Volunteer in an Orphanage
One of the Third World Developing countries in Asia is the Philippines. As a developing country, Philippines' one major concern is population. This pushed the government and non-government organizations to establish orphanages for children who are abandoned by their parents.
In line with this, here in the Philippines Volunteer for the Visayans a non-government organization coordinates with different orphanages and make it as their placements for volunteer program.
Volunteer for the Visayans places volunteers in a number of orphanages around the city and surrounding towns. Each orphanage houses between 45 to 100+ abandoned and unwanted children. All these children have come from poor families and many have suffered from malnutrition or neglect. The children thrive on the attention and love our volunteers can share with them.
Living with just the basic necessities, and few toys, these children also only have a limited staff to care for them. The caregivers at the orphanages are very appreciative of the extra help our volunteers can offer them. Volunteers are free to tutor the children, organize arts and crafts or sports activities, and help out with basic chores such as feeding the kids, and folding laundry. This is a meaningful way to learn first hand the hardship most children in the world face, and give back to the underprivileged children growing up in a Third World country.
Volunteers don't necessarily need care giving experience. All we ask is that you come with energy, enthusiasm, an open mind and an open heart. With little staff to organize recreational activities for the children, we ask the volunteers to organize activities such as sports, educational exercises, or arts and crafts. With little resources at the orphanages, it helps if the volunteer can bring educational resources, art supplies, or tapes with children's songs. This program is open as short as two weeks to six months.
Volunteer to Teach English
The children in the Philippines begin learning English in grade one, so it's not a surprise that most of the population can speak and understand English. The benefits of learning English from a native speaker are inspiring for the young children.
We place volunteers in rural elementary schools an hour outside of Tacloban City to assist the local teachers with their English classes and other subjects. These volunteers are able to experience living in rural villages and will observe the true meaning of "community."
Another alternative to teaching in the rural setting is to teach the nonformal education classes in Tacloban. These classes work with out of school youth and unemployed adults interested in learning the basic subjects taught in public school, as well as skills training. Our international volunteers can be role models for these struggling teenagers and adults. The nonformal education sector lacks the teachers they need to conduct regular classes for these students who have previously dropped out of school and are looking to continue their education. Our volunteers can organize and schedule classes daily and really have a profound effect on these students' lives. Teaching English experience or TEFL Certification is preferred but not mandatory.
Volunteer with the City Nutrition Office
The City Nutrition Office faces the everyday problems relative to basic human needs while integrating the communities to help diminish the number of malnourished children. This government department oversees the food intake of the families in 138 local barangays and monitors the malnourished children throughout Tacloban City. Volunteers can work with the Barangay Nutrition Committee directly and organize nutrition education classes for parents, implement community and school vegetable gardens, as well as conduct weight surveys of the children in the different areas. Knowledge of nutrition is preferred for this placement.
volunteer in an orphanage | volunteer with the social department volunteer to teach english | volunteer with the street children volunteer with the city nutrition office | medical placement
|Location | Program Details |Apply|
Volunteer with the Social Department
Volunteers can work with the Department of Social Welfare and work directly with the poor communities in the area. Previous developments include teaching community computer classes, organizing projects and activities with the street children, as well as teaching classes for the street children.
The Department of Social Welfare is particularly in need of an English speaking deaf educator to teach computer classes to the hearing impaired. A volunteer with this experience has the potential to have a tremendous impact on the local community here. In addition, a volunteer with experience working with autistic children is needed in this community.
A volunteer with experience organizing a data bank would also be beneficial to this government office. The Social Welfare Office could really benefit from someone who is able to set up a comprehensive profile and statistical presentation of their data.
These are just a few of their specific needs in the Social Welfare Office. Other volunteers with an interest and motivation in helping and working with the people of the community, can help out with their ongoing projects. Please contact us if you have specific skills that you would like to share with the people in the Philippines, and we can possibly arrange something for you.
Volunteer with the Street Children
Currently, the Department of Social Welfare is constructing a facility to house and teach the street children. Most children who have settled on the streets have families of their own but turn to the streets in search of food. Glue sniffing, known as "rugby" in Tacloban, is a common addiction amongst the street children who turn to this drug to suppress their hunger pains. Volunteers can assist the Social Welfare Office in helping to give the simple things these children lack in life, such as compassion, trust, love, and food.
Volunteer in a Community Health Clinic
Volunteer for the Visayans places volunteers in community medical facilities in Tacloban and surrounding towns. These volunteers can shadow and observe the medical practices in the Philippines. Premed students, doctors, nurses, or volunteers with experience working in the health industry, are all needed to assist with the daily activities in the local community health center. The only free facility for the indigent people in Tanuan has just one doctor to serve the entire community from the 54 barangays so the assistance of medical volunteers is greatly needed. Volunteers will assist the doctor and get hands-on practice working and interacting with the patients. In addition, they will learn about the health care conditions here in the Philippines. Some days will be spent in the health center and other days the volunteer will treat patients in the surrounding barangays. Volunteers must currently be studying or have finished studying in the health industry.