Volunteer at schools worldwide

Volunteer in schools

Dedicated schools around the globe are looking for volunteers like you to bolster their success as you use your strengths to teach children.

Many schools have several different needs and demands placed upon them, which makes it hard for schools to stay afloat with limited financial resources.

Simply put, schools with volunteers perform better. 

As a school volunteer, you become an invaluable asset to the staff and administration, freeing up their time to do what they do best— teach.

The best part about volunteering in schools abroad is the two-way benefits. Not only are you helping young minds take the right steps toward their futures, you are learning new skills and experiencing inner growth.

Volunteering at schools lets you play an active role in the betterment of developing students, which means you are making a huge difference in their lives! 

Becoming a school volunteer is an important set of duties that your fellow teachers will be grateful for.

While serving as a school volunteer abroad, you'll get the chance to collaborate with teachers about improvements to the curriculum, implement creative teaching styles, and help one another navigate your roles as educators.

Use the unique skills that come naturally to you to make the students' learning environment a stimulating, fun place to be. This way, volunteering abroad at a school becomes less of a burdensome task, and more of an exciting way to bring about positive changes with your talents.

It's a truly rewarding experience to observe your students use what they've learned from you and put it into practice. Every small effort helps these schools become better institutions of learning for children, both academically and socially.

Worldpackers has several social impact programs in schools you can volunteer for that will place you in a school and provide you with the tools you need to succeed. Many do not require any prior teaching experience, but it definitely helps if you do!

How to volunteer in schools

Before volunteering for a teaching position, you'll want to first decide if becoming a teaching volunteer is right for you. If you've had previous teaching experience, you may already have your mind made up.

Never taught before? Here are some ways you can improve your skills as a teacher to determine if you should volunteer in schools abroad:

• Contact your local schools and colleges and ask if you can shadow teachers to observe their teaching style.
• See if your local university has a tutoring program in their list of careers that you can become a part of.
• Local schools and teaching agencies may have advertisements listed online for teacher's assistants, lab technicians, or mentors that you can sign up for.
• Ask around in your community or among your family and friends to see if they have any connections with schools.

Pursuing any of these teaching positions, even for a short time, will provide you with the knowledge you need to find volunteer opportunities in schools and get started.

If you can, observe different teachers in order to see how their approaches to teaching differ. The more teaching styles you become aware of, the more you'll be able to mix your favorite teaching styles to give your future students the best experience.

Ask teachers questions to further increase your expertise, like how they got into teaching, what their most successful teaching methods are, and how to use your time as an educator wisely each day. This will help you put your best foot forward as you search for volunteer opportunities in schools and make you feel more comfortable once you are chosen for a position.

Once you've secured your visa (if necessary) and passport, bring any helpful tools and teaching aids to ensure you come prepared. It helps to study the national education system and curriculum of the country you're volunteering in.

Once you arrive, be sure to speak to the staff and teachers to show them you are committed to helping them in any way you can!

Ask to observe them in the beginning so you can determine which practices they use and recommend. Get to know the students to help them feel more comfortable around you and be more inclined to hear what you have to say.

Practice planning lessons and taking notes to further improve your teaching abilities. Ensure to appear professional and well put-together so you can let your people skills shine and make a good impression!

Offer to help wherever you can and take on different responsibilities when help is needed. If you see a need arise, do your best to fill it, and try to go above and beyond your duties when you can. 

The more you dedicate yourself to your teaching position, the better.

Keep an open mind and you'll be well on your way to helping the classroom become an organized, positive learning environment for students.

Volunteer opportunities in schools

There are many hosts on Worldpackers in need of teachers!

Whether you are teaching English, sports, art, or even cooking, there's a job for you and your particular skills. Each teaching position will specify how many hours are required of you each week, which will help you plan your schedule so you have time to explore the city on your days off.

Think about a country you'd love to visit and make a difference in, and let that be your guide to finding the perfect volunteer teaching experience.

Africa is a wonderful place to volunteer in schools abroad, as their communities are often building new facilities and finding ways to improve their students' learning environments.

You find teaching jobs in Tanzania in cities like Kilombero, Ngorongoro, or Iringa where you can teach both children and young adults. During the day, you can help these schools in different ways. Some need help with teaching languages, child care, upgrading buildings, and website development.

Africa is a breathtaking continent full of wild animals, scenic national parks, kind locals, and fantastic safari tours that a world traveler wouldn't be able to resist!

If you're a budget traveler, Southeast Asia should be on your bucket list. Not only is it one of the cheapest countries to work and live, it's a tropical paradise that offers plenty of thrilling adventures and relaxing beaches alike.

Teach English at schools in Cambodia, India, Indonesia, or Thailand as you share your stories with students and help inspire them with the one-of-a-kind experiences of an avid traveler. Teaching jobs like these can help you broaden your perspective of world cultures and learn new languages along the way. 

Many Worldpackers hosts offer free perks like language classes to help you be the best volunteer you can be.

Europe offers unique teaching positions near dreamy landscapes and infamous locations that you can explore to your heart's content.

Work as a social mentor in the United Kingdom with groups of teenagers and young adults as you plan parties and facilitate tours.

Become a conversational English tutor in Poland for English immersion programs where you'll be engaging with guests through board games and other fun activities.

Teach sports and more at this English camp in Spain, where you can help facilitate workshops in the great outdoors and connect with nature.

Many work exchange programs in South America, Mexico, and Asia also have teaching opportunities available for volunteers. Talk to your host before you apply in order to get a good grasp on all the duties you will be required to perform as a teacher, and don't forget to let them know of all your talents and unique skills!

You never know how powerful your impact will be when you become a teacher abroad. 

There are countless creative ways for teachers to benefit a child, young adult, and community as a teacher.

You'll walk away from your experience having immersed yourself in a new country and culture, soaking in their lifestyle and strengthening their brightest minds for the generation to come.