Description

This school (the Alghara Primary school) of 12 teachers and 400 children has been in existence for more than 100 years. Based in the small bazaar town of Algarah, 15 kilometres from Kalimpong, at an altitude of 5840ft. Algarah is home to approximately 3000 people. However, unemployment is high, with many working as casual laborers in part time work.

Teaching at Algarah, like at all government primary schools in the Darjeeling district is taught primarily in Nepali, and so the need for English teaching is particularly great. When children move to secondary school, the teaching medium changes to English, so those who come from government schools, rather than private English schools, are at a disadvantage. Volunteers will quickly pick up the rudiments of Nepali in this environment; the children's English is basic.

Highlights

A chance to teach children who will really respond to you on a personal level, in a beautiful part of the world.

Qualifications

We are looking for volunteers with a love of children and a desire to teach. In addition,the qualities you will need to make a useful contribution to your school are: resilience and adaptability, an open mind and an interest in other cultures, good mental and physical health, and tact and diplomacy.

Minimum Education

Diploma/Certification

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

From USD 470 for minimum two months

Cost Includes:

• Food
• Housing
• In-country staff support
• Registration fees
• Written materials pre-departure

Program Fees Include:

* Placement at a school
* Support from a local HELP representative
* Written documentation about all aspects of working and living in your Himalayan community
* Full board and accommodation with a host family.
* A donation to the school and to other HELP-supported projects

Salary/Pay

The rewards are non-monetary: the pleasure of helping a poor community in a fabulous part of the world.

Experience Required

yes

If you have no experience of teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL), you will need to take a short course in TEFL (an intensive weekend course would be the minimum requirement). A love of children and an ability to communicate skills and knowledge to them is essential. Our volunteers must also be mature, patient, tolerant and diplomatic.

Volunteer Types

Typical Volunteer

HELP volunteers are mature adults who are adventurous, self-sufficient, independent, resourceful, tolerant of other cultures and diplomatic. Our volunteers are usually, but not exclusively, graduates, or people taking a career break, or retired.

Age Range

19 +

This Program is open to

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

Typical Living Arrangements

• Home-stays

Participants Travel

Independently

Typically Participants Work

Independently

Application Process Involves

• In-Person Interview when Feasible
• Letters of Reference
• Phone/Video Interview
• Resume
• Written Application

Typically The Application Process Time is

2 -4 weeks

Post Services Include

• Alumni Network

Himalayan Education Lifeline Programme's Mission Statement

The aim of HELP is to enhance the lives of poor Himalayan communities by supporting selected educational and training projects. HELP realizes its aims by enabling responsible and committed people from the developed world to: - sponsor young people with the potential to benefit from a school or college education, but without the means to do so. - make a donation to provide grants to individual students, and also to schools and health clinics that lack the means to acquire the materials or premises required to provide a satisfactory service to their communities. - undertake short-term assignments as volunteers in support of educational and training projects

Year Founded

2002