Volunteer with children

Volunteering with children is one of the most rewarding career breaks you can do.

Children you can work with can be any age. They can be babies, school children or teenagers. Usually you will work with just one age group - if your placement is in a school though, that age range might be quite broad.

The different kinds of volunteering you can do with children include:

• Teaching English - this is one of the most common volunteering opportunities for a career breaker looking to work with children. The placements involve teaching conversational English so you don't necessarily need a TEFL qualification. You will be paired with a local teacher who will both supervise you and assist in any language difficulties.
• Teaching another subject - again, you don't necessarily need a qualification although of course, any relevant experience you can bring is useful. Qualifications will usually be needed above primary level. You may teach basic maths and other subjects to young children, or you could teach music, art, drama etc. Some of these will be in after school clubs or other centres, rather than in schools.
• Coaching sports - one for the sporty career breaker! If you can kick a ball around (or throw it, or play another sport), you can teach a bunch of kids how to play. Sports coaching is a valuable part of some school and community projects, as it teaches the children teamwork, fair play, etc. And of course, it's fun!
• Care work - you will be placed in an orphanage or other care environment where you will help to look after young kids who may have nowhere else to go (some projects are community centres in places where life is difficult for the kids). Continuity of care is provided by permanent staff. Your job is to enable them to provide it by taking care of other vital tasks that are needed in the centre or orphanage.
• Medicine or health - you will usually need a medical qualification for these placements. They vary widely - you could be assisting paediatricians in a city centre hospital, or you could be helping on a vaccination programme in a remote clinic.

How long are volunteering placements?

They vary from about 2 weeks to as long as 2 years! It is up to you how long you go for and when you go, but obviously if you want to work in a school, you will have to go in term time. Many placements are available year-round.

Is training included, or do I need qualifications or experience?

It depends on the placement. Some volunteer projects need career breakers with specific skills or experience (particularly medicine and sometimes teaching). Some projects just need people who are enthusiastic about improving the lives of some of the world's poorest children.

Training is sometimes given if necessary. You will always be fully prepared and receive proper orientation when you arrive, and support throughout your placement. You may also receive language and culture lessons at the start of your placement to enable you to work more effectively.

You will usually need a CRB check to work with children.

Where can I volunteer with children?

Almost of the placements are in the developing world, where the need is greatest. There are a few in Europe (eg Eastern Europe or working with refugees). Most of the care and teaching ones are in southern Africa and South-East Asia.

Who will I be working with?

You will have a local supervisor, who will help you throughout your placement. If you are teaching, you will be working alongside a local teacher. For some placements, you will be encouraged to develop your own lesson plans, ideas for activities with the children, and so on. How much you initiate and how much you work under supervision will depend on which volunteer placement you choose. You will normally be working alongside other volunteers from different countries, and volunteers normally socialise together in their free time and go on trips at the weekends. Some also travel together after their placement finishes.

The children of course will vary according to where your placement is and what kind of kids the project is helping. Some will be from disadvantaged backgrounds, most will be poor, and some will be suffering trauma (eg refugees, or trafficked children).

What will you get out of volunteering with children?

Any project where you're helping to improve the long-term future of some of the world's most disadvantaged children is worthwhile. You know that the positive effects of your volunteering will be felt long after you go home.

But this isn't simply about you helping someone else. You will learn an immense about from the children you are working with, and of course, the local staff you will be working alongside. You will grow in confidence, be able to communicate better, become more resourceful and have an unforgettable time!

Like the sound of that? See all our organisations who work with children here.