We are very keen on welcoming volunteers to our current Junior school to assist with teaching our young students aged between 8 and 18 years. We currently have a total of 36 young students who are split into three classes: Foundation, Class 1, Class 2. Our current core subjects (Literacy, Maths, Science and Music) are taught three times per week for each class.
We offer our volunteers the chance to stay in our very affordable on-site accommodation which can also include meals depending on your selection. Please note, accommodation is limited so this is available on a first come, first serve basis. Volunteers are also offered the opportunity to study any of the traditional instruments that we teach at a discounted rate.
You can volunteer on-site by coming to The Gambia or off-site remotely. If you are interested in volunteering, below are the areas that we currently are seeking volunteers for:
Academic
We welcome volunteers in all areas of academic subjects, however we are particularly seeking volunteers to teach physics, chemistry, biology, geography and African history. We require volunteers to work with our resident teachers to offer further training and development in order to support long-term sustainability from the work that volunteers bring.
Music
We have a team of music teachers who are experts in the traditional instruments that we offer, however we are very keen to introduce students to musical traditions and instruments from other parts of the world. We are particularly seeking volunteers in music theory and guitar.
Dance
We are very keen to introduce our dance students to dance teachers from different genres and from different parts of the world. Exploring other forms of dance will give our students invaluable breadth of knowledge and will widen their creativity in numerous ways. We also find ways for dance volunteers to work closely with our local resident dance teachers to offer them a chance to learn and share techniques in an exciting exchange.
Sport/Martial Arts
Physical exercise is essential for all youngsters, but especially for our students who require stamina and endurance for their musical performances and commitments. Sport is also a important for team-work, another essential element in music. We currently offer students football, net ball and running as well as Capoeira. We are keen to welcome volunteers who assist us in developing the PE curriculum at the school as well as to offer further training to our PE staff.
Funding and Administration
Funding is hugely important to our school, and we are very much in need of support from volunteers in fundraising initiatives. No matter how small, fundraising is an essential part of our success and outreach, as all children who currently attend are unable to afford school fees.
We are keen to welcome volunteers to assist in the day to day operations of the school, as well as staff training and team building workshops. We also require assistance with our social media platforms and monthly newsletters.
Curriculum Development
Our priority right now is calling on people from all over the world to come forward and help by contributing to the development of the educational resource kit which will enable us to expand our teaching approach and curriculum content to cater for up to 300 students. Whether you might contribute a lesson plan, a course overview, or books/resources, these are all much needed in order to bring this project to realisation.
Funding Appeals
We really need support with the funding of our new campus, and you could make a real difference by volunteering to create funding appeals on behalf of the Academy. We are off to a strong start, with UNICEF coming on board earlier this year to give funding for the development of our first phase of construction. However we need to keep the ball rolling and in order to do this we need your support with donating funds, supplies or setting up funding appeals in your community. Every small contribution join together to make a huge difference.