Malawi teaching volunteer project is one of our most popular volunteer programs in Malawi. As a teaching volunteer in Malawi you can teach English, geography, mathematics, physical education and history at community schools. When you volunteer to teach you’ll be given an active role in the classroom. You can also assist students with their homework.
Dedicating your time, energy, and skills as a volunteer on our Malawi teaching volunteer project is a great way to spend your gap year, career break, or extended vacation. You can gain valuable work experience without any previous teaching experience, and you are not required to have a TEFL or TESOL qualification.
PROJECTS HIGHLIGHTS:
- Teach English, Math and other subjects, organize games and arts
- Share your love and care with children
- Share your culture and empower children
- Paint educative murals
- Provide support for extracurricular activities
Your English speaking abilities and enthusiasm are all that is needed to make a difference in schools where there is a lack of conversational English language teaching. The impact you will have on your students will be obvious as they start to develop their language abilities, but you will also be part of a much larger network of volunteers, which is making a positive and ongoing contribution to the wider community in Malawi through Go Volunteer Africa.
PROJECT LOCATION:
Blantyre City, is the largest commercial and industrial capital of Malawi, is in the Shire Highlands and geographical center of the Southern Region of the country and lies 35° east of Greenwich Meridian and 15° 42″ south of the Equator. It is a transport communications node with road, rail and air links to all parts of the country and neighboring countries of Mozambique, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Zambia and Tanzania. It covers an area of 228 km2.
Lilongwe is the capital city of Malawi, on the Lilongwe River. At its heart, woodland trails weave through the Lilongwe Wildlife Centre. This sanctuary shelters rescued and injured animals, including lions, monkeys and crocodiles. Shops, bars and restaurants dot the Old Town district. The Capital City district, also called City Centre, is home to the 21st-century, Chinese-built Parliament building.
ARRIVAL & AIRPORT PICKUP:
After you have booked and confirmed your placement, please book your flights to arrive at either Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe or Chileka International Airport in Blantyre (So make sure you know the exact location of your project before booking flights). A member of staff from our local partner organization in Malawi will meet you on arrival at the airport and take you to the volunteer guest house or host family which will be your base for volunteering. Both airports services numerous international carriers including the national airline Malawi Airlines. Malawi has good connections to destinations throughout Europe, the Asia- Pacific region, USA and Africa.
ORIENTATION:
Orientation and Placement will be done the next day. Generally, your volunteer orientation is an overview of the project’s mission, expectations and introduction to the local community and project site. Following your arrival in Malawi you will be given a presentation by the co-coordinating project team to prepare you for the work you will be doing.
PROJECT DETAILS:
You will also have a cultural exchange, cross-cultural exposure, cultural immersion, make new friends, learn the local language, cooking the local food, learn about the rich Malawian culture and experience her unique hospitality by participating on our Malawi teaching volunteer project. Education is a priority, it is one of the most important tools Go Volunteer Africa can give the children in order to break the cycle of poverty affecting their lives and to help them become independent adults
Your help and assistance at the Malawi teaching volunteer project will be greatly appreciated in this rural school and will be a refreshing change to existing curriculum. These school were carefully selected by volunteers as it deserves a long term planned development program. The school is located in a community and has limited resources, both infrastructure and staff.
Volunteers can take up projects depending on the needs of the school. Volunteers can do a combination of both teaching and renovation/building work in Malawi. If you’re a native English speaker or with some teaching experience, you can be a valuable resource in the classrooms.
With your English skills you could teach proper English pronunciation and usage. Even if you’ve never formally taught a classroom subject, you can assist the local teachers in their day to day work at the school. You don’t need to know the local language, or the methods of the local school system. All you need is enthusiasm and a desire to share your knowledge and make a difference.
We currently have volunteer placements at Malawi teaching volunteer project for children of all ages. You can teach classes from nursery to secondary level. You can teach math, geography, computing, English or your basic of your native language.
A local teacher will guide volunteers during the first week of classes at the school in regard to lesson plans, schedules and teaching curriculum. If the volunteer or volunteer-intern is ready at the beginning of the second week, he or she may begin teaching independently.
Volunteers teach English to a wide variety of ages, ability levels, and professional orientations. Yet one of the most unique aspects of our Saturday/Weekly Evening classes is the incorporation of a cultural exchange element, which allows locals to learn about the diverse cultural backgrounds and customs of our volunteers while enriching volunteers’ own understanding of the local culture.
