Volunteer Teaching Abroad
Knowledge is power. Education is one of the most important tools to empower youth with knowledge, self-confidence and skills needed to fully participate in the development life process.
Volunteering in an international educational volunteer program is a great way to prepare for a career as educational administrator, teacher or principle. Expand your thinking and your personal frame of reference by joining a project in another country and get to know another culture. When you volunteer in an overseas program you gain more of a global perspective. This alone can make you a more qualified and marketable educator.
Program options include working in a classroom; teaching kindergarten, primary or secondary education. In formal teaching programs can include after-school library projects, community centers, education sessions at women shelters or orphanages.
Some of the programs that are part of this specific program include:
- Teaching English words and grammar
Working with rural and urban schools
Following teacher lesson plans & creating your own lessons
Providing support to teachers in the school
Teaching letters, numbers, colors and other basics
If you have any level of interest in working with children and helping improve their lives through education, this is a program for you. Schools around the world have varied schedules, but most are in sessions in June/July when teachers from the USA are on summer holidays. What a better way to spend your vacation then giving back to a school community in a developing country.
You do not need previous experience to be an affective education volunteer. Many local teachers are desperate for ideas and activities to share with their students to expand their thinking. Placements are customized to suit your comfort level, skills and interest.
With this type of program you’re definitely not going to have a problem feeling like you’re giving back. You’re going to see it every day with the youth who are waiting for you to start up on the next lesson for the day.
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Volunteer in Ecuador interested in teaching can help in a local pre-school and kindergarten school. The school has over 150 students daily who are 4-5 years old. Volunteers lead English lessons, and help the teacher with other lessons. Play time and arts and crafts and games can be introduced as well.
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Volunteering in Uganda, This village school has children ranging from 4yrs to 12 years. You would be teaching English, math, and other subjects. After school activities like sports, and games can be shared with the kids also. Teaching experience is not required. You can begin as a teaching assistant and then work in small groups with children in need of extra attention.
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Volunteer in Ecuador, this School is an institution of social help located in Quito’s old town and working in benefit of its students during 129 years. It gives educational services to 382 kids from kinder garden to 2nd year of high school. The schedule is from Monday to Friday since 07:15 AM to 13:30 PM
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Volunteer in Tanzania at a local village school outside of Arusha. Volunteers support local teachers that provide free education to orphans and vulnerable children in the community. Volunteers needed to teach English and mathematics.
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Volunteer in India, With thousands of yearly international travellers visiting Jaipur, having foreign language skills can lead to a better life opportunities. By volunteering to teach a “second” language such as English, Spanish, German, Japanese, Mandarin or Italian you are giving the student an opportunity for a career in tourism (which is huge in Jaipur).
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Volunteer in Nepal a local primary school in Kathmandu. You will get the opportunity to learn about education challenges in a developing country like Nepal. By being a volunteer English teacher in a school, you will help underprivileged children improve their English skills, gain knowledge on various health issues, social issues and enhancement of academic performance.
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Volunteer in Nepal ,it’s a tradition of Buddhist of sending to their Daughter (nun) to the Monastery. Most of them are from poor families throughout Nepal. Most of the parents send their children to monastery for the sake of the better living condition and education.
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Volunteer in Guatemala, for children in western countries it is normal to attend school every day. Unfortunately in Guatemala the reality is different. Children often don't go to school, and their rights to education is not a household priority. Spanish speaking volunteers work with a local school and help with English lessons and personal coaching with life skills to improve the children's outlook in life. Volunteer teachers and assistance needed for primary school age children. *Schools are closed in December to mid January.
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Volunteers China needed to teach conversational English in the local schools in and around Yantai. Placement are available in kindergartens, primary schools, high schools and colleges throughout the city. Teacher assistants are supported by the local teacher, and will focus on language comprehension and speaking. The teachers and students are eager to learn English, so volunteers are very welcome at the schools.
