improve atention.

PLASTICINE WORKSHOP:

It consists in the preparation of figures and shapes with plasticine.This workshop is specifically for people who have more difficulty performing previous workshops, with an improvement in the thin motricity

BALL PAPER WORKSHOP

It consist in fill in drawings with small paper balls made ​​previously with different colors. Improves fine motor skills and attention. It helps to distinguish shapes and colors.

EVS in Birstonas

Hello!!!!!

I´m Esther Rúas Miguélez from Spain (Galicia); I´m doing EVS since last january in Birstonas.

I work in Prienai Globos Namu; It is a care house, here i work with old and disabled people. I work with other volunteer from Ukraine (Iryna in the photo).

I prepare yoga lessons for them, and it works very well, i already did during three months and they are very happy with that.

I also work with demential sections there; i make paint activities with them as well as other games.

I am happy with professionals here, i think it´s a nice place and i think people that live here enjoy their lives.

Actually i cannot say anything else, but soon i will write more about my expirience here.

See you!!!!

Gražutes Regioninis Parkas

News from the border!
Rocio and I, Sabrina, are located at the very east of Lithuania in the beautiful park called "Gražutes"... we will try to collect our impressions on our new "diary"-blog, as we want to share our impressions with you. You can follow us on:
baumhirten.blogspot.com

Well, we will see each other at the next week's on arrival training! Looking forward to that one...
all the best!

Rocio & Sabrina