http://www.unitedplanet.org/china-summer-teaching-program-2011
Be immersed in Chinese culture: Teach, learn, forge friendships, live in schoolhouse.
Overview of the Itinerary:
Land in Beijing and spend a few days sightseeing (Forbidden City, Great Wall).
Travel to Haojiping, in a beautiful and remote area of the Hunan province.
While staying in a pressed-earth schoolhouse, teach English and environmental studies to local Chinese students (particularly girls).
On regular days of rest, visit the students’ families, explore nearby towns, go hiking, shop at local markets.
End with a graduation ceremony and trip back to Huaihua, Beijing and home.
Volunteers: The minimum age is 16, and all ages are welcome. Some knowledge of Chinese is helpful, but not necessary. Volunteers come from the U.S. and Canada, China, and a few other countries. The volunteers will live together (in same-sex rooms) for the duration of the program.
Students: The children are from the local area, and range in age from about 8 to 16; they are grouped by age into classes of 20-30 students.
Every summer since 2001, approximately 35 volunteers have participated in China Summer, working together to teach roughly 150 rural Chinese students. The goals are to:
Provide educational opportunities to rural students (especially girls), and strengthen environmental awareness.
Build friendships and understanding among people from around the world.
Foster youth leadership through practical experience in a challenging environment.
Experience life in rural China first-hand; learn about current social, political, environmental, and economic issues.
While in Beijing and Huaihua, volunteers stay at a hostel or hotel. In Haojiping, the program is hosted by the local school, the Haojiping Ethnic School. This will be the school’s third year providing the site for the program; the school is perched on a mountainside about a ten minute walk from the main street of Haojiping.
The school is made up of a complex of buildings, including classroom buildings, teacher housing, and student dormitories. Volunteers share a dormitory room with 7-10 of the same gender.
China Summer Teaching 2011 is $2495. The fee includes:
Extensive pre-departure training from the United Planet head office
Chinese food (3 meals a day)
All accommodations (hostel or hotel in Beijing, Huaihua; dormitory in Haojiping)
Airport and train station welcomes
All transportation within China (between Beijing, Huaihua, and Haojiping)
Beijing sightseeing; or university and college visit in Beijing
Huaihua sightseeing
Haojiping excursions
Emergency medical insurance
Country coordinator support
Thoroughly researched volunteer project
Volunteer care and other services
