Gap year volunteer teaching in China
Are you looking for an adventurous trip with a purpose, or on a gap year or career break? If you want to make a difference in some of the world’s most important conservation areas - and in community projects - then volunteer trips are for you! Volunteers tend to have a sense of adventure, and come from a range of different backgrounds and from all over the world.
Edward Abbey said 'sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul'.
How this holiday makes a difference
Environment
Our volunteer projects in China are relatively new but are a great alternative to the traditional 'Gap Year' or volunteering options. Introduced by our Asia Director, Richard, we employ a local English speaking representative, to support our projects. We use local services for our induction course and language course, and also encourage volunteers to buy local produce.
We encourage volunteers to use local transport when travelling independently in China, helping to reduce the impact of pollution. Riding along with the locals can also be quite good fun. On all of our projects we ask volunteers to be conscious of their new surroundings and the impact their stay may have on the environment. Using water and electricity sparingly is always recommended, as well as avoiding littering.
Community
We send small groups of volunteers to China and in the long term we hope to continue and develop our projects to help with English in more of the local schools. Schools are desperate for native English speakers so your help with grammar and pronunciation will be an enormous help. The Chinese are very inquisitive and curious about life outside China, and you will be made so welcome - they love to get English speakers to sit in cafes or gardens and talk with them!
We brief volunteers on customs and cultures advising them to be responsible and respectful to their new colleagues and friends. We interview all volunteers and discuss the project in great detail, you will be given documents about what to expect from your project, from communities, university/school life to living within the community. On arrival there is an induction course to introduce you to China. Our local representative will talk about Chinese people and their history. You will also participate in a 4 week Mandarin course so you can integrate into the community. Post project reviews are always completed with the school and volunteers to make sure help is always needed.
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