MADAGASCAR VOLUNTEER ENGLISH TEACHING
From $3,295/2weeks - $ 7,645/12weeks
Support conservation and economic development in Madagascar by volunteering to support English teaching.
Travel to the edge of Lokobe National Park, the sole remaining ancient rainforest on the island of Nosy Be. Here, you’ll assist park rangers with improving their English literacy so that they can better achieve their conservation goals. You’ll also work with teachers in the surrounding communities to improve the English literacy education they offer their students between the ages of six and 11.
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Positive Impact
Build a better world by contributing to vital, locally-led project work that strives for a more just and equitable future.
Ethical Work
In line with the UN’s SDGs, we are committed to ethical and sustainable engagement with our local partners and communities.
Beautiful Community
Learn from the world’s most unique and significant cultures, in breathtaking remote locations.
MADAGASCAR VOLUNTEER ENGLISH TEACHING
Its tropical location and iconic animal species mean there are many opportunities to grow the ecotourism industry in Madagascar. Many local Malagasy people are very much aware of this and know that English language literacy is one more tool they can use to help them achieve this goal.On this program, you’ll be assisting local Malagasy people with accomplishing their English literacy goals. You’ll be based on the island of Nosy Be, a location with many tourism employment opportunities for local people. Our base is located on the edge of Lokobe National Park, the last remaining rainforest on the island, home to critically endangered lemur species and bordered by a tropical beach. In the mornings, you’ll take a short walk to the surrounding communities where you’ll work with local teachers to prepare English language literacy resources for their primary school learners. In the evenings, you’ll participate in conversational English workshops with local Lokobe National Park rangers. Other adults from local communities might also join these workshops.During the course of your program, you’ll have the opportunity to learn the local Sakalava Malagasy dialect. In your free time, you can go swimming, snorkelling and diving in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean among coral reefs, tropical fish, sea turtles and dolphins.
Highlights
Impact economic development
- Assist local educators with English language classes aimed at improving access to economic and employment opportunities.
Explore Lokobe National Park
- Live and work on the edge of a national park that is filled with rare wildlife, tropical rainforest and adventure activities, and is walking distance from the beach.
Get immersed in the community
- Don’t just travel like a tourist. Become part of the local community and culture to experience a unique way of living – authentically.
Contribute to enduring impact
- Support and empower ongoing community development projects on the ground that are led by inspiring local NGOs.
Join locally-led initiatives
- Partner with social impact projects that are owned and led by local organisations who guide initiatives according to community priorities.
Use your skills for good
- Your unique expertise, skills and interests are matched to relevant community projects that address specific challenges.
Make friends for life
- Share meaningful experiences with like-minded, passionate changemakers from all over the globe.
Enjoy a hassle-free, safe trip
- With expert local staff, excellent reviews and 24/7 support at every step – you can relax and enjoy the experience stress-free.
Activities
- Some of the example typical activities you could participate in on this program.
Teacher training
- Receive expert training on education project objectives and procedures, how to evaluate and monitor projects, and the local cultural context.
English classes
- Gain experience teaching English as a foreign language to children, young adults and women. Classes can be structured or informal.
Teacher capacity building
- Take on additional responsibilities such as working closely with our partner organisations to help train and upskill more local teachers.
Professional development
- Get crucial career-building exposure to working and communicating within a diverse team and a specific local context.
Personal development
- Develop self-awareness, leadership, resilience and confidence, with support and advice from experienced GVI staff members.
Pursue individual passions
- Use your spare time during the week to self-reflect, raise awareness about community issues on social media, or fundraise for a local project.
Free time
- In your free time on the weekend, visit national parks, the local market, enjoy the beach, or see what’s on offer in the bustling streets of Nosy Be.
Skills
- Community empowerment
- Cross-cultural communication
- Social issues
- Student engagement
- Teaching English as a second language
- Teaching workshops
- Volunteering
- Cultural awareness
- Interpersonal skills
- Communication
- Teamwork
- Easily adaptable
GENERAL VOLUNTEER INTERN 24-hour emergency desk
24-hour in-country support
Airport pick-up (unless otherwise stated)
All project equipment
Food (except on long-term internship placements
Safe and basic accommodation (usually shared)✓ ✓ PRE-PROGRAM TRAINING VOLUNTEER INTERN Group introductory call
Welcome presentation
Endorsed GVI Specialisation Course✓ ✓ Endorsed Leadership Course ✓ PROJECT WORK VOLUNTEER INTERN Sustainable project work
Leadership responsibilities✓ ✓ Data collection and research
Real projects with partnersPOST-PROGRAM VOLUNTEER INTERN Preferential recruitment on GVI positions
Job portal access
Endorsed Careers Course
Career coaching sessions✓ CERTIFICATES AND ACHIEVEMENTS VOLUNTEER INTERN PDF reference - upon request ✓ ✓ PDF reference - upon request GENERAL VOLUNTEER INTERN Additional drinks and gratuities
Extra local excursions
Flights
International and domestic airport taxes
Medical and travel insurance
Personal items and toiletries
Police or background check
Visa costsX X Experiences included in your program, at no extra cost.
