These answers to frequently asked questions will help inform you about the program in the Marshall Islands. If you have further questions, please call the WorldTeach office at 1-800-483-2240 or 617-495-5527.  We can also put you in touch with a returned Marshall Islands volunteer.

Q: When does the program start and end?

A:  The program departs in the third week of July, usually from Los Angeles. Volunteers need to arrive at the departure airport the night before the flight departure. WorldTeach can assist its volunteers in getting a flight to the departure city. If an overnight stay is required at this location, WorldTeach will provide accommodations. The Marshall Islands school year ends in late May so volunteers will return home in early June.

Q: Can I speak to a returned volunteer?

A: Absolutely! Once a volunteer has submitted his or her application, WorldTeach can put him or her in contact with a returned WorldTeach volunteer who can answer specific questions about the program. Contact WorldTeach for this information by phone at 1-800-483-2240 or 617 495-5527, or send a request by email to info@worldteach.org.

Q: Are you still accepting applications?

A:  WorldTeach accepts applications on a rolling admission basis. However, it is in an applicant's best interest to submit his or her completed application materials as soon as possible for the following year, especially for the Marshall Islands program. This program is very popular and has filled before the final application deadline in the past.

Once all of an applicant's components arrive at WorldTeach, the admissions committee reviews each item carefully. Generally speaking, WorldTeach is able to tell an applicant if he or she has been admitted within 1-2 weeks. Please see Program Information for updates on this year's program.

Q: Is there a fee for the program?

A: WorldTeach requires a US$2,000 deposit that will be returned to the volunteer after completing a full year of service. WorldTeach asks the volunteer to send this deposit in three installments. Besides this deposit, all volunteers are fully funded and there is no fee for the program.

Q: When will I find out where I will be teaching?

A:  A volunteer will receive information about his or her placement site, teaching assignment (which will be in either an elementary or high school), and host family about one month prior to departure. Until then, WorldTeach asks for its volunteers to be flexible and to keep an open mind. 

Teaching placements are determined by the WorldTeach Field Director in consultation with the various host schools that have requested a volunteer teacher and the Ministry of Education. Once accepted to the program, a volunteer may express general preferences with regard to his or her teaching or living situation. The Field Director will take these preferences and a volunteer's prior experience into account when matching him or her with a suitable school and host family. Since WorldTeach also has to take into account the needs of the host schools and communities, it cannot guarantee any particular placement. This process of matching a volunteer with a placement site is done once the Field Director has received information on all the volunteers in the group. 

Q: Will I receive training?

A:  Yes. Volunteers first month in-country will be spent in an intensive orientation training program in Majuro. This will include an introduction to the country and its culture, language classes and teacher training. Teacher training will focus on ESL teaching methods, lesson planning, teaching resources, and a teaching practicum.

Q: Do I need to speak the language?

A: Volunteers do not need to speak the language in order to participate. However, WorldTeach highly recommends for volunteers to familiarize themselves to some extent with Marshallese, the spoken language on the islands, before leaving. To learn a few simple words, consult a RMI Marshallese phrasebook such as the one found here: http://www.rmiembassyus.org/Marshallese%20Phrasebook.htm. Most volunteers pick up enough Marshallese during orientation to get by, but most progress in language acquisition is accomplished while volunteers are at their site with their host families.

Q: What type of housing will I stay in?

A: Wherever possible, a volunteer will live with host families either in the family's home, or in a room or house nearby. Given that houses are generally small, some families may build an additional room for their volunteer. Houses and living conditions are simple, especially on the outer islands. Host families will be paid a stipend (provided by the Ministry of Education, administered by WorldTeach) to cover the costs of hosting a volunteer.

Q: What are the differences between the outer islands and Majuro?

A: Volunteers who live on the outer islands will have a very different living experience than volunteers who live in Majuro. Majuro is the capital city of the Marshall Islands, with a population of about 24,000 people. It offers both the advantages and disadvantages of urban centers found in other developing countries. There is running water and electricity, moderate-sized stores including grocery stores that cater to the small ex-pat communities, and even cable television.  The ex-pat community on Majuro consists of perhaps 200 Americans in addition to other Micronesians, some Chinese and Filipinos, and a sprinkling of others. There are several grocery stores that cater to these populations, as well as to urban Marshallese who enjoy many western and oriental foods. While there are sections of Majuro that have a high population density, there are many where the density is quite low, particularly past the airport. From Majuro Island, which is actually a 29-mile string of islands in the Majuro Atoll that have been joined together by "land fill", it is quite easy to visit the "outer islands" of the atoll.

