Detailed Explanation of WorldTeach Program Fees
Note on Summer Programs
WorldTeach Services

Program	Program Fee	Notes
American Samoa Year	Free plus US$1,500 deposit	fully funded by Department of Education of American Samoa
Bangladesh Year	Free plus US$1,500 deposit	fully funded by Asian University for Women
Chile Ministry Year	US$3,190	partially funded by Ministry of Education of Chile
Chile Ministry Semester	US$2,690	partially funded by Ministry of Education of Chile
Chile DuocUC Year	US$2,990	partially funded by Duoc Universidad Católica
China Year	US$500 plus US$1,000 deposit	partially funded by Hunan Provincial Government
Costa Rica Year	US$4,990
Ecuador Year	US$4,990
Guyana Year	US$1,500	partially funded by Ministry of Education of Guyana
Marshall Islands Year	Free plus US$1,500 deposit	fully funded by Department of Education of Marshall Islands
Micronesia Year	Free plus $1,500 deposit	fully funded by Departments of Education of Kosrae & Pohnpei
Mongolia Year	US$4,990
Namibia Year	US$5,990	matching grants available up to US$1,000
Rwanda Year	US$7,990	matching grants available up to US$2,000
South Africa Year	US$4,990	partially funded by Western Cape Provincial Government
Venezuela Year	US$2,500	partially funded by Ministry of Culture of Venezuela

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When they find out about the WorldTeach program, the first question many people ask is: "Why do I have to pay to volunteer?" The reality is that there are significant costs involved in recruiting, preparing, sending, training, and supporting a volunteer to teach in a developing country. Consequently, WorldTeach, the volunteer, and the chosen country's host institution all have to work together in a partnership to meet these costs. The program fee that is raised by the volunteer is part of the volunteer's contribution to the overall cost.

"The experience has been worth every penny." Shelli Rosenfeld, Costa Rica volunteer

WorldTeach is an independent non-profit organization. We receive no funding from the US government and no significant sustained funding from other sources. WorldTeach has a small permanent staff and consistently aims to keep costs down, while also providing the highest quality service to both our volunteers and the host countries.

Historically, the host school or sponsoring organization's contribution to the overall cost has been to provide room and board and, in the longer-term programs, a monthly living allowance for the volunteer.  Most of our programs still follow this original model.  In recent years, WorldTeach has been approached by some countries whose governments or schools are willing to provide additional funding (beyond housing and the monthly stipend) to support volunteer costs, enabling the volunteer program fee to be substantially reduced.  The Chile Year, China Year, and Guyana Year programs are all examples of this model.  Although these countries are now paying much more per volunteer, they are willing to assume this burden, because by lowering the volunteer's personal contribution, we are able to guarantee these host communities a larger number of volunteer teachers each year.  In some cases, as with the American Samoa Year, Marshall Islands Year, and Micronesia Year programs, the host country fully and generously funds all costs, thus eliminating the need for volunteers to fundraise.

While we are thrilled to be able to offer some subsidized programs at a substantially reduced cost to volunteers, the truth is that the majority of countries and schools that most need our help cannot afford to cover all of the costs associated with supporting a volunteer teacher overseas.  As a result, we must continue to ask our volunteers to contribute a portion of the overall cost of their volunteer experience, which is why some programs (eg. Ecuador and Costa Rica Year) have a higher program fee.

In sum, the volunteer fee is your contribution to the overall costs of preparing and supporting a teacher in a developing country.  Because this fee can be prohibitive for many people, we strongly encourage all of our volunteers to do some fundraising to support the cost of their program.  Fundraising invests your home community in your overseas service experience, and increases public awareness of the great need for educational assistance abroad.

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Our summer programs involve the same level of comprehensive logistical coordination (described above) as our long-term programs, and consequently, despite the shorter time period, the volunteer contribution has to be nearly the same as that of our long-term programs.  The main difference in the overall cost of summer programs is a lower expense for room and board while you are in-country (because it is a shorter period); but this part of the cost is generally covered by your host institution, not your program fee.

