CHILDCARE VOLUNTEER ABROAD PROJECTS

Most Affordable – PMGY’s programs are accessible to everyone who wants to make a difference, through low fees and high-impact projects.

 

Best Support – Our international and local teams provide extensive around the clock services to assist you every step of your PMGY adventure.

 

Safety Prioritised – With safety a PMGY number-1 priority, we have taken all necessary precautions to ensure our programs are as safe and structured as possible.

 

Extraordinary Experiences – With PMGY, you have the opportunity to truly immerse yourself in amazing cultural and travel experiences, ensuring you leave with unforgettable memories.

 

Friendships for Life – Your PMGY experience not only opens up a doorway for new experiences and exciting memories, but also life-long friendships when meeting new people from around the world.

BALI CHILDCARE VOLUNTEERS

Want to share your time, energy and enthusiasm with children across the world? As a childcare volunteer in Bali, you can make a positive impact in the local community of Tabanan. From supporting daily care, organising crafts and creative activities, to teaching English through songs and music. You’ll have the opportunity to volunteer with children in Bali between 1-8 years old, giving them an amazing head start before they begin formal schooling.

 

Your Volunteer Role & Typical Childcare Day

 

As a childcare volunteer abroad in Bali, your main role will be sharing your time, enthusiasm and skills to help encourage and care for these children. By exposing them to the English language you are providing them with an early opportunity for social interaction and educational development.

 

You will be volunteering from Monday-Thursday, usually starting around 9am-12pm, with the afternoon session from 2pm-4pm. You will be transported to the project via minivan, which takes about 10 minutes.

 

The childcare program is a hugely rewarding experience and very enjoyable. As a volunteer in Bali, you are encouraged to structure the day to ensure you get the balance right between keeping it fun with play activities, whilst keeping it controlled and routined with some basic learning activities. Above all, lesson planning is essential. Get creative with different enrichment activities to foster positive social development. You can use songs, music, puzzles, interactive props and educational resources to get the kids engaged. Local coordinators will be on hand to support you at the project as well.

 

Balinese children are an absolute joy to teach and work with, their enthusiasm for learning is guaranteed to make you smile! Working with this age group is not as structured as teaching older children. In other words, their language can be improved simply through play and interaction. As a result, just a few words or phrases will stand them in good stead for learning English in the future. If you volunteer with children in Bali, you’ll need to prepare activities for this accordingly.

 

We generally find that the more volunteers prepare for their day then the more they and the children get from the whole experience. Depending on the number of childcare volunteers in Bali at the time, the children will be divided into smaller class sizes. In addition, you will have local coordinators/teachers at the project to assist.

 

The most important thing is that you engage the children, get them excited about coming to kindergarten and learning new things. Your role is not limited to just teaching and volunteers are actively encouraged to get involved in other areas such as arts & crafts, physical education and helping local staff in their day-to-day role. What activities you choose when you volunteer in Bali is completely up to you. You can find resources and inspiration at the office and there may be some materials and props available at the childcare centres. The local team also run weekly lesson planning sessions, providing volunteers with a fantastic opportunity to both share and discuss ideas, as well as plan for the upcoming week.

 

PMGY’s volunteer work in Bali focuses on making learning a fun and enjoyable experience so be creative, there are so many ways to educate these children in a way that will make a huge impact. Our childcare program is an empowering and rewarding one to really make a difference to those less fortunate. Balinese people are warm and friendly, you can expect the children you teach to welcome you into their community with open arms. They will be excited to get to know you!

 

As a childcare volunteer in Bali, you should have a genuine passion for working with children. Working with such friendly and excitable children can get overwhelming so it is important to be happy and completely immerse yourself in this once in a lifetime experience!

 

With the heat and high temperatures that exist when you volunteer with children in Bali, shorter sessions split throughout the day are seen as beneficial all round and allows for volunteer energy levels to remain high with positive intensity in each morning and afternoon session. Volunteers are encouraged to use the lunch break in between to relax, refresh or plan future activities to maximise time at the project.

 
 

CAMBODIA CHILDCARE VOLUNTEERS

As a childcare volunteer in Cambodia with PMGY, you will educate and work with children between the ages of 4-7 years at a time before they begin formal schooling. International volunteers with children in Cambodia help to brighten up the lives of young children in Takeo Province. As a childcare volunteer in Cambodia organise educational activities and games that will positively promote stimulation and productiveness in young ones.

 

Your Volunteer Role & Typical Childcare Day

 

As a childcare volunteer in Cambodia, you will be required to prepare, deliver and lead activities and basic English lessons to support local children. Volunteers with children in Cambodia can expect to spend 3-4 hours on the project each day. The typical hours of work as a childcare volunteer in Cambodia are 1-4pm. Time on the Cambodia volunteer work will include various roles and tasks for the volunteers.

