At a glance
- Support local teachers at a kindergarten, helping children meet important developmental milestones.
- There are also opportunities to work at a special needs school, providing individualised support and stimulation to the children.
- You have the change to be creative, using methods like songs and games to keep things fun and encourage children to learn.
Is volunteering with children in the Philippines right for me?
Volunteer work with children in the Philippines is open to people of all ages. It’s ideal for any creative or energetic types who enjoy spending time with children. You can join us for any length of time, from one week onwards. Our start and end dates are also flexible, so you can choose what best suits you.
Interested in a career involving teaching or childcare work? You’ll work with professionals, and gain hands-on experience helping children to learn, develop, and flourish.
All our volunteers receive a full project induction upon arrival, which will take you through everything you need to know. Your project also has a dedicated supervisor, who is there to guide you and answer any questions you might have. In addition, you have access to a resource database, which is full of inspiration for different educational activities and games you can use.
Our local staff are on hand 24/7 to help you with any issues that might arise. We also run regular workshops for our Teaching and Childcare volunteers to share ideas, give advice, and troubleshoot any issues that come up.
What will I do on this project?
There are so many different activities that you can get involved in when working with children in the Philippines. Everything you do forms part of our work to help children at our placements. During your time abroad, you can:
- Teach vital early childhood skills at kindergartens
- Improve classroom support
- Encourage learning through creativity
- Provide individualized support and stimulation to children with special needs
Your work will focus on the following areas:
Teach vital early childhood skills to children at kindergartens
Early childhood is a vital stage of development in a child’s life. It lays the foundation for their future learning, wellbeing, and success. Your role is to help them learn basic but important skills that they should achieve during this stage. These skills include recognizing shapes, learning the alphabet, being able to count, and fine motor skills.
You’ll work at a kindergarten with different groups of young children. Children in the Philippines start school at age 5, so kindergarten is a chance for them to slowly adjust to the world of formal education.
Improve classroom support
As part of your role, you will help support the local teachers. The tasks here will vary, involving anything from planning lessons, running activities and helping with class management and discipline. You might also offer remedial classes to students who are struggling.
Overcrowding is a major problem in Philippine schools. You will be an extra pair of hands in the classroom, ensuring students receive the individualized attention they need.
Encourage learning through creativity
Most of all, you have the chance to make the children’s learning experience a stimulating one. Whether it’s through dance, songs, art, or games, there are so many ways you can make education fun.
You have access to a shared database for creative lesson ideas from previous volunteers, in case you need some inspiration. Projects Abroad is also happy to provide you with extra materials, such as art supplies.
Provide individualized support and stimulation to children with special needs
Instead of working at a kindergarten, you can volunteer at a school for special needs students. You’ll work with small groups of hearing impaired children, or those with learning difficulties. The individualized teaching and support you will provide those students will go a long way in helping them learn new skills.
Access to specialized disability care in the Philippines is generally hard to come by. Many people with disabilities are marginalized and have limited access to education. Your support and attention could help them thrive in the classroom and become more autonomous in their learning.
Where in the Philippines will I be working?
Bogo City
On this project, you’ll be based in Bogo City, which is situated in Cebu province. The province itself consists of one main island and 167 surrounding islets. There’s plenty of island-hopping to be enjoyed. Bogo City can be found on the northeastern coast of the mainland island, also referred to as Cebu.
You’ll spend most of your working hours in and around the city center, where the kindergartens and schools are based. Your placements are easily accessible by public transport. You’ll work with children in the Philippines, either in a kindergarten class in an understaffed government school, or a special education center.
In your free time, there are plenty of exciting things to do and places to see. If you love adventure, don’t miss the chance to go scuba diving at one of the island’s many dive spots. Make sure to spend some of your leisure time basking on one of Cebu Island’s amazing white sand beaches. You can also add a cultural element with visits to historical sites, monuments, and local markets.
A typical day on the Childcare Project
You’ll wake up in the home of your host family, who will look after you as one of their own during your time abroad. After breakfast, you’ll travel to your placement. A typical work day begins at 8am, Monday through to Friday.
If you choose to volunteer at a kindergarten, your day will be split into two sessions where you will work with different groups of children. The morning shift runs from 8am - 10.30am, and the afternoon shift from 1pm - 3.30pm. You will also need to set aside time for planning activities and preparing resources.
