Hi everybody I would like to share with you my experience with the BAFA. It's a diploma you take when you want to become animator in a leisure centre for example. Thanks to it you can also work in winter/summer whatever season camps. Obviously I would advise all people to take it ONLY if they appreciate children. It's not a job you do simply to earn money, you really have to be implicated. Remember this: when you work with children, you literally have in your hands the parents' dearest thing(s) on earth.

The BAFA takes place in 3 steps.

1) - a theoretical training where you get to know about the child's needs (of all age)
    - you learn how to organise small and big games
    - "                                        " manual works etc

2) your work experience in whatever organisation you'd like to work in (I did it in a leisure centre)
   It has to be for 14 days minimum (spread over three weeks because the weekends don't count)

3) what they call the "approfondissement", it's basically the specialty you're going to take
    For example you can decide to specialise in big games/ alpine sports/ early childhood...

So I did the first two steps in a 6 months period. Oh I almost forgot, you have to be 17 to take the diploma. I worked as I said previously in a leisure centre with kids from age 3 to 7. It is indeed very tiring since they yell and scream... But most importantly you hear them laugh and that is precious. I have now in my head lovely memories I will never forget. It is what we call a human experience and if you are as sensitive as me, you will definitely be balling your eyes out at the end. Since I am in presence of loads of people very shy it was quite difficult for me in the beginning. Yet I persevered and my efforts got paid. I had to do twice what they call in french a "sensibilisation", it's when you plunge the children in a very imaginative world. I went for it obviously and proposed to the team to integrate my english a little bit. Since we were during the second week in the States (not for real Dah) I was Elena Mc Muffin. My character came to France to ask some help from the children because it had lost its steps (its dancing skills) and its words (its French). The children were amused and didn't recognise me at all it was very funny. You should've seen their faces light up when Elena spoke and danced again :)

What you have to keep in mind is that you must use all your skills! Integrate singing, dancing, drawing, whatever you are good with.

Concerning the third step I will go to London or Jersey to specialise in foreign camps, I might as well use my english! Inform your selves for financial help guys. I know that that the PACA region offers 150€ for the "approfondissement" yet it has to be internship.

I hope I cleared up a couple of things for you. See you soon ;)