 

Days will usually begin with a lively and energetic first hour of songs, games and basic hygiene tasks like teeth brushing. After burning off any excess energy, approximately 1 hour will be dedicated to learning. This may include activities such as learning and recognising the alphabet, understanding phonics and the coaching of basic greetings. Combined, these tasks help to familiarise the children with this foreign language. Furthermore, it advances their learning ability for other subjects in the future. The day will usually end with various activities that focus on practising fine motor skills and dexterity, perhaps through arts and crafts or group games.

 

Volunteers and coordinators have also introduced a Fun Friday aspect to the program. For this, fellow volunteers can come together to organise entertaining activities for the children. Sometimes volunteers will organise and fund an afternoon trip outside of the program for the children. Volunteers usually contribute a small expense to facilitate this, but contributing and participating in Fun Fridays are by no means compulsory.

 

When you volunteer in Cambodia, you should spend time planning for each day. This will allow them to get the most out of their project time. This also provides focussed learning activities for the children. As a childcare volunteer in Cambodia, you will also have the opportunity to assist or lead an older class on our English Teaching project. However, this is optional and not a mandatory requirement of the program.

 

The project is located on the same grounds as the house for participants on our volunteering programs in Cambodia. Participants therefore only have a short walk to project each day. Free time can be used to prepare sessions, chill in the Volunteer House or explore the nearby villages.

 
 

COSTA RICA CHILDCARE VOLUNTEERS

As a childcare volunteer in Costa Rica, you will provide additional support to childcare projects within the Coronado community. Not only this, PMGY’s Costa Rica volunteer programs provide a great foundation to improve your Spanish. Combine your Spanish learning and enthusiasm for childcare projects to make the most out of your volunteer with children in Costa Rica experience!

 

Your Volunteer Role & Typical Childcare Day

 

Volunteers will help with daily chores like cleaning and helping to feed the children. Other aspects of being a childcare volunteer in Costa Rica include singing songs, teaching about hygiene and other important skills. Playing games and outdoor activities are also a big part of your volunteer role.

 

The work schedule is flexible and will be set between you, the centre and our volunteer coordinator in Coronado. Based on your project assignment, you will typically work either 7:30am-12:30pm or 1pm-5pm on a Monday-Friday basis. Please plan for at least 3-5 hours on the project.

 

If you are up for it, take a 40 minute walk through the heart of Coronado to reach your childcare volunteer in Costa Rica placement! Alternatively, you can take a 20 minute bus ride to reach your childcare project. The bus stop is located just outside the volunteer accommodation and Spanish school. Furthermore, the local team will assist you in learning the routes to your volunteer project. As a result, you will be acquainted with how to get to and from your volunteer project.

 
 

ECUADOR CHILDCARE VOLUNTEERS

As a childcare volunteer in Ecuador, you will provide additional support to childcare projects within the city of Quito. Not only this, PMGY’s Ecuador volunteer programs provide a great foundation to improve your Spanish. Provide a helping hand for the children and local staff. Plan activities and games, help with meals times and be sure to improve your Spanish as you volunteer with children in Ecuador.

 

Your Volunteer Role & Typical Childcare Day

 

As a childcare volunteer in Ecuador, your role involves supporting local staff with daily chores. Examples include providing volunteer support at mealtimes and with cleaning tasks. This extends to more creative support in singing songs, teaching English and improving hygiene skills. Playing with children in a recreational setting outdoors is also a big part of the role. This because of the limited time the caregivers have to do this.

 

The work schedule is flexible and will be set between you, the centre and our volunteer coordinator in Quito. Thus volunteers will have the chance to make the most of their time. You will be volunteering at the project Monday-Friday. Please plan for at least 3-5 hours on the project.

 

If you are up for it, take a 1 hour walk through the heart of Quito to reach your childcare volunteer in Ecuador placement! Alternatively, you can take a 30 minute bus ride to reach your childcare project. The bus stop is located nearby to the volunteer accommodation. Furthermore, the local team will assist you in learning the routes to your volunteer project. As a result, you will be acquainted with how to get to and from your volunteer project.

 
 

GHANA CHILDCARE VOLUNTEERS

As a childcare volunteer in Ghana, you will make a vital and important contribution to the daily lives of the Kumasi children. PMGY’s Ghana volunteer programs provide international volunteers with a platform to brighten up the lives of young children. You will work alongside local staff as you provide care and attention to disadvantaged children. Above all, you will be assisting with the general childcare and daily project operations when you volunteer with children in Ghana.

 

Your Volunteer Role & Typical Childcare Day

 

As a childcare volunteer abroad, you are required to support and assist with the daily care, attention and interaction of the children. Maximise your free time at the Volunteer House preparing activities accordingly. In general, you will volunteer at the project Monday-Friday for around 3-5 hours every day. The typical volunteer working hours are usually from 7am-1pm. The early start is required to provide the local staff with much-needed assistance at the project. The chores and morning routines are where the volunteers can provide the most hands-on support.

