Volunteer with Children in the Philippines

Help children to develop their skills while experiencing daily life on the beautiful island of Cebu

Destination

Philippines

Age

16+ y/o

Minimum Stay

2 weeks

Start Date

anytime

Accommodation

homestay

What’s Included

24/7 Support

Round-the-clock support on the ground and 24/7 back up from our global teams.

Accommodation & Amenities

Clean, safe, and welcoming accommodation. A home away from home with comfortable amenities.

Activities, Training & Equipment

All programme activities and equipment, including training and workshops from experienced professionals.

Certification

Certified record of service hours, workshops, and activities for your CV.

Request Info

Starting at £1,675 for 2 weeks

Flexible 0% Interest payments

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Trip Overview

Work with local experts

Join forces with local teachers to foster a love of learning in Filipino children and improve learning outcomes and opportunities for young people.

Create classroom adventures

Design engaging activities to make early learning fun and interactive, including shape recognition, basic maths, and developing motor skills.

Support special needs students

Provide individual attention to children with special needs, helping them reach their potential in a country where disability care is tough to find.

Enjoy island living

Immerse yourself in Filipino culture and live with a host family, visit important historical landmarks and markets, or relax on stunning beaches.

Surprise yourself and grow

Travel the world and leave your comfort zone behind, developing your teaching skills, confidence, and more while supported by our staff.

What you need to know

Overview

If you’re a creative and energetic person who loves working with children, then this Childcare & Community Project in the Philippines is perfect for you, whatever your age!

You can join for two weeks or more, and we offer flexible start and end dates to suit your schedule.

This project offers hands-on experience, working alongside local professionals to help children learn, develop, and thrive. You’ll gain valuable skills and make a real contribution.

When you arrive, you’ll receive a full project induction, covering everything you need to know. Plus, you’ll have a dedicated supervisor on hand to guide you and answer any questions. And to inspire your activities, you’ll have access to a fantastic resource database packed with educational games and ideas.

Our local team is available 24/7 to support you with any issues that come up. We also host regular workshops for our Teaching and Childcare volunteers, so you can share ideas, get advice, and troubleshoot challenges together.

A Day in the Life

You’ll wake up in the home of your host family, who will look after you as one of their own during your time abroad. After breakfast, you’ll travel to your placement. A typical workday begins at 8 am, Monday through Friday.

If you choose to volunteer at a kindergarten, your day will be split into two sessions where you will work with different groups of children. The morning shift runs from 8 am – 10.30 am, and the afternoon shift from 1 pm – 3.30 pm. You will also need to set aside time for planning activities and preparing resources.

The students follow the Department of Education’s K-12 Curriculum. At their level, the focus is on learning basic skills. You will find yourself helping with lessons or running activities to help teach important concepts. Your day will end at 4pm, and will include a break for lunch.

If you choose to work with special needs children, you will spend most of your time assisting the tutors and working in small groups with the students. The children range in age from 6 to 19 and are divided into two classrooms. One class for those who are hearing impaired and the other for those with learning difficulties. Your day will end at 3 pm, and also includes a lunch break.

Once you’re done for the day, there’s plenty of time to explore the city with other volunteers and sample delicious local cuisine at a beachside restaurant.

Aims & Impact

The aim of this project is to support early childhood development. Childcare volunteering in the Philippines ensures that children get a solid foundation for their future learning.

Around a quarter of the population in the Philippines lives in poverty. This causes a number of associated social problems, such as illness and illiteracy. Children are especially vulnerable and are often deprived of education and healthcare. Overcrowding in schools is common, with a ratio of around 60 students to one teacher. Access to specialised care for those with special needs is also difficult to come by.

Investing in early childhood development is vital to breaking the poverty cycle in many disadvantaged communities in Bogo City. To break this cycle, Projects Abroad has elected not to work with children in orphanages in the Philippines, but rather focus on community-based programmes that allow children to remain within their families.

With the help of volunteers like you, we can work towards addressing the needs of these children and the local community. Our goals on this Childcare Project include:

Increasing literacy
Promoting early childhood development
Improving hygiene levels
Increasing emotional care and support
Improving the quality of life for those living with disabilities

Join us in the Philippines and help to create positive, long-term change in a disadvantaged community.

Activities

There are so many different activities that you can get involved in when working with children in the Philippines. Everything you do forms part of our work to help children at our placements. During your time abroad, you can:

Teach vital early childhood skills at kindergartens
Improve classroom support
Encourage learning through creativity
Provide individualised support and stimulation to children with special needs

Your work will focus on the following areas:

Teach vital early childhood skills to children at kindergartens

Early childhood is a vital stage of development in a child’s life. It lays the foundation for their future learning, wellbeing, and success. Your role is to help them learn basic but important skills that they should achieve during this stage. These skills include recognising shapes, learning the alphabet, being able to count, and fine motor skills.