"I've learned that separating myself from the world is not possible, even on a remote Pacific island." Philip Bagley, Marshall Islands Volunteer

Volunteers who work on the "outer islands" will have the rare opportunity to live with a people whose lives have not changed dramatically from the lifestyles of their ancestors. There is minimal electricity and running water in the outer islands. Water there comes from wells, or is caught off of anything with a solid roof. A volunteer should boil all drinking water on the outer islands. Transportation between the outer islands is limited. The government field trip ships travel to each outer island at varying frequencies depending on the island, bringing passengers, food, medical and educational supplies and trade goods. Some islands see a field trip boat every month while others can go six months without a supply boat. Air Marshall Islands (AMI) flies to most of the atolls weekly carrying persons, mail, and very limited cargo, and serving as medical emergency transportation. However, frequent flight cancellations can occur, and service may be unreliable. There are no telephones, but there are short-wave radios that are used for communication with the outside world. Income for residents of the outer atolls is generated primarily from the sale of copra (dried coconut meat) and handicrafts. Volunteers living on the outer islands should be prepared for a lot more isolation and an intense cultural experience.

Q: Do I need a visa?

A:  No visa is required for U.S.-passport holders traveling to the Marshall Islands; however, it is necessary for all volunteers to acquire a 10-month “Entry Permit” upon arrival in the country. The Field Director will help coordinate the process, but volunteers must obtain the following documents to be copied and forwarded to the Program Manager: a criminal record check (also called Police Clearance or Letter of Good Conduct), a passport-size photo, and a negative HIV test. Important: the HIV test must be completed within one month of a volunteer's arrival in the Marshall Islands, no earlier. Volunteers must also bring the original copies of these items to the Marshall Islands.

Q: Will there be a chance to travel to other places?

A:  Many volunteers hope to travel to other countries in the Pacific while volunteering with WorldTeach. This is sometimes possible during school holidays such as Christmas break, and after the teaching commitment is complete. Bear in mind that flights between islands only occur once a week and that the airline is very unreliable. It is possible for some islands to go more than a week without an airplane. Also, any travel volunteers choose to do beyond the aformentioned program activities will be at their own expense. Most volunteers are surprised at the high cost of traveling in this region and thus choose to take advantage of activities the Marshall Islands have to offer instead of traveling.

Volunteers spend the first four weeks in Majuro for orientation before traveling to their respective teaching locations. The group will reconvene for a mid-service conference, and then again at the end of the year for a debrief meeting and the flight home. The cost to attend these program-related meetings will be covered.

Q: Can I make my own travel arrangements?

A:  It is possible, although WorldTeach does not recommend this course of action for its volunteers. There are not many flights to Majuro and it can be difficult to find connections. Also, as a part of the program, the Marshall Islands government pays for volunteers' international flights.

Regardless, in the event that a volunteer still wishes to make his or her own travel plans, he or she must plan to arrive in Majuro by the same date as the rest of the group in order to attend all of the orientation activities. Please contact WorldTeach regarding this choice, as well.

Q: Can I come home during the year?

A: Yes. Volunteers have the opportunity to travel home during the Christmas break, which is usually about two weeks in December. Volunteers may also go home in the case of a medical or family emergency. As employees of the Ministry of Education, volunteers are responsible for teaching full time for the duration of each school term and thus may not miss school for other reasons. Travel of this nature will be done at a volunteer's own expense and can be both expensive and time-consuming. 

WorldTeach provides one round-trip ticket for volunteers who complete their teaching service. This ticket is paid for by the Marshall Islands' government. Volunteers who decide to leave the program early without teaching the full year will have to pay for their flight home.

Q: What immunizations are required?

