About the Organization

The Chaslivtsi Orphanage is located on eight hectares in a small village near Uzhhorod, Ukraine. The orphanage building is large and old, the bedrooms spartan, the classrooms small; the surrounding area, however, is large and forest-like. The staff consists of a director, a psychiatrist, three doctors, four nurses, teachers, and support staff. The 80 students come from a variety of difficult situations. Some were abandoned by their parents who left them in maternity houses, railway stations, and trash cans, others had parents who officially refused to keep their children, several of them are wards of the state, and a few are true orphans whose parents are deceased. Many of the children are from Gypsy/Roma families. All of the students are mentally challenged but their difficulties are considered to be mild, not of a serious nature. Their ages range form seven to seventeen. The majority of the children are male. The psychiatrist reported that he has not seen any serious violence; however, the children have behavior problems. There is some vocational training: embroidering and sewing for the females and agricultural work for the males. In the past, students from the orphanage went to another institution at age seventeen, but as a result of the new education reform, the government has no plans for them once they leave. As a result, learning to support themselves is critical for the students and knowing English may be an avenue to success for them.

In 1999, volunteers from Corvallis, Oregon, distributed humanitarian aid to the citizens of their sister city, Uzhhorod, Ukraine. Some of the recipients of that aid were children in the Chaslivtsi Orphanage located near Uzhhorod. Upon returning home, two delegation members envisioned a program of sponsorship for the children. Their work continues through sponsorship of other children in the TOUCH Project at a rehabilitation Center, Public Roma School, Pavlovo Farm Home and the in the New Family Program in Uzhhorod.

Job Description

The intern will teach English at all levels to students at the orphanage. Some ESL materials are stored in Uzhhorod and the intern should plan to bring magazines, comics, and other easy-to-read materials. Students have papers and pens but nothing else. Chalkboards are available. Intern must be prepared to teach creatively.The on-site mentor for the intern will be Odarka Vasilyevna Tovt, vice-director and person responsible for the educational process at the school. In addition, Zita Bathori-Tartsi, TOUCH Director, in Ukraine, lives in Uzhhorod and will be avilable to assist the intern acclimating to the responsibilities. Zita is fluent in English. All of the children have English-speaking sponsors, so their interest level in learning English is high. Because of the work of previous interns, some of the children speak English very well.

The curriculum includes: history, Ukrainian language and literature, math, physics, correctional lessons, agricultural job, science about nature and about peoples, singing, drawing, physical culture and medical physical culture (rehabilitation therapy), rhytmithity (music, rhythmical movements, and dance), laliatry (help with pronunciation problems). There are approximately twelve children per classroom. The children have four-six lessons per day, depending on their age. The teachers work five days per week from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., the workweek is six days.

For teachers, days off are Sunday and one more day during the week. There are ten holidays: 1st of Jan, two days for Christmas, 6th and 7th of January, 8th of March, two days at Easter, 1st and 2nd and 9th of May, and some days in the Fall, too. The teaching periods (quarters): 1) 1st of September - 3rd of November 2) 10th of November - 24th of December 3) 12th of January - 25th of March, and 4) 1st of April - 31 of May.

# of Positions per term

1

Start Dates

September, January or April

Duration of Internship

3-6 Months

Academic Background

Nearing the end of training in Special Education or related major. Applicants must have prior teaching experience or have completed their practicum.

Skills/Experience

Experience in the US Ukrainian community or previous study abroad. Ability to manage a classroom of twelve students with special needs and behavior problems. Tolerance of touching. Acceptance of people who have great need for affection and whose hygiene may not be as good as desirable. Sense of playfulness. Ability to help on whatever level assistance is needed. Flexibility.

Language Ability

None. Strong background in English; Ukrainian or Russian is an advantage.

Other Requirements

Candidates will be interviewed - in person or by telephone -- by the Corvallis Sister Cities Association board members, who will make the selection.

Total costs vary depending on how long you plan to be abroad, where you will be living, your personal spending habits, and current exchange rates. The following estimates will give you a ballpark figure for this internship. Get help with the math from our handy Cost Calculator.

IE₃ Program Fee

The program fee* for the first term of any internship is $2950 - $3150. You do not pay tuition in addition to the program fee. Visit your University's IE₃ page for details, costs for additional terms, and campus administrative fees.

*The program fee noted above reflects the anticipated fee increase that will go into effect for the Fall 2010 term and will apply to all terms thereafter.

Estimated One-Time Expenses

Expense Type	Price
International Travel	$1500 US Airfare + train travel and lodging in Budapest upon arrival: $200
Visa Fees	No visa requirements
Recommended Immunizations	$200

*See Additional Cost Information below.

Estimated Monthly Expenses

Expense Type	Price/month
Housing	$40
Food	$50
Local Transportation	$25
Recreation	$25
Personal Expenses	$35

Compensation

$1000 stipend towards airfare paid by The TOUCH project of the Corvallis Sister City Association

Additional Expense Information

Accommodation: Members of the Uzhhorod Sister Cities Association will arrange a homestay in Uzhhorod; however the intern will pay approximately $40 a month for the room or $90 a month for room and board. Interns may be housed with families for two-month periods and then move to another family. The intern will much prefer living in Uzhhorod and commuting from there to the village

Cost of Living: Approximately $250/month including daily round-trip taxi from Uzhhorod to Chaslivtsi (less expensive buses are also available). Expenses for food and day-to-day living cost approximately $90 a month. Additional travel and entertainment is extra.

International Travel: The TOUCH Project of the Corvallis Sister City Association will pay $1000 toward travel expenses. Airfare from the NW to Budapest varies; interested students should inquire as to the cheapest fares. First-class train to and from Budapest costs approximately $35.00. The TOUCH Project Coordinator will pick up the intern at the train station in Chop, Ukraine (a six-seven hour trip from Budapest) and drive the intern back at the end of the internship. The intern should be prepared to fly into Budapest, spend a day there -- preferably a weekday - to buy a train ticket and adjust to the time change, and then take the early morning (6:00 am) train to Chop. Be sure to determine the departing train station (at this time, the early train depart from the Nyugati station and the 4:20 pm one leaves from the Keleti station). All of this requires two nights in Budapest.