Since the middle of September, three volunteers are working at the Schmidt’s Girls College and try to revitalize the everyday life in school. They take part of the new founded voluntary service „kulturweit“ by the German Department of Foreign Affairs in cooperation with the German UNESCO Commission.

This program gives young people in the age of 18 to 26 from Germany the opportunity to stay abroad for six or twelve months and to work voluntary in the fields of culture and education.

At the beginning of the programme only one volunteer was provided for SGC. This has risen to three volunteers.
Many new projects and opportunities have been created for and due to the volunteer programme to the extent that they form an integral part of the school programme and school life.

The three volunteers for 2009-2010 are Matteo Barutzki, 20 years old, Clemens Rengier, 20 years old and Philipp Wellmer, 23 years old. The volunteer team formed only 10 days before their journey tu Jerusalem and have become a dynamic working team, cooperating with the schools’ needs and each other from the beginning.

Part of the work is done together, I other areas of responsibility each volunteer is specially used for its capabilities. As Philipp Wellmer is a qualified hotel specialist and also possesses extensive IT skills, he is responsible for the school cafeteria and the construction of the new website. Clemens Rengier works mainly in the musical field. He heads a project choir, piano lessons and is currently planning the project “Life is not out of tune – Concerts in Palestine.” Matteo Barutzki has established a new student administration at the school and meets weekly with the democratically elected school and class speakers to discuss how the school specifically for students can be improved.

All three volunteers offer once a week homework tutions from grade 4 to 8 respectively. So that the students should be given the opportunity to finish their homework under supervision in the school. In addition, starting this school year “sports meetings” were set up. Students are capable every day after school after the 8^th period to participate sports with one of the volunteers- whether basketball, volleyball or football – they are up for anything. On Tuesday at 8^th and 9^th period Clemens provides also a football activity.

Everday in the first period they help the concierge Fadi to do maintance work (They carry tables, clean up the playground and garden, paint, screw, etc.). One or another hour on the day they use to assist the teachers and support them in their lessons, spending most of their time in the German classes and lessons.

Finally, they also want to contribute to the creation of the first school yearbook since 1997 and to build up a school newspaper.

The volunteers are very happy with their work. Of course, its also a help that there is excellent cooperation both with the director, Mr. Kircher and with all other employees, and especially with the students themselves. Certainly its a major reason why in such a short time could have so many new things to be established in the school day.