 

Transport to and from the childcare project is not included in your Program Fee. Consequently, volunteers in Ghana will usually travel by public transport, but may also choose to split the cost of a taxi. Our local team will show you how to get to and from your volunteer project location during the orientation period.

 

The daily cost of getting to and from your childcare volunteer in Ghana project by local transport is 1-3 GBP. Most noteworthy, heavy traffic and poor road infrastructure can be commonplace within Kumasi. Subsequently, the journey to the volunteer project can take anywhere from 45 minutes to 1 hour upwards from the Volunteer House.

 
 

INDIA CHILDCARE VOLUNTEERS

PMGY childcare volunteers in India brighten the days of young ones, making an important contribution to their lives. As a volunteer with children in India, you will act as role models to underprivileged individuals. Our volunteers coordinate fun activities and assist with tasks such as homework, to make a positive impact on local Indian communities. Above all as a volunteer with children in India, you will be assisting with the general childcare and daily activities at the volunteer placement.

 

Your Volunteer Role & Typical Childcare Day

 

As a childcare volunteer in India, you will coordinate activities and provide care, attention and support for underprivileged children. As the children attend school in the morning, your help is needed in the afternoon. There, the volunteer project runs in the afternoons for between 2-3 hours, Monday to Friday. Typical hours at the volunteer program are between 3-6pm. However, this may vary depending on the needs of the project at the time.

 

The role of a childcare volunteer in India can vary. Some days, you may work hard to assist the children with homework or a school project. Other days, you may be responsible for arranging activities, providing the children with some relief after a busy day at school! Childcare volunteers in India must, therefore, be proactive in their role. This means that they must identify the needs of the children each day and coordinate activities accordingly. With any challenge will come reward, meaning that volunteers in India can expect to find their time both rewarding and fun!

 

As a childcare volunteer abroad, you are welcome to join one of our morning projects for additional volunteer work. Alternatively, childcare volunteers in India are welcome to use their mornings to lesson plan or explore Delhi and surrounding areas.

 

PMGY’s India volunteer program has its own private transport network that will transfer you to and from the projects every day. You will travel to and from the project by either tuk-tuk or minivan. This service is included in your Program Fee.

 
 

PERU CHILDCARE VOLUNTEERS

As a childcare volunteer in Peru, you will provide additional support to childcare projects within the city of Cusco. Not only this, PMGY’s Peru volunteer programs provide a great foundation to improve your Spanish. Provide a much needed helping hand for some of the most disadvantaged and underprivileged children in the local communities as you volunteer with children in Peru.

 

Your Volunteer Role & Typical Childcare Day

 

As a childcare volunteer in Peru, your role involves supporting local staff with daily chores. Examples include providing volunteer support at mealtimes and with cleaning tasks. This extends to more creative support in arts and crafts, teaching English and improving hygiene skills. Volunteers should also assist with homework tasks and support local staff with planned activities.

 

The work schedule is flexible and will be set between you, the centre and our volunteer coordinator in Cusco. The local team will email you your specific project information, volunteer tasks and working hours in advance of your arrival into Cusco. You will be volunteering at the project Monday-Friday. Please use your free time to plan for at least 3-5 hours on the project.

 

If you are up for it, take a 1 hour walk through the heart of Cusco to reach your childcare volunteer in Peru placement! Alternatively, you can take a 20-45 minute bus ride to reach your childcare project. The bus stop is located either just outside the volunteer accommodation or the Spanish school. Furthermore, the local team will assist you in learning the routes to your volunteer project. As a result, you will be acquainted with how to get to and from your volunteer project.

 
 

SOUTH AFRICA CHILDCARE VOLUNTEERS

As a childcare volunteer in South Africa, you will provide additional support to childcare projects within the Cape Town community. PMGY’s South Africa volunteer programs will see you help young children in Cape Town. Volunteer with children in South Africa to make a vital contribution in brightening up the lives of young children.

 

Your Volunteer Role & Typical Childcare Day

 

As a childcare volunteer in South Africa, you can expect to participate in a range of activities. Most noteworthy, you will be supporting the local staff with daily duties (whether this is cleaning activities and/or admin work). Furthermore, you will assist with food preparation and feeding, supervising during free playtime and nap-times.

 

When you volunteer with children in South Africa, you will also have the opportunity to carry out some teaching. Examples will include helping with basic maths, reading and arts & crafts activities. Most importantly, you will become a positive role model for the children. Sadly, this is something that many of the children are lacking. Ultimately, as you complete volunteer work in South Africa, you will be providing invaluable assistance to the overstretched local staff.

 

The typical working hours are 8am-1pm Monday-Friday with a lunch break in between. The children usually have nap time in the early afternoon. If volunteers wish too, they can return after until the project closes. Weekends are your own free time.

