At a glance
- Support the hard work of teachers in Jamaica, focusing on the early development of young children
- Help improve essential skills like math, literacy, motor skills, health, and hygiene
- Work with other students to create fun and engaging lesson plans
- Complete renovation and gardening work to create a pleasant learning environment
- Stay in the historical city of Mandeville, visit idyllic waterfalls, and explore Jamaican culture
Is volunteering with children in Jamaica for spring break right for me?
Do you want to make the most of your spring break? This is an incredible opportunity to travel to a stunning destination, build skills for your resume, and be part of our long-term work to help disadvantaged children in Jamaica.
This program is for ambitious college and university students who want to go the extra mile during their spring break. Whether you’re interested in a childcare career or just want to support the development of children, you’ll enjoy this project.
By volunteering with children in Jamaica, you’ll have to be adaptable, open-minded, and resilient. You’ll build your communication and leadership skills as you discover what you’re capable of. Are you up for the challenge?
There are no requirements for this project, but you should be enthusiastic, hard-working, and willing to make the most of this opportunity.
Running for fixed dates in March, this Childcare Project is designed to coincide with most university spring break dates.
What will I do on this spring break Childcare Project in Jamaica?
You’ll complete a range of tasks on this Childcare Project in Jamaica. Your focus will be on the following:
Support the early development of children in Jamaica
The early development of children is the foundation for the rest of their lives. By supporting them in this area, you’ll increase their chances of achieving success in life. Schools in Jamaica are often understaffed. Your support increases the attention each child receives, helping them thrive.
Working with young children in a daycare center or kindergarten, you’ll help them meet important milestones. You’ll focus on math and literacy. Help teach counting and spelling by creating colorful posters and flashcards. Teachers will continue to use these resources after you leave.
Another aspect of early development is hand-eye coordination. You’ll organize arts, crafts, sports, and games to help children hone their motor skills. Watch their eyes light up as you make education fun and engaging.
Run hygiene and healthy living workshops
You’ll take a broad approach to education, which means going beyond academic subjects. Help raise awareness of healthy living, so children grow up to be fit and free from illness.
Teachers in Jamaica often don’t have the time or resources to teach these life skills. By joining this spring break Childcare volunteer program, you can help children gain this crucial knowledge.
Find fun and creative ways to teach handwashing and teeth brushing. Turn exercise into a game. Make vegetables exciting. Help children learn good habits from an early age.
Complete basic renovation work
Volunteering with children in Jamaica for spring break goes beyond teaching. We’re passionate about leaving a lasting and sustainable impact on local communities. That’s why you’ll complete practical tasks that improve the educational experience.
Paint bright and informative murals that stimulate the creativity of schoolchildren