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Volunteer Honduras in La Ceiba there is a growing need for native English speakers to help students become a part of the growing hospitality industry. Volunteers work at a local primary school or high school in La Ceiba. These areas are very poor, and the schools lack native English-speaking volunteers.
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Volunteer in Nepal, it’s a tradition of Buddhist of sending to their children (Monk/nun) to the Monastery. Their level of English is very poor compare to other school children. Most of them are from poor families throughout Nepal. There are about 130 monks in Monastery ranging between 4 years and 18 years old. Most of the parents send their children to monastery for the sake of the better living condition and education.
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Volunteer in Ghana at a refugee camp orphan school with classes ranging from preschool classes through grade six. There are approximately 60 children attending school and they range in age from 3 -15 years old. The school is made up of six classrooms and an office building.
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Volunteer in Chile, A stated goal of the Chilean Ministry of Education is that Chile must become a fully bilingual country. English is taught in all Chilean schools from the first to the twelfth grades. Volunteer to teach English in Chile and you will work closely with Chilean teachers. Volunteer teaching placements in Chile are based in La Serena's kindergarten, primary and secondary level.
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Volunteer in Ecuador, our School is an institution that was previously hosted by the International Foundation Lyceum, which offers a bachelor of science through a dynamic curriculum. The school is based on a sustainable criteria through a team of teachers all committed to meeting institutional goals, sense of community, and care of the environment that promote diverse problem solving skills.
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Volunteer Colombia, This school is located in a very peaceful and typical neighborhood in Cartagena, El Campestre. It is about 30 minutes away from the old city, the main touristic area. This institution is a great support for the community. Most of the students there come from very poor families and have low opportunities for a good education.
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Volunteer Cambodia, To work in the industries in the town areas, English language and basic computer skills proficiency is now a requirement. But in Cambodia the opportunity to learn and study is not available for everybody. So as a result many people are jobless. As a volunteer in Cambodia, you will teach English and/or computer skills to support the poor people, mostly in schools, thus improving the employment prospects of these future generations.
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Volunteer Peru: Being able to speak English is a great way for children in Cusco Peru to evade a life of poverty. With Peru being one of the most visited tourist spots in South America, the growing tourism trade brings a lot of opportunities for English speaking locals. ABV teaching English programs are focused in Cusco’s Mariscal Gamarra neighborhood. Volunteers help at schools which are under resourced and lack dedicated English teachers
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Volunteer India, although the Indian government works hard to provide quality education to poor needy communities, our volunteers are assisting in great ways! Teaching can be very rewarding, but in India the program is challenging. By providing English learning opportunities to poor children they gain a chance of a better life and breaking out of the cycle of poverty.
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Volunteer in India, In recent years, English was introduced into Rajasthan Government Primary Schools, but the teachers were not up-skilled in teaching English as a foreign language. Often their own skills in the English language are limited, so volunteers are able to expose the students to excellent English language models.
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Volunteer Zambia at a rustic, community school on the outskirts of Livingstone. This school, although lacking in proper materials and trained teachers, is free of charge for children in the village. Most the children are orphans, or from very poor families who cannot afford to send their children elsewhere.
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Volunteer Costa Rica As a teaching volunteer in Costa Rica you will significantly contribute to the welfare of the education system and get a new perspective of life in Costa Rica.
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Volunteers in Ghana have the opportunity to make a lasting difference in Ghanaian rural communities through education. Based on government decree, all children have the right to free, compulsory, universal basic education on all levels.
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Volunteering in Cameroon, interested in working with children can support the pre-school, kindergarten or primary school level classes. Lessons are taught in English, though French speaking volunteers are welcome also. Teaching experience is not required. As an assistant to the teacher you can play a more active role in tutoring small amounts of children and focus on English and math.
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Volunteer Uganda in a village school which has limited means and supplies. Teaching experience is not required. Children attend school without a separation of ages, so you can expect 5-6 year olds with 12 year olds in the same class. You can begin working with some children, teaching English and basic math. Native English speakers are in high demand and volunteers are anxiously welcome at the school.
