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Perfect 4.60rating (22)
  • Quality Education
  • Good Health And Well-Being

English Teacher for Street Children

location
4 - 24 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+
rating  Perfect 4.6  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Very high response rate

Highlights

  • Bring smile to poor children.
  • Explore India and Indian culture.
  • Volunteering to bring peace around.

Highlights

  • Bring smile to poor children.
  • Explore India and Indian culture.
  • Volunteering to bring peace around.
  • Equality is the main theme of this project.
  • Visit Incredible India and help SmileNGO.

    • Especially good for

    Age 18+
    Singles
    Couples
    Families
    Groups
    50+

    About the program

    SMILE language Teaching Project is an effort to teach foreign languages to underprivileged Children from Street and slums.

    Would you like to help SMILE NGO to bring a smile to the most neglected children living in kolkata ,India?

    The project

    This project is all about bringing smile to all underprivileged refugee kids. Providing informal basic education like english teaching, hygiene basics, organising entertainment ...

    About the program

    Would you like to help SMILE NGO to bring a smile to the most neglected children living in kolkata ,India?

    The project

    This project is all about bringing smile to all underprivileged refugee kids. Providing informal basic education like english teaching, hygiene basics, organising entertainment programs, food distribution for these children under SMILE Happy Home Project (A Non Formal School for destitute refugee children) would be the main target of the volunteers. SMILE Society (Situational Management & Inter Learning Establishment Society) is a registered Non profit working for these underprivileged communities around the state of West Bengal since 2003.

    Most important target of the project is to bring smile among these children. Volunteer use different ways of informal education technique to present a unique and attractive way of education programs for these kids. Most of these kids speak local Bengali/Hindi language but they are very smart and intelligent.so teaching them with the support of local coordinator would not be so difficult, just little bit of patience and involvement can solve this problem easily. 

    Volunteer work

    All volunteers go through orientation on arrival and  local language session during this period. There is also a workshop every evening when volunteers prepare the next day lesson plan of action. Volunteers can also help local coordinator in other activities like food distribution, organising theater, storytelling and entertainment games for the children. Whole camp is run the supervision of very experienced local project coordinator. Saturday and Sunday are free for volunteers. You can rest or tour around the city or nearby places. 

    Moreover if you get a chance to live with the local host family then that brings extra bonus to any traveller. It helps to learn the culture, tradition, language while staying within the normal people of the society. Living on any hotel can never give any traveller such wide scope to know the society and communities as a whole. SMILE society always tries to give international volunteers a big scope to know about the local communities and understand the family environment. Smile Society (NGO) has been operating since 2003! 

    Volunteer would be given responsibility of a small group 2-4 children at a time and this number would be flexible so as the children. We also hope volunteer would help the children to speak English and prepare a Lession plan for individual kids. Education level varies a lot. Normally there is no need of supplies to bring for the class but if anyone wish to bring any education supplies for children is fine. 

    The location:

    Madhyamgram (8 km from Kolkata Airport). It is a suburbs with all facilities, transportation, shopping places. A peaceful place than centre of the city. 

    Typical day

    Example Daily Schedule: 
     
    Wake up early morning: 9am

    Breakfast: 9:30 am (self service)

    Work: 3-4 hours during week days (Teaching street children between 3-14 years & Manual services like painting, cleaning classroom etc.) 
    late afternoon: 3pm - 5 pm (local language class and lesson planning session ...

    Typical day

    Example Daily Schedule: 
     
    Wake up early morning: 9am

    Breakfast: 9:30 am (self service)

    Work: 3-4 hours during week days (Teaching street children between 3-14 years & Manual services like painting, cleaning classroom etc.) 
    late afternoon: 3pm - 5 pm (local language class and lesson planning session for next day) 

    Dinner: 7 pm ( volunteers required help themselves in serving ,washing )

    After 7:30pm exit door would be closed. No one allowed to go out or come in the accommodation after 7:30pm everyday including weekends.
    9:30 bed time
     
    ** Please remember that programme schedule or project site can be changed or altered by the Project In-charge if required and all volunteers are requested to cooperate with our local members and partners. All schedule should be followed and mandatory for everyone to participate and contribute **
     

    Free-time activities

    An amazing country filled with interesting people, culture and tradition!
    Explore the country with exciting diversity. Kolkata, the city of joy was known before as Calcutta during the colonial time. This ancient city used to be the capital during the British colonial period. This city has a full ...