 

Volunteers in South Africa will need to make their own way to the childcare project each day. Moreover, this usually involves taking public transport but sometimes projects can be walking distance from the Volunteer House. On average, it takes around 30 minutes to get to the childcare project. Our local team will instruct you as to how to get to and from the project each day. Alternatively, you will be paired with a volunteer who has already been working at the placement you have been assigned to.

 
 

SRI LANKA CHILDCARE VOLUNTEERS

A childcare volunteer in Sri Lanka can make a vital contribution to brighten up the daily lives of children from challenging backgrounds. From supporting educational development and encouraging a positive lifestyle, you can play a key role in making a positive impact on the local community. The projects we work with provide a vital safety net for these children. The more help and encouragement they can get from volunteers, the better and brighter their future.

 

Your Volunteer Role & Typical Childcare Day

 

Your main role as a childcare volunteer in Sri Lanka is to help encourage and care for these children, providing them with the opportunity to boost their confidence and to help maximise their potential. You will volunteer in Sri Lanka from Monday-Friday. The morning sessions at the preschool run from 9am-11.30am. The afternoon sessions are typically from 3pm-6pm. The placement locations take around 30 minutes to reach by tuk-tuk or private minibus.

 

The first hour or two of your afternoon on the childcare volunteer abroad program is allocated for teaching the children English and enhancing educational development. We encourage volunteers to use engaging educational activities to hold the children’s attention, as well as inspire their learning. Be creative, use exciting ways to learn new vocabulary and introduce interesting topics in a fun way. You could use alphabet props in a matching game, create topical posters, or even find items in the garden to create a counting activity.

 

The remaining time on your Sri Lanka volunteer program will be spent inventing outdoor games, designing creative activities and playing sports. The children’s homes have a lot of outdoor space so utilise it! This time can be used to practice conversational English and commands in a more informal manner, as well as boosting confidence and encouraging the children to engage in a positive way. Our local team are on hand to support you with any ideas or activities you wish to perform whilst you volunteer in Sri Lanka.

 

At the preschool, the childcare volunteers will be supporting the preschool with basic education. Working with this age group is not as structured as teaching older children. In other words, their language can be improved simply through play and interaction. As a result, just a few words or phrases will stand them in good stead for learning English in the future. If you volunteer with children in Sri Lanka, you’ll need to prepare activities for this accordingly.

 

Each childcare volunteer in Sri Lanka will be the driving force behind some light housekeeping such as meal preparation and sanitary assistance to the young children at the preschool. In addition, your volunteer work in Sri Lanka will involve helping out at mealtimes, as well as organising free-time activities and games for the preschool children.

 

A rotation between the projects can be organised when you volunteer in Sri Lanka. For instance, if volunteers would like the opportunity to partake in both morning and afternoon programs then the local team can help to arrange this.

 
 

TANZANIA CHILDCARE VOLUNTEERS

As a childcare volunteer in Tanzania with PMGY, you will brighten up the lives of young children, making a vital and important contribution to their daily lives. International volunteers with children in Tanzania work to support centres in Arusha, organising educational activities and games whilst assisting in tasks to complement the work of local staff.

 

Your Volunteer Role & Typical Childcare Day

 

Volunteers with children in Tanzania are required to support and assist with the daily care, attention and interaction with the children across the day and prepare activities accordingly. Whilst each project is different, the typical working hours are 8:30am-1pm Monday-Friday. There may be the opportunity to work up to 3pm upon request.

 

The homes volunteers in Tanzania work with are typically understaffed and highly overcrowded. Volunteer roles will range from teaching basic English to feeding and helping to prepare meals, organising games and sporting activities, or simply spending time with the children. Most of our volunteers play an active role in the general care of the children but have a primary focus on basic English lessons and class activities. Free time in the afternoons after the project can be used to prepare sessions, chill in the Volunteer House or to explore Arusha.

 

Transport to the childcare volunteer in Tanzania project is not included in the Program Fee. Some of the volunteer projects are within walking distance from the Volunteer House, but many are further afield. In these latter cases, you will be required to take a Dala Dala (local bus) to placement. It can take up to 45 minutes to travel to your volunteer work in Tanzania. Our local team will guide you through the local transport methods during your in-country orientation. You can also always ask them if you are unsure of how much you should be paying for a journey.

 
 

VIETNAM CHILDCARE VOLUNTEERS

As a childcare volunteer in Vietnam with PMGY, you will work to brighten up the lives of young children, making an important contribution to their daily lives. Our local team and volunteers work with a range of organisations in and around Hanoi. Our international volunteers provide vital support and care for children and young adults in NGO care centres, kindergartens and hospitals.