A: It is generally recommended for travelers to any developing nation that they are immunized against Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Typhoid; that their Polio, Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR), and Tetanus-Diphtheria (TTD) vaccinations are up to date (get a booster shot if necessary); and that they have had a recent TB test. There is currently no stated risk of yellow fever or malaria in in the Marshall Islands.

The most comprehensive source of information on immunizations and travel health is the Center for Disease Control's website at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/. This site provides recommendations for travel to the developing world, as well as detailed information on specific diseases. Also refer to the Healthy Travel guide that WorldTeach sends to volunteers when they confirm their participation in the program. Volunteers must consult with their doctor or a travel health specialist about immunizations and other health needs before they leave. Besides telling volunteers what immunizations are recommended for travel to The Marshall Islands, WorldTeach staff members are not qualified to give specific medical advice. All of these questions need to be directed to medical professionals.

Q: Is it safe?

A: While there is always some level of risk involved in traveling and living in a developing country, WorldTeach pays close attention to U.S. State Department and Embassy advice and does not place volunteers in any area considered dangerous. The WorldTeach field staff will provide safety information during orientation and can be consulted if any problems arise during the year.

The Marshall Islands is a stable country and the people are very welcoming. Risk of theft is present (as it is everywhere) and volunteers should take sensible precautions to look after personal belongings and not take anything they would mind losing. Volunteers who confirm participation in the program will receive a Living & Teaching guide for further information.

Q: What if I get sick?

A:  Volunteers might get sick at certain times, just as they would at home - it is unavoidable. Adjusting to a new environment, the stress of new professional responsibilities, diet, and climate places demands on anybody's body and health.

Q: Are there doctors and hospitals?

A: There are doctors and a hospital in Majuro. The outer islands typically have a small health clinic. In cases of a serious medical condition or emergency, the health clinic can call to divert the inter-island plane to bring the volunteer to the hospital in Majuro. More complicated cases may be referred to a hospital in Hawaii. The Field Director will also give advice on health and safety while living in the Marshall Islands.

WorldTeach volunteers have health insurance coverage that includes emergency medical evacuation insurance. For medical expenses such as doctors' visits, volunteers pay up front, keep the receipt, and then file a claim to get reimbursed by the insurance company. All volunteers are covered under the WorldTeach group insurance policy; it is not optional. The overseas insurance provided by WorldTeach is considered supplemental insurance to a volunteer's existing policy. Please consult with the Program Manager for more information on medical insurance.

Q: What about the nuclear testing?

A:  Of great interest and concern to many persons interested in living in the Marshall Islands is the nuclear testing issue. Between 1946 and 1958, the United States dropped 66 atomic and nuclear bombs on two atolls in the Northern Marshall Islands: Bikini and Enewetak. These atolls were selected because the winds in the Pacific generally blow from east to west, and so the nuclear fall-out from testing on these north-western most atolls would blow out over the open north central Pacific waters.

In general the testing went as predicted.  Bombs were dropped and the fallout blew out to sea.  But one terrible and tragic test went awry. A 15-megaton hydrogen bomb test was scheduled for Bikini Atoll in March of 1954, which was called the Bravo test. This bomb was 1000 times more powerful than the bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima. As they sometimes do, particularly in the fall but this time in the spring, the winds changed and blew from the west to the east. The fallout from the Bravo test blew eastward, falling on 23 Japanese fishermen on the "Lucky Dragon" fishing boat, 28 American men who were at a weather-monitoring station on Rongerik Atoll in the Marshall Islands, and 82 people on Rongelap Atoll.  Less exposed were the 157 people of the more distant Utirik Atoll.  Newly released documents indicate that the fall-out may have been more widespread than had previously thought, and that the people of Ailuk and Meijit Atoll and perhaps other atolls as well were also affected.             

Many Marshallese have long felt that the United States knew that the winds had shifted, but that the US chose to go ahead with the tests, purposefully using them as human "guinea pigs" to see the effects of radiation on humans. U.S. documents released in 1994 confirmed that the US government had at least contemplated studying the results of nuclear exposure on humans. The controversy continues to this day and volunteers  may hear of this talk while on the islands. 

