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Program Description
WorldTeach - Volunteer Teaching with Namibian Ministry of Education
Description
The WorldTeach summer program was developed in partnership with the Ministry of Education, in conjunction with local NGOs and Microsoft, to promote the use of information and communication technology (ICT) to support education as well as develop computer literacy skills.
Since 2006, Over 300 WorldTeach Namibia summer volunteers have worked with both teachers and students to improve computer literacy as well as promoting ICTs for more effective teaching. The WorldTeach Namibia summer program is an exciting opportunity an opportunity to contribute to nationally-driven educational reforms by addressing "digital divide" issues at the most grassroots level.
WorldTeach Namibia summer volunteers serve as ICT teachers to both students and teachers/administrators, which practically means acting as a resource for improving basic computer literacy, and how to use this technology to make teaching as well as learning more effective and efficient. Moreover, because this instruction is done in English, volunteers are secondarily improving English-language skills, which is deeply needed. Most volunteers are also asked to serve as teachers in other subjects, especially English, as time, scheduling and interest allows. In addition, volunteers have the chance to become involved in extracurricular activities, within their school and/or community, in a variety of areas. Many choose to teach HIV/AIDS awareness classes, athletics, and work remedially with students that need extra assistance in certain areas, like reading.
Qualifications:
* Fluent in English
* Comfortable working in cross-cultural environments
* Independent worker
* Good people skills and organizational skills
* Flexibility and creativity in problem solving
* Teaching or volunteer experience
* Interest in international education and development
* Willingness to live with a family
Ratings and Reviews
24 of 37 people found this review helpful
I know Namibia like the back of my hand!
100%Overall
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14 of 29 people found this review helpful
I highly recommend WorldTeach Namibia
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I was a WorldTeach volunteer in northern Namibia during the 2006 school year. I taught high school biology, physical science, and HIV prevention classes. It was a challenging but wonderful experience. I am still in touch with many of my former students and colleagues from the school. I will never forget my experience in Namibia, and I hope to go back. I highly recommend WorldTeach; their level of support for volunteers is excellent because the number of volunteers in each country is relatively small, so it was easy to stay in touch with the field director and get help whenever I needed it. I felt valued by the community, which was wonderful as a newcomer.
17 of 41 people found this review helpful
WorldTeach Namibia Changed My Life!
90%Overall
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I went to Namibia in 1993, thinking I would have an adventure and help a few people. It turned out that I did all that, plus learned an amazing amount about myself, about a fascinating community, about the world. It completely changed my life goals and set me off on a new career in international development, which I have pursued and stuck with since that time almost 20 years ago. I have had many amazing adventures and experiences, in Africa as well as other parts of the world, and I trace it all back to my experience as a WT volunteer at a rural school in Namibia.
My official role was to be an English teacher for 7th and 8th graders, but I ended up doing much more. I taught an evening class for teachers (the language of instruction had just changed to English, but many of the teachers had very little English skills); taught a literacy class for the dairy workers who were laborers across the street; established the schools first library; started a hiking club with a Namibian teacher so we could get kids out into the surrounding hills and visit and appreciate the ancient rock paintings; and much more. I learned a completely different way of looking at life, of living in the moment, of thinking how to use existing resources creatively.
Plus, I made life-long friends with other volunteers, fellow teachers and students.
I could not recommend WT Namibia more strongly!
18 of 37 people found this review helpful
A time I will NEVER forget or regret
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The time I spent in Namibia was some of the most rewarding and happy times of my life. The students were SO eager to learn. The school I was at was isolated from cities and roads. That just made the school more tightly knit. I felt that I was fully accepted by the Namibians I met. I also felt like I made a real difference during the time I was there.
I still look back fondly on my time there even though a whole decade has passed. If you have any questions feel free to e-mail me at kanmullen@yahoo.com with Namibia as subject line.
I hope you take this opportunity. I am sure that you won't regret it.
25 of 54 people found this review helpful
An outstanding program in a dynamic country that needs and wants support
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I had a phenomenal experience as a volunteer teacher in Namibia in 2005. WorldTeach provides pragmatic, context-specific training with a corps of fantastic volunteers and in a truly dynamic country. I also particularly like that they seek out volunteer support and English is the national language and the system is sorely in need of support for English instruction, particularly in the more rural areas. The experience changed my life and I would highly recommend it to anyone interested.
24 of 52 people found this review helpful
Experience of a Lifetime
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Most challenging and rewarding experience of my life, giving me a sense of immense personal fulfillment, perspective and confidence in all future endeavors. The best part was the mutually beneficial relationship with my community. I encourage everyone to have an experience like this one and WorldTeach is the best in cost and in their relationship with the Nambian government.
It's a statement only one who has been to the country can make and understand. If you look at the geographical shape of Namibia, it does look like the back of a hand with a couple fingers tucked in.
My summer teaching in Namibia was an experience I cherish, one of the proudest and most memorable delights of my life (I've since been married and had a baby, so Namibia competes with a lot of personal accomplishments and life highlights).
Looking at Maddie's pictures and reading her story brought me back to the summer of 2007. The images from her village mirror the images of the learners from my village of Talismanas, on the border of Botswana. I befriended one of the teachers, who introduced me to the livelihood of those in my village, and the students came to my room daily to practice sudoko, play scrabble, or enjoy extra snacks.
No, teaching was not easy, and I am a high school teacher of English. I can say, without question, that I would give up my job in suburban Massachusetts to return to Namibia if I could. Life there is so much simpler. Frustrating, yes, but simple.
What I remember most besides the beautiful smiles of my many learners was the evening sky. Never had I seen so many stars. I had to pause while writing this because I got swept away in the memory of its true awesomeness.
WorldTeach is a wonderful program, and the experience of being able to affect the lives of learners around the world is undoubtedly rewarding, but you will be more impressed by what you learn about yourself and your perception of the world if you have the courage to partake in this journey. Register now! There is no better place to spend your summer, your year, perhaps even a few years (or longer) of your life!