Dynamic Primary Teachers

  Honduras

Cofradia

Length of Position: We give priority to 6th month and year long commitments, but we also welcome those who can serve as resource teachers for shorter periods.

Description: Cofradia Bilingual School in Honduras provides a quality pre-K through 6th grade bilingual education for around 200 children in the community of Cofradia, with 39 disadvantaged students on scholarship this year. We are looking to fill several teaching positions for the start of the 2009-2010 academic year.

Honduras is a country increasingly dependent on tourism and becoming more integrated into the global economy. Our mission is to give students a command of the English language as well as a better foundation in academic subjects than is available in the Honduran government school system. For many this is their path out of poverty, for with English skills Hondurans are guaranteed better paying jobs.

While most bilingual schools provide education for only the wealthy, at CBS we provide scholarships for the neediest families in our community. Eligible children are accepted regardless of social or economic status.

Invariably, the most rewarding aspect of this educational experience is the global perspective that students develop through their exposure to our international teaching team. We carefully select teachers who have a wide array of skills and experience, and the resulting cultural experience is always as equally rewarding for the teachers as it is for the students. Our teams have included teachers from 16 different countries to date.

Cofradia is a town surrounded by mountains and cloud forest just outside of San Pedro Sula, Honduras' second largest city, just 2 hours from the Caribbean coast.

Our volunteer teachers experience a rich cultural, educational and team experience. We provide accommodation in 2 volunteer houses situated near the centre of town. Volunteers are expected to cover their own costs for traveling to Honduras, and for weekend trips.

Highlights: All of our volunteers experience an adventure in education. The irreplaceable moments when students make connections, hand you a flower, speak in full English sentences, and create a beautiful work of art. When I have asked what they saw as the real highlights of their time with us almost all of our volunteers start with things like "that visit with the First Lady", "the trip to Antigua in Guatemala", "Christmas at the beach" or "horse riding at Copan Ruinas". However, on further reflection it almost always changes to "when Jose discovered how easy it was to multiply fractions" or "when Stephanie sang that English Christmas Carol she had been struggling so hard to get right".

Volunteers are guaranteed the gratification of helping disadvantaged children climb out of poverty. You will leave Cofradia, but the children will never leave you.

Qualifications: Some of our teachers have experience teaching, but we are most interested in innovated and energetic individuals who have enthusiasm, are flexible, work well in group situations, and above all have a love for teaching children. It is also very helpful to have some experience teaching Elglish as a second language.

Minimum Education: High School

Salary / Pay: We provide accommodations and 2 meals per day, Monday through Friday. Volunteers who commit to a full school year, August through June, will receive 500 lempiras (approximately 25 USD per week). Opportunities to earn a little extra spending money are available by teaching English within the community.

Experience Required: yes

Some of our teachers have experience teaching, we do consider applications from those who have had experience working with children in other capacities. We are most interested in individuals who have enthusiasm, are flexible, work well in group situations and above all have a love for teaching children. It is also very helpful for teachers to have some experience teaching English as a Second Language.

This Program is open to American, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Honduras Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups of 12+

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Phone Interview
• Resume
• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Job and Internship Network

Cofradia's Bilingual School's Mission Statement: Finding ways to make quality education a self sustaining enterprise in order to be able to offer poor children in developing countries a real opportunity to learn their own way out of poverty. We offer a Global Education to over 300 children and an incredible learning adventure to our annual team of International volunteer teachers. We bring a multi-cultural group of teachers together in a concentrated and mutual effort to help some of the worlds least fortunate children, learn the skills that may help them make the difficult changes that will need to be made if they are to live in a world where equal opportunity and social justice are any more than slogans on political campaign posters.

Year Founded: 1997