Volunteer Abroad: China | EIL Intercultural Learning

China

China is a huge country with the world's largest population. It is a land rich in culture, traditions, and technological advances dating back more than 40 centuries. An early producer of paper, gunpowder and silk, China has brought its modern economy forward in leaps and bounds and has now the world's fastest-growing economy. The country also faces many challenges such as the economic disparity between urban China and the rural hinterlands, the growing rate of HIV infection and the respect of human rights. Volunteers are needed to work on teaching, welfare and sport development projects.

Main Features

5 days orientation including Mandarin classes and sightseeing
Shared apartment or accommodation on project site
Projects: teaching, welfare and sports
From 5 to 13 weeks

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Projects

There are many interesting projects available in the categories listed below. The projects given here are an example of the projects in each category. Our goal is to match the skills and expectations of the participants with the needs of the local projects. Our volunteer coordinator in the field will suggest a project for you once they have your application. They are well placed to match your skills and interests to the right placements.

Our sister office works with a network of local projects in three regions: Shanghai, Su Zhou and the Si Chuan province. The example projects given here are representative of the projects in each category, but will not necessarily be the project where you will be placed. Volunteers should be prepared to be flexible with regard to their project placement.

Teaching and Education

With increased foreign investment, a growing middle class and globalization at its door, both urban and rural populations have a strong desire to interact with foreign volunteers to learn to speak English. In settings throughout the country, volunteers will have opportunities to teach English, learn Chinese, and learn about China as an insider.

Our teaching projects aim to provide language instruction where it is most needed. The age range of students will vary from kindergarten and primary grades to high school. Facilities also vary, from urban to rural, and from well equipped and staffed to poorly funded. At every project location, volunteers will gain teaching experience and participate in an active exchange of cultures.

Volunteers teach 11 to 15 lessons (35 or 40 minutes per lesson) on weekdays and can extend their time at school by taking part in different activities. Weekends are free and time for shorter trips can normally be arranged. When you work in schools, you will share your teaching experience with local English teachers. We organise a monthly Discussion Forum in which all volunteers share their teaching methods and experience with the staff.

Shanghai Schools: Shanghai is a dynamic, diverse and stimulating city located on China's central eastern coast. Volunteers will teach at levels from kindergarten to high school, using standard textbooks as well as their own lesson plans. Many Shanghai students have proficiency at some level of English grammar, but are often unfamiliar with pronunciation and conversational language. Volunteers will focus on this while boosting the confidence of their students during the 11-15 lessons per week. Placement are available in schools from Shanghai city centre, in towns situated 2 hours from Shanghai and in rural islands situated 3 hours from Shanghai.

Su Zhou Primary school: A historic city and renowned tourist attraction, Suzhou is located in the southeast part of Jiangsu Province in the middle of the Yangtze River Delta. The primary school in Suzhou was founded in 1995 and now has 33 classes and nearly 1400 pupils. The school has developed a distinctive science and technology focus throughout the curriculum. Volunteers will teach from 11 to 15 lessons per week. Most of the teaching time is devoted to improving conversational skills.

Mian Yang Schools, Sichuan Province. The second largest city in the west part of Sichuan province, Mianyang is the provincial capital. It is an ancient city and the home of many celebrities from China's history. Our sister office is working with the Bureau of Education in Mianyang and offers placements at levels from kindergarten to secondary grades.

The secondary school is located at the city center where it has been in operation for 50 years. There are 150 teachers and 2600 students in the school today. Volunteers are needed to teach 15 lessons per week to about 60 students. Accommodation will be a shared flat about 15 minutes walk from the school. Placements are also available in the primary school.

Welfare and Health

Alleviation of poverty and providing support and facilities for the most vulnerable sections of society are some of the areas which need immediate attention. Organisations which cater for the most disadvantaged in society are always in need of volunteer assistants. Volunteers must be patient, caring and able to cope with difficult or distressing situations.