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Volunteer Kenya in a village school located outside of Mombasa. This school serves orphans, foster children and local village children. The school has about 30 students, and the project is expanding each year. The children are ages 5yrs-13yrs and provided free education at a children’s center. Our volunteers support the local teachers with English and math classes; encourage students to learn and play and instill pride in their schooling.
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Volunteers in Rwanda have the opportunity to make a lasting difference in this rural community school. Our program combines teaching small kids in pre-school level and also with other children/youth in secondary level vocational training.
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Volunteer in Ecuador, have the opportunity to teach conversational English at a public school in Santa Cruz. The school has over 650 children from 4 years to 14 years old, in the areas of pre-school up to primary 7th grade. Volunteers will help in areas of English lessons, recreation and also developmental needs of the children. Classes are held Monday to Friday from 7:00am to 1:00pm.
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Volunteer in Ghana at a refugee camp orphan school with classes ranging from preschool classes through grade six. There are approximately 60 children attending school and they range in age from 3 -15 years old. The school is made up of six classrooms and an office building.
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Volunteer in Tanzania are needed and welcome to work in early childhood education projects throughout Arusha. Projects are available in kindergarten and primary schools where the focus on teaching English, math, music, arts are welcome.
Volunteer Information
Volunteer Schedule
Day One: Our local coordinator/staff will give you an orientation and will accompany you to your program. You will be shown how to manage the commute (bus, taxi, walking). You will be introduced to the site director and discuss your role at the project. Volunteers typically work a morning and an afternoon shift each lasting about 3-5 hours.
Weekdays: A typical volunteer day is as follows:
- 7:30 AM Breakfast at the volunteer house/homestay.
- 8:00 AM Volunteers depart, and travel to their project site.
- 8:30 AM to 13:00 PM Volunteer work and a lunch break.
- 14:00 PM to 17:00 PM Language lessons or afternoon volunteer work.
- 18:30-19:30 PM Dinner at the volunteer house/homestay.
Note: This is an example schedule. Volunteer work hours can vary depending on the program and the location.
Evenings: For peace of mind and to ensure the well-being of our volunteers, a nightly curfew of 21:30PM is in place from Sunday to Thursday. Curfew is set at 12:00AM for Friday and Saturday. (All volunteers must comply with their home country’s legal drinking age).
Communication While Overseas
Volunteers have several ways to stay in touch with their family/friends back home and with the ABV local staff while they are overseas. All city/urban program locations have access to internet/cyber cafes which typically charge hourly rates ($1-$2). The majority of ABV guesthouses, homestays have WIFI access (fees apply), and have land line telephone numbers. Even rural program locations have mobile phone service, and small towns nearby with internet facilities. All ABV staff use mobile phones to stay in contact with their volunteers.
Before traveling volunteers should contact their mobile phone provider and ask about international call/texting plans. Volunteers should consider buying a portable wifi device (especially in rural locations). If planning on traveling with your own mobile phone volunteers should look at apps like Skype, FaceTime and WhatsApp to stay connected through messenger or short calls home. Volunteers can rent a wireless phone or buy a cheap throwaway phone once they arrive in-country. In some locations you can do that for less than $50. In fact, your regular carrier may even offer overseas rentals. ABV local staff will assist you and show you where to purchase SIM cards.
Once you arrive in-country and settled in, our ABV staff will help you contact home to let someone know you arrived safely. All volunteers are also given an emergency phone number on their Volunteer Guide/summary, which is available 24/7 to contact ABV staff.
When can I travel?
Easy. Choose the dates that work best for you. Although some programs have date restrictions the majority of our volunteer programs are available year round. Volunteers select their own program start date and complete an online application. Once you have been accepted and dates approved, ABV will ask you to confirm your registration by paying a us$120 included in the overall fee.
