Training for Parent Volunteers
Our experience has been that parents are more than willing to help for a good cause if it is very clear what they are expected to do.  We suggest that you schedule a time with the school to recruit parent volunteers (a “Back to School Night” would be a good time to have sign-ups or recruiting through the PTA or Room mothers might be an option).  After you have a number of parents expressing an interest, schedule a training session to last 2-3 hours on a Saturday or Evening when parents can attend without children.  Following is a sample agenda for a parent Training meeting as well as a list of “kit” materials to be assembled at the meeting. (One kit per grade should be sufficient.  Kits should remain the property of Water For People so that they can be used at additional schools)

 

Parent Training Meeting

 

I.              Welcome and Introduction

A.     Introduce the organization and your role as volunteer

B.      Show Water For People Video clip that introduces the charity.

C.      Read through past Journal entries and Newspaper articles to show success of past programs

 

II.          School Program

A.     Hand out lesson plans and briefly introduce each country with the key points

B.      Show examples of past Collaborative projects and brainstorm on other activities that classes can participate in

C.      Teach the 1st lesson

D.     Assemble Kits – have materials and containers ready

E.      Divide parents into groups and have them teach the additional lessons so that each lesson has been taught once

 

III.      Input

A.     Questions / Concerns

B.      Suggestions

 

IV.         Follow up

A.     Make sure that phone numbers and e-mail addresses are exchanged so that constant communication is available throughout the project and so the program can evolve to fit current needs.

B.      As the coordinator – make sure you contact parents frequently throughout project.

 

Kit Materials

Each Kit will need the following: (Sponsors should be sought out to cover the cost of the kits)

 

Total Materials Needed: 21
 

 1 large bucket or tub  - to act as container and demonstration in 1st lesson
 

School Program Disk
 

Water Dance  by: Thomas Locker

 

3 canning jars with lids

   Vinegar
 

Small Dixie Cups
  Large Pictures of Children and Adults in Developing Countries Printed out – Can do that on own from disk
  Large World Map – Laminated
  Stickers to mark Countries
  Ruler
 

Dry Erase Markers
  Blank Bar graph – Laminated
 

Small plastic tub
  Block of Wood
 

Paint Tray liner
 

5 large funnels
  5 Large pieces of cheesecloth
  Filter Media – Sand, Gravel, Activated Charcoal, Cotton Balls, Material
  5 Baggies with flour, dirt, glitter
  10 Plastic cups (5 marked with name of Filter media)
 

Plastic Spoons

 

Each classroom coordinator will also need to gather the materials needed to participate in the collaborative project.