Description

Volunteering with children is one of the most rewarding areas to volunteer in as you can really help change the future of the children around you.

*Work with Sexually and Physically Abused Girls in the Philippines

Sexual abuse, crime and abandonment can often lead to many young girls in the Philippines living without their families. As a result Homes For Girls were created to shelter and care for girls coming from a multitude of different backgrounds and situations.

The Home For Girls acts as a shelter for female youths, providing them with accommodation, meals and support whilst social workers tackle each case to find the best course of action to facilitate their futures. At this centre the girls live in a communal environment and perform various activities such as non-formal education, livelihood programs and recreational activities.

*Social Welfare & Education for Deaf Children in the Philippines

This is a perfect opportunity for those with specialised knowledge of working with the deaf. This project works with deaf children in many capacities. Volunteers will be assigned to one of two locations; depending on their experience in working with the deaf. Volunteers with basic experience will be placed at a Special Education centre, where they will help teach and mentor the deaf. More advanced volunteers will work at the High School and will interpret ordinary lessons into sign language for deaf students. Furthermore volunteers may also help conduct deaf awareness and training lessons.

*Teach English in Rural Schools in the Philippines

Give rural, impoverished children a valuable boost for their future by teaching them English, a necessity for most well-paying work in the Philippines. English is the country's second official language, and therefore it is not surprising that most Filipinos can understand, speak and write at least some English. But teachers in poorer schools are often not native English speakers, and so the presence of British, American, or Australian volunteers is extremely valuable and exciting for the children and teachers alike. Volunteers teach in elementary schools within rural villages where resources are low and the most help is required and appreciated.

*Work in an Orphanage in the Philippines

In this developing country, thousands of impoverished children grow up in orphanages, most of which are understaffed and have few resources. Your role is to provide essential caregiving, nurturing, teaching and mentoring to kids who are growing up without much adult interaction. On the island of Leyte, based around its capital city of Tacloban, are various orphanages whose children are often emotionally or developmentally delayed because of little adult interaction. Often, the only source of their basic emotional security is from volunteers who provide affection, spend time with the children and improve their social, physical and emotional development.

*Work with Street Children in the Philippines

Role models are needed to mentor and teach street children and help them learn to make healthy choices, stay in school, and other guidance to brighten their bleak futures. In the Philippines, more than 250,000 children live on the streets and around 20,000 a year are imprisoned every year. Most of these children survive by begging and scavenging in dumpsites and garbage piles for plastic bottles to recycle for small amounts of money. Many street kids resort to prostitution, and are addicted to sniffing industrial glue, which is cheap and helps silence their hunger pains. This project aims to provide safe housing, healthy food, educational support and - with volunteers' help - the love, trust and care these children need to improve their chances in life.

*Teach Out of School Children and Adults

Founded to educate individuals and offer them the chance to take an Accreditation and Equivalency Exam that can accelerate them with a qualification as recognized as an Elementary or High School Diploma. In addition to this the program also offers a Basic Literacy Course as well as a variety of different livelihood projects.

*Work in a Young Offenders Rehabilitation Centre in the Philippines

Want to reach out to those who've had a trouble past, change their attitudes and give them a chance at a new way of life? Then volunteering in a Rehabilitation Centre for male youths could be for you. This centre cares for and rehabilitates boys between the ages of fourteen and twenty two, who have committed crimes as minors and are waiting for their cases to pend in court. These youths are often victims of circumstance; committing crimes in self defence and out of no other choice. Volunteers who become involved in this project act as role models for the boys and assist the centre by engaging in non-formal teaching, organizing sports events, teaching music, creating team building exercises, assisting with livelihood projects and sharing any other special skill they may have.

*Support Community Development Projects in the Philippines

Volunteer and work at the heart of community programs by assisting staff at a local community centre based in a housing project outside Tacloban. The centre is the central hub of the community here and many rely on the centre for its help in bringing up families and supporting them in getting work. This is a multi-faceted placement and volunteers will be able to engage in numerous different activities. Volunteers are needed to assist friendly local staff in organizing and developing social welfare services for children from disadvantaged backgrounds, assist with supplementary feeding for undernourished preschoolers. Aside from this volunteers can also assist with several other community development projects such as assisting a micro-financing project for low income local mothers, organizing activities for adolescent peer groups and assisting with the long term developments of a project which rehabilitates children working or previously working in Tacloban City dump.

Highlights

Made up of more than 7,000 islands, this Southeast Asian nation is one of the most diverse countries in the world, boasting rain forests, volcanoes, mountains, and coral reefs - as well as what some say are the friendliest people and the most interesting food.

Unfortunately poverty remains a significant problem. Around 1 in 3 Filipinos live below the poverty line and just below 30% of the population live on USD 2 or less a day. With the help of volunteer projects those in greatest need can look forward to a better future.

*Climb Mount Mayon:
Mount Mayon last erupted in 2001 and is considered one of the world's most perfectly cone-shaped volcanoes. It stands at 2462m and takes a moderately fit person two days to scale. Between March and April are the best times to climb, as other times of the year are quite hot and rainy.

*Canoe the Pangsanjan Rapids:
Riding the rapids of Pangsanjan River during the wet season from August to October, when the water flow is high, is quite exhilarating and not for the faint of heart. Along the 1½-hour route are stunning waterfalls, towering cliffs and superb scenery, some of which was pictured in the film Apocalypse Now.

*Swim with Whale Sharks:
Donsol, a village on the Luzon peninsula, is one of the best places in the world to swim with the largest fish in our seas. To swim with these gentle giants, which grow up to 18m in length, is an unbelievable experience and highly recommended if you have time to explore. Peak months to see these great fish are between February and March.

Volunteers are essential for these projects. Some placements gives wonderful first-hand insight into the difficulties facing the health-care system in a developing nation and, as a volunteer you may be involved in teaching social education and environmental awareness.

Qualifications

Experience and passion for working in the community and interacting with the people are needed. Participants must also possess enthusiasm and a willingness to learn about the environment and the place's culture.

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

Please visit the website for more information.

Cost Includes:

• Excursions
• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Language instruction
• Pre-departure orientation/Training
• Registration fees

Program Fees Include:

* Accommodation: Single or shared room in a home-stay
* Food: 2 meals per day - Breakfast and Dinner
* Airport pick up and drop off
* Training: Pre-departure pack, On-site Orientation and project induction provided
* Support: 24 hour support from on-site coordinators, access to office in Tacloban City (including free WiFi)
* Excursions: 2 field excursions are included in your visit. You will have a beach trip with your host family or sponsor kids and you will have a project excursion visiting various many of our projects. Staff can also help plan weekend excursions.

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

Typical Volunteer

A Kaya volunteer shows enthusiasm, spirit and life to stimulate and bring something new to the residents; love, patience and a listening ear for the people; and a good motivator with a positive and optimistic attitude.

Age Range

Must be more than 18 years old

This Program is open to

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

Typical Living Arrangements

• Home-stays

Participants Travel

Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work

Independently or in Groups

Application Process Involves

• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Post Services Include

• Alumni Network

Kaya Responsible Travel's Mission Statement

Kaya's mission is to promote sustainable social, environmental and economic development, empower communities and cultivate educated, compassionate global citizens through responsible travel.

Year Founded

2008