CereCare Wellness Center for disabled Children: CereCare Wellness Center of Children is located south of Shanghai. The centre welcomes children with Cerebral Palsy. A child with Cerebral Palsy has trouble controlling the muscles of their body: a child might not be able to walk, talk, eat, or interact in the way most kids do. The delightful children at the Centre where we work may have more difficulties learning, relaxing and playing than other children - and this is where volunteers come in! Volunteers can help the children to eat and look after themselves; help the staff at the centre to design the curriculum. You can also get involved behind the scenes, designing the centre's website, updating the information and writing reports and articles for it. If you are trained in nursing or medicine, or have any similar qualifications, the staff may also train you up so that you can help out with the children's treatment plans. This project needs a minimum requirement of 5 weeks. This is a truly worthwhile and rewarding project in the vibrant and colourful world of Shanghai.

Sport Development / Teaching

Traditional Chinese culture regards physical fitness as an important aspect, and, since the 20th century, a large number of sports activities, both Western and traditionally Chinese, are popular in China. There is evidence that a similar sport to football was played in China around 1000 AD, leading some modern historians to suggest that football in fact originates in China! EIL China organise placements which combine sport coaching with English Teaching. The most popular sport to coach would be football.

Chong Ming Island Primary School: This school is situated in a rural Island, 3 hours from Shanghai. The island is mostly made up of farming and residential communities set among lush green fields. As there are no foreigners in the island, you will live very close to the local community. Your placement will combine English teaching with football coaching. The school has a football team and you will help them with their football skills and team management.

Programme details

Arrival & Orientation

Volunteers will be met at Pu Dong International Airport in Shanghai and transferred to a flat or hotel in the city centre for the 5 day orientation programme. During the orientation, you will take a few hours of basic Mandarin to help you communicate at your project. There will be time for sight seeing as well as a short exposure to a culture course, such as making dumplings, Chinese calligraphy or painting. The mandarin classes and culture courses can be extended for an additional cost, depending on the length of your stay. On day 5, you will be transported to your project site.

Accommodation

You will live in your own room or a shared room in the school accommodation or in a flat to share with other volunteers. The flat in Shanghai city centre has air conditioning, a washing machine and shower. Some of the school's accommodations have TV and computers. If you work on one of the Islands, you can spend your weekend in Shanghai and stay in our volunteer flat in town.

Workplace conditions

Workplace conditions vary depending on the project. Volunteers work a maximum of 40 hours per week, with 2 days off. You might be required to work in the evenings and during the week ends. Generally there will be other international volunteers working on the project.

Start Dates

Every Monday except holydays.

Visas

Visas must be arranged prior to departure. You should obtain a 30 to 90 day class L Toursit Visa in order to enter the country. You should contact the Chinese Embassy in Dublin for more information (118 Merrion Road, Ballsbridge. Dublin 4 Tel: (01) 2691707, website: Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Ireland)

On arrival in Shanghai, we can help you to either transfer your visa into a 3 month class F Business Visa, or help with extending the L visa. Extended visa fees are currently around 16 Euros.

The EIL Development Education Network

Our volunteers work and live alongside local people in local communities in some of the most deprived areas in the world. It is in response to their experiences that the EIL development education programme was set up. On their return to Ireland we ask our volunteers to be the voice for the stories of the people they worked with and to highlight their experience of poverty and inequality. Then together we campaign to make a difference by promoting global justice, human rights, fair trade, debt relief and greater equality and respect among the peoples of the world. Our goal is to see global justice and equality reach the top of the Irish agenda.

The Application Process

Applying for the Volunteer Abroad programme is a straight forward process: after receiving your application and CV we will contact you to find out more about your interests and motivation for wanting to be a volunteer. We then send your information to our colleagues in the country of your choice and they make your placement. As soon as they confirm a suitable placement for you, we will send you all the information necessary to finalise your preparations. Although some countries can accept late applications, you should send your completed application 12 weeks in advance. The earlier you apply, the more time we have to find the most suitable project for you.

What you need to do:

Complete the application form ( Word / PDF ) and send it to us together with 2 recent passport photos, €350 deposit, and recent CV.
Do a telephone interview (or in person if you live in Cork and/or want to call in).
A confirmation letter of enrolment will then be sent within 10 working days.

