How to Volunteer with Children Abroad

Posted by jesuslewis on August 14th, 2017

Volunteering with children is a chance to have an impact in diverse communities, gain experience with kids, and keep your own inner child happy (it’s basically the best excuse to play games all day). Becoming a volunteer with children abroad goes way beyond orphanages in Africa (although that is a great place to start). There are many options available for anyone who wants to get involved with kids. Education, mentoring, coaching, these are just a few of the ways to make a difference with children around the world.

Education is fundamental to youth development. Get right to the heart of it by exploring volunteer teaching opportunities abroad. You don’t need to be pursuing a degree in education to volunteer with children in a school setting. The only prerequisites to volunteer as a teaching assistant abroad are a love for children and a passion for learning.

Many schools that offer English language classes like having a native speaker on hand to help with pronunciation and fluency. Therefore, they recruit English speakers from around the world to join them in the classroom, with no experience necessary (but always helpful), and teach English to their children.

As a teaching assistant you can typically opt to work with high schoolers or primary-school aged kids, depending on your preference. You can assist in teaching English or other subjects that you know well, including music, drama, or other performing arts. If you have a background or interest in working with disabled children, look into opportunities to volunteer with children that allow you to work with special needs kids.

One of the most popular choices for people looking to volunteer with children is to spend time in an orphanage. Volunteering in orphanages is a great way to develop a close relationship with kids and an opportunity to take on the role of mentor (but, only if you intend to volunteer for an extended amount of time, or maintain the relationship as a pen pal once your stint abroad has ended). As a mentor, you can help children with lessons during class and with homework after class. You can also organize your own programs, such as arts and crafts, sports, or music, to help give children a well-rounded learning experience.

This type of volunteering is also a chance to take part in the daily operations of an orphanage, from preparing food to cleaning to being a support system for the children. When you volunteer in orphanages you’ll be acting as a big brother or sister and working to develop meaningful relationships, so you should volunteer for longer than just a week—the more time you can commit the better, as the stronger the relationships you build will be.

It is important to make sure you are working with a reputable organization when volunteering in orphanages. Be sure to do your research into programmes and pick one that is doing genuine good. GoAbroad has a thorough verification system, plus extensive alumni interviews and reviews to help you critically evaluate programs, so it’s a great place to start looking for orphanage volunteer work. Get started by asking yourself these important questions about volunteering with orphans.

For More Business Analytics Video