Childcare Volunteer Program in Philippines

As a volunteer working in this project, you will be asked to help in a wide range of activities at the childcare center depending on the age group of children and the needs of the project. Volunteer, typically, will be required to execute the following tasks;

• Help the staff with basic care duties during the day.
• Play with the children.
• Provide love and individual attention to each child.
• Help at Children’s home with cooking and cleaning.
• Try to engage the children in different activities; such as, sports, games, arts and, crafts.
• Help them come out and forget about their traumatic past.
• Devote their entire project to maintenance tasks like painting, tending grounds or fixing appliances; along with working for the children

Volunteers joining childcare volunteer program in the Philippines will be accommodated with a host family in Tacloban city. The accommodation facility is in close distance vicinity to the program placement. A typical volunteer schedule under this program is as follows;

• Saturday - Arrival
• Sunday - Orientation. An orientation session will be conducted by the local coordinator, covering topic areas; such as safety, culture, language, places to visit, behavior, food, another suggestion 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.

Volunteering Solutions helps you to focus on your volunteer work, while we take care of your airport transfer, accommodation, meals and weekend trips. So come with an open and relaxed mind and leave refreshed.

Airport Transfer

Volunteers are picked up from and dropped off at, Tacloban Airport by a local representative staff member. Volunteers need to arrive one day prior to the program start date. 

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 will 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.

Orientation

All volunteers are provided with an orientation about the local Filipino culture, local dialect, safety guidelines, the project and volunteers role and responsibilities by the local staff. Volunteers are also given a local Tacloban city tour and of all the important tourist sights in the city.

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.