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Volunteer Teaching in the Philippines
As a volunteer in the teaching program in Philippines you can get involved with education to help enhance and develop students’ skills, particularly in reading, writing and speaking in English, as well as Mathematics and Science.
You are placed in a local elementary school in or around Tacloban, on the island of Leyte, where you assist Filipino teachers in the classroom. Depending on the school's needs and your own preferences, you help teach subjects such as English, math, science, arts, music, or sports, run activities that make lessons more interactive, and may lead after-school tutorials. Some placements are in special education classrooms supporting students with physical or mental challenges. The program suits students or professionals with an interest in teaching and working with children, no prior teaching experience or qualification required.
Placements run for 2–24 weeks, with starts every week (sundays), next available 20 Sep 2026. You live with a Filipino host family in the Tacloban area, in a private or shared room, and eat breakfast and dinner with them (you cover lunch yourself). Prices start at $1,139, deposit included. A specific reason to pick this program is the choice of subject you teach, matched to your own skills, alongside two local excursions to sites such as San Juanico Bridge and the Santo Nino Shrine during your free time.
- Volunteer to teach students in the Philippines
- Placements are provided in local schools
- Responsibilities include helping the in-house faculty in conducting lectures, designing curriculums, and creating a fun-filled environment for children
- Also, Involve students in out–of–the–class activities to teach them the importance of physical activity
- Explore the city on weekends and travel around
- A great opportunity to live with volunteers from all over the world, engage with the local community and get an immersive volunteering travel experience
Your role on this program
- Teach or co-teach a subject such as English, math, science, arts, music, computer literacy, or sports based on your skills and the school's needs
- Assist the classroom teacher in delivering lessons and planning activities
- Conduct classes on your own or support the teacher, depending on your experience level
- Assist teaching special education classes for students with physical or mental challenges
- Make teacher-student sessions more interactive and engaging
- Conduct after-school tutorials where needed
- Involve students in out-of-classroom activities, including physical education
- Help create a more engaging learning environment for children
Exact duties vary with the placement's needs, the season and your experience.
Role boundaries
You assist the school's own teachers rather than replace them; each class has one homeroom teacher who remains responsible for the students and is available to support you throughout the placement. Exact duties and subjects depend on the school's needs and may vary between placements, and a criminal background check is required because the role involves working with children.
A typical day and week
A typical volunteer schedule under this program is as follows;
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Saturday/Sunday – Arrival and transfer to host family accommodation
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Monday – Orientation. An orientation session will be conducted by the local coordinator, covering topic areas; such as safety, culture, language, places to visit, behavior, food, and other suggestions over things to do in the Philippines
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Monday to Friday – Volunteer Work
Breakfast – 6:00 am
Volunteer work – 08:00 am to 12:00 pm and 01:30 pm to 04:00 pm
Lunch – 12:00 pm to 01:00 pm (volunteers need to arrange lunch at their own cost. Participants usually choose to eat at a restaurant or take packed food.
Dinner – 06:00 pm onwards
Weekends – Free to explore the city
The same volunteer work schedule continues from the second week onwards.
Note: Please note, the schedule may vary depending on the particular project the volunteer is participating on.
Timings are the placement's usual pattern; the local team confirms your hours at orientation, and they can change with school terms, clinic rotas, weather and the project's needs.
Who can join and what you need
- Minimum age 17 (parental consent required for under-18 participants)
- No teaching qualification or prior experience required
- Fit and healthy at the time of joining the program
- Clean criminal background check report (issued within 12 months of the start date)
- An open, flexible attitude toward working in a new environment
- Genuine interest in working with children, including those with special needs
- Travel and medical insurance, your own policy or one arranged through Volunteering Solutions
The placement, its limits and your part in it
Placements are in local public elementary schools around Tacloban, some in rural areas, which operate under the Department of Education and have asked for extra teaching support. Schools typically have one teacher covering several subjects for a class of 25-35 students, so volunteers are brought in to help share that load rather than to run the school. A local program coordinator arranges each placement and gives an orientation before you start.
The homeroom teacher supervises your work and remains responsible for the class at all times; you support and assist rather than take over teaching duties on your own authority. Special education placements follow the same principle, with the assisting teacher directing the sessions. Your contribution is practical classroom support and English-language practice for students, not a guarantee of specific learning outcomes.
Our standards
- Responsible volunteer travel policyHow we choose, run and review every project
- Safeguarding policyBackground checks, supervision and our code of conduct with children
- Child & vulnerable adult protectionThe rules every volunteer follows on placement
- Certified B CorporationSocial and environmental performance verified by B Lab
- How we volunteer responsibly in PhilippinesCountry-level partner context and standards
Start dates
Weekly start dates, year-round — pick any week across the next two years.
Program fees by duration
Prices include your $249 booking deposit — which is deducted from your total program fee. Your deposit stays valid for one year, during which you may enroll in multiple programs. A 5% international banking fee applies to credit-card payments in USD or AUD.
| Duration | Total price | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 weeks | $1,139 | |
| 3 weeks | $1,289 | |
| 4 weeks | $1,439 | |
| 5 weeks | $1,589 | |
| 6 weeks | $1,739 | |
| 7 weeks | $1,889 | |
| 8 weeks | $2,039 | |
| Each additional week | +$200 / week |
Indicative conversion — your booking is charged in the currency you choose at checkout.