 

Your Volunteer Role & Typical Childcare Day

 

Each of our childcare volunteer in Vietnam projects will have different expectations and roles for their international volunteers. In general, you can expect to provide daily hands-on care, interaction and attention for those who need it most. We try our best to outline expected roles under the specific ‘Project Placement Placements’ above. However, it must be noted that these roles can still vary.

 

Whilst each project location is different, as a childcare volunteer in Vietnam you will typically volunteer for around 4-6 hours per day. Volunteers are usually only expected to volunteer 4 days per week, however, Monday-Friday is possible. Project hours each day will vary depending on the location. Typically, volunteers will partake in the project from 9am-12pm and then 2-5pm, although this can vary.

 

Participants on this childcare volunteer abroad program will usually travel by public bus to and from the project each day. This fee is included in the Program Fee. Volunteers will either be provided with a bus pass in-country or reimbursed their travel fares on a weekly basis. The bus station is around a 10 minute walk from the Volunteer House.

Flights

 

After confirming your place on a PMGY volunteer program, we strongly advise that you book your flights as early as possible. This is since it will help ensure that you get the lowest airfare. You can choose to book your flights independently or we can help you with arranging them. PMGY has a wealth of experience in travelling to and from our host countries. Therefore, we know the most affordable ways to travel and the best airlines to use. Therefore, if you would like any assistance booking your flight, you can request an optional flight quote during your online application. Alternatively, feel free to contact us on the phone or by email.

 

Your arrival airport and date are dependent on the specific destination you are joining us in:

 

🇮🇩 Tabanan – To join the childcare volunteer abroad project on our Bali volunteer program, you should book your flights to Ngurah Rai (Denpasar) International Airport on the Sunday start date. The airport code is DPS. Volunteers in Bali can arrive at any time on their designated Sunday start date.

 

🇰🇭 Bakod Village – To join the childcare volunteer abroad project on our Cambodia volunteer program, you should book your flights to Phnom Penh International Airport on the Monday start date. The airport code is PNH. Volunteers in Cambodia can arrive at any time up to 7pm on their designated volunteer Monday start date.

 

🇨🇷 Coronado – To join the childcare volunteer abroad project on our Costa Rica volunteer programs, you should book your flights to Juan Santamaria International Airport in San Jose on the Sunday start date. The airport code is SJO. Volunteers in Costa Rica can arrive at any time on their designated Sunday start date.

 

🇪🇨 Quito – To join the childcare volunteer abroad project on our Ecuador volunteer programs, you should book your flights to Mariscal Sucre International Airport iN Quito on the Sunday start date. The airport code is UIO. Volunteers in Peru can arrive at any time on their designated Sunday start date.

 

🇬🇭 Kumasi – To the childcare volunteer abroad project on our Ghana volunteer program, you should book your flights to Kotoka International Airport on the Sunday start date. The airport code is ACC. Volunteers in Ghana can arrive at any time on their designated Sunday start date.

 

🇮🇳 Faridabad – To join the childcare volunteer abroad project on our India volunteer program, you should book your flights to Indira Gandhi International Airport on the Sunday start date. The airport code is DEL. Volunteers in India can arrive at any time on their designated Sunday start date.

 

🇵🇪 Cusco – To join the childcare volunteer abroad project on our Peru volunteer program, you should book your flights to Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport on the Sunday start date. The airport code is CUZ. Volunteers in Peru can arrive at any time on their designated Sunday start date.

 

🇿🇦 Cape Town – To join the childcare volunteer abroad project on our South Africa volunteer program, you should book your flights to Cape Town International Airport (airport code CPT). Volunteers in South Africa on this program can arrive their designated Sunday start date.

 

🇱🇰 Ambalangoda – To join the childcare volunteer abroad project on our Sri Lanka volunteer program, you should book your flights to Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo on the Saturday start date. The airport code is CMB. Most volunteers can arrive at any time on their designated Saturday start date.

 

🇹🇿 Arusha – To join the childcare volunteer abroad project on our Tanzania volunteer program, you should book your flights to Kilimanjaro International Airport on the Sunday start date. The airport code is JRO. Volunteers in Tanzania can arrive at any time on their designated volunteer Sunday program start date.

 

🇻🇳 Hanoi – To join the childcare volunteer abroad project on our Vietnam volunteer program, you should book your flights to Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on the Wednesday start date. The airport code is HAN. Volunteers in Hanoi can arrive at any time on their designated Wednesday start date.

 

Travel Insurance

 

Importantly, having an appropriate travel insurance policy during your time abroad is essential. Therefore, it is mandatory for all of our international volunteers to be appropriately covered across all of their trip dates. This includes your travel to and from the host country, as well as any onward travel. Although PMGY does everything to ensure your trip is safe, inevitably things can go wrong. Therefore, having a travel insurance policy in place helps you effectively deal with any problems you may encounter during your time away.