    Free-time activities

    An amazing country filled with interesting people, culture and tradition!
    Explore the country with exciting diversity. Kolkata, the city of joy was known before as Calcutta during the colonial time. This ancient city used to be the capital during the British colonial period. This city has a full heart, most people belong to the middle class. There are also rich and poor people all around. City Kolkata is known for its busy traffic, huge population, warm welcome and poverty around the street corners! It is a great place to visit for every tourist coming to India. Kolkata -itself is a great tourist place with its historical value- is well connected with many famous and attractive tourist places you can explore during weekends.
     
     

    Requirements

    Requirements

    Minimum Age: 18 years

    In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.

    Language Skills

    You need to speak English (fluently)

    Education Requirements

    English teaching at High school level

    Criminal Background Check

    required

    Required Documents

    CV, passport and background check report

    Nationality Restrictions

    No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

    Other Skills

    Flexibility, patience, hard work.

    Time Commitment

    Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

    What's Included

    What's Included

    Services by SMILE Society, India

    Living Cost includes: 3 times local food, shared dorm room at local host family, public transportation (train/bus) to and from project site and  accommodation, airport pickup on arrival, drinking water , local coordinator support at every project, 2 days of orientation , workshop training ( Mon-Fri), Pre-departure orientation, emergency support, local language training on arrival orientation also included.
     

    Airport Pickup at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Airport

    Airport pickup available n arrival between 6am-6pm. Volunteers arriving after this time are requested to find their own hotel around airport and meet at 6 am next day I front of Airport gate 4A. Volunteers can also stay at Airport lounge for that night and meet our staff in the morning.

    Accommodation

     Dormitory basis in host family/school building as per available on arrival (on cot with mattress/on floor with mattress, 2-10 volunteers in one room) shared accommodation (normally male & female separate room). You will get accommodation till 6 pm on the last day of your camp.We are unable to provide you any accommodation before or after these dates. Please arrange your own accommodation in case of early arrival or late departure .You are requested to meet our representative at the meeting place on exact time given above. If you arrive early then you can have your stay in any of the different hotels available nearby Airport, within 2 -3 km .on the road popularly called as V.I.P road. You are requested to take any cab to check in any of these hotels. If you arrive at earlier night then you are requested to stay inside the airport terminal and meet at the next morning with our representative at 12 noon. 
     

    Food & Beverages

    Food: You will get 3 times local veg food from host family as per available on arrival. Please do not expect any kind of special dishes (veg/non veg) or cold drinks or special living room or air conditioned room during your term. You are requested to get ready for a simple and challenging li

    Internet Access

    Limited access at the project site

    What's NOT included?

    What's NOT included?

    Flight Tickets

    The nearest airport is Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Airport (CCU) in Kolkata. We assist you to find cheap flights to India. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

    Travel Insurance

    Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for India provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

    Vaccines

    If you are intending to volunteer in India you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for India. VACCINE CHECKER

    Details on arrival

    Volunteers are welcome anytime of the year.

    Availability
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

    Program fees

    4 weeks (min. stay) 603€
    8 weeks 1,106€
    24 weeks (max. stay) 2,815€
    Average fees 134€/week

    Program fees

    134€ per week 4 - 24 weeks Age 18 - 50+

    Payment methods

    Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

    NO CREDIT CARD FEES

    Duration

    4 - 24 weeks

    Deposit

    The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.

    Final Payment

    Your final payment will be agreed with SMILE Society, India during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.

    Meet your organization

    SMILE Society, India

    Perfect 4.6 rating (22 reviews)

    Non-profit - founded in 2003

    Verified by Volunteer World

      Very high response rate

    Coordinated by

    Kamala

    Spoken languages: English

    About the project

    SMILE NGO is one of the prestigious International Youth Volunteering organisation from India. SMILE is also member of various international Volunteer Exchange networks.