There is a history of U.S. clean-up of the islands and attempts to resettle the Marshallese back to their home atolls. The biggest problem today is that there is a radioactive isotope of cesium called Cesium 137 (Cs 137) in the soil. Cs 137 is taken up by the plants of the atolls and therefore by the animals as well. The radioactive materials emit radiation: alpha particles, which are like helium nuclei (two protons and two neutrons), and beta particles, which are the very much smaller, but much more energetic, electrons.  The danger comes from people eating the food that is grown on those irradiated atolls because when people eat irradiated soil, they also ingest the radioactive Cs137. These Cs137s continue to emit radiation in the body, where they can do damage.

Soil samples throughout the entire Marshall Islands have been extensively tested and are considered safe for all uses except those on the far northern atolls. Attempts at resettlement on Rongelap have been made in the past, but today it is still considered unready for permanent habitation, because of the cesium in the soil. 

Sometimes confused with the nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands is the ballistic missile testing and national missile defense testing that is done today and has been done for many decades on Kwajalein Atoll by the United States military. The US military reports that extensive safety measures are taken so that there is no danger from missiles that are off-track and maintains safety offices to evaluate the program. There has never been a major safety incident in the missile testing.  There is no nuclear component of this testing. 

Q: What should I take with me?

A:  Upon confirmation of their participation, volunteers are sent a booklet called Living & Teaching in the Marshall Islands. This booklet contains a suggested packing list. WorldTeach does not recommend taking a lot of electronics, since they are easily broken or stolen. Try to pack lightly and minimally; volunteers need to be able to move their bags easily, and many things are available in Majuro. In terms of teaching materials, the WorldTeach office in Majuro has some teaching books and materials that can be borrowed and copied. Volunteers might want to take their own books, activities, or other materials that they think would be of use during the year, such as posters or pictures from magazines, popular songs, or videos. Such items have the potential to be great teaching tools that are hard to come by on the Islands. 

Female volunteers in particular may wish to purchase much of their clothing in Majuro and thus dress in a more traditional Marshallese fashion. This clothing is generally available at a very low cost, and may provide a greater feeling of comfort while abroad, especially on the outer islands. The clothing female volunteers should also bring includes skirts and dresses. It is not considered appropriate for women to wear pants or shorts. Male and female volunteers alike should keep the high temperatures and humidity in mind while packing for the Islands!

Upon confirmation, many volunteers are excited at the prospect of fundraising for their school. WorldTeach cautions incoming volunteers against overwhelming themselves with fundraising activities until they know more about their placements. While friends and family may wish to help, please do not have them send items like used school supplies, books with no relevance to children in The Marshall Islands (i.e. cooking books, unwanted/discarded library books, etc.), or large equipment like computers. It is often better to wait and see what is really needed rather than to spend a lot of money sending unnecessary supplies prior to departure. Once a volunteer is familiar with the needs of the school, fundraising contributions will be welcomed and more valuable.

Q: How much money should I take?

A: Access to $1000 should be sufficient for spending money. However, this amount depends a great deal on how much a volunteer intends to travel, as well as the lifestyle he or she leads while abroad. If a volunteer plans to dive, travel or eat extravagantly, he or she must bring extra spending money for these activities. Furthermore, volunteers living in Majuro will have greater access to stores and entertainments than those on the outer islands and so they will probably be more likely to spend more money. We recommend taking travelers' checks, some cash in fairly small denominations, and a credit card to gain access to more money as needed. 

Volunteers for The Marshall Islands program receive a small stipend that is meant to provide them with the very basic necessities while abroad such as shampoo, soap and stamps, as well as to help them integrate and adapt to their new lifestyle. However, possessions that western cultures normally consider personal belongings are seen as collective property in the Marshall Islands. When a volunteer lives with a host-family, he or she becomes more of a family member than a guest, which can be a difficult adjustment. Although a host-family is given money to provide the volunteer with food, he or she should consider using some of the stipend as a means of purchasing things to share with his or her host-family such as coffee, dish soap, etc.

Q: Can I bring my pet with me?

A: Volunteers may not bring pets with them while abroad. Pets are often quarantined upon arriving to a foreign country to help prevent the spread of foreign parasites to the local animals. Also, housing conditions cannot always accomodate pets. Thus, to greater protect their general wellbeing, WorldTeach must insist that volunteers' pets remain at home.