Site Search:
 
Get TEFL Certified & Start Your Adventure Today!
Teach English Abroad and Get Paid to see the World!
Job Discussion Forums Forum Index Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

reputable volunteer agencies

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> General Africa Forum
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
viva



Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Posts: 14
Location: South Korea

PostPosted: Mon Jun 14, 2004 7:25 pm    Post subject: reputable volunteer agencies Reply with quote

Hello,

I'm looking to volunteer somewhere in West Africa (Senegal, Gambia, Benin, Ghana, etc.) where I can improve my rusty French. I would be interested in teaching ESL (have in Asia before) or in working in an orphanage amoung other things.

My problems is that I am having trouble finding a good organization to go through. (ie: One that doesn't charge an insane amount of money just to volunteer). Amost every single organization I've come up with seems to have an extremely high 'overhead cost' that they have to charge volunteers for.

If anyone is or has volunteered in West Africa for a really great organization (one that is truely not for profit) I woud love to hear more about it.
Thanks,

Viva
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
grahamb



Joined: 30 Apr 2003
Posts: 1945

PostPosted: Tue Jun 15, 2004 9:49 am    Post subject: Volunteering Reply with quote

The Peace Corps and VSO are two that spring to mind, but check out the oneworld.net website for links to NGOs in general.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
nolefan



Joined: 14 Jan 2004
Posts: 1458
Location: on the run

PostPosted: Wed Jun 16, 2004 6:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You could also try looking in Morocco or tunisia as French is widely spoken in both countries.....that is unless you are dead set on west Africa.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
grahamb



Joined: 30 Apr 2003
Posts: 1945

PostPosted: Thu Jun 17, 2004 10:21 am    Post subject: French-speaking countries Reply with quote

They speak French in West Africa, too.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
grahamb



Joined: 30 Apr 2003
Posts: 1945

PostPosted: Thu Jun 17, 2004 11:59 am    Post subject: Volunteering Reply with quote

Try this link. The vacancies are in Sierra Leone, which wouldn't give you much opportunity to practise speaking French.

http://www.onestopenglish.com/Jobs/CareersinTeaching/Jobshop/africa.htm#giants
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
markholmes



Joined: 21 Jun 2004
Posts: 661
Location: Wengehua

PostPosted: Sat Jul 10, 2004 10:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Check out www.go-mad.org . My wife worked in Thailand through this organisation. Not sure if there are french speaking countries on there though.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
pak



Joined: 07 Dec 2004
Posts: 5
Location: Ankara, Turkey

PostPosted: Wed Dec 08, 2004 6:58 pm    Post subject: Volunteering in West Africa Reply with quote

Viva,

You might want to check out IFESH (International Foundation for Education and Self-Help). They have a program called Teachers for Africa. I did this program for two school years and just came back to the States at the end of May. Like you, I wanted to go to Africa and I could not afford to pay to volunteer and I wanted an alternative to the Peace Corps. The contract is for one school year, but sometimes volunteers can renew for a second year, as I did.

The TFA program pays a stipend of $800 a month. They also will reimburse you for your vaccinations, up to a certain amount. ($600 I think). Round-trip airfare is provided, as well as a visa. Once you arrive in the country, you receive a $350 settling-in allowance to buy items for your household. Accommodations are luxurious by African standards. You will have electricity and running water. IFESH will provide you with some furniture: bed, couch, table and chairs, small fridge, and a cookstove. They will also provide anti-malarial medication but only Lariam, so if you want to take something else, you must pay for that on your own.

As for French-speaking West African countries, the TFA program is in Benin and Guinea. Just this year they added a program in Djibouti, in case you're interested in French-speaking countries in other parts of Africa.. The non-French speaking countries they have are Ghana, Ethiopia, Namibia, and Malawi. I was in Benin, by the way.

In theory, IFESH is looking for qualified and experienced teachers. They easily find them for the English-speaking countries, but they have a very difficult time finding candidates for the French-speaking countries and sometimes accept people with no background in education but who happen to speak French. My first year in Benin, we were all experienced teachers who spoke French very well, but my second year there were some recent college graduates who did not have teaching experience. I heard that the year before me, there were some volunteers who had very minimal French language skills. It just depends on the applicant pool from year to year.

The program in Benin involves training teachers and it really helps to have a good level of French already. However, I believe the volunteers in Guinea are teaching ESL, so being highly proficient in French may not be as essential. I'm not sure about the new program in Djibouti.

There is a week-long pre-departure orientation in Phoenix at the end of August. IFESH pays yor transportation to that, as well as hotel and meals. You leave for your country around the middle of September.

I noticed that IFESH has a post on eslcafe.com:
http://www.eslcafe.com/joblist/index.cgi?read=9191

You can also check out their recently redesigned website at www.ifesh.org and click on the links to the Teachers for Africa program.

Applications are due by February 28th.

pak
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
cmc



Joined: 11 Feb 2005
Posts: 8
Location: Djibouti

PostPosted: Wed Mar 16, 2005 10:18 pm    Post subject: IFESH Djibouti Reply with quote

Hello Viva,

In regards to the message from Pak, I think he/she gave a great summary of the logistics of IFESH. I am currently teaching at Pole University in Djibouti as an IFESH volunteer.

I would encourage you to look into it further if you're serious about volunteering. IFESH Djibouti is probably looking for some French speaking volunteers for the upcoming school year even as we speak/write.

It's true that they prefer MA's or PhD's, but as Pak said, there is a shortage of American French speakers. Feel free to PM me if you want more information about IFESH in Djibouti.

Best of luck,

cmc
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> General Africa Forum All times are GMT
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.

Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group

Teaching Jobs in China
Teaching Jobs in China