WorldTeach - Volunteer Teaching with Namibian Ministry of Education
Due to a lack of qualified teachers in Namibia, WorldTeach volunteers have becoming increasingly important. When you teach in Namibia with WorldTeach you will be working in underserved communities. Depending on the program you choose (semester, summer, or year), you will have the opportunity to teach English, Science, Mathematics, ICT, Physical Education, Art, Health or Computer Studies in a wide range of schools from primary to secondary schools. WorldTeach also encourages its volunteers to participate in secondary projects such as teaching extra English classes, coaching sports, starting art clubs, developing the school library or computer room, or establishing scholarship funds.
Qualifications:
- Native-level English speaker
- Between the ages of 18 and 65
- A desire to teach in Namibia
- Bachelor's degree holder by the program departure date
Reviews
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I was a WorldTeach volunteer in northern Namibia during the 2006 school year. I taught high school biology, physical science, and HIV prevention classes. It was a challenging but wonderful experience. I am still in touch with many of my former students and colleagues from the school. I will never forget my experience in Namibia, and I hope to go back. I highly recommend WorldTeach; their level of support for volunteers is excellent because the number of volunteers in each country is relatively small, so it was easy to stay in touch with the field director and get help whenever I needed it. I felt valued by the community, which was wonderful as a newcomer.
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I went to Namibia in 1993, thinking I would have an adventure and help a few people. It turned out that I did all that, plus learned an amazing amount about myself, about a fascinating community, about the world. It completely changed my life goals and set me off on a new career in international development, which I have pursued and stuck with since that time almost 20 years ago. I have had many amazing adventures and experiences, in Africa as well as other parts of the world, and I trace it all back to my experience as a WT volunteer at a rural school in Namibia.
My official role was to be an English teacher for 7th and 8th graders, but I ended up doing much more. I taught an evening class for teachers (the language of instruction had just changed to English, but many of the teachers had very little English skills); taught a literacy class for the dairy workers who were laborers across the street; established the schools first library; started a hiking club with a Namibian teacher so we could get kids out into the surrounding hills and visit and appreciate the ancient rock paintings; and much more. I learned a completely different way of looking at life, of living in the moment, of thinking how to use existing resources creatively.
Plus, I made life-long friends with other volunteers, fellow teachers and students.
I could not recommend WT Namibia more strongly!
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The time I spent in Namibia was some of the most rewarding and happy times of my life. The students were SO eager to learn. The school I was at was isolated from cities and roads. That just made the school more tightly knit. I felt that I was fully accepted by the Namibians I met. I also felt like I made a real difference during the time I was there.
I still look back fondly on my time there even though a whole decade has passed. If you have any questions feel free to e-mail me at kanmullen@yahoo.com with Namibia as subject line.
I hope you take this opportunity. I am sure that you won't regret it.
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I had a phenomenal experience as a volunteer teacher in Namibia in 2005. WorldTeach provides pragmatic, context-specific training with a corps of fantastic volunteers and in a truly dynamic country. I also particularly like that they seek out volunteer support and English is the national language and the system is sorely in need of support for English instruction, particularly in the more rural areas. The experience changed my life and I would highly recommend it to anyone interested.
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Most challenging and rewarding experience of my life, giving me a sense of immense personal fulfillment, perspective and confidence in all future endeavors. The best part was the mutually beneficial relationship with my community. I encourage everyone to have an experience like this one and WorldTeach is the best in cost and in their relationship with the Nambian government.
Alumni Interviews
Meet Mattie Clark, WorldTeach-Namibia alum
GO: What originally inspired you to teach in Namibia with World Teach?
Mattie: I was interested in gaining more international living experience for a career in cross-cultural consulting. However, after the experience, I became more passionate about international education. I had always felt drawn to the African continent. As a college sophomore, I attended an information session with WorldTeach in our career office and had always kept the opportunity in mind.
After deciding to commit one year to an international service experience, I compared WorldTeach to similar programs. I found that WorldTeach had the most reasonable costs, a good reputation and authentic partnerships with the Namibian government. After reviewing the different country programs, I chose Namibia because it was the country I knew the least about and was, therefore, intrigued. After speaking with a returned volunteer in my interview, I was certain that it was the experience for me!
GO: Describe your day to day activities as a teacher?
Mattie: I was in the classroom from 7am-1pm Monday-Friday. I taught English, Mathematics and Basic Information Sciences to classes of 35-40 sixth and seventh graders. Out of seven class periods per day, I usually had two free to plan or grade. The teaching hours, subjects, grades and free periods vary vastly depending on your specific placement. In the afternoons, I took the initiative to be involved in a variety of extra-circular and community activities.
At my school, there was no counselor or librarian so I took on these roles. I also facilitated computer classes. As a member of municipality counsel, I helped facilitate various community outreach projects and motivational talks. I developed and implemented an 'Alternatives to Corporal Punishment Workshop' for my colleagues and a 'Rights and Responsibilities' workshop for my students. I also developed and implemented a 'Guardian Teacher Plan' to improve academic performance.
GO: How has this experience impacted your future?
Mattie: The experience was transformational both personally and professionally. The perspective I gained from working with a marginalized community gave me immense gratitude and compassion for others. As a recent college graduate, I was able to take the time to carefully meditate on my past experiences and future aspirations.
The experience helped me realize more focused professional goals. The experience was incredibly challenging but with that, came immense rewards. I was able to use my strengths, knowledge and passion to successfully advocate for positive change and in a (hopefully) sustainable way. I enjoy still being in contact with my students and colleagues over 2 years later.
Further Info
About WorldTeach
WorldTeach partners with Ministries of Education and well-established NGOs in countries around the world to provide volunteer teachers with opportunities to teach in developing countries. Established by a group of Harvard students, WorldTeach has placed thousands of teachers overseas since its inception in 1986.
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Program Information
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90% Overall Rating - 5 Reviews
It's a statement only one who has been to the country can make and understand. If you look at the geographical shape of Namibia, it does look like the back of a hand with a couple fingers tucked in.
My summer teaching in Namibia was an experience I cherish, one of the proudest and most memorable delights of my life (I've since been married and had a baby, so Namibia competes with a lot of personal accomplishments and life highlights).
Looking at Maddie's pictures and reading her story brought me back to the summer of 2007. The images from her village mirror the images of the learners from my village of Talismanas, on the border of Botswana. I befriended one of the teachers, who introduced me to the livelihood of those in my village, and the students came to my room daily to practice sudoko, play scrabble, or enjoy extra snacks.
No, teaching was not easy, and I am a high school teacher of English. I can say, without question, that I would give up my job in suburban Massachusetts to return to Namibia if I could. Life there is so much simpler. Frustrating, yes, but simple.
What I remember most besides the beautiful smiles of my many learners was the evening sky. Never had I seen so many stars. I had to pause while writing this because I got swept away in the memory of its true awesomeness.
WorldTeach is a wonderful program, and the experience of being able to affect the lives of learners around the world is undoubtedly rewarding, but you will be more impressed by what you learn about yourself and your perception of the world if you have the courage to partake in this journey. Register now! There is no better place to spend your summer, your year, perhaps even a few years (or longer) of your life!