Country: Lebanon
Closing date: 21 Jan 2017
Period: 2 months
We are looking for volunteers to join us for a placements of 2 months.
Starting date: 5th January 2017
We are looking in particular for volunteers who are able to join us in early January (around the 5th), as we will be opening a new centre in Saida, and need volunteers to start an exciting new programme there.
All the same, volunteers are open to apply for any two-month period between now and the end of the programme in September 2017. The start and end dates of each placement must be at the beginning of each month (e.g. 5th March - 3rd May).
This post is aimed at the January and February intakes of volunteers, which explains why the closing date for applications is set at 21st January 2016.
Programme Description:
SB Overseas is looking for enthusiastic and capable volunteers to teach English and help run two of our schools and women’s training centres in Lebanon, both of which were established to serve refugees: one in Sidon (in the south-west), and another in Beirut (in the west).
The refugee children in our schools need this remedial education in order to have a chance of passing entry tests for the Lebanese public education system. Without access to public education, they risk missing out on an education permanently, and becoming a “lost generation”.
The women who go to our centres, meanwhile, find themselves in particularly vulnerable situations inside the refugee camps, and need the training and support provided by our teams to empower them with the promise of a brighter future. They have asked for us to provide them with English lessons, for the sake of their own self-confidence and self-reliance, as well as for practical purposes, such as being able to read labels on food and medicines.
Role/Duties:
The core activity in this role is teaching lessons in our classrooms for our women and children. The roles will be split: some volunteers will be tasked with teaching the children; a smaller number will teach the women. Those who are assigned to the children will lead classes in English, as well as assisting in Maths lessons. Volunteers assigned to the women will teach English only.
In between lessons, volunteers will be asked to assist in other teacher's lessons, teach one-on-one lessons for weaker students, teach English to our staff, and spend time preparing activities and teaching materials. Other duties will include running weekend activities for the children, and potentially some other tasks, such as administrative work.
Skills/Experience:
No specific skills or experience are considered essential, although some experience teaching or working with children or women in some other capacity (e.g. babysitting) is desirable.
The single most important quality we look for in candidates is that they are motivated to help others. As with all teaching roles, the ideal candidate will be adaptable and have a positive and resilient attitude, capable of bringing energy, patience, persistence, creativity and a willingness to improvise.
Other details
SB Overseas provides accommodation and a food budget for volunteers, although we ask for a contribution of $500 for the entire two-month placement, which will go towards the rent for the volunteer apartment.
How to apply:
To apply, please head to our website, where you can download a copy of our application form. Please and fill out this application form and send it along with your CV to volunteers@sboverseas.org.
Alongside the application form on our website, you can also find our programme FAQ, which contains more detailed information about the programme.
You can also check out our programme’s Facebook group, where you can find photos and updates, as well as the most up to date information on the application process. Please take this opportunity to like our Facebook page as well!
If you have any questions that aren’t answered in these places, please send them to volunteers@sboverseas.org.