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Join GoEco in China to teach English in village primary schools or assist in a local kindergarten. Most volunteers will live and work in the village of Fengyen.

Program Highlights:
  • Experience rural China and its villages
  • Choice of volunteer placement
  • Help out at a local kindergarten or teach English at a village primary schools
  • Explore China's magic with fellow volunteers during free time on the weekends

Your Schedule at a Glance (Minimum Two-Week Commitment):

Day 1, Sunday: Arrive at Guilin Liangjiang International Airport (KWL). You will be picked up from the airport and taken to settle in to your accommodations and meet fellow volunteers,

Day 2, Monday: Volunteers will receive an orientation, complete with a Chinese culture lesson, language lesson, tour of Fengyan and a trek up a local mountain!

Days 3-6, Tuesday- Friday: Rewarding volunteer work at the school.

Days 7-8, Saturday and Sunday: Volunteers staying only one week will depart on Saturday. The weekend is free for volunteers who are extending to spend how they wish.

Remaining Weeks: Remaining weeks will follow the pattern of volunteering Monday-Friday and having weekends free.

 
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Location of the Project:  Fengyan in Guangxi province in the South of China
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Project length:  Min 2 weeks - Max 8 weeks
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Arrival Airport:  Guilin Liangjiang International Airport (KWL)
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Volunteer Work:  Community aid and teaching
Age:  17 - 55
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Important Note:  You must apply for this program 1 - 2 months in advance in order to have enough time to get your visa processed. All volunteers need a visa to enter China.

What's Included

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Accommodations:  Shared accommodation
Food:  3 meals per day
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Airport Transfers:  Airport pickup on Sunday
Orientation:  Volunteers will receive an orientation, complete with a Chinese culture lesson, language lesson, tour of Fengyan and a trek up a local mountain!
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Support:  Comprehensive and professional pre-departure travel guidance, 24/7 GoEco emergency hotline, experienced local field team.

What's not Included

Flights, visas (if required), travel health insurance, personal expenses
Fengyan is a small but well preserved village in Guangxi province in the South of China (42kms from Yangshuo and 104 kms from the city of Guilin). It typifies the traditional rural way of life in China and is where we base our volunteer projects. The people there are hard working – it is not unusual for the farmers to go to their fields at 6.30 a.m. and not return until 7.00 p.m. as they seek to provide food and money for their families. Because of the rural location of the project, volunteers will be picked up from the airport and transported to a nearby bus station, where you will get to your project site by bus and then high-speed train.
Volunteers will work in one of the following placements:

Teaching English to Kids: Teach conversational English at the village primary schools. Teaching is usually 1-3 hours per day, five days a week, although you will need to add in time for planning your lessons. Essential teaching skills and how to prepare for your lessons are covered in your first week - in particular how to cope when you have few teaching resources! Anything you can bring from your home country to assist your teaching will be of great benefit. During the summer months (typically mid July-September) you can take part in a children's English Summer Camp where the local rural family children learn and practice their English. 

Helping out at a Kindergarten: You will work with young children where the emphasis is more on fun and amusement than on a formal syllabus. You will teach for about 5 to 10 hours a week. The kindergarten is at Lian Hua, close to the centre at Fengyan. The children are about 4-5 years old and right at the start of their school careers. They are mainly from poor villages in and around the area – they will be very excited to see you. You will be one of the first westerners they have ever met!

Holidays:
The school break in 2019 runs from July 15 - September 1, 2019, and the breaks in 2020 are January 31 - March 1 and July 15- September 1. You may still enroll in the educational programs during this time, but please note that activities will be different and may range from assisting in summer camps to renovation and beautification projects.

Volunteer work also does not take place during national holidays, but you are always welcome to join in the local celebration. Please note these consecutive holidays, which may impact short-term placements, before registering:
  • April 29 - May 1, 2019
  • July 15 -  September 1, 2019
  • October 1-7, 2019
  • April 5 - 6, 2020
  • May 1 - 3, 2020
  • June 25 - 27, 2020
  • October 1 - 8, 2020
Internet
Internet:  Internet is available at the training center.
Laundry
Laundry:  Washing machines are available for participants to use for free.
Accommodations
Accommodations:  Accommodations in Fengyan will be at a volunteer center with shared rooms (for 2-8 people each), hot water, showers and western toilets.
Food:  During your stay you will be provided with 3 Chinese meals a day. This will be mainly rice and vegetable dishes, however please note that most dishes will contain some meat.
Please take note of this programs minimum requirements:
  • Minimum age of 17
  • Police clearance 
  • Basic level of English
  • Travel visa
  • Immunizations (please consult your doctor)
Culture Week (Highly Recommended):
This week you will learn about Chinese culture, language and customs. You will take part in some of the ancient Chinese crafts (such as calligraphy and paper crafting), tour local sites, take in the magnificent scenery and learn some basic Chinese.

Chinese Language Classes: If you are interested in gaining a deeper understanding of Chinese culture, consider enrolling in complementary language lessons! The classes meet once a day for an hour after your volunteering hours. To add this option to your project, simply update your operations manager after applying to the project and we will arrange this for you at no additional cost to you.
 
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