Description

Tutor child and adult learners in the Heartland! This volunteer program focuses on the needs of new citizens in rural communities in Minnesota. The explosive growth of immigrant populations over the last decade has created new challenges for what were previously towns of almost exclusively European ancestry. Today, more than 25 different languages and dialects are spoken in these rural school districts. Global Volunteers conducts week-long English language "summer camps" and fall "back to school" programs where refugee kids read, write and speak English so they don't lose ground in the new school year. This is an enjoyable and fun-filled week of games, stories, contests, and arts and crafts -- all in English. Volunteers also work side-by-side with local educators and teen and adult residents to provide conversational English practice for immigrant families. Tax-deductible service program cost.

Highlights

By teaching conversational English and nurturing warm, fun-loving children, you can help enhance immigrant students' and adults' ability to speak the English language.When children of immigrants and refugees learn English, their classroom performance as well as their future educational program chances and employment prospects improve dramatically. Further, they and their families can better communicate effectively with their neighbors, easing their integration into the community. All this contributes to greater understanding, and results in the barriers of distrust, discrimination, and misunderstanding crumbling.

Even if you've never formally taught in a classroom, you can be a valuable resource to eager young students and adult learners. All that's required is a flexible attitude and a desire to serve!

Qualifications

Everyone can provide an important service, even if you have no formal teaching experience. This volunteer program is open to any English speaker who enjoys working with children and has a special interest in helping refugee families. If you are open-minded, culturally curious, and enthusiastic, you are an important resource to these communities. Volunteers must be willing to serve as a member of a team and take direction from local leaders.

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

USD 995

Cost Includes:

• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Pre-departure orientation/Training
• Registration fees
• Written materials abroad
• Written materials pre-departure

Program Fees Include:

These costs support the community's on-going development program, and also cover your meals, lodging, transportation at the work site, project expenses, administrative costs, and the services of a trained team leader. The service program cost does not cover free-time expenses, or your airfare (or other means of transportation to the host community). All costs, including airfare, are tax-deductible for U.S. tax-payers.

Credit Available

yes

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

Typical Volunteer

USA volunteers are culturally curious and open-minded people looking to contribute to a community development project and to improve their understanding of different ways of life, and the social struggles in developing communities. They are all ages, from various ethnic backgrounds, and of all different professions, such as educators, students, laborers, medical professionals, full-time parents, computer professionals, artists, lawyers and the like.

Age Range

Minor with parent through age 90

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Apartment/Flat

Participants Travel

Independently

Typically Participants Work

in Groups of 15

Scholarships are Available

Check with us throughout the year to check on scholarship opportunities.

Application Process Involves

• Letters of Reference
• Phone/Video Interview
• Written Application

Typically The Application Process Time is

12 hours

Post Services Include

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

Global Volunteers's Mission Statement

"Partners in Development". Founded to help advance peace, rehabilitate improverished communities, and promote mutual international understanding between peoples of diverse cultures through short-term volunteer service on long-term community development programs. We maintain on-going partnerships with local leaders and indigenous host organizations worldwide. Each year, we mobilize up to 300 teams of volunteers to work alongside local people on work projects central to their advancement. We also raise funds to support our international and domestic partners and to provide child sponsorships for educational, social and medical assistance. Global Volunteers is in special consultative status with the United Nations and UNICEF.

Year Founded

1984