Special Needs School Assistance
Coordinator | Lauren
Coordinator | Lauren
Book with Flex Option!
Choose new departure dates or change to a different volunteer program at no extra costs.
Highlights
Assist local staff in caring for children and adults with special needs, providing one to one care
Care for students aged 5-20, who have disabilities such as learning disabilities, hearing, physical and intellectual impairments
Bring along a caring nature, installing confidence in the children
Interact with the local staff and children, increasing their cultural awareness
Teach and play through games, songs, art, sport, music, singing and dancing
Teach vocational skills, computer training, speech therapy, physiotherapy, music therapy, singing, dancing, arts & crafts, physical education in special needs schools.
This volunteer program is especially suitable for:
Age 18+
Singles
Couples
50+
We work with various special needs schools in Lautoka and Nadi. The schools cater for children and young adults from 5-20 years with learning disabilities, hearing, physical and intellectual impairments. The schools are well managed and run by caring staff who can always use a helping hand. The kids are not used to seeing foreigners and so the inter-cultural learning is a significant benefit for all parties.
Volunteers provide vital one to one care, listening to students read, assistance them with there work, helping with art and craft work, helping with administration duties, assisting in the canteen and various other valuable tasks in and around the school grounds.
Teach vocational skills, computer training, speech therapy, physiotherapy, music therapy, singing, dancing, arts & crafts, physical education.
Location
Nadi is the main tourist hub with lots of back-packers places and night life. It’s also well known for for Denerau Marina where many large 5 star resorts are and western style shopping. Denerau is the gateway to the Fiji islands, which is the most popular choice for most holiday goers’ to Fiji. We’ll likely take you here and show you around as part of the orientation or if you’re heading out to the remote island teaching placement.
Lautoka, located 20 min north of Nadi, is a lovely and safe working class harbour city with many areas to explore (eg. hiking trails, mud pools etc). You will be spending time in the working class areas where the genuine needs exist.
Project Tasks
- Provide one on one care, feed, supervise and interact with the children and adults
- Play fun activites, like games, art classes, English teaching, speech therapy and more
- Assist with general duties like admin, cleaning and even computer training!
Typical day
7-8am – Breakfast and leave for volunteer project
Break and lunch
2-5pm – volunteering ends and then back to accommodation (you will volunteer for 4-6 hours each day)
6-8pm – dinner
Free-time activities
Weekends are always free for relaxing or sightseeing of your choice. Our ground operators will help you organize additional trips with special (non tourist) rates which can be paid directly in local currency.
Volunteers based in Nadi & Lautoka can choose from a wide variety of options with Nadi being the main tourist hub for Fiji and the Fijian Islands.
Volunteers based in the Coral Coast can spend the weekends exploring Suva, visiting Colo-I-Suva or Mosquito Island and searching the craft and produce markets in Suva’s town centre. From Pacific Harbour you can organize activities, such as kayaking, white-water rafting, shark feeding, jet ski tours, zip lining and diving.
Water Sports
Swimming
Sightseeing
Diving/
Snorkling
Snorkling
Shopping/
Souvenirs
Souvenirs
Climbing
Hiking
Museum/
Opera
Opera
Yoga/
Meditation
Meditation
Requirements
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.
You need to speak English (intermediate level)
required
at High School level
We require your Police Clearance and Passport page and Vaccination Card 30 days prior to the project start date.
No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.
Your helping hand will be required on
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
What's Included
Accommodation (Home Stays – Sharing with other volunteers)
2 meals p/day (Breakfast & Dinner)
Filtered drinking water, coffee & tea daily
Orientation
In country 24/7 coordination & emergency assistance
Fundraising support
University course credits (where applicable)
Certificate of Completion
Flight Arrivals into Nadi - Sat/Sun arrivals
After passing customs at Nadi International Airport, the arrival gate is directly after the bag checking area. When you travel through the main doors, to your right is the arrival waiting area with seats. An IVI Fiji representative will be waiting for you here and holding a sign with your name on it. All the info will be in the welcome pack!
Enjoy living like a Fiji local. You’ll have your own single or twin share room within private, clean and safe western style homes. You will have a place to store your personal belongings, a private bathroom and toilet (where possible – not all placements include this), a fan and single mattress or double/queen if sharing with your partner. Some home stays have self contained flats separate from the main residence. You can choose this option if desired. Internet is usually not included with most volunteers purchasing a temporary 3G plan for their own device.
Meals are included and served at the host family for breakfast and dinner with lunch on site. A typical day may consist of (subject to variation):
Breakfast – cereal, bread, butter etc, tea, coffee, milo. Volunteers can make their own eggs should they wish.
Lunch – Volunteers to prepare their own sandwich. Tuna, cold meat, salad, eggs. Some prefer to take left over dinner from the night before for lunch.
Dinner – Cooked meal (eg. stews, soups, curries, fish, roast vegetables, taro, sweet potato, bread, rice etc.
Limited access at the project site
Visa, flights, travel insurance or vaccinations are NOT included in the program fees.
The nearest airport is Nadi International Airport (NAN) in Nadi. We assist you to find cheap flights to Fiji.
Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Fiji provides security and is a plus to have.
If you are intending to volunteer in Fiji you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Fiji.
Dates & Fees
NO CREDIT CARD FEES
Details on arrival
Program starts every Monday. Arrivals on Sat/ Sun. If arriving on Sat, an extra night is charged.
* Please be aware, this project only runs in school term times. The dates for 2023 are as follows:
Term 1: 6th February – 5th May
Term 2: 22nd May – 25th August
Term 3: 11th September – 8th December
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
4 - 12 weeks
Program fees
4 weeks
(min. stay)
$1,170
8 weeks
$1,820
12 weeks
(max. stay)
$2,470
Average fees
$249
/week
Please note that the above shown program fees are estimated.
Involvement Volunteers IVI
will let you know about the final price during your application process.
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.
Your final payment will be agreed with Involvement Volunteers IVI during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.
Why book with Volunteer World
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application process
- including all necessary payments. Planning your next meaningful trip with Volunteer World gives you free access to our:
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Our services are free of charge!
All program fees are charged directly by Involvement Volunteers IVI.
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Special Needs School Assistance
Teach vocational skills, computer training, speech therapy, physiotherapy, music therapy, singing, dancing, arts & crafts, physical education in special needs schools.
$249/week
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