 

We have partnered up with the insurance company battleface to create an affordable and comprehensive optional policy. This has been designed with our international volunteers in mind, to cover our participants for all of their travel essentials. The policy is available to anyone across the globe, up to the age of 65 years. The document will cover you for your time on any PMGY destination and any onward travel (excluding the US and Canada). You can purchase PMGY Travel Insurance during your online application or you can contact us directly to arrange it.

Our International Team will work hard to provide extensive levels of support in the build-up to your trip. From our online chat service to email support and telephone conversations, our team are always ready to help. All international volunteers with PMGY will receive a Volunteer Handbook. This detailed hand guide will provide you with all you need to know in the build-up to your trip. From visa guidance to suggested packing lists, this will be the ultimate guide, helping you plan for your volunteer trip abroad.

 

We have Facebook groups for each of our volunteer destinations. Here you can find members of our international and local teams, as well as past, present and future volunteers. These pages, therefore, provide a great forum for volunteers to network, share experiences and community updates year-on-year.

 

Sometimes it can be difficult to picture yourself abroad without yet being there. We, therefore, do our best to further manage expectations before you arrive through a variety of informative and action-packed videos on our PMGY Vimeo channel. These clips help provide you with a visual perspective of what you can expect during your time volunteering with us. Our webinars are not to be missed either. Running on selected Tuesdays, at 4pm UK time, our International Team provides invaluable advice for your upcoming trip. Each webinar covers something different. Our pre-departure webinar covers all of the essentials you need to know and do before joining us abroad. Our program preparation webinar is more project-specific, with advice and information for the time you will spend on placement. Finally, our safety webinar offers you some top tips on how to manage your safety and wellbeing across the pond. For those who are simply interested in learning more about PMGY, our team also run an introductory webinar. This provides an introduction to the volunteer organisation, our background, goals and volunteer opportunities overseas.

🇮🇩 Tabanan – Our Bali volunteer program is based in Tabanan, around 1.5 hours away from Ngurah Rai (Denpasar) International Airport. Tabanan is the capital town of the regency of Bali with the same name. It is referred to by many as the ‘rice bowl of Bali’. Parts of Tabanan regency lie in Central Bali and others in the west. Tabanan regency is best known for its rolling green landscapes and hills. It is also home to Mount Batukaru – Bali’s second-highest peak at 2,276 metres. Tabanan town itself is a very commercial town, with no shops or entertainment facilities aimed at visitors or tourists. Despite this, the town offers all the amenities you need, such as banks, hospitals and shops.

 

🇰🇭 Bakod Village – Our Cambodia volunteer program is based in a rural village called Bakod, around 2 hours away from Phnom Penh Airport. Bakod is a small traditional village, based in the regional province of Takeo. The region is far away from the main tourist trail and backpacker destinations. However, these can still be accessed easily across the weekends. The village is located within Takeo province, around 7km from its centre. Takeo borders the provinces of Kampot to the west, Kampong Speu to the northwest and Kandal to the north and east. Its southern boundary is the international border with Vietnam.

 

🇨🇷 Coronado – Our Costa Rica volunteer program is based in Coronado, a very popular suburb of San Jose and home to nearly 60,000 residents. The city is located 10km from San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica. It is set at the foot of Braulio Carrillo National Park, virtually untouched and home to over 150-different species of animals. Coronado offers visitors an opportune ability to encounter both the city life and natural wonders of Costa Rica!

 

🇪🇨 Quito – Our Ecuador volunteer program is based in Quito, the country’s capital in the Andes Mountains. The city is the highest official capital in the world, resting at an elevation of 2,850 metres above sea level. Quito is classified as a UNESCO heritage site, still upholding many of its historical features that date back hundreds of years. This city’s location among the mountain tops leaves volunteers in Ecuador with majestic views of city life, wilderness and history.

 

🇬🇭 Kumasi – Our Ghana volunteer program is located in Kumasi, in central Ghana. It is Ghana’s second-biggest city, located around 6 hours away from the country’s capital Accra. It is a bustling region with so much going on! The surrounding area is made up of rolling hills and rural areas, with a much more laid back approach in life.

 

🇮🇳 Faridabad – Our main India volunteer program is based in Faridabad, located in the New Delhi region of North India. The city is close enough to absorb the influence of New Delhi. On the contrary, it is also far enough away to offer a quieter setting. Together, these factors mean that Faridabad is a comfortable location to live and work. There are some interesting temples and local parks in Faridabad for you to visit, as well as markets and shopping malls. There are also a handful of cinemas for you to catch a Bollywood flick, should you fancy!

 

🇵🇪 Cusco – Our Peru volunteer program is based in the south-eastern region of Peru within in the city of Cusco. Cusco was once the capital of the Incan Empire. This UNESCO World Heritage site rests at an elevation of 3,400 metres above sea level. The city now hosts more than 2-million tourists each year, many of whom are on a journey to visit Machu Picchu. A trip to this World Wonder provides individuals with an opportunity to learn about the origins of Quechua people. While visiting Cusco, you will feel an overwhelming presence of history and culture!

