A marriage of Eastern and Western cultures in a paradise-like setting, the Philippines has been described as the best-kept secret of the Orient.
Azure seas cradle its seven thousand islands; a hundred cultures spawn its hundred tongues.
The country is full of contrasts- a study of western style democracy and iron-fisted regimes; peopled by men and women of deep piety in the midst of liberalism; land-marked by skyscrapers beside old stone churches and walled cities; an environment where both the earth's biggest raptor - the Philippine (monkey-eating) eagle - and the smallest primate - the tarsier - live.
Every visitor gets to taste and experience the world in a day in the Philippines.
The Program
Our objective is to assist and develop local Filipino communities through education, integration, research and volunteerism.
Our programs are nationwide, assisting local communities with their basic needs, focusing on children.
The volunteer opportunities are in the following areas:
- Teaching programs
- School building and maintenance program
- Environment program
Teaching Programs
Day Care Centres
Volunteers teach children ages 3 to 5 in a day care centre for 2 to 4 hours a day.
They will teach children the alphabet and basic concepts like colours, shapes, sizes, days of the week, and the like through songs, stories and play. This program is not available during April and May.
Elementary and High School:
Volunteers on the program teach elementary and high school students in public schools for two to four hours a day.
Subjects taught include English, maths, science, health, and basic computer skills (only in schools where computers are available). Volunteers may teach on their own but there will be a local teacher available to assist. This program is not available during April and May.
School Building and Maintenance Program
Volunteers on the program will be doing manual tasks of building.
Your time will be spent repairing school buildings, painting roofs, walls, chalkboards, desks, teaching aids and other equipment. Volunteers may help in the installation of water pumps. Volunteers may also help in setting up of libraries. Volunteers can start by asking for donations of old books from families, friends, towns, parishes and former schools. You can encourage the use of books by the students through class visitations and regular story-telling sessions. The objective is to introduce to public school students the joys of using a library, which most do not experience until college, if at all.
Volunteers can spend up to one month on the School Building and Maintenance Program. If volunteers want to stay on the program longer, they can elect to combine their time with two or three programs.
Environment Program
The Philippines is one of the world's biodiversity hot-spots. Volunteers have the chance to help out with two placements to promote environmental conservation.
Marine Sanctuary Project
This project has been set up by CERV-Philippines in San Agustin (Romblon). The town's main economic activity is fishing but its traditional fishing grounds already show signs of fish stock depletion due to destructive fishing practices, such as the use of fine nets and dynamite fishing. This is now being countered by the establishment of a marine sanctuary between the villages of Carmen and Long Beach. CERV-Philippines volunteers help in several ways. First, they operate a nursery for the propagation of mangrove seedlings. Second, they help reforest mangrove sites by planting. Third, they also help in implementing the marine sanctuary project with regular patrols, beach clean-ups and education on the needs and benefits of the project.
Reading and Community Library Program
This program aims to introduce love of reading the wonderful work of books to the children of Romblon. Volunteers shall work in CERV’s community library to lend and collect books, assist visitors in school-related research, and organize read-along sessions to younger students. They will also operate a mobile library that will regularly visit neighboring schools, form reading and book clubs, and organize read-along sessions in the schools.
Edit:“School Repair and Enhancement Program” (for school building and maintenance program ) and “Mangrove Reforestation”(for Environment)Start Dates:
Reading and Community Library Program
Edit:“School Repair and Enhancement Program” (for school building and maintenance program ) and “Mangrove Reforestation”(for Environment)Start Dates:
Program Start Dates
Our programs start on the following dates:
January 4
January 4
February 10
March 1
April 1
June 1
July 1
August 1
September 1
October 1
November 4
December 1
Program Cost
You can download an application form here. It is Microsoft Word format. You can either open in up in Microsoft Word, fill it out and email to us. Contact information can be found here.
Wanna take that first step to having a meaningful impact on the lives of my Filipinos? Then contact us and get started!
Duration Cost $US
2 Weeks $732
4 weeks $847
6 weeks $1,037
8 weeks $1,227
10 weeks $1,417
12 weeks $1,607
14 weeks $1,797
16 weeks $1,987
18 weeks $2,117
20 weeks $2,367
22 weeks $2,557
24 weeks $2,747