Offered once a month, expand your adventure with GVI Experiences. These are just some of the activities offered on your program!We want you to make the most of the chance to live in – and contribute towards – the most diverse and unique wildernesses and communities on earth. Introducing GVI Experiences – immersive adventure, cultural and wellness activities exclusive to GVI that have been specially designed in collaboration with our local partners to support and stimulate sustainable economic development.
Enhance your impact. Expand your adventure. Explore your world.
Learn to cook Malagasy cuisine
- A culinary explosion
Handcraft your own canoes
- An ancient art
Forage for local medicinal plants
- Handcrafted healing
Visit the island of the lemurs
- A leap into paradise
Snorkel in a marine wonderland
- A canopy of coral
Gaze and wonder at the southern constellations
- A window to the stars
Watch the sunset at Banyan tree
- A sacred pilgrimage
Sleepover on a remote volcanic archipelago
- A magical slumber party
Joining a GVI program not only allows you to collaborate with communities or work toward preserving unique ecosystems – but it also offers plenty of opportunities to explore the surrounding area or travel further to see what other parts of the region have to offer over weekends.
Field staff are a great source of advice and have helped us put together the following information on local travel options. You can choose to travel before or after your experience with GVI (subject to immigration restrictions), solidifying the lifetime friendships you’ve established on the program. Please note that the below options are not included in the program fee, and would be up to you to arrange at your own expense.
Weekend Trips
Cafes and markets
You can spend time in the village and visit a local market, café or restaurant, and soak in the laid-back lifestyle and interesting culture. Alt...
Mount Passot
Mont Passot is the highest point on Nosy Be island, at 329 metres above sea level. It’s surrounded by eight crater lakes that are considered sacred, where you will often spot cr...
Whale watching
June to September is humpback whale-watching season. During this season you can book a tour with a responsible, ethical tour provider. If you’re lucky, you might spot some whale...
Diving
Book a recreational dive to experience the exceptional variety of Indian Ocean marine life up close. Among the vibrant corals, you can spot a vast array of colourful tropical fi...
Beaches
Visit one of Nosy Be’s many palm-lined stretches of golden beach, such as Andilana, Ambondrona, Madirokely and Ambatoloaka, and enjoy a relaxing day swimming in the warm waters ...
The Sacred Tree
Visit the Sacred Tree, located close to Mahatsinjo village, on the western side of Nosy Be island. This huge banyan tree was planted by the queen of the Sakalava people in 1836,...
Lokobe National Park
We’re based right on the edge of Lokobe National Park which holds the last remaining preserved primitive forest on the island of Nosy Be. The forest is bordered by a beach and i...
Further Travels
South Africa
South Africa is a mere three-and-a-half-hour flight from Madagascar. Fly to Johannesburg and book a safari tour through the famous Kruger National Park or experience the beauty ...
Seychelles
This breathtaking archipelago of islands is home to pristine beaches, coral reefs, nature reserves, as well as rare animals such as the giant Aldabra tortoise. From the main isl...
Mainland Madagascar
Visit the mainland to see a greater variety of species and experience other distinct cultures of Madagascar. See ring-tailed lemurs in Isalo National Park, hike the stone forest...
Neighbouring islands
Madagascar is surrounded by many islands and islets. From our location on Nosy Be island, you can visit the neighbouring island of Nosy Sakatia, where you might be able to spot ...
Engaging intimately with a new context teaches global awareness, adaptability and critical thinking – skills highly valued in the modern marketplace. Local and cultural immersion is encouraged on all our programs around the world, and will also be one of the most enjoyable aspects of your experience. Luckily, there are many different activities that you can get involved in during your free time, or before and after your program.
On our community programs, the focus is on cultural topics, while on marine or wildlife programs the emphasis is more on the environmental element. Use your evenings and weekends to explore topics like local cuisine and religion, or how sustainable development challenges are affecting local contexts.