 

🇿🇦 Cape Town – Our community South Africa volunteer program is located in Cape Town, a truly multicultural city and one of stark contrasts. Central Cape Town is an exciting and trendy location filled with a range of cultural heritage sites and a buzzing nightlife. Yet, as you move towards the suburbs, you begin to see what life is like for those less fortunate. The Townships and Cape Flats here highlight the disparity between rich and poor.

 

🇱🇰 Ambalangoda – Our childcare volunteer project on the Sri Lanka volunteer program is based in Ambalangoda, on the south-west coast of Sri Lanka. It is approximately 2.5 hours away from Colombo Airport. Ambalangoda is a quaint ocean-side town. It is traditionally a fishing community but is famous for being the major production centre for demonic wooden masks.

 

🇹🇿 Arusha – Our Tanzania volunteer program is located in Arusha, based in the Kilimanjaro region of the country. Also known as A-town or Arachuga, Arusha is set amongst a backdrop of the impressive Mount Meru. It’s a really beautiful setting and a vibrant town, with a good nightlife and a friendly atmosphere.

 

🇻🇳 Hanoi – Our Vietnam volunteer programs are based in the north of Vietnam in Hanoi, around 30 minutes from Noi Bai Airport. As the capital of Vietnam, Hanoi does not disappoint and will impress you on so many levels. It has all the attractions a visitor could want, but in no way is Hanoi touristy. With an array of cultural sites and some of the best markets in South East Asia, there is something for everyone.

PMGY’s childcare volunteer abroad programs are run by our dedicated and experienced in-country local teams. All staff have been fully vetted by our International Team. The committed local community network provides the structure for your stay with us as a childcare volunteer abroad. Our local team will arrange your accommodation, meals, airport pick-up, in-country orientation and 24/7 emergency support. Our team provides a great framework for you to enjoy a unique volunteering experience with us as a childcare volunteer abroad.

When you arrive onto your specific childcare volunteer abroad program, you will receive an orientation from your in-country team. This day will usually be broken down into two components. The first portion will usually be dedicated to all the theoretical aspects, from ‘dos and don’ts’, to safety aspects, project information and team introductions. The remainder of the day is usually used to introduce you to the local area. The local team will teach you how to locate every essential you may need during your time. They will also be able to help you arrange your money and a local SIM-card. Please note that the exact itinerary of the orientation will vary from country-to-country.

If you have not travelled much before, it is really hard to know what to expect. When anticipating their time overseas, many international volunteers (and their loved ones) are often concerned about safety and security. Although we can never guarantee volunteer experiences to be 100% trouble-free, we have taken all necessary precautions to ensure our programs are as safe as possible. Every program that PMGY offers has been personally inspected and selected by a director of PMGY. We have lived in the accommodation, experienced the orientation and worked on the projects. Through our frequent visits and daily communications, we have built strong, trusting relationships with our local staff.

 

In the unlikely event that something was to happen, volunteers have various layers of support available to them:

 

• PMGY Local Team
• Project Staff
• PMGY International Team

 

Projects are monitored on an on-going basis to gauge volunteers’ experiences. With the help of volunteer feedback, we are able to continually improve our placements and volunteer opportunities. Security and safety are frequently assessed as part of this. We ask our participants to raise any concerns with our local or International Team. This ensures that these can be addressed and/or resolved as readily and appropriately as possible.

 

Through pre-departure and in-country guidance, we do our best to prepare our international volunteers for their time abroad. All participants are provided with a comprehensive safety briefing during their orientation period. Our local teams will go through everything from project introductions, to emergency procedures, how to use local transport and cultural differences. During this period, our team also provide participants with a full list of the important contact numbers.

 

Listed below are some general safety tips:

 

• Be modest with the amount of jewellery worn in public
• Do not drink tap water
• Be cautious of beggars or crowds. Incidents can occur when is confusion to distract you.
• Be cautious about removing money in public
• Always try to know where you are going before you attempt long journeys. Be especially careful at night
• Use reputable transport only. Our local staff will be able to recommend some during orientation
• Try to keep in groups at night and never walk alone along dark, empty streets
• The recognised tourist areas can be considered potentially high-risk areas for pickpockets and thieves
• Leave your valuables behind before a night out in the town
• For traffic safety, always keep looking to the left and right and walk slowly when crossing the road
• Do not accept drinks or food from strangers

🇮🇩 Tabanan – On the Bali volunteer program, the cost of your project transport is included in your Program Fee. Some of our childcare volunteer abroad projects are within walking distance of our Volunteer House and some are not. PMGY will take you to and from projects that are not within walking distance. This will usually be via minivan or private car.

 

🇰🇭 Bakod Village – On the Cambodia volunteer program, the childcare volunteer abroad project is located on the same grounds as the volunteer accommodation. Participants therefore only have a short walk to project each day.