If you prefer we can send you the application form by post.

For more information about applying to volunteer with EIL please see How do I apply? or contact Anton.

Cost & Details

We guarantee no hidden costs.

We encourage you to compare our costs with other organisations and a careful comparison of what is included and what is not included is always advisable.

What is included

Pre-departure information and support
Airport pickup
5 Day Orientation (Includes 6 hours Mandarin lessons, Introduction to Chinese culture, sightseeing, hotel. Meals not included)
Accommodation
Meals during project from Monday through Friday
Regular assessment meetings
24 hours support
Transportation from accommodation to project (Shanghai only)
Donation to poor schools in Sichuan Province
Free access to online TEFL resources
Debrief workshop on return to Ireland
Invitation to join the EIL Development Education Network

What is Not included

International travel.
Personal spending money.
Visa and extended visa fees.
Medical, liability and travel insurance (available for €10 per week)
Extra culture courses - Cost for additional culture course: 10 Euros per hour.
Meals during orientation.
Meals during the weekends.

Costs

Duration	Cost
5 weeks	€1149
9 weeks	€1499
13 weeks	€1799

Medical, liability and travel insurance available for €10 per week.

Prices are subject to change and are reviewed annually in November.

Visit our WHY PAY? and FUNDRAISING pages.

The EIL Development Education Network

Protect the environment: EIL Carbon offset system

Compensate for the CO2 that your flight will generate by helping to plant trees in Guatemala.

Photos & Videos

Videos:

Photos:

Stories from the field

Stories from our volunteers:

Kelly O'Flaherty - Halfway in China

30 Jul 2010 - 11:11am

The teaching is great. My classes are 30 minutes long and there is always a Chinese teacher in the room to help you if you have any communication or discipline problems. The staff at the kindergarten are so lovely and accommodating and really do appreciate you being there. I try my hardest to make the classes as interesting a possible for the kids so I teach them through song and games.

Settling in to life in Shanghai

10 Jul 2010 - 5:35am

I'm now into my seventh week in Shanghai and I'm well and truly settled in to my life here - I still have three weeks of my placement left, but I already find myself getting sad at the thoughts of leaving the city!

Kelly O'Flaherty in Shangai!

24 Jun 2010 - 5:24pm

I arrived late in the afternoon on my first day. I was met at the airport by Shelley one of the staff members of the host organisation in China. On arrival at the volunteer flat(where all volunteers stay for thier introduction week) I met all the other staff and the other volunteers here.
The first week was a busy one.

My First Three Weeks in Shanghai

20 Jun 2010 - 8:38am

I'm now three weeks into my three-month trip to China and I'm loving it! I arrived in Shanghai at the end of May and will spend a total of nine weeks in the city, with one month teaching English in a kindergarten and one month working in a primary school summer camp.

Claire Wlash from Co. Wicklow spent six weeks in Shanghai volunteering in a school with her friend Dolores

27 Jan 2010 - 10:59am

The school had a very good atmosphere of care and a fine standard of work. All the teachers were young and very hardworking. I loved it all – I learnt a lot / I don’t think our contribution was vast but everyone was very accepting and appreciative.

Gratitude for Foreign Volunteers on our Campus

20 Feb 2009 - 10:26am

We are deeply impressed by the foreign volunteers willingness to work hard at no profit to themselves to help us. Knowing that they have traveled a long way from their comfortable western homes, to work on our small island campus we are greatly moved by their generosity and they have our deep gratitude.

Stories from international volunteers:

Weiyong Wang, from Netherland volunteered for 3 weeks at the Disabled Children Centre in Shanghai

6 Feb 2009 - 5:59pm

I felt good seeing the children smile when doing something funny. I felt good being able to help. I felt good the children were greatly taken care of. But mostly, I felt good knowing the children were getting the necessary help and the love and caring they need at the center. I can remember myself thinking "this is a good place here". Having all these feelings of care, compassion, inspiration, affection, peace and motivation, I was looking forward to going to the carecenter the next day and seeing the children again!

