This project provides a fantastic opportunity for those looking to develop skills in the area of teaching English as a foreign language to work alongside a multi-award winning NGO’s established English teaching program in a stunning and beautiful region of south-east Madagascar. You may already be TEFL qualified or completely new to teaching and keen to pursue it as a career. Alternatively, this project would suit fully qualified teachers who are looking to make worthwhile use of their skills outside of term time. Whatever your background, you will be involved in all aspects of the teaching program; from lesson planning to delivering 8 full days teaching during the 2 week placement. Activities and experience gained during this project are varied, giving volunteers the maximum possible benefit from their time in Madagascar.
Madagascar has high levels of poverty and unemployment. Some 70% of people live below the poverty line, on less than $1 a day. The country’s main resources are its people and its unique flora and fauna. In recent times, tourism has become increasingly important for the country’s economic development and as a viable means of advancing the development of sustainable livelihoods among the Malagasy people. As a result, there has been increased support and demand by locals for the teaching of English as a means of capitalising on the opportunities presented by tourism and the increased presence and activity of international NGOs.
This project supports an award-winning grassroots NGO. Voted "Best Volunteering Organisation" at the 2007 Responsible Tourism Awards, you will be working for a UK registered charity and Malagasy NGO whose aim is to eradicate poverty, suffering and environmental damage in Madagascar. The organisation’s approach is one of co-operation and participation with local communities living in the southeast of the country.
Sample Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Fort Dauphin. Time to settle in to your accommodation before enjoying welcome drinks to allow volunteers and staff to get to know one another.
Day 2: You will receive a detailed orientation about Madagascar and local customs as well as a brief of the teaching projects you will be working on for the duration of your time in Madagascar. You will also have a chance to explore the town of Fort Dauphin and its beautiful beaches.
Day 3: A visit to Nahampona Reserve will allow you to get up close to several species of lemur including Verreaux's sifaka, ring tailed lemurs, and brown lemurs.
Day 4-6: Your teaching program begins. Volunteers will initially act as assistants, observing established teachers during 2 or 3 classes, each at different levels. You will participate in lesson planning and then begin to lead your own classes under the supervision of teaching staff.
Day 7: Day off to relax and enjoy an excursion to a local market, forest or beach depending on project location.
Day 8-9: These days will be spent teaching at the beautiful lake-side Sustainable Livelihoods Training Centre at Lanirano, in the shadow of the granite-mountains of the Tsitongambarika protected area. Here the feeling is more rural, the site being 3km outside Fort Dauphin.
Day 10-13: After two full days teaching at Lanirano, you will move to the public high school where you will teach youth and young adults of varying ages and with different standards of English literacy.
Day 14: A day at leisure to relax and enjoy the beautiful beaches of Fort Dauphin before catching your flight home.
Accommodation Volunteers stay in basic, secure accommodation in Fort Dauphin for the duration of this programme.
Food All meals are provided for volunteers throughout the scheme. Meals mainly consist of rice, beans, vegetables and fruit. Fish (or eggs for vegetarians) are provided when possible. All meals are prepared by a cook and the best possible treated drinking water is always available.
Cost The cost of the programme is essentially a donation to support the charitable work of the project. Funds generated by the programme support projects in Madagascar, with over 90% of all donations being spent in direct pursuit of our charitable aims and providing vital support to our ongoing projects in the areas of health and sanitation, sustainable livelihoods and conservation.
Don't let the size of the required fee put you off! The project managers have a dedicated team to support volunteers, with a wealth of fundraising experience and resources including manuals, raffle tickets, posters, sponsor forms, online donation facilities, collection boxes and even a lemur suit!
The donation covers you for all in-country travel costs (excluding flights), project costs, training, meals and plenty of safe water, orientation and a dedicated team to guide you in Madagascar. It does not include flights or any pre-departure expenses, such as visa fees, travel insurance and medical expenses.
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Overall experience: “the place and people made it a very special experience and the feeling that at the end of the day you were contributing to important projects that will benefit the local communities and wildlife was great… I would recommend [this program] to anyone who is interested in volunteering in Madagascar. I liked the small community feeling of the organisation and as a volunteer I really felt part of the team and hope to stay in touch with the great friends I have made during my stay. I’ll keep a look out for any other opportunities to visit again! Thank you.”
Support from the staff in Madagascar: “very good – they were all wonderful, patient and obliging even though they must come up against the same issues with volunteers time and again. It really felt like we could have been the first and only group of volunteers in terms of friendliness and enthusiasm!”
Highlights: “Camping in St Luce – although basic conditions, the people and the place make it a very enjoyable experience. Meeting the local people and hearing their opinions on [the NGO] and conservation. Teaching and being in the forest everyday. The wildlife!”