You’ll work at a kindergarten with different groups of young children. Children in the Philippines start school at age 5, so kindergarten is a chance for them to slowly adjust to the world of formal education.

Improve classroom support

As part of your role, you will help support the local teachers. The tasks here will vary, involving anything from planning lessons, running activities and helping with class management and discipline. You might also offer remedial classes to students who are struggling.

Overcrowding is a major problem in Philippine schools. You will be an extra pair of hands in the classroom, ensuring students receive the individualised attention they need.

Encourage learning through creativity

Most of all, you have the chance to make the children’s learning experience a stimulating one. Whether it’s through dance, songs, art, or games, there are so many ways you can make education fun.

You have access to a shared database for creative lesson ideas from previous volunteers, in case you need some inspiration. Projects Abroad is also happy to provide you with extra materials, such as art supplies.

Provide individualised support and stimulation to children with special needs

Instead of working at a kindergarten, you can volunteer at a school for special needs students. You’ll work with small groups of hearing-impaired children or those with learning difficulties. The individualised teaching and support you will provide to those students will go a long way in helping them learn new skills.

Access to specialised disability care in the Philippines is generally hard to come by. Many people with disabilities are marginalised and have limited access to education. Your support and attention could help them thrive in the classroom and become more autonomous in their learning.

Map & Location

Mabuhay! That’s “welcome” in the Philippines, the world’s second-largest archipelago, formed of over 7,000 islands in Southeast Asia. Famous for a unique blend of Asian and Spanish cultures, you will struggle to find a more welcoming country to visit.

The Philippines has incredible biodiversity with many endemic species and unique geological formations, like the popular Chocolate Hills. For a more urban experience, hop in a jeepney or tuk-tuk and enjoy Filipino pastimes like Karaoke and water sports.

Bogo City

Bogo City, located on the northeastern coast of Cebu Island in the Philippines, is a growing city with a population of about 90,000. With a tropical climate, warm temperatures, and sunshine year-round, it is filled with beautiful beaches, lush green hills, and landmarks like the Bogo City Hall.

The city is famous for water sports and natural beauty, including several nearby waterfalls. Despite only being established as a city in 2007, it has all the essentials within easy reach.

San Remigio

San Remigio, neighbouring Bogo City on the northern coast of Cebu Island, is a laid-back town with stunning natural beauty. With over 65,000 residents, it boasts the longest coastline in Cebu, offering a variety of beaches with white sand and crystal-clear waters.

San Remigio has a tropical climate with warm temperatures all year, perfect for exploring the nearby beaches, islands, and historical sites. The town also offers a glimpse into local life with its public market and friendly community.

Food & Accommodation

Get ready for unforgettable fun in the Philippines! We’ll set you up with a wonderful host family (vetted by us, of course!), providing a comfortable room, three delicious meals a day, and fresh drinking water. It’s all part of making your adventure amazing.

Your host family will provide you with delicious, local food and introduce you to the incredible Filipino culture. We’ll aim to have you share your host family with other Projects Abroad participants of the same gender and approximate age. We’ll also organise your transport to and from your placement every day.

Your home away from home will be clean, safe, and secure, the perfect place to explore the stunning scenery of the Philippines. You’ll also have easy access to nearby internet cafes, keeping you in touch with your loved ones.

Free Time and Leisure

The Philippines is made up of over 7,000 islands, so naturally there are beautiful beaches where you can relax during your free time. However, there are plenty of other activities to keep you busy during your trip.

With white-sand beaches come all the exciting activities associated with living close to the sea. You can go snorkelling through the pristine waters, play volleyball, or relax on the sand as the sun sets.

In Cebu City itself, you can explore the traditional Carbon Market. For an insight into the country’s history, you can visit Fort San Pedro and Magellan’s Cross. Here, you’ll learn more about the Spanish conquest.

The Spanish influence is also felt in the regular fiestas and street parades held in the Philippines. If you volunteer around the end of January, you’ll even get to experience the Sinulog Festival, a nine day Mardi Gras-style party.

With so many volunteers joining us throughout the year, there will likely be other travellers in the Philippines during your trip. You can connect with them and explore as a group or travel independently if you prefer.

Your Arrival Made Easy

When you arrive at your respective airport, a member of Projects Abroad staff will be there to meet you. You can find more detailed information on arrival airports, orientation, and visas on our Philippines Arrival Procedures page.