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Philippines

Childcare and Social Welfare Program in the Philippines

Volunteer with local childcare centres and social welfare projects and take care of children from underserved communities in and around Tacloban region.

Highlights

  • Volunteering opportunity at local childcare centres and social welfare projects
  • Get to live with locals and take care of children from underserved communities
  • Responsibilities include assisting local staff, “babysitting” children, organising learn and play activities and mentoring
  • Volunteers work on weekdays, for at least 4 hours a day and weekends are free to explore the city
  • A rewarding opportunity for responsible travellers, and gap year travellers looking to make their year meaningful
Freiwilligenprogramma voor kinderbetreuung op de Filipijnen

Overview

An impactful way to help the underprivileged and poverty stricken families of the Philippines is to volunteer for the country’s young ones. Volunteer for the Childcare Programs in the Philippines and do your bit. Placed in childcare centres in and around Tacloban City, including both rural and urban centres, volunteers in this program take several different responsibilities that range from taking care of children, partaking in administrative activities and engaging children in interactive and informative activities.

Child care facilities cater to children who have been abused, neglected, abandoned, or surrendered. On a few occasions, some children are left at the facility temporarily to obtain medical care that their parents cannot afford. As soon as the facility finds an appropriate home, preferably relatives, the children are returned to the community. Children who have no family members or relatives to take them in stay longer in these facilities until they find foster families. The care facility functions as a temporary home to these children and provides them with their basic needs.

Volunteers in social welfare placements volunteer at a facility of disadvantaged children, at risk young boys, abused girls and women, and children in conflict with the law. Shelters and rehabilitation centres cater to street children, children in conflict with the law, and girls and women who have been abused. The boys come from unstable families, some spend more time in the streets than at home, and so become susceptible to influence of unscrupulous people and get into trouble.

Sample Placement Profile - Social Development Center for Children

The Street Children Program is based in Tacloban City. It is officially called Social Development Center for Children), a social welfare residential centre operated by the Tacloban City’s Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) department that cares for disadvantaged male street children.

The street children program is intended to provide basic social welfare support services to disadvantaged boys. Kids who loiter or roam around the streets are rounded up to save them from criminals who will take advantage and involve them in petty crimes. These children are institutionalized at the centre. The centre becomes their temporary home until such time that family or relatives come to take them home. Most of the kids at the centre stay longer than 6 months.

The centre provides them a temporary safe haven. They are given free food, clothing, and other basic needs. These children are also provided educational support and sent to formal schools.  

Volunteers in the project work alongside staff such as the social worker and houseparents.  Volunteers are required to work at this placement five times a week.


Volunteer Work Schedule

Volunteer Work Schedule

A typical volunteer schedule under this program is as follows;

  • Saturday/Sunday - Arrival

  • 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

  • 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 own cost. They can choose to go home and cook for lunch or can buy a meal at any of the nearest food joints.)
    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.


Volunteer Roles & Responsibilities

Volunteer Roles & Responsibilities

As a volunteer working in this project, you will be asked to help in a wide range of activities at the project depending on the age group of children and the needs of the project.

  • Mentoring (Reading, writing and Maths)

  • Dance, Sports, Music and Games

  • Art & Craft

  • Focus group discussions on relevant issues/topics

  • Caregiving activities


Project Requirement

Project Requirement

Volunteers must be 17 years or older at the time of joining the project. You need to have an open mind and a flexible attitude for working in a new and different environment. The volunteer should bring energy and enthusiasm to make a difference and have a passion for working with children. Participants must be fit and healthy at the time of joining the program. Participants should have no criminal convictions and should provide a clean criminal background check report. A parental consent form shall be required for Under 18 participants joining the program. Any student or professional with a passion to teach young minds, who loves working with children and teenagers, including children with special needs are eligible to join the project.

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Living

Living

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:

  • Introduction to the program, its history, structure, and organisation

  • Introduction to the Philippines and the Filipino Culture

  • What to expect from the Volunteer Program

  • Health and Safety Briefing

  • Behavior Policy Briefing

  • Introduction to the actual placement, with special attention to transportation

  • Introduction to the placement staff and volunteers

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.  


Dates

Dates

November

16

23

30

December

07

14

21

Available

Filling Fast

Booked Out


Costs

Duration
Program Fee
Choose your currency
2 Weeks $890
3 Weeks $1040
4 Weeks $1190
5 Weeks $1340
6 Weeks $1490
7 Weeks $1640
8 Weeks $1790
Extra Week $200

Please Note: An application fee of is charged over and above the program fee as an application payment.

What are you 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)

What's NOT Included?

  • Visa
  • Vaccinations
  • Flights
  • Local Transportation
  • Personal Expenses

FAQ's

Accommodation and Living

Will I have access to clean drinking water?

Would I have free time during my program ? Can I do sightseeing during my program ?

What all are included in the fee I pay?

Are there more expenses once I arrive in Tacloban City?

How do I get to the program location?

Can I know more about accommodation and food arrangements?

Will I have access to the internet?

Application and Program Details

What are the program locations in Philippines?

Can I volunteer as part of a group?

Can I know more about Tacloban?

When do I need to arrive in Tacloban for my program? What will happen once I arrive in the city?

How long will it take to process my application? Will my application be accepted?

For how many hours will I volunteer every day?

When should I apply for the volunteer programs in Philippines?

Are there any necessary requirements to participate in the Philippines -Tacloban City volunteer programs?

Health and Safety

How safe is the Philippines and Tacloban City in general?

What immunizations/vaccinations will I need?

Do I need to buy health insurance?

Connect with Past Volunteers

How can I connect with past Volunteering Solutions alumni as well as other former and current volunteers ?

Flights and Visa

Do I need a Visa to travel to Philippines?

What are the recommended airlines to fly to Tacloban, Philippines?


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