Timebanking at a School of Adults

Abstract

Experiences like this one are being made here and in some other countries from Civic Organizations and Town Councils. Our differentiator is in fact to carry out, this project, in a school of adults. Students who attend the center stay an average of 2 to 3 years. Therefore they have little time to achieve a bond with the center beyond the class they are attending. The Timebanking is a system of sharing skills, knowledge and peer services. It is a network of exchange services in a timely manner and without profits.

Some examples, of the offers and/or demands who arose, are: assembling shelves; accompanying a senior to the doctor; sort mail and classify photos; revise some assignment; sewing tasks You can make time exchanges between individual people, but in fact the differentiator of this Timebanking is forming working groups where they can share and help each other when doing home works or reviewing the daily works. Even groups could be formed in which Timebanking members offer to lead a “course” or “conference” on a subject they master and want to share. To organize the project the Information is placed at the entrance of the center that is updated regularly. Also e-mails are sent to all members. People who wants to register are interviewed, to collect personal data, requests and offers they want to interchange and explaining to them the project. They are given the ID card and the interchange cheque-book. The members look for the offers and they contact those who offer them, through e-mail or by phone The experience has improved the social cohesion and link with the school.