Dynamic Primary Teachers

  Honduras

Cofradia

Description: Cofradia Bilingual School in Honduras provides quality K- 9 bilingual education for around 300 children in the community of Cofradia, with 143 disadvantaged students on scholarship this year. We are looking to immediately fill several teaching positions for the start of the 2007-8 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.

In addition to a solid academic education from kindergarten through the 9th grade, we also introduce students to other practical life skills through our vocational and agricultural programs. We strive to meet the needs of the community at large with low cost literacy and adult education programs in the evening (optional for teachers).

Invariably, the most rewarding aspect of this education 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 1 ½ hours from the Caribbean coast.

We provide our volunteer teachers with a rich cultural, educational and team experience. We provide accommodation in 3 beautiful group homes situated in the centre of town, and all food and living expenses are covered. Volunteers are expected to cover their own costs for traveling to Honduras, and for weekend trips. Please note that we are able to provide advice about low- cost flights and health insurance.

We give priority to applicants who can give us a year long commitment, but we also welcome those who can serve as assistants in classrooms for shorter periods.

Highlights: All of our volunteers have experienced amazing moments during their time with us. It is small moments like the moment when a child realizes he or she can actually do the homework without help that makes it all worthwhile. 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".

Qualifications: While the majority 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.

If you can see yourself in the above description, are dynamic and innovative, have a yearning for adventure and are looking for a real multi-cultural immersion and learning experience then the chances are you qualify and would be a wonderful asset to our teaching team.

Salary / Pay: While there is no actual salary associated with this job, we do supply accommodation, good food and basic living expenses at a level that actually makes you more highly paid than the vast majority of Honduran workers. Opportunities to earn a little extra spending money are available and if you wish some additional salaried English teaching (ESL) can be organized. Free internet, phone and luxury bus tickets to destinations in Honduras and Guatemala, donated by a local company, are also part of the package.

Experience Required: yes

While the majority 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 World Wide 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 Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Exit DebriefingAbroad
• 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 children 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