Partners in Education - Roatan

  Honduras

Roatan

Duration of Program: 1-2 years
Typical Duration of Program: 3-6 months
Dates: year round

Description: This is a great way to share your expertise or develop new skills. Roatan is a 30-mile long, 3-mile wide island in the western Caribbean, and a department (State) of Honduras. Until the mid-1950's the island was predominantly English-speaking, the men were seafarers, and the woman cared for the children. The primary language in schools is Spanish. Tourism is redefining the island, and islanders need skills to compete in this new economy. Education is the key.

As a volunteer, you have the opportunity to not just be part of this exciting change on our island, but to develop personally by living in and studying our five major cultural groups, practicing your Spanish or English, testing yourself in your area of expertise, and making life-long changes for a group of fantastic people. In your free time you can explore the island's hillsides or dive and snorkel on Roatan's natural barrier reef that surrounds the island. The Bay Islands Beach Resort (that sponsors this project) offers discounted dive & snorkel packages and classes, as well as discounts on meals for PIER volunteers.

Once you are accepted as a volunteer, PIER will set up your work schedule (a minimum of 25 hours of volunteer work per week required), and provide travel and housing information. As a volunteer you will be expected to pay your own expenses while working with the project. NOTE: Beginning November 2008 the resort will offer a 2-for-1 package for volunteers including A/C room, 3 meals a day, and a modified diving or snorkeling package.

Once you arrive on the island, we will meet you at the airport and provide transportation to your lodgings. There will be a full orientation to the island, the project, and your volunteer job. When your term ends, PIER will provide you a letter of recommendation with detailed information about the services you provided and skills you developed.

NOTE: If you are a student, please provide PIER with a detail list of what you expect to achieve while on the island, so we can make sure your experiences meet your needs.

Highlights: On Roatan only 1 in 4 children attend school, and 50% drop out by 6th grade. Fewer than 11% of these chldren complete high school. To help increase academic success, Partners in Education - Roatan (PIER) opened three (3) E-Learning Centers in 2008. These centers were designed to increase the number of children completing school.

Each center matches students' needs with the appropriate educational web sites and software. A small library complements the program. We focus on Spanish and English reading and mathematics, and provide lots of personal attention and small rewards for progress. All Center services are free. Currently we serve kids in school who need tutoring help, kids who have dropped out, gifted kids, and adults who want to learn English.

Qualifications: All volunteers will need:
1) Interest in education
2) Ability to work independently
3) Must speak Spanish or English, bilingual preferred.
4) Excellent references
5) Police report

Qualifications: will be based on the job decription to be filled.

Volunteer Options
E-Learning Centers:
1) Student Mentor -- Assisting students with educational computer software; tutoring; tracking daily results; encouraging success
2) Project Assistant -- Organizing a project to complement the curriculum (science fair, play, music, art, health, carpentry, etc.)

Public Schools
1) Tutors, teacher assistants, coaches special project coordinators are just a few opportunities. Volunteers need a basic ability to communicate in Spanish.
2) English language teachers -- work with kids in school to learn English language. Spanish language skills not required.

Partners in Education - Roatan
1) Community and Business Partnerships: assisting centers or schools in developing and maintaining community involvement. Open to anyone interested in working with the families, community, and businesses to meet school needs. Must be outgoing, organized, and energetic.

2) Public Relations, Marketing, and Fundraising
Web site updates, creating and manning an Education Hotline, maintaining the donor database, grant writing, community presentations, brochure design, etc.

Cost in US$: $100 registration

Parents of high school and college students mut approve their child's participation in theis program. PIER has discounted rates at the Bay Islands Beach Resort for parents prefering their children to be more closely supervised.

Salary / Pay: There is no salary available for these volunteer placements. PIER will assist volunteer's spouse with finding volunteer placement. Bay Islands Beach Resort does offer discounted rates for room, food, and diving.

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Our volunteers believe education is a life-long gift to be provided to all. Their age, sex, religious beliefs are diverse. They are creative and task-oriented with a commitment to personal growth while serving others.

Age Range: 16 or older

This Program is open to American, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and World Wide Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Honduras Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Phone Interview
• Resume

Post Services Include:

• Exit DebriefingAbroad

Partners in Education - Roatan's Mission Statement: The island of Roatan has 32,500 school-age children -- and only 1 in 4 actually enroll school. By 6th grade, 1/2 of these children drop out. Partners in Education - Roatan's goal is to provide quality education for every child in school, to increase the number of children completing high school, and to stimulate creative teaching strategies in our schools. PIER raises funds to support projects that will improve public education on our island. Specific strategies include: 1) Working with local teachers, introducing them to creative teaching techniques including the use of internet and other technology-based resources. 2) Building community and business partnerships with schools. 3) Creating and operating E-Learning Centers for every community. 4) Developing public relations, marketing and fund raising activities for education projects.

Year Founded: 2006