The students follow the Department of Education's K-12 Curriculum. At their level, the focus is on learning basic skills. You will find yourself helping with lessons or running activities to help teach important concepts. Your day will end at 4pm, and will include a break for lunch.
If you choose to rather work with special needs children, you will spend most of your time assisting the tutors and working in small groups with the students. The children range in age from 6-19, and are divided into two classrooms. One class for those who are hearing impaired and the other for those with learning difficulties. Your day will end at 3pm, and also includes a lunch break.
Once you’re done for the day, there’s plenty of time to explore the city with other volunteers and sample delicious local cuisine at a beachside restaurant.
What are the aims and impact of this project?
The aim of this project is to support early childhood development. Childcare volunteering in the Philippines ensures that children get a solid foundation for their future learning.
Around a quarter of the population in the Philippines lives in poverty. This causes a number of associated social problems, such as illness and illiteracy. Children are especially vulnerable, and are often deprived of education and healthcare. Overcrowding in schools is common, with a ratio of around 60 students to one teacher. Access to specialized care for those with special needs is also difficult to come by.
Investing in early childhood development is vital to breaking the poverty cycle in many disadvantaged communities in Bogo City. To break this cycle, Projects Abroad has elected not to work with children in orphanages in the Philippines, but rather focus on community-based programs that allow children to remain within their families.
With the help of volunteers like you, we can work towards addressing the needs of these children and the local community. Our goals on this Childcare Project include:
- Increasing literacy
- Promoting early childhood development
- Improving hygiene levels
- Increasing emotional care and support
- Improving the quality of life for those living with disabilities
Join us in the Philippines and help to create positive, long-term change in a disadvantaged community.
Management plans
We set out the aims and objectives of our projects in documents called Management Plans. We use them to properly plan the work you’ll do. They also help us measure and evaluate our achievements and impact each year.
Ultimately, our Management Plans help us make our projects better. This in turn means you get to be part of something that makes a real impact where it’s needed. Read more about our Management Plans.
Measuring our impact
Our projects work towards clear long-term goals, with specific annual objectives. Every volunteer and intern we send to these projects helps us work towards these goals, no matter how long they spend on our projects.
Every year we take a step back and look at how much progress we've made towards these goals. We put together a Global Impact Report, which documents our achievements. Find out more about the impact our global community of volunteers, interns and staff make, and read the latest report.
Food and accommodation
You'll stay with a host family in Bogo City. They will welcome you into their home, eager to share their customs and have you teach them about your own culture. We believe that this is the best way to immerse yourself in the culture of the Philippines and have a truly unique experience.
We will always try to let you live alongside at least one other Projects Abroad volunteer or intern at the same host family. Your room will be modest, but comfortable, clean, and safe.
Your programme fee includes three meals a day.
Find out more about our accommodation.
Leisure activities and free time
The Philippines is made up of over 7,000 islands, so naturally there are some beautiful beaches where you can relax during your free time. However, there are plenty of other activities to keep you busy during your trip.
With white-sand beaches come all the exciting activities associated with living close to the sea. You can go snorkelling through the pristine waters, play volleyball, or relax on the sand as the sun sets.
In Cebu City itself, you can explore the traditional Carbon Market. For an insight into the country’s history, you can visit Fort San Pedro and Magellan's Cross. Here, you’ll learn more about the Spanish conquest.
The Spanish influence is also felt in the regular fiestas and street parades held in the Philippines. If you volunteer around the end of January, you’ll even get to experience the Sinulog Festival, a nine day Mardi Gras-style party.
With so many volunteers joining us throughout the year, there will likely be other volunteers in the Philippines during your trip. You can connect with them and explore as a group or travel independently if you prefer.
Safety and staff support
Your safety and security is our prime concern. We have many procedures and systems to ensure you have the support you need to enjoy your trip with peace of mind. Our Projects Abroad staff are available 24 hours a day to help, and will be on hand to make sure you settle in well at your accommodation and placement. If you encounter any problems, they will be available to help at any time.
Find out more about safety and backup.
This placement is fully researched, safety audited, and risk assessed in accordance with the British Standard BS8848 for the Adventure Travel Sector.
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