Are you looking for an opportunity to teach somewhere abroad to empower children from marginalized communities? Are you searching for a volunteer opportunity that comes with a living stipend and free housing? Are you hoping to volunteer for an extended amount of time, but not the 2.5 years that the Peace Corps asks for?
If so, consider teaching for a year at our Villa Soleada Bilingual School.
In 2012, we opened the Villa Soleada Bilingual School in northern Honduras with the goal to serve up to 250 children from the surrounding villages.
We cover all volunteer housing, food, and training costs. Incidental expenses like high speed internet, classroom materials, and visa renewal trips are also covered. Your expenses will include travel to/from Honduras and money for personal travel/amenities.
Additionally, we strongly encourage that volunteers purchase their own health insurance as we do not provide any coverage. Many of our "recent college graduate" volunteers have been lucky enough to remain covered by their parents' insurance for their year with us. For those who do not fall in this category, we can suggest several low-cost insurance providers our volunteers have relied on in the past.
Please note that many of our volunteers have offset their out of pocket expenses by teaching English to adults in the evenings. Not only is this a great way to earn a bit of pocket money, it's a wonderful way to interact in a meaningful way with the local Hondurans.
Our volunteers will live in a comfortable staff house in El Progreso (15 minutes from the school) and will be provided with transportation to and from the school in our bus.
Much of the time there is running water and flush toilet. Occasionally there is no actual running water. When this happens, we use the water that is collected outside the house in a large cement trough called a "pila." This water is used to flush the toilet, shower and wash dishes and clothes. Electricity is relatively reliable, but can go out occasionally.
In addition to accommodation and shared internet access, we provide a food budget for the volunteers. Lunch is prepared at school for the volunteers on school days.
Teaching experience and a knowledge of Spanish are both desirable volunteer traits. However, we are most interested in individuals who are flexible, able to deal with significant challenge and willing to learn along with us.
In the past, most of our volunteers have ranged in age from 21-35 and have come from a variety of professional backgrounds including everything from social work to international development. The most important qualities we look for in our volunteers are a genuine commitment to service and the ability to be a team player. We retain the right to dismiss a volunteer if it is in the best interest of the children or the program.
Our organization will provide a six-week training program upon your arrival in July where you will get introduced to the community and spend time in the classrooms.
The one-year teaching commitment begins in July and ends in June of the following year. Teachers have a holiday break from approximately December 20th until January 4th. Teachers are responsible for leaving Honduras during this time for visa renewal reasons. The vast majority of volunteers return to the United States to visit friends and family during the holidays. Some volunteers decide to visit neighboring countries instead.
Please note that life in Honduras can be unpredictable. Sometimes our teachers are called upon to do things that fall outside the scope of the activities listed here.
In order apply, please email a resume and cover letter explaining why you would like to become a teacher with us to trips@studentshelpinghonduras.org.
Once you complete the online application, a representative will be contacting you to set up an online interview.
Please note that applicants need not be certified teachers nor fluent Spanish speakers.