✓ What you're paying for
- Airport Pickup and Drop Off
- Welcome Orientation – Program Orientation
City Tour & Placement Orientation - Accommodation in a Filipino Host Family
- 2 Meals a Day
- Detailed Pre Departure Info Pack
- Project Placement
- 24 hrs Assistance and support from in country staff
- Travel and Medical Insurance (Available at an extra cost)
- Certificate of Participation(On Request)
Not included
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- Visa
- Vaccinations
- Flights
- Local Transportation
- Personal Expenses
Accommodation & meals
Airport Transfer
Volunteers are picked up from and dropped off at Tacloban Airport by a local representative staff member. Volunteers can arrive on Saturday or Sunday before starting their orientation on Monday.
Orientation
Orientation takes place on the Monday and includes comprehensive coverage of a number of relevant topics. It is given by a qualified staff member of the local team. Orientation includes the following activities:
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Introduction to the program, its history, structure, and organization
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Introduction to the Philippines and the Filipino Culture
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What to expect from the Volunteer Program
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Health and Safety Briefing
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Behavior Policy Briefing
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Introduction to the actual placement, with special attention to transportation
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Introduction to the placement staff and volunteers
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Accommodation
Volunteers will live with homestay families residing in the Tacloban area. The homestays have been thoroughly evaluated before they were accepted into our homestay program. are experienced in accommodating international volunteers. Prior to your arrival, you will receive a profile outlining the specifics of your homestay family.
Your homestay will welcome you into their home and treat you as a member of the family. By living with them, you will be able to experience Filipino culture and participate in their daily activities. You will eat the same food they are eating, though your homestay family knows what foreigners like to eat. If you have special dietary requirements, it is best to inform us beforehand so we can meet your needs. You will be served only two meals per day, breakfast and dinner. Your homestay will also provide you with filtered drinking water, as it is best not to drink tap water. All the homestays have electricity and running water. You will have a private room by yourself or shared with a fellow volunteer. You also are provided a mosquito net and electric fan. The bathroom or toilet, commonly called “comfort room or CR” will be shared with all the family members.
Bathroom accommodation is basic and the volunteer will take cold, bucket baths because hot running showers are uncommon in Filipino homes – don’t worry too much about this as cold bucket baths are often refreshing after being in the tropical heat all day. Finally, volunteers will also have to get used to the sound of roosters crowing even before the break of dawn.
Meals
During your time as a volunteer, you will be provided with two meals a day (breakfast and dinner) by your homestay. Aside from this, access to safe drinking water will also be provided by your homestay. All meals will be served with rice and typically include fish, chicken or pork. Homestays can cater for special dietary restrictions, however, we require that you include this in the application form.
During your Free Time
The local coordinating team in the Philippines arranges for the volunteers to go on two excursions. On one of the trips, volunteers visit the local areas of interest such as San Juanico Bridge, the Santo Nino Shrine and the MacArthur Landing Memorial Park. Volunteers will get an opportunity to experience the natural beauty of the tropical island of Leyte.
Life on the program
Getting there and who looks after you in Philippines
Airport pickup
A local representative meets you at Tacloban Airport (TAC) and transfers you to your host family. You can arrive on the Saturday or Sunday before your Monday orientation.
First night
You settle in with your homestay family, who will have received a profile of you in advance and treat you as a member of the household.
Orientation
On Monday, a qualified local team member runs a full-day orientation with a city tour, covering the program, Filipino culture, safety and behavior guidance, and an introduction to your placement and its staff.
First project day and ongoing support
You are introduced to your school and homeroom teacher after orientation, and the same Monday-to-Friday teaching schedule continues from your first week onward. The local team provides 24-hour emergency contact throughout your stay.
From volunteers in Philippines
Frequently asked questions
What will I actually be doing in the classroom?
You assist the local teacher with subjects such as English, math, science, arts, music, or sports, help make lessons more interactive, and may run after-school tutorials, with your exact role depending on the school and your own skills.
Do I need teaching experience or a qualification?
No, no prior teaching experience or qualification is required, though you should be comfortable working with children and taking initiative in the classroom.
What is a typical working day like?
Classes run Monday to Friday, 8am-12pm and 1:30pm-4pm, with a lunch break you arrange yourself, and weekends free to explore the area.
How long can I volunteer for and when can I start?
Placements run for 2–24 weeks and start every week (sundays), with the next start on 20 Sep 2026.
What does the program cost and what is included?
Prices start at $1,139, deposit included; this covers airport pickup and drop-off, orientation, homestay accommodation, two meals a day, your placement, a pre-departure information pack, and 24-hour in-country support. Flights, visa, vaccinations, local transport, and personal expenses are not included.
Where will I live and what meals are provided?
You live with a vetted Filipino host family in the Tacloban area, in a private or shared room, and are served breakfast and dinner with the family plus filtered drinking water; lunch is at your own cost.
How does airport pickup and arrival work?
A local representative picks you up at Tacloban Airport (TAC); you arrive on the Saturday or Sunday before a full-day Monday orientation that introduces you to the program and your placement.
What support is available if something goes wrong?
The local team provides a 24-hour emergency contact throughout your placement, and your homeroom teacher is available to help with day-to-day concerns at the school.
Do I need a visa, vaccinations, or insurance?
Visas and vaccinations are not included and specific guidance is sent in your pre-departure information pack; travel and medical insurance is compulsory, either your own policy or one arranged through Volunteering Solutions.
Is a background check required?
Yes, because the placement involves working with children you must provide a clean criminal background check report issued within 12 months of your start date.
Who is this program a good fit for?
It suits students or professionals aged 17 or older who want hands-on classroom experience and are comfortable adapting to a rural or small-town school setting, including special education placements.
Can I choose which subject or age group I teach?
You can indicate a preferred subject such as English, math, science, arts, music, or sports, and placements, including special education classes, are matched to your skills and the school's needs.
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