Local teachers are often very capable at providing their students with a good structural knowledge of English, including grammar and vocabulary, but having had little conversational English practice themselves, they often lack the confidence to get the children speaking English.
Despite this, the enthusiasm of the children and the appreciation of your colleagues are sure to make volunteer teaching in Malawi a highly rewarding experience! On the weekends you are encouraged to explore the country with friends you make on the program, and our representatives are available to give travel advice and make bookings for you.
SKILLS REQUIRED:
You do not have to be a professional teacher, though these are highly prized; you simply need an open heart and a desire to improve the individual understanding of children and adults of academics and the world in general.
GROUP VOLUNTEER TRIPS:
Get some friends together or organize a group from your school and embark on this incredible adventure! Discounts are offered on any group of 5+ participants on Malawi volunteering program.
LONGTERM VOLUNTEER WORK:
Please contact us for more information about our long-term volunteering program in Malawi. We will guide you on the best times of the year, what to pack, and what extra health precautions to keep in mind and all logistics.
VOLUNTEER ACCOMMODATION:
Volunteers are provided accommodation in a volunteer house or in a homestay accommodation managed by the local coordinating team. Three meals a day (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner) are provided to the participants from Monday – Sunday. The accommodations are neat and clean. Accommodation is shared amongst volunteers on the ‘same gender sharing’ basis rooms. Wifi internet, warm water is not guaranteed.
The homes are close to useful amenities like banks, ATM’s, currency exchanges, restaurants, cafes and shopping places. All placements are around 10 – 30 minutes from the accommodation. At some point volunteers might be on the move and hence we suggest also bringing a sleeping mat and sleeping bag/pillow for travel and weekends away on adventures. Bathrooms are usually shared. There is a lounge area for relaxing, reading, or watching movies.
AGE REQUIREMENT:
Our program is for anyone eighteen years and above who loves service above self and social experiences with people from all over the world. We also accepts volunteers of 16+ years of age if they are in a group with a guardian or supervisor above 25years. Volunteers under 16 years old are only considered when accompanied by a parent/guardian. There isn’t a maximum age limit, though a reasonable fitness level is necessary. Families are encouraged to apply and are welcome!
VISAS:
Visitors to Malawi must obtain a visa from one of the Malawian diplomatic missions unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries or countries eligible for visa on arrival. All visitors must hold passports valid for a minimum of 6 months from the arrival date. Depending on the purpose of visit, a traveler who has a valid visa is granted a Visitors Permit (VP) or Business Visit (BV) at the port of entry valid for 30 days and can be extended up to a maximum period of 90 days. According to a document published by the Department of Immigration, nationals of all countries that are not visa exempt may obtain a visa on arrival. Malawi launched an eVisa application system on 1 November 2019
INSURANCE:
You’ll need to buy appropriate travel insurance covering your participation on the program. You won’t be able to go without the right travel insurance so double check to avoid disappointment. Please make sure that you’re covered for the whole duration of your trip – from the day you leave your home to the day you return. Buy here Now
WEEKENDS AND FREE-TIME:
Over the weekends or evenings, participants are free to eat out and explore the different delights that Malawi has to offer. We arrange city day tours and long-weekend safaris. No matter what your interests, there is always something for everyone to enjoy!
PROJECT FACTS:
| Availability: | All year round |
| Duration: | Minimum 4 weeks commitment |
| Age Limits: | Minimum 18yrs or older for solo travelers. |
| Minimum Age: | ——– |
| Start Dates: | Flexible start and end dates |
| Arrival dates: | One day before the start date |
| Airport Arrival: | Airport pickup, meet and greet by GVA partner representative |
| Working Days: | Monday – Friday – 5 days a week, 3-5 hours in a day |
| Weekends: | Travel / Sightseeing NOT included in program cost |
| Accommodation: | Host Families or volunteer house |
| Meals: | Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily |
| Support: | Pre-departure guide, In-country staff available 24/7 |
| Location: | Blantyre and Lilongwe |
| Language: | English |
PROGRAM FEE: (USD$)
APPLICATION & PLACEMENT BOOKING FEE:
Please Note: An application and placement booking fee of $180 is charged over and above the program fee as an application payment to secure your placement.
The fee covers: Administration Costs, Placement Booking & Confirmation, Pre-departure support & documentation, 24-hour international HQ back-up. Have an inquiry? Contact Us
