Non-profit Looking for Volunteer English Teachers

Job Description: English Teacher


Teaching Hope’s Mission:

The central purpose and role of Teaching Hope is to enable older orphaned and abandoned children from Colombia to thrive and reach their fullest potential by providing them with (1) vocational and life skills education, (2) a network of caring adults, and (3) transitional housing, guided by the principles of the Convention of the Rights of the Child.

Teaching Hope’s Vision

The founders’ vision of Teaching Hope in three-four years’ time is to become a widely supported non-profit organization which provides tools and services making a better future possible for older orphaned and abandoned children. Teaching Hope seeks to become a model organization in regards to transparency, community support, and management of resources. Teaching Hope aims to create an example for support of older orphans at one orphanage which afterwards can be replicated to other orphanages in Colombia and other countries.

Year Founded: 2007

Location of Position: Bogota, Colombia

Length of Position: Minimum of 6 months, no maximum

Dates: Flexible

Work Description: While younger children in the orphanage hope to be adopted and there are organizations which can help with adoptions, it has been observed that by the time the children reach the age of 13, the prospects of their being adopted are reduced significantly. In order to help those children who do not have a chance to be adopted and benefit from growing up in a family, Teaching Hope will provide vocational training, transition housing, life-skills counseling, and a network of caring adults to prepare the children for life outside of the orphanage once they reach the age of 18.

We are in need of female volunteers to teach English to young orphaned girls in order for them to acquire marketable skills which they can use when they leave state care. Volunteers work on average a 6-hour day, 5 days a week, excluding lesson preparation time. Classes are 1 -2 hours long and will have approximately 5 students per class. In addition, volunteers will participate in the extra-curricular activities with children to ensure their English proficiency in the everyday environment.

Volunteers’ meals and housing are provided by the orphanage. Out-of-pocket expenses for volunteers consist of travel, transportation and meals while not in the orphanage, plus other expenses, which are minimal in Colombia (see information sheet for average costs). Volunteers will need to pay for their airline tickets. Teaching Hope will support volunteers who would like to fundraise some or all of the airline tickets’ cost.

Highlights: From this experience, the volunteer can expect to make significant difference in the lives of children who were orphaned or abandoned. In addition to teaching, volunteers will have ample opportunity to bond with the children.
Volunteers will have weekends free to sightsee and travel. By living in Colombia, volunteers will also have an opportunity to improve their Spanish and be immersed in Colombian culture.

Qualifications: This position is only open to female volunteers.English teaching volunteers need to speak conversational Spanish and be fluent in English. They will need to pass a criminal background check and a child abuse clearance.
While we prefer volunteers who have experience in teaching, this is not a requirement.
Teaching Hope’s purpose is to provide educational opportunities to older orphans who are aging out of state care and to help them develop into responsible adults. We seek volunteers who understand and share this purpose.

Safety and risks: There are some personal risks involved with working on Teaching Hope’s team. Before applying, each potential volunteer should consider these carefully. Please refer to the safety information provided in the Teaching Hope volunteer manual.
All volunteers will be covered by an emergency health insurance policy, paid by Teaching Hope. As well, volunteers will have a support network in Bogotá that includes Teaching Hope volunteers and staff, orphanage staff and personal friends.

Minimum Education: A college degree is preferred, but we will accept applications from those in the process of attaining a college degree.

Languages: Spanish and English

Languages Used in Teaching: English

Age Range: 18-65

This Program is open to: Female citizens of the United States and Colombia.

Typical Living Arrangements: Volunteers will live in the orphanage with the children they teach. More information will be provided upon receipt of application.

Travel to Colombia: Volunteers will travel to Colombia independently. If requested, help will be provided with fundraising the cost of airline tickets.

Typical Work Arrangement: Volunteers will work mostly independently, with supervision by Teaching Hope’s Colombian representative.

Application Process Involves:
• Resume review
• Review of Letters of Reference (2 Required)
• In-Person Interview
• Background Check and Child Abuse Clearance

Post Services Include:
• Letter of Reference for future employment
• Access to the job and internship network

By kellyth on Aug 24, 2007, 09:56 in Friendly Talkzone.

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gabolicious says on Aug 24, 2007, 10:47: One question... this program is only opened to Female citizens of the United States and Colombia... no other nationality??? I have a friend who would like to be part of this.. but she is mexican... Elección no canonización.... 0 funny, 0 helpful.

Robert Jorge says on Aug 24, 2007, 17:19: Exactly. Where is this school or orphanage at specifically. And I don't understand why a US citizen is welcome to volunteer, but a Canadian or an English person or whoever can't. He who farts in church, sits in his own pew. 0 funny, 0 helpful.

kellyth says on Aug 29, 2007, 10:40: We're still in the process of working with ICBF and solidifying our relationship with an orphanage, most likely the Amparo de Ninas, which is located in Bogota in the Salitre area. There are approximately 70 girls there ages 7-18. The only reason for the American or Colombian citizenship requirement is that we're a very new non-profit, so we need some time to figure out visa issues for other countries. We would be happy to have volunteers from anywhere, as long as they are willing to bear with us as we learn more about getting visas from their country! 0 funny, 0 helpful.

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