Program Description
Volunteer Role
Placement Sites, Housing, Food
Length of Program
Cost of Program
Requirements
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Program Description
Beginning in December 2008, WorldTeach will be partnering with the Ministry of Education, to place volunteers at schools in and around Kigali, Rwanda's capital city. This will allow volunteers to experience firsthand the beauty and diversity of Rwanda while becoming immersed in the community.
Based in their school's needs, volunteers will primarily teach math, science and English to high school students. Here, you will be able to have a great impact on the future of young Rwandans by educating in the classroom and beyond with extracurricular activities, such as an after-school HIV/AIDS club or coaching sports teams. You will also be a role-model and a mentor to many of the students whose lives were affected by the genocide. Volunteers will most likely be living in furnished apartments or shared teaching houses provided by their school.
As a WorldTeach volunteer, you will experience life in a changing Rwanda. You will have a respected role in the community and form friendships that bridge cultures. By immersing yourself in the culture, you will gain unique insight into the Rwandan society and the challenges and opportunities of educational development
Volunteer Role
Your service in Rwanda will begin in late December with a month of orientation. Orientation will include introduction to life and culture in Rwanda, information on health and safety issues, as well as an opportunity to practice teaching. During orientation, volunteers will stay at hostels, dorms or backpackers hostels. After orientation, volunteers will go to their permanent housing arrangements of school provided housing where you will begin your year of teaching.
Volunteers will primarily be teaching math, science and English in high schools. There may be an opportunity to teach other subjects as well. Volunteers are also expected to join and lead extracurricular activities such as an HIV/AIDS club, sports teams, library committees, etc.
School is in session from mid-January through the end of November or early December. Most high schools begin early in the day, at about 8:00AM and end at about 3:30PM, depending on afternoon classes. There are several breaks throughout the day, and a long lunch period. Volunteers will typically teach between 24 and 30 periods per week, or 5 to 6 classes per day.
There will be two week breaks in both April and July, where the volunteers will have the opportunity to travel around Rwanda and to neighboring countries.
During the year, there will be a Mid-Service Conference where all of the volunteers will come together to discuss their teaching experiences. There will also be an End-of-Service Conference for the volunteers to conclude their year of teaching.
Placement Sites, Housing, Food
Teachers will be placed at various schools located in and around Kigali, the capital city. Most volunteers will be placed independently although there may be placements where a volunteer can be placed with another volunteer. Volunteers will live in teacher housing either on their school campus or in a nearby village.
Housing accommodation may vary depending on the placement site. The most common arrangement is school-provided housing in a school hostel or dorm. This is typically a furnished apartment or a shared house with other teachers on school property. Volunteers will have their own room, although they might share common rooms with other teachers or staff. Buildings typically have cement walls and electricity, and volunteers may need to use the community water well.
Most schools have been built since the genocide and are in quite good condition. Many even have internet connection. Cell phones work and have good reception throughout the country.
Volunteers will receive a living allowance of approximately $200 per month ($100 from the Rwandan government and $100 from volunteer stipend payments) which they can spend on food and other basic living necessities. This should be enough to buy groceries and local food from the markets.
Volunteers will generally be able to eat a lunch of rice and beans at their school for free, if they wish. This highly cultivated land has ample potatoes from the north, and bananas from the south, as well as meat and vegetables. People who need special diets may have a difficult time in this program.
Length of Program
The program will begin in late December 2008 and last one year, ending in late November or early December 2009. You may choose to extend for a second year, all expenses paid except insurance and cost of ticket change.
Cost of Program
The current program fee is US$7,990. Special matching grants of up to US$2,000 are available for those who fundraise at least that amount, which lowers the fee to US$5,990. This includes pre-departure information and preparation, roundtrip international airfare from a US gateway city (e.g. New York City or Washington DC- you will be responsible for transportation to this city and airport), one month in-country orientation including food, housing, and transportation, year-long health insurance, meals and housing during your year-long teaching service, and 24-hour field support from our in-country Field Director.
Please read more about costs and services.
Requirements
WorldTeach's Rwanda program is open to qualified individuals who are native English speakers and possess a bachelor's degree (in any subject). Prior teaching experience is helpful but not required. Interest in Africa, teaching and international development is a plus. Successful volunteers should be mature, resourceful, and exhibit commitment to public service and community participation. It is essential that volunteers be flexible and open-minded, and are capable of adapting to new situations. A positive attitude, even in frustrating or difficult circumstances, is vital because this is the first year of the program!
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