Volunteer Outing to Xitang, Ancient Water Village

5 Feb 2009 - 7:00pm

On October 11th, all seven current volunteer-teachers in Shanghai and Suzhou were treated to a special outing by Jessie and her staff. Our destination was the ancient water village known as Xitang. There are many such villages within easy travel distance of Shanghai (see my previous post on a visit to Tongli.) The name water village derives from the waterways running through town that give the town a unique character. Xitang lies in Zhejiang province, dates back to the "Warring States" era (221 BC) of Chinese history and has many historic buildings preserved from the Ming and Qing dynasties (1600s-1900s).

Teaching English in China, Chris Brown's journal

5 Feb 2009 - 3:56pm

I am mostly teaching Grade 1 students, which correspond to Grade 6 or 7 students at home. I loosely cover the grammar and vocabulary from their book, but I am encouraged to teach whatever I feel like. I have also taught more advanced lessons with the Grade 2 and 3 students, whose English is very good. We have had dialogues about food, sports, and the differences between student life in China and the US. They have some very good questions. All of the students are curious and fun to teach. They all say hello or try a little conversation in English between classes. There is also a lot of support from the other teachers at the school. They keep me on schedule, offer tips and feedback, teach me a little Chinese, and provide great company in the evenings after school. I certainly never feel lonely.

Hanneke's account of volunteering at a Chinese primary school

5 Feb 2009 - 1:24pm

A subject which came up from time to time is whether young and old volunteers would match sufficiently. As Sarah and I were differing 45 years in age this was a good test. We both agreed that we went along very well, possibly because we did exactly the same job and because it appeared that we shared the same interests, not unsurprisingly because we both choose to be a volunteer in China. Of course there were some differences between us, also not to our surprise in view of the age difference, for example on how to spend some free time, which are easy topics to resolve.

Feedback from Lotte Bode, a Hollander who volunteered at a teaching programme in Hengsha Island in October 2007

5 Feb 2009 - 1:17pm

Any other comments?
Thanks a lot for all your great help. You for sure made my trip to be as good as it was. I would not have known what I'd done If you weren't there to help out with finding the way, buying a train ticket, showing me the best street food (which I'm really gonna miss). When you come to Holland call me and I'll show you the Dutch food!! Thanks again!

Albert Perry from the USA volunteered in China in 2007. He recounts his first impressions following a 15 hour Mandarin course to help prepare him for his project

5 Feb 2009 - 1:12pm

My first week in Shanghai offered living testimony to the old adage that the best teaching is, in the final analysis, a process of learning for the instructor as well as the students. Never in all my years of teaching, and living, have I been as challenged and stimulated as during those beginning days of my stay in China.

Sarah Murray a local cordinator and describes how she helps volunteers settle in

5 Feb 2009 - 1:08pm

I introduce the basic tools of 'four treasures of study' (writing brush, ink stick, paper, and ink slab) and then I teach the volunteers how to hold a brush so that they can write characters with it. I also explain why they should not be hesitated when they are writing, because once the brush movement hesitates, a black mark is created, so speed, strength and agility is the essence of fine artwork.

Country info

Please check back for updates.

FAQ

Questions

Is it safe?
Who volunteers?
Can I go with a friend or family member and can we be placed in the same project?
Is the deposit refundable?
Can I combine more than one country?
How long can I go for?
When can I go?
How much does it cost?
What’s the difference between EIL’s volunteer abroad programme and others?
Why aren’t volunteers paid/given expenses?
Why do volunteers have to pay for their programme?
I would like to participate in the programme but I didn’t realise how much it would be or simply can’t afford it.
How do I apply?
When should I apply?
Can I come in to discuss options?
What visa do I need?
What vaccinations should I get?
What are the age limits?
Do I need any special skills/qualifications?
Can I work on a specific project?
I already have a good language skills – can I drop/reduce the language course?
What is the accommodation like?
Will there be other volunteers going at the same time as me?
What does the optional insurance cover?
Can I apply from northern Ireland/UK/outside Ireland?

Answers

Is it safe?