    Meet your organization

    SMILE Society ( Situational Management & Inter Learning Establishment Society) is a registered NGO / NPO working in the field of International voluntary Service ( IVS) . SMILE is a member of CCIVS (an international volunteer network under UNESCO), NVDA and WANGO. SMILE is also working with many international reputed voluntary organizations including members from European Alliance Network and other IVS networks from around the globe.

    Our foremost goal is to "Bring a Smile to Every Child." We ensure that all volunteers are provided with a safe and enriching experience. Our flexible approach means that you will be given a placement to suit your needs and time scale. There are many other attractions that SMILE volunteers can enjoy, including discounted rates for trekking, rafting, and various safari trips including the Ganges.  All international students are also welcome to take part in our Internship Programme. Our unique placements could become the trip of a lifetime.

    International workcamp for youth volunteers , students groups, and long & middle term volunteer participants are welcome in India.SmileNgo offers exciting volunteering opportunities like special group & Teen group projects in India and abroad. Be a Volunteer to help in different noble causes which can change other's life forever. There are many short,middle & long term and group volunteering opportunities available round the year. Inter cultural exchange youth & student exchange projects are also available to know each other's culture and tradition.

    Lets volunteer to bring smile around !

    Languages Spoken

    India is a big country with many local languages, hindi is the national language though there are many other languages spoken in the different states of India. There are local people in every city know English. Volunteers need to speak basic English as their Indian host families speak with them in English. 

    Wo are we looking for?

    We simply ask that volunteers are open-minded, flexible, and respectful of cultures and traditions, determined and motivated. Any special qualifications you may have are always useful. Volunteers can seek placement and/or accommodation with a friend/ friends. Please indicate in your application, and we will do our best to place you in the same accommodation and/or project. Please keep in mind that this is subject to availability.

    22 reviews · rating4.6

    Norby Fernandez rating5

    2024 at English Teacher for Street Children

    I had spend a month at the Smile Society, they gave me the most amazing experience about Indian culture. On my basic day I had practice yoga, meditation and also working with kids helping them with basic English and Maths. In my free time I went to Kolkata city to visit museum, shops, temples and ...
    Alan Alderson rating4.8

    2023 at English Teacher for Street Children

    I visited Kolkatta last November in order to carry out some decorating to the Smile India school. Whilst there, I also helped to teach the children basic English and keyboard navigation. From the minute I arrived, Kamala and everyone else made me feel so welcome . After breakfast, I would paint the ...
    Collie Joyce-Ahearne rating5

    2022 at English Teacher for Street Children

    Myself and 3 other teachers from Ireland volunteered with SMILE for 4 weeks in Kolkata. From the moment we arrived we were looked after like a part of the family. Kamala is an incredible team leader, and made it so easy for us to get stuck into the work straight away. The accommodation and ...
    Catherine Garret-Ricard rating5

    2019 at English Teacher for Street Children

    From Kolkata airport, I was greeted by a big Kamala smile. And everything in this project is smile: smile of the children we welcome, smile in front of the good meals prepared for us, smile of well-being after a session of meditation and yoga. But above all the kind and attentive smile of our ...
    Jerry Jennings rating5

    2024 at Urban Organic Garden Assistant

    I recently volunteered with Smile Society in Kolkata. Although I signed up to work in the urban agriculture program, I ended up primarily working with the kids that Smile Society helps. The kids live in the neighborhood in what is described as "near homeless". The kids live pretty challenging lives, ...
    Remy Thomasson rating5

    2024 at Repainting and Renovation Of School

    I absolutely loved my experience at Smile Society! Living with the amazing host family was an enriching experience, and being able to contribute to helping underprivileged children was incredibly fulfilling. I urge others to join this program; not only will you make a difference in the lives of ...

    Location

    Asia > Southern Asia > India > Kolkata

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    Volunteer Abroad  >  Education  >  English Teaching in India
    Contact Kamala
      Very high response rate
    English

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    Travel dates

    1. - 1. Jan 1

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