 

🇨🇷 Coronado – On the Costa Rica volunteer program, the cost of your project transport is not included in your Program Fee. Transport to the childcare volunteer abroad project will be by local bus routes or walking. The bus stop is located just outside the volunteer accommodation and Spanish school. Furthermore, the local team will assist you in learning the routes to your volunteer project. As a result, you will be acquainted with how to get to and from your volunteer project.

 

🇪🇨 Quito – On the Ecuador volunteer program, the cost of your project transport is not included in your Program Fee. Transport to the childcare volunteer abroad project will usually require a bus ride. The bus stop is located nearby to the volunteer accommodation. Furthermore, the local team will assist you in learning the routes to your volunteer project. As a result, you will be acquainted with how to get to and from your volunteer project.

 

🇬🇭 Kumasi – On the Ghana volunteer program, the cost of your project transport is not included in your Program Fee. You will be required to take public transport to your childcare volunteer abroad program every day. Our local coordinators will introduce you to local transport methods during your orientation and the first couple of days at the project. We will also indicate how much you should be paying for transport so that you do not get ripped off. Public transport in Ghana is cheap and easy to use. Most noteworthy, heavy traffic and poor road infrastructure can be commonplace within Kumasi. Subsequently, the journey to the volunteer project can take anywhere from 45 minutes to 1 hour upwards from the Volunteer House.

 

🇮🇳 Faridabad – On the India volunteer program, the cost of your project transport is included in your Program Fee. Our team have their own private transport networks that will transfer you to and from the childcare volunteer abroad projects every day. If not within walking distance, you will travel to and from the project by either tuk-tuk or minivan.

 

🇵🇪 Cusco – On the Peru volunteer program, the cost of your project transport is not included in your Program Fee. Transport to the childcare volunteer abroad project will be by local bus or walking. Your bus stop will be located either close to your host family or the Spanish school. Furthermore, the local team will assist you in learning the routes to your volunteer project. As a result, you will be acquainted with how to get to and from your volunteer project.

 

🇿🇦 Cape Town – On the South Africa volunteer program, the cost of your transport to project is not included in your Program Fee. Some of the childcare volunteer abroad projects are within walking distance from the Volunteer House, but several are further afield. On average, it takes around 30 minutes to get to the volunteer project. Our local team will instruct you as to how to get to and from the project each day. Alternatively, you will be paired with a volunteer who has already been working at the placement you have been assigned to.

 

🇱🇰 Ambalangoda – On the Sri Lanka volunteer program in Ambalangoda, the cost of your project transport is included in your Program Fee. Your childcare volunteer abroad project transport will usually be by tuk-tuk, but sometimes by private car. Journeys can usually take anywhere from 10–45 minutes each way. However, this will ultimately depend on which project you join as a volunteer in Sri Lanka.

 

🇹🇿 Arusha – On the Tanzania volunteer program, the cost of your project transport is not included in your Program Fee. Some childcare volunteer abroad projects are within walking distance from the Volunteer House, but many are further afield. In these latter cases, you will be required to take a Dala Dala (local bus) to placement. It can take up to 45 minutes to travel to your volunteer work in Tanzania. Our local team will guide you through the local transport methods during your in-country orientation. You can also always ask them if you are unsure of how much you should be paying for a journey.

 

🇻🇳 Hanoi – On the Vietnam volunteer program, the cost of your project transport is included in your Program Fee. Most of our childcare volunteer abroad projects are located within a 1 hour commute of the Volunteer House. Volunteers will either be provided with a bus pass in-country or be reimbursed their travel fares on a weekly basis. The bus station is around a 10 minute walk from the Volunteer House.

PMGY welcome volunteers of all nationalities and backgrounds. The minimum age to join the program is 17 and there is no upper age limit. All volunteers need to have a good level of English, although it does not need to be your first language. You do not need to speak the local language. However, you will find that learning a few words in your days with us will go a long way!

 

For volunteers with children in South America, we recommend that you speak a basic to intermediate level of Spanish. Volunteers in South America are only required to speak a basic level of Spanish. However, we find that the ability to speak a good level will greatly enhance your overall experience. English is generally not widely. Consequently, if you do not speak a reasonable level of Spanish, you may find it difficult to communicate. This may make your experience frustrating.

 

All participants must be able to provide a clean criminal background check in advance of volunteering with us abroad. In general, no formal experience or qualifications are required for the projects, just lots of energy, enthusiasm and preparation!

 

In order to confirm your place on a PMGY program, you need to pay your Registration Fee of 249 USD. The remaining fee is then due no less than 60 days prior to your program start date. During this period if you need to make a change to your trip (destination, program or date) then this can be facilitated free of charge.

 

Please check out our Application Process for more info on how to join as a childcare volunteer abroad with PMGY.