We only place volunteers in locations where it is safe to do so. Traveling to a developing country can be challenging, but most people travel without encountering trouble.

Volunteers are briefed on safety issues during the predeparture workshop, during the orientation in-country, by the host family.

We have an emergency system in place with 24h emergency phones (in Ireland and overseas). It is advised to check government travel advice for your destination. Check the websites of the Irish Dept. of Foreign Affairs and the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Also read the safety information that we send you and of course exercise caution in any country.

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Who volunteers?

EIL volunteers come from a range of different backgrounds. Our volunteers are:
- Students and young people willing to volunteer abroad during their holidays, between jobs or on a year out.
- Office workers, teachers, farmers, nurses, engineers, factory workers, waiters and just about anybody wishing to help, take some time out or just looking for a different experience during their holidays.
- Retired people who want to put their time and skills to good use.
- Apprentices and students who need to complete an internship or work experience.
- Youth clubs, family groups, clubs, school groups or groups of friends.
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Can I go with a friend or family member and can we be placed in the same project?

It is possible to apply with one or several friends, family members or a partner and to be placed in the same accommodation and project.

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Is the deposit refundable?

The vast majority of the applicants are accepted in the programme but if your application is not successful, we will refund your deposit. Otherwise, the deposit is not refundable.

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Can I combine more than one country?

It depends on the combination of countries. As we are dealing with two different programmes you will have two different programme fees. We may be able to look at a reduction of our administration fees but this is a small part of the fee. In the case of Latin American countries you may be able to do the language course in one of the countries thus reducing the fees in the other country. This will depend on our office in country and we need to make arrangements with them to do this.

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How long can I go for?

Programme lengths vary from minimum 2 weeks to 11 months, depending on which country you choose. 2/3 weeks programmes are available in Guatemala, Thailand and Vietnam. Though if you choose to go for such a short period it is important to have realistic expectation as regard as what you can achieve.

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When can I go?

You can join most of our programmes any time of year. Many of them have flexible start dates. We have set start dates in South Africa, Nepal, Nigeria, India, Morocco but they have at least one every month. If you are looking for a teaching placement we need to check the term times in that country.

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Will there be other volunteers going at the same time as me?

If this is a priority for you to be placed with other volunteers we will indicate you the programmes where you are very likely to be with other volunteers. If there are volunteers going to the same destination at the same time we will put you in touch via e-mail so you can become acquainted. There may well be other international volunteers from other countries working with you. However, be prepared that you may be the only international volunteer there. This is a greater opportunity to immerse yourself in the culture and get to know local people if you are not relying on other volunteers. Be prepared that you may feel isolated or lonely sometimes. Accommodation in volunteer house and volunteer camps (with other international volunteers) are available in Thailand, Vietnam and India.

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How much does it cost?

The programme fee varies depending on which country you choose and the length of programme. All the programme fees and what is included are on our website and in our country specific information sheets. To give an idea, programme fees start at €785. If the full length of language course isn’t needed, we maybe able reduce the programme fee. Our fees do not include flights, visas, vaccinations, medical and travel insurance, and personal expenses.

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What’s the difference between EIL’s volunteer abroad programme and others?
- EIL is an established Irish not for profit intercultural learning organistion
- We work with sister organisations who are members of the EIL worldwide network.
- We will thoroughly analyse your profile, needs and expectation and match it with the most suitable volunteer programme
- Our programme are flexible: placements are available in 15 couintries, from 2 weeks to 11 months with start dates year-round and a wide range of project is available
- Volunteers are placed in local projects supporting local initiatives
- We offer an authentic cultural experience including a full cultural orientation and most programmes include stay with host family.
- Safety is the first priority: our volunteers have 24-hour support in country from our National office, the local co-coordinator as well as mentors on the project.
- Our programmes fees are very competitive and cover accommodation, meals, transfers, support - with some exceptions.
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Why aren’t volunteers paid/given expenses?

We place volunteers in local partner organisations in developing countries. These organisations need volunteers because they can't afford enough paid staff and are not in the position to offer expenses/pay volunteers. EIL and the partner organisations we work with are not for profit making organisations and depend on the support of volunteers. Please see Why pay? for more information.

