Volunteering Abroad To Work With Children

Thu, 09/10/2009 - 02:00 | Sarah Palmer

What’s involved In Volunteering With Children?

Orphanage Assistance: This is one of the most common types of volunteer abroad programs, and one of the most hotly contested. Volunteers usually work with children whose parents have passed away, or whose parents cannot or will not take care of them. Projects can focus on childcare, teaching, and extracurricular activities. Because this is one of the most popular types of programs available, it has also been widely corrupted, with scam artists and abusive “childcare” centers exploiting children for money from unsuspecting tourists and volunteers.

Street Children: Volunteers working with street children often focus on rehabilitation, education, social work, and career training. They’re not always orphans; many have families but no housing, and are forced to forage and live in the streets.

Children’s Groups: Volunteers can coach a sports team for an after-school club, organize a play or a group art project, or teach wilderness survival skills. Children’s group assistance can be compared to Boy or Girl Scouts, where you’ll volunteer as a guest leader or a camp counselor.

What’s Needed From Volunteers Who Work With Children?

Many volunteer groups ask that their volunteers stay a month or longer. Knowledge of your host country’s language can be helpful, as it may make it easier to communicate with some children who aren’t bilingual. Short-term projects usually are relegated to healthcare, where a team of doctors, dentists, or surgeons will volunteer to administer checkups and vaccinations.