Marodoka cultural circuit
Marodoka village, which means “the ancient village” in Swahili, is located a few kilometres from Nosy Be’s centre. With exceptional architectural...
Wildlife
As a result of the island’s long isolation from neighbouring continents, Madagascar is home to endemic flora and fauna found nowhere else o...
Marine Life
The warm waters of the Indian Ocean surrounding Madagascar are home to a variety of marine species such as clownfish and manta rays. Depending on the time of year, and your luck...
Crafts and produce
Many of Madagascar’s cultures have long-standing artisanal craft traditions. Some of these include intricate embroidery and brightly coloured baskets. Madagascar is also the pri...
Festivals and celebrations
The most notable festivals on the island of Nosy Be are dedicated to music. The Nosy Be Jazz Festival is held in April and the Donia Music Festival is held towards the end of Ma...
Languages
Most people in Madagascar speak Malagasy, a language with many dialects. The dialect that is most commonly spoken in the area in which we are based is Sakalava. Due to the influ...
When it comes to support, we ensure that each participant is provided with unparalleled, 360 degree support, from your initial contact with the GVI Family, all the way through your program, and even after, as you become part of the GVI Alumni Team.
As part of this promise, we will ensure, whenever possible, that one of our dedicated staff will be available to meet you at the airport. In most locations, we also set up a Whatsapp group to help with managing airport arrivals. We will arrange with you prior to your departure that, should you arrive in the agreed upon pick up window, a member of our staff will be there to welcome you, easily identifiable in a GVI t-shirt or holding a GVI sign and wearing a friendly smile. This means there will be someone there to greet you as you land, and from there you will be transported to your GVI base to start your adventure and meet the rest of your team.
No entertainment-based activities
We don’t support the use of wild animals for entertainment purposes. This includes riding animals, having them perform tricks, feeding or bathing them or getting close to them to take photos
No orphaned animal sanctuaries
We don’t encourage, support or allow the rearing of “orphaned” wild baby animals kept at a “sanctuary”. The conservation value of these types of programs is negligent and would only ethically be used in extremely rare cases
Guidelines for touching or movement restriction
When wild animals are restricted for conservation purposes we follow the guidelines of Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa (FTTSA), approved by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.
Animal welfare guidelines
We ensure that the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare are followed. These include the freedom to express normal behaviour and freedom from distress, discomfort, hunger, thirst, fear, pain, injury or disease.
Local community empowerment
We ensure that conservation efforts are also always locally led, that community needs are front-and centre of any conservation effort and that our participants, projects and partners work to increase local community engagement in local conservation efforts.
No veterinary programs
We don’t offer any veterinary programs or animal rescue and rehabilitation programs. We don’t allow participants to do any work they would not be able to do in their home country.
No orphanage programs
We don’t support or allow participants to work in institutional residential care facilities, also known as orphanages. We partner with ReThink Orphanages and Freedom United.
Child and vulnerable adult protection policy
Our Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy requires all our staff and participants to complete a criminal background check and to learn why you shouldn’t reveal a child’s identifying factors in photographs. We support the ChildSafe Movement.
No medical volunteering
We don’t offer any programs where our participants engage in medical treatment. This is because our participants aren’t typically qualified to do this work and would therefore not be able to do this work in their home country. Our participants only assist with public health programs.
No disability support programs
We don’t offer any programs where our participants work directly with people with disabilities. This is because our participants aren’t typically qualified to do this work and would therefore not be able to do this work in their home country.
The following itinerary is an example of the activities and project work that participants might get involved in on this program. More specific details of the program are finalised several months before each start date.
06:00
Take in the morning views and fresh sea air. If you’re an early riser, you can enjoy a walk or run before breakfast.
07:00
Enjoy breakfast with the team. Then gather for the daily update, where we share important details about project work ahead.
08:00
Deliver English literacy lessons or lead English language discussions on health and wellbeing or environmental awareness.
12:30
Lunch is enjoyed as a group. Meals are prepared by a local cook - a great opportunity to try Malagasy dishes.
13:00
Attend training, work on your internship or research project, or further your knowledge on your program focus area.
15:30
Continue project work in the afternoon and deliver informal English workshops to the broader community.
18:30
Enjoy a meal together and reflect on the work you did that day and its impact on the environment and local community.
19:30
Time to relax! Make use of the common areas to spend time with your new friends, play a game or study.
