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Program Description
Teach English in Mombasa, Kenya
Description
Mombasa may be the gateway to the best safari in the world but there is another group of little monsters who need your attention; the only difference is they're a little noisier! Many of Mombasa's suburbs are very poor and the young people in the area battle poverty, child labour, alcoholism and glue addiction. Recent changes to the education system have made primary schooling free but a lack of resources has hampered its implementation. The support of volunteers is therefore critical in the continuing efforts to provide youngsters with valuable English tuition. In places where resources are so stretched, classes are understandably large, but in order to prepare you well include our TEFL certification for free.
*What does this teaching project do?
i-to-i works with a number of schools located in Mikindani, 7km west of Mombasa, and at the south of Mombasa Island. Mikindani is a very poor suburb, which means the youths and orphans in the area struggle against the problems of child labour, alcoholism and abuse. The schools were founded in the 1990s, usually with sponsorship from the local church, NGOs and other well wishers. They have been set up as places where orphans and street children in the local area can be provided with an education. The schools are severely under-resourced and often have large class sizes due to staff shortages. As the schools cannot afford to pay its teachers a good salary, it is hard for them to recruit staff and often the staff they do have are forced to take on other work, so cannot be at the school regularly.
*Why does this project need volunteers?
Education is seen as a privilege in Kenya and until recently was reserved for those who could afford to pay school fees. In recent years, primary education became free and (in theory) universally accessible. With very little funds though, the schools simply cannot afford to hire new teachers or purchase resources. The support of volunteers is critical in order to continue providing the most basic of education to children.
Find out more about i-to-i, watch their short video here: http://video.i-to-i.com/site-videos/video.html
Highlights
* Living in Mombasa - one of Africa's most vibrant cities
* Helping improve the language skills of a very deserving community
* Exploring the stunning beaches near Mombasa at the weekend
The schools are either based in Mikindani, 7km west of Mombasa along the Nairobi-Mombasa road, or at the south of Mombasa Island. Mombasa is the second largest city in Kenya and is also the largest coastal port in East Africa. Mombasa has good transport connections and is well linked to the rest of the country. Facilities are good, with several banks, including Barclays, internet cafes, tour operators and the main amenities you would expect from a city!
Qualifications
The skills you need:
As a volunteer, you will need to show patience and initiative to cope with the sheer volume of children in your classes. You will work closely with local teachers, but for those with more experience and confidence, there will be opportunities for taking classes independently. Your resources will be limited so you will need to show imagination and creativity to get the most out of your time.
Remember the children may come from difficult backgrounds and you will need to show patience and understanding and be able to act as role model. Skills in any extra curricular activities will be welcomed at this project, with particular emphasis on sports coaching and environmental awareness.
Your role as a volunteer:
When teaching in Kenya, your primary role will be to help teach English to the children. Extra curricular activities are encouraged and extremely popular at the school; in particular sports and activities to raise awareness of environmental issues in relation to the communities.
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