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Your fee enables us to provide a variety of important services, not the least of which is finding someone like you who is qualified and willing to serve as a teacher in an under-resourced school in a developing country.  Aside from that one all-important service to our partner countries, however, WorldTeach services are primarily designed to support you, the volunteer.  Whether it is pre-departure preparation, in-country training and support, or help in the case of an emergency, all of these services are provided in an effort to enhance your safety and security while making you the most effective teacher you can be.

Approximately 70% of the program fee is expended directly on individual volunteer logistics, training and support, while the remaining 30% is allocated to the US office for critical functions such as volunteer recruitment (to ensure our ability to continue to provide the next generation of volunteers to schools in need), admissions (to process, evaluate, and track all incoming applications), and administration (which all non-profit organizations must attend to, such as an annual financial audit).

"I'm impressed with the level of support WorldTeach offers. The program is very respected throughout the country. I always felt honored to represent WorldTeach here." Sam Magnuson, Costa Rica volunteer

The following is a detailed breakdown of these services provided by WorldTeach to its volunteers:

1) Pre-Departure Information and Preparation

• Support of US program staff during the application process
• Continued support and guidance after volunteer has been accepted, including connecting new volunteers with WorldTeach alumni mentors
• Distribution of pre-departure literature such as:
• WorldTeach Welcome Handbook (includes general program information and stories from volunteers who have served in-country)
• Introduction to Teaching English as a Foreign Language
• Living and Teaching Abroad (includes program-specific information on teaching and living in-country, responsibilities, packing and orientation information, cultural issues, etc.)
• Selected Readings specific to each country about history, politics, and culture
• Staying Healthy in Asia, Africa, and Latin America
• Fundraising Guide
• Vegetarian Guide (upon request)
• Logistics coordination, including flight arrangements and management of visa application process

2) International Round-Trip Airfare from US Departure City

• WorldTeach is usually able to obtain better long-term airfares for its groups than if volunteers booked their own individual tickets

3) Overseas Medical Insurance and Emergency Evacuation

• Our plan is designed specifically for people living and working overseas, and includes emergency evacuation if necessary (a service not provided by most US health insurance plans)

4) In-Country Training

• Orientation, led by in-country Field Director and orientation staff (usually past WorldTeach volunteers and local experts).  The carefully planned and intensive orientation includes: training in teaching methods and practices, language lessons (where appropriate), and detailed discussions of health and safety, cross-cultural adjustment and culture shock, coping skills, and making the most of your WorldTeach experience.  Orientation runs 3-4 weeks for year-long programs, and 7-10 days for summer programs.
• Mid-Service Conference during your experience to discuss with fellow volunteers all ongoing challenges (and ways to successfully deal with them), and to compare teaching ideas and methodologies
• End-of-Service Conference to debrief and prepare for transition to life back home, including plans for professional career, graduate school, or perhaps further travel

5) Continuous 24-Hour Field Staff Support

      Full-time, in-country professional Field Director who, among other things:

• Identifies teaching placements and negotiates terms and living allowances with host schools
• Approves housing provided by host institutions or host families
• Troubleshoots problems that may arise with housing, teaching, school administration, health, etc.
• Conducts personal visits to volunteers' placement sites to provide feedback and support
• Provides emergency communication and assistance when needed

"I now realize the immense task you undertook and I have no doubt as to your commitment to every individual volunteer. Everyday it seems I become aware of a new duty of yours - another thing on your "to do" list, but I never see you shirking any of these." Blake Crowley, in an email to the Chile Field Director

6) Housing, Food, Living Allowance

• Your housing, food and living allowance are provided by the government and/or your host institution and thus is not funded by your program fee (living allowances are only provided to year-long volunteers)
• WorldTeach manages the contracts and all of the paperwork associated with volunteer housing and stipends

7) Alumni Support and Non-Profit Networking Opportunities

• Welcome Home Packet including information to help with "reverse culture shock," the job search, and networking with other returned volunteers
• Letter of recommendation from your Field Director to use as you pursue job opportunities
• Network of nearly 4,000 WorldTeach alumni with whom you can connect for personal and professional growth
• A lifetime of memories, not to mention a host of skills and inner resources you have developed that you can apply to other challenging and rewarding situations!

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