Caritas seeks volunteer tutors for Vorarlberg learning cafés

Caritas Vorarlberg is urgently seeking volunteer tutors for its after-school learning cafés, ORF reports. The programme has 540 places across 16 locations, and volunteers are needed in Lustenau, Dornbirn, Rankweil, Feldkirch, Nenzing and Bludenz.

Two or three volunteers at each of those locations would be enough, said programme director Bea Bröll. The main requirement is being available for one afternoon a week. Volunteers include retired people, former teachers, students and people completing civilian service.

The learning cafés have operated for 15 years and provide free support to children from disadvantaged families, generally aged eight to 14. Each child attends one or two afternoons a week. Many volunteers say they value seeing the children make progress and helping them stay motivated.

Helmwart Zortea, a retired engineer who volunteers at the Bregenz learning café, is the oldest tutor at 89. He said he enjoys encouraging children who often arrive tired. Another volunteer, Hella Hagspiel, said working with children and keeping up her own maths and English skills were among her reasons for helping.

For the children, the sessions can become a regular part of the week. Student Amine said she likes learning together, while Mohammad said the support helps with his homework. Nazar said a workshop at the café helped him decide he wants to become an electrical engineer and work for illwerke vkw.

Bröll said about 96 percent of participating children pass the school year on their first attempt, with nearly 100 percent passing after retaking exams. The cafés offer one-to-one support, with one tutor working with one child.