Volunteers Needed!

1. Economic Institution Building to protect poor people's property rights in Baojing, Hunan needs 2 volunteers with environmental tourism skills, or economics, or public health every summer;
2. summer camps volunteers needed to teach civics and English in Benxi, Jishou, Baojing, Beijing and Yunnan;
3. Rural Minority Women training school in Jishou needs 5 volunteers for 3 months in the summer and 2 volunteers with NGO administrative skills and grant writing skills.
4. Since 2003, every year, we will have a one-month trainig program for rural teachers in Jishou Teachers' College, 4 volunteers needed.

Summer Camps Volunteers FAQs

Who can volunteer?

Any college students, all professionals, all skilled workers, or exceptional high school students can apply for a volunteer position.

Where will volunteers live and what are the conditions of the housing?

All volunteers will live in a teachers' dorm or students' dorm inside the school. Room and board are free. Accommodation facilities will include a shower, a toilet, and a furnished room. The school will have an Internet-ready computer for volunteers to use. There are many Internet bars in China.

If some volunteers prefer to live with a local Chinese family, this can be arranged.

Is medical insurance provided?

The Jishou schools will provide emergency medical care as they do for their local teachers. University students are advised to buy student travel insurance which is less than $50 per year. All volunteers must have valid health insurance that can be used internationally.

What kind of medical care is available?

There are both Western and Chinese hospitals in Jishou and Yunnan.

Will teachers use a standard text book or be expected to create their own curriculum?

Standard text books will be provided. Teachers are allowed to make changes. Many classes will focus on oral English.

What will be the cost?

The cost for the volunteers would be the international airfare, visa, shots, and the domestic travel. It is advised for volunteers to bring at least $200 just in case some emergency occurs.

All volunteers are encouraged to apply for a Bowman Travel Grant . or call 1-800-40-study

How long?

It depends. Some can come for two to three weeks, while others can stay for five to six weeks (July 15-August 23). We can arrange for you to stay longer if you prefer.

What can volunteers gain from the camp?

This will be a totally new experience. Voluteers will learn how to do with little. The volunteers will help to change the lives of poor and minority students. Most of the kids have never been to a summer camp in their life. The local government will issue a community service certificate in recognition of the volunteers' efforts (200 hours of community service).

What can the Chinese learn from the volunteers?

Through English teaching and interaction, Chinese will have a better understanding of other people. They will pay more attention to the basics of human dignity -- the right to say what they feel, the right to worship freely, for women to be treated as human beings and equal partners. The values that we enjoy so easily here, and the rights that we enjoy so easily here, we hope that Chinese young will have them soon."

Anyone who is interested, Please send an email at katezhou@yifei.org and a $50 processing fee to:

EAFI
3356 Francis St.
Honolulu HI 96815-4142 USA.