Southeast Asia

Goal
Our mission is to give poor and orphaned children a place to call home and get an education that will prepare them for life.

Description
This is a school for poor and orphaned children and teenagers serving grades K to 12. We strive to improve the lives of these children by providing them with a home and a solid, practical education, so that they can support themselves and their families in the future, thus breaking the chain of poverty. Our program includes vocational training for students; older students learn a trade like welding, carpentry, mechanics, cooking, sewing or weaving...

More Info

• Average Fundraising Goal: Prices may vary. $4,000 for two semesters. See our office for more details.
• Timeline: We welcome students for a full nine month term and encourage to you commit to this as our students need consistency in teaching. There are cases where we accept those who can only come for three or six months depending on program and arrival and departure dates.Our school year runs from June to December with a break from December 15 until February 1. Sometimes students need to study through this period and there are always students who cannot return home who also need care during this time so we do accept volunteers who would like to come for this time as well. This is also a time when volunteers often take time to travel around sightseeing. (Note: Sightseeing in can only be done if there are at least two persons traveling together.)
• Living Accommodations: Volunteers live on our spacious hilltop jungle-campus in one of our staff-quarters. The rooms are very simple with concrete floors and tin ceilings. There are western showers and toilets. In winter time between November and March, the temperatures can drop down to 67 F at night but during the day they usually go up to 70 F. There are no heaters so one has to dress warmly.
• Language: English is the only language you need to communicate with everyone on campus. There are many different languages spoken by our students and staff but all speak English to varying degrees of proficiency. 
• Food: All meals will be served to you in the cafeteria with the students. The vegetarian food is simple with lots of vegetables, beans, grains, fruits and there is lots and lots of rice! (Bring some comfort-food with you :) We do not put chili or spice in our cafeteria food.
• Internet Access: Internet access is available but not fast and at times unreliable. Since many of our classes are online we do our best to keep it up. Internet is available for a small price.
• Requirements: Visa applied for one month in advance. SM office will coordinate and help you to obtain this visa. Volunteers with certain medical conditions may not be able to serve due to availability of medication.

Position Info

• Teacher - You will be a teacher in the subjects you agree to with the SM HR-manager. Materials and books are available online so that you can already prepare before coming. It is important to be organized and to be able to keep order in your classroom as well as keeping good records of your
  students’ progress. We will assist you in planning and if needed provide guidance for dealing with difficult situations in the classroom. We also ask our volunteers to help out with the on-campus work program in areas such as the kitchen, maintenance, landscaping, and agriculture.
• Accounting - You will assist the principle with the office work and do accounting for the school.
• Assistant Dean - As a dean’s assistant you will take care of the children’s needs from the time they wake up until they go to bed. This includes waking them up, helping them keep their clothes clean and rooms tidy, helping them to follow the rules (consistently) and showing them lots of love! Dean’s assistants usually have the morning off while the children are in school but otherwise it’s a full time job.