I have tried the search engine...

And cross posted on the Africa branch...

For a while now I have been thinking that I, and my kids, have had a somewhat over-privileged life.

I'm a qualified teacher (previously I was a solicitor) and I'd like to spend some of my 13 weeks holiday a year in volunteering. I don't have a TEFL qualification, by the way, but I am a qualified teacher of English and Law to A level and Science and Maths to GCSE. I have four children aged 9 to 13.

What I would like to do is to build a relationship with a school somewhere culturally different, with a view to teaching there for maybe 6 or 8 weeks a year (5 weeks in the Summer and a couple of other stints, maybe), and also building a relationship also between the school and that in which I work -- perhaps also engaging my students in some fundraising. I'd happily pay for board and lodging, but I'd need somewhere I can take my own children and maybe they can join in, or at least be safe (i'm a single parent and they live with me). Ultimately I'd like there to be exchanges of some sort -- maybe teachers coming to us. Perhaps help them in planning learning and so on. I normally teach 13-19 year olds, but I've taught primary too.

Has anyone ideas, or can you point me in the right direction?

Many thanks

Cogs

i know nothing about this kind of thing, but i liked the idea, so here are a couple of things that came to mind;

some universities have links with other universities in developing countries. You could perhaps approach a local uni (if there is one) to see if they can put you in touch with a uni they're linked with who might be able to help set up such a program.

you could think about choosing an area you'd be interested in working in and taking a trip there and approaching schools directly, it could more effective than an e-mail or phone call.

all the best, hope it goes well!

Ambitious, but a great idea. I wish you all the luck.

During my searches on the thorn tree, I've seen this place in Uganda recommended several times, also as an option for volunteering.
www.susnow.org/amagara/index.html<BR>Your idea sounds great for you and for your kids. Good luck.
Dyanne

thanks - I will contact them.

talk to calabash in South Africa www.calabashtrust.co.za they do amazing work with a group of township schools and maybe able to point you in the right direction

Check out Tikondane.org

They have a community school catering for 312 children, mostly orphans. They desperately need help with English reading and writing as the local language is Chi Chewa but all exams in Zambia are in English. We spent a month there.
School is very basic, accommodation is very basic, but the people are welcoming and your children would get the chance to live in a community and they, depending on ages, could even help the local kids with reading practice.

thanks again, everyone