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Teaching in Africa

 
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westonw



Joined: 08 Nov 2006
Posts: 10
Location: South Korea
PostPosted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 12:31 am    Post subject: Teaching in Africa Reply with quote
For all those interested in teaching in Africa I strongly urge you to check out the WorldTeach organization at http://www.worldteach.org/. There are numerous opportunities in Africa and the programs are reputable. Here's a video from my experience teaching in Namibia. It was an incredible experience.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfUswdpvC_g
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Steinmann



Joined: 17 Mar 2009
Posts: 255
Location: In the frozen north
PostPosted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 12:39 am    Post subject: Re: Teaching in Africa Reply with quote
westonw wrote:
For all those interested in teaching in Africa I strongly urge you to check out the WorldTeach organization at http://www.worldteach.org/. There are numerous opportunities in Africa and the programs are reputable. Here's a video from my experience teaching in Namibia. It was an incredible experience.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfUswdpvC_g


Seems like a good outfit, though I get a little edgy whenever I read volunteer. To my mind, that translates to little or no actual pay.
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Skyblue2



Joined: 04 Sep 2007
Posts: 127
PostPosted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 2:32 am    Post subject: Re: Teaching in Africa Reply with quote
Steinmann wrote:
westonw wrote:
For all those interested in teaching in Africa I strongly urge you to check out the WorldTeach organization at http://www.worldteach.org/. There are numerous opportunities in Africa and the programs are reputable. Here's a video from my experience teaching in Namibia. It was an incredible experience.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfUswdpvC_g


Seems like a good outfit, though I get a little edgy whenever I read volunteer. To my mind, that translates to little or no actual pay.


In this case, you actually have to pay (or fundraise, which amounts to the same thing ...) to go to work there for free.

What a sweet deal for all involved (especially the people who run the organization, who no doubt earn salaries ...) except for the "volunteer."
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westonw



Joined: 08 Nov 2006
Posts: 10
Location: South Korea
PostPosted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 7:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
With my program in Namibia we did have to pay a fee for the program of about $5,900. This includes rountrip-airfare, health insurance, and other in-country expenses for the volunteers. During the year I received a stipend from the Ministry of Education of about $400/month, which was more than enough to live on. I've worked with several NPO's/NGO's before and this really isn't a bad deal from a financial standpoint. Other programs they offer are completely subsidized but it depends where you're going. In Africa you typically have to pay.

But let's not jump to conclusions that organizations automatically make an ample amount of money off volunteer program fees (some do). WorldTeach does an extremely fair job in using much of the volunteer fees on volunteers themselves. Of course they need to utilize some for operational expenses and they've done this appropriately.

Just need to do your research....http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=11958
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Skyblue2



Joined: 04 Sep 2007
Posts: 127
PostPosted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 5:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
westonw wrote:
With my program in Namibia we did have to pay a fee for the program of about $5,900. This includes rountrip-airfare, health insurance, and other in-country expenses for the volunteers.

Flights, jobs, and gruel aren't that expensive. You might as well go there on your own. This is charity tourism more than real charity work. It's designed to be a never-ending cycle.
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westonw



Joined: 08 Nov 2006
Posts: 10
Location: South Korea
PostPosted: Wed Jan 05, 2011 12:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Quote:
Flights, jobs, and gruel aren't that expensive. You might as well go there on your own. This is charity tourism more than real charity work. It's designed to be a never-ending cycle.


Flights to Namibia alone cost up to $2,000. Sure, you could probably go on your own but most people would have no idea where to go. And if you did find a public school they may let you volunteer there but you wouldn't receive ANY compensation since you wouldn't be listed as an employee of the MOE. Basically, in this case going on your own would be much more expensive in the long run. Also, regardless of whether you utilize it or not, it's nice to have some sort of support system in place. Most people have never traveled to Africa and it's reassuring to know there are resources at your disposal. It's sad you're trying to discredit the work of an organization you know nothing about.
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westonw



Joined: 08 Nov 2006
Posts: 10
Location: South Korea
PostPosted: Sun Jan 09, 2011 5:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Here's another video from my "charity tourism" time in Namibia. This is a bit more insightful as to where I worked and the kids I was teaching. Oh, and that first song was a huge hit all across Southern Africa in 2010...DJ Bojo Mojo in case you're wondering.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CF3_hJe5CAU
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Skyblue2



Joined: 04 Sep 2007
Posts: 127
PostPosted: Mon Jan 10, 2011 2:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
westonw wrote:
Flights to Namibia alone cost up to $2,000. Sure, you could probably go on your own but most people would have no idea where to go.

I'd start by going some place I didn't have to pay to work for a charity tourism business.
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westonw



Joined: 08 Nov 2006
Posts: 10
Location: South Korea
PostPosted: Tue Jan 18, 2011 2:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Quote:
I'd start by going some place I didn't have to pay to work for a charity tourism business.


Anything you do is going to cost you something, whether it be finanicially, physically, or psychologically. People just need to know that the rewards from the experience will usually outweigh these costs. So as long as you do something, regardless of the type of charity work, that's a positive start.

Debating whether or not certain NPO's are businesses would be arguing semantics. Just try not to get too hung up on hidden agendas. But I do understand where you're coming from. I too was once a cynic.
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