Volunteer Teaching Abroad

Volunteer teaching abroad in Jamaica will allow you to gain invaluable life experiences as you discover and immerse yourself in a new culture. When you do volunteer teaching overseas, you’ll meet people and immerse yourself in communities where old customs and traditions still thrive despite technology.

Teaching in Jamaica will allow you to work in primary schools with children ages 6-12 years in under-resourced and poor communities. Class sizes will vary from class to class. However, you will work alongside the class teacher by providing support in the curriculum’s basic subjects. Some of the topics the children need the most help in are Math, Reading, and Computer/IT, etc. And, you will also have the option to share your country and culture with the children.

Furthermore, many public schools in Jamaica are understaffed, overcrowded, and have a lack of resources. These problems mean teachers often do not have enough time for individual interaction with students. So, this will offer the opportunity to provide personalized help to those in need. For these reasons and more, choosing to be a teaching volunteer in an unfamiliar country is an excellent opportunity. Learn and grow as you remain flexible, open-minded, and prepared to face challenges.

To participate in this project, you do not need to be qualified or have experience. If you enjoy teaching or are a college student, this is an excellent opportunity to be a volunteer teaching assistant and gain first-hand teaching experience. This project is closed for exams, Christmas break in December, Easter break in April, and the summer months in July & August.

If you’re looking to make a difference in someone’s life, volunteering as a teacher is just for you.

When you volunteer,  you’ll be working as part of the short, mid, and long term goals that we have developed in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

On the first day of your project, you will learn about the UN SDGs objectives and mission and how our project is aligning with these goals. You’ll also get information on how for 17 years, we have been working towards these short, mid, and long-term goals. We aim to educate you on local/global issues, and how you can contribute to the organization’s mission to empower the lives of the people in the community.

 Teaching Long-term Objectives :

  • Increase environmental awareness in local communities.
  • Improve English literacy and numeracy levels in Jamaican communities
  • Increase the quality of the educational resources in Jamaica
  • Promote the development of early childhood education
  • Teach fundamentals of Information Technology & Computer skills 
  • Work on art & craft projects 
  • Help facilitate Physical Education classes
  • Provide personalized help to needy students with remedial reading 
  • Provide two-way cultural exchange where student and volunteer learn about each other culture
  • Play games with students and teach new ones from your country
  • Assist the class teacher in teaching basic subjects in the curriculum.

You may combine this project with any of the following programs: 

  • Education & Children
  • Environmental Conservation
  • Repair, Painting of Furniture and Buildings
  • Light Construction Maintenance
  • Sports Coaching and Mentoring

The volunteer project is based in several villages in the hills of St. Andrew. Placements are within 5 to 10 minutes from Volunteer Home. The programs are also within close proximity to village shops and churches.

Volunteers will arrive at the Norman Manley International Airport and our representative will meet you on arrival.

A Jamaica Volunteer Programs coordinator will conduct orientation on the morning of the day the project starts. During this first meeting, you will be introduced to local staff who will take care of you and go over the details of your project placement. Your orientation will include popular Jamaican customs & culture, safety, weekend and free time travel options, and guidelines and expectations.

During your orientation, you will also be briefed on information about all the Covid-19 protocols, options for local transportation, currency, and other support services you will require during your stay.

Our accommodations are dormitory-style volunteer houses. Rooms are equipped with fans, but there is an option to pay an additional charge for air conditioning. Dorms have bunk beds and volunteers will share rooms with others of the same sex.

All accommodations have electricity, running water, western-style bathrooms, and free Wi-Fi. You are required to bring your reusable water bottle to refill each day, which will help to reduce your cost for clean drinking water. You are also required to bring toiletries.

Solar panels heat up the water in our accommodation, so on days when it’s not sunny or raining, there may be a chill to your shower.

At JVP, breakfast and dinner from Monday – Friday is included in your package.

The breakfast menu includes toast, eggs, fruits, tea/coffee, and juice. Two days per week, you’ll have a full Jamaican breakfast. We have a communal kitchen at the volunteer house that consists of all the essentials, including an electric kettle, refrigerator, utensils, and microwave. There is also space in our cupboards to pack your snacks.

For breakfast and dinner on the weekends, you may use our communal kitchen at the volunteer accommodation with access to amenities like a gas stove, oven, kettles, microwave, and fridge. Alternatively, you can access nearby restaurants offering meals between $5-8

We cater to all diets, including vegetarians and vegans. To request meals for your special diet, discuss with your project coordinator.

While all projects run from Monday to Friday, your volunteer work schedule is completely dependent on your location and project. However, all projects have a basic structure. On the first day of your placement, a JVP representative will accompany you for introductions and help you get settled.

A typical day’s schedule is attached below. However, your schedule can vary depending on your program and choices:

Time 

Activity

7:30 AM

Enjoy a lovely breakfast at the volunteer accommodation.

8:00 AM

Journey to your placement where you will begin working on your project.

12:00 PM

Lunch break

1:00 PM

Work on your project continues.

3:00 PM

Travel back to the volunteer accommodation, go shopping, or explore nearby communities.

For the best experience, our volunteers who must be 18 and older, are encouraged to be flexible and open-minded. Creativity, initiative, and a sense of humor are also invaluable assets. Volunteers also need to submit important documentation such as travel health insurance, trip cancellation, a resume/CV, a copy of your passport front page, and a criminal background check not older than six months.

Your resume need not be more than one page long with a summary of your skills or gifts so we can best know how to use your service.

You can spend your afternoons and weekends however you’d like, whether it be hanging out with other volunteers, working online, or exploring Jamaica through adventure. At JVP, our representatives are always looking out for eye-opening cultural activities we know you’ll enjoy. Some afternoons you’ll even have the option to attend a local event. It’s your choice!

Here are some options:


Key Features

  • All year round
  • 1-12 weeks
  • Language: English
  • 5-day work week

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