Safety and Security
The safety of our volunteers is paramount for A Broader View Volunteers. The majority of ABV Volunteers travel and serve without major incident. However, programs are based in some of the least developed countries and in some of the most remote areas in the world, health, safety, and security risks are an unavoidable part of life and international service. To address these concerns and to safeguard the well-being of our program participants, A Broader View has safety protocols and security procedures for all programs:
- Security: All project sites, local in-country staff and accommodation sites have gone through a rigorous filter and have been hand selected. ABV has spent almost 17 years cultivating and strengthening of our local partnerships & host family relationships. In-country staff visits, daily research of local conditions, as well as weekly checkup of our host families and accommodations are conducted. Site selection is based on criteria including; access to medical, banking, postal, and other essential services; access to communication, transportation, and local markets; availability of adequate housing and living arrangements.
- Pre-Departure Guide: Your ABV account will have a detailed volunteer guide. Volunteers are provided country information, packing lists, customs and language information, and much more. ABV also provides information about visa requirements, vaccinations, climate, weather, and safety and security issues specific to the country.
- Volunteer Summary: A full month before traveling volunteers are provided a detailed account of their volunteer project (including supply/donation list), arrival procedures, emergency contact information, accommodation details and the full name, phone and email of their local ABV Coordinator.
- Overseas Staff and communication: Our local staff support is immeasurable in their professionalism and dedication to the volunteers under their charge. The majority of ABV staff coordinators have been involved since the very start (over 11 years) and are well experienced handling the unexpected such as situations where volunteer students become ill, suffer accidents, are the victims of pick pockets. ABV staff is trained to react in a responsible and levelheaded way when emergencies do arise. They will do whatever is necessary to assure this, whether this means obtaining prompt and appropriate medical attention, embassy intervention or local authorities.
- Host Families and accommodations: Our local volunteer guesthouses, onsite project dorms and host families have been hand-picked. A Broader View accommodation have specific standards for the hygiene, cleanliness, location and comfortable living conditions for our volunteers. Telephone access is available 24/7 and most sites have internet access. Volunteers have to follow the curfew of the host accommodation.
- Arrival Meeting/Orientation: ABV programs provide a customized arrival plan. We can arrange your arrival/pick up at the airport, bus station or local hotel. Start your program with peace of mind, having the local ABV staff meeting you when you arrive in-country. Volunteers are provided orientation before starting their program. Orientation schedules vary from country to country but will include acclimation tours of the local town/city, accommodation neighborhood, geolocation map description, program location, main interesting points in the city or area. Emergency and medical protocols will be discussed and also address safety and security issues specific to the community volunteers live and work in.
- Every staff member of A Broader View is committed to providing volunteers with the support they need to successfully meet the challenges they will face to have a safe, healthy, and productive service. The success of each ABV volunteer is our prime goal. We rely on volunteers to exercise personal responsibility and demonstrate both a keen awareness of the world around them and a willingness to adjust their behavior in a manner that will enhance their safety and well-being. In the end, your efforts will be rewarded with an incredible, unique experience.
The emergency lines are staffed by an A Broader View:
- Communicate late/missed/flight connections during travel days
- Notify a Volunteer of an emergency (e.g. critical illness or death of a family member)
- Respond to family questions about a Volunteer's status (if problem occurring in-country)
ABV in a nut shell
- 501 (c)3 nonprofit USA based organization – you can tax deduct the program fees.
- Available year-round. You choose your own program start and end dates.
- 32 country locations to choose from. Programs available from 1 week up to 3 months in length.
- 245 perfectly balanced projects - experience, price, service.
- 100% cultural immersion including local home-stay and guesthouse accommodations.
- Program fees include airport transportation, orientation, housing/meals, 24/7 in-country support.
- Suitable options for solo travelers, gap year, honeymooners, families, mature travelers & groups.
- Excellent safety record and Platinum rated non-profit organization per Guidestar ABV alumni reviews.
- Between 1500-2000 volunteer per year with a high percentage of repeat volunteers.
How may we help you?!
Our staff has extensive travel and volunteer abroad experience. We have the answers to all your questions about volunteering with ABV. We can customize any of our programs to your needs and dates.
Call/chat with our team members:
(1) 215 780 1845 [email protected]