Volunteer Teaching

There are many organizations that offer volunteer teaching. There are projects spanning across the globe - and to give a good analysis or opinion of all volunteer teaching projects would be near impossible, as there are so many of them, each with incredibly varying aspects and attributes! All of these projects, however, assist with achieving their set goals through the assistance provided through volunteer work and dedicated individuals.

In many cases, these volunteer projects are set up and designed to cater for the demand of foreign travellers, and for the growing industry of 'voluntourism'. It is absolutely vital that projects have a supply of people, as opposed to just money. Financial contributions to causes are of course welcome, but too much of this can have a destabilizing effect on the development of wider communities. When this occurs, the formerly relied-on source of income can be instantly removed, allowing the teaching project to merely collapse. These projects need enthusiastic volunteers which allows for these people being assisted to plan for the future of the project (and indeed themselves), but at the same time remaining stable in the absence of the well-needed volunteers.

Volunteer teachers instantly become a part of a larger movement towards sustainable development of teaching in less developed countries, making the teaching volunteer a very rewarding experience. It allows people to do more than just give money - it allows them to get involved and understand fully the problems some communities have, and the deprivation they live in whilst we live comfortably in our first world country.

By getting involved in volunteer teaching, you will also be helping to ensure that future projects, and current projects, can continue and start work that is worthwhile in the long-term and indeed integral to the development of less privileged countries.

A lot of people, before deciding to venture into volunteer teaching, ponder the question 'Will my contribution actually be worthwhile?'. The answer is of course yes, yes it will! Though, it's completely understandable for a person think that way. Little by little, volunteers can ensure future sustainability of these projects, and of foreign education systems. If everybody thought it would be pointless, then these projects would go nowhere! Whether you'll be voluntarily teaching for three weeks, or three months, you can make a huge difference to foreign communities, and have a profound effect on people who live there.

You must remember than whilst being on the teaching volunteer adventure, and being on a charitable mission, you are not on your own! If you do it through a dedicated organization, you will be a part of a global volunteer network. Even if you can only spare a week of your time, that week soon adds up to the 52 weeks that can be achieved with other peoples' help - meaning another year has passed, and another deprived community has been helped immensely. You can feel good in knowing that your mere week or so of selfishness has helped secure a future for some of the most deprived children in the world, whatever country you visit!

Resources

• If you're a native English speaker you could volunteer teaching English
• BUNAC offers many teaching and volunteer work including Summer Camps