Teaching Volunteer Abroad Programmes

Most days centre on the classroom: assisting a local teacher with English, maths or art, running small-group activities, and leading games or extracurricular sessions like sports. Some placements include contributing to school renovation or gathering supplies such as notebooks and coloring books. You follow the local teacher's lesson plan rather than setting your own curriculum, and tasks shift depending on the school's term and needs.

No. Volunteers do not need a teaching qualification, degree or TEFL certificate to join any of our teaching placements. What matters more is patience, a willingness to prepare simple activities, and confidence speaking English with children or young adults. Qualified teachers are welcome too and often take on a slightly more structured role, but the programmes are built to work with first-timers.

Anyone 17+ (18+ on some programmes) who enjoys working with children or young people and can commit to at least 1 week. Career-break teachers, gap-year travellers, university groups and career-changers all join these placements. A background check is required, since every role involves contact with children, and a genuinely flexible attitude matters more than prior classroom experience.

Fees start from £454, with a £179 deposit due at booking and the balance payable later under our flexible booking policy. The fee covers accommodation, meals, airport pickup and in-country support for the whole placement. Flights, visas and travel insurance are booked separately. Costs vary by country and duration, so check the specific programme page for current pricing.

Placements run from 1 week up to 24 weeks, so you can fit teaching around a short break or a longer stay. Start dates are fixed rather than rolling, with most schools opening enrolment weekly or twice a month; the next available start is 21 Oct 2026. Check the start dates explorer for exact dates by country.

Placements run in India, Morocco, Peru and Tanzania and other partner countries across India, Morocco, Peru, Tanzania, Thailand, Bali and 12 more countries. Each country has its own schools, age groups and language notes, from primary classrooms in Nepal to monastery schools in Thailand. Browse all destinations to compare schools, costs and start dates before you choose a country.

You support local teachers rather than replace them. Local staff set the syllabus and stay responsible for the class; volunteers assist with pace, small groups, activities and extra attention for students who need it. You are never left in sole charge of a classroom, which keeps continuity for students and gives you clear guidance on what to teach each day.

Every volunteer completes a background check before joining, since all teaching placements involve working with children. Local coordinators brief you on the school, arrange airport pickup and accommodation, and stay reachable throughout your stay, backed by 24/7 in-country support. Our safeguarding policy sets out how schools and volunteers are vetted before placement.

Confident English is enough for most placements, since lessons are usually taught in English or with a local teacher translating where needed. A handful of programmes note that basic Spanish, French or Arabic is helpful for informal conversation outside class, but it is not required to apply or to do the day-to-day teaching work.

Placements are built around what schools actually need, not around giving volunteers a classroom experience for its own sake. Volunteers support qualified local staff, never take sole charge of a class, and complete a background check before arrival. Our responsible volunteer travel policy covers how we choose and monitor school partners.

Some programmes blend teaching with related work, such as after-school childcare or sports and games sessions for the same students. If early years care interests you more than a classroom role, see Childcare Volunteer Abroad Programmes, or look at coaching-led placements under Sports Coaching Volunteer Programmes.

Booking starts with a £179 deposit; the local team then confirms your school and sends a placement guide covering lessons, dress code and what to pack. Arrange your background check early, since schools need it before confirming a start date. Changes to dates are free up to 45 days before departure under our flexible booking policy.