The role of the volunteer

This page has been designed to explain the role and our expectations of you. If there is anything that you're unsure of, please contact us at .

What the role looks like

You'll provide assistance in the classroom with the teaching of Mathematics or English in secondary schools in Ghana or South Africa for between 5 and 6 weeks during the summer (end of June until the beginning of September).
You'll co-teach, and this can look like any of the following: lesson planning with the teacher, helicoptering whilst the teacher delivers the class, delivering the class whilst the teacher observes, marking work with the teacher.
You'll embrace a learning mindset - the cornerstone of effective volunteering. As a volunteer you should try to become aware of – and to challenge – assumptions and stereotypes, seeing every difficulty as a learning opportunity, and being open to new ideas and ways of doing things. Volunteers who cultivate this mindset will be more willing to take humble and mindful action and to listen and to adjust what they are doing accordingly.
You'll observe and learn from your professional teaching colleagues whilst contributing your own ideas. You will be working in collaboration with local teachers to deliver classes using participatory teaching techniques.
You’ll bring energy and enthusiasm to the classroom to help inspire learners to see their education and potential in new ways—always with care and respect for their individual backgrounds and personal situations.
- This same energy can also be used for you to help organise extra-curricula activities or simply taking part in wider school life (chatting and playing with the pupils or eating, chatting and sharing with all staff).
You'll build personal resilience and self-reliance.
You'll gain a whole host of new skills, including self-awareness, intercultural awareness, problem-solving and teamwork.

What we're looking for in a volunteer

You must be a current and active student at the University (refer to the FAQs for eligibility).
You must confident to teach Maths or English up to GCSE standard as a minimum.
You must be fluent in spoken and written English.
You must be motivated to be involved in the education sector.
You must be resilient to cope with the demands of living and working in the Global South.
You must be resilient to cope with attitudes and behaviours that differ from your own and your expectations.
You must be flexible and adaptable.
You must be welcoming and willing to work with others.

Our expectations of you

You'll help with the organisation of the trip by providing the team with required documents, meeting visa application requirements and meeting with your doctor about vaccinations.
You'll attend the compulsory recruitment and training days and complete all necessary requirements of the programme.
You'll take the initiative to work with members of your group in preparation for your time in Africa.
You'll develop and implement fundraising ideas to meet the £1,500 fundraising target.
You'll work alongside existing teaching staff in nominated schools in South Africa and Ghana to deliver the Maths or English curriculum, often in challenging circumstances and with access to few resources.
You'll work a full working-week teaching around 5 to 6 different classes of as many as 75 children for around 6-7 hours a day plus some extra-curricular and revision activities. Duties will also include lesson planning, lesson preparation and marking.
You might be asked to coach small groups of children on specific topics.
You'll develop course materials appropriate to the target group and use them to deliver chosen topics; sharing any materials you develop with your school.
You'll encourage teachers in your placement school to observe your lessons and share ideas through co-teaching, observing and receiving feedback from them.
You'll participate fully in the life of the school.
You'll collect photos, stories and quotes to be used in communications about the programme.
You'll complete all information required as part of the evaluation within the specified time period.
You'll be expected to participate periodically in a range of volunteer recruitment and fundraising activities, which may, for example include SU fairs; donor meeting; and receptions held with potential sponsors or alumni - we'll ask in advance giving plenty of notice.