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Why do volunteers have to pay for their programme?

EIL and our in-country partner organisations are non-profit making organisations. The programme fee covers the cost of placing a volunteer in the project, to provide accommodation, meals, transfer and transport, pre-departure & in-country support and insurance. The projects volunteers are sent to in developing countries cannot afford to cover these costs themselves. Please see Why pay? for more information. Many volunteers cover some of the costs by raising funds. Fundraising support is available and we will send you a fundraising pack.

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I would like to participate in the programme but I didn’t realise how much it would be or simply can’t afford it.

We recognise that some of our participants are students and affording the programme fee is an issue. Many volunteers cover some of the costs by raising funds. Fundraising information and advice is available. We also have a number of travel awards and scholarships available every year. Keep an eye on our website for these awards.

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How do I apply?

Applying for the Volunteer Abroad programme is a straight forward process: after receiving your application and CV we will contact you to find out more about your interests and motivation for wanting to be a volunteer. We then send your information to our colleagues in the country of your choice and they make your placement. As soon as they confirm a suitable placement for you, we will send you all the information necessary to finalise your preparations. Although we are usually able to accept late applications, you should try to return this form not less than 8 weeks prior to your intended date of departure. The earlier you apply, the more time we have to find the most suitable project for you.

What you need to do:
- Complete the application form ( Word / PDF ) and send it to us together with 2 recent passport photos, €350 deposit, and recent CV.
- Do a telephone interview (or in person if you live in Cork and/or want to call in).
- A confirmation letter of enrolment will then be sent within 10 working days.
If you prefer we can send you the application form by post.

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When should I apply?

Although we are usually able to accept late applications, you should try to return this form not less than 8 weeks prior to your intended date of departure. The earlier you apply, the more time we have to find the most suitable project for you, and you will also need time to sort out your flights, visas and vaccinations.

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Can I come in to discuss options?

You can discuss options over the phone or if you live locally you are welcome to come in. Before you take the trouble to visit us at our offices, we recommend thinking about where you would like to go, what placement you are interested in, when you want to go, how long you want to go for and why you want to volunteer. Call to make appointment.

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What visa do I need?

The type of visa will depend on where you are going and for how long. Visa information is available on our website and on the info sheets we can post you. However you are responsible for your visa and you should contact the Irish Embassy or Consulate for the destination country in good time prior to departure for the requirements and application procedures.

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What vaccinations should I get?

For legal reasons we cannot give advice on this. Please contact your doctor or the Tropical Medical Bureau.

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What are the age limits?

You have to be over 18 for most programmes. If you are on the younger than 18 please contact us to discuss the options. There is no upper limit.

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Do I need any special skills/qualifications?

No. We are looking for people who are independent minded travelers. Living in a developing country demands flexibility, initiative, maturity and drive. Of course if you have particular skills and experience that you would like to use then we will take this into consideration when finding a suitable placement. Please see Is this for me?

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Can I work on a specific project?

You can indicate the type of project that you would like to work on and if you have a particular example in mind from our website then you can indicate it. This is not guaranteed. Our partner organisations will suggest a placement for you. They are well placed to match your skills and interests to the right placements.

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I already have a good language skills – can I drop/reduce the language course?

Sometimes this is possible – we would have to know what level you are at and check this with the national office in-country first.

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What is the accommodation like?

It will depend on the country and project, either with a host family, in a volunteer house / camp or with an independent room at the project site. It may be basic compared to the standards you are used to here. We will provide details of the family or accommodation you will be staying in before you leave.

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What does the optional insurance cover?

Basic travel, medical and liability and baggage insurance. Information on what it covers is available in the insurance booklet we will send to you. We can also check with our insurance company if you have specific queries.

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Can I apply from northern Ireland/UK/outside Ireland?
- Northern Ireland: we can take applications.
- UK: We will pass your details onto EIL UK and ask them to get in touch.
- Other: Please visit Federation EIL to find the nearest EIL office to you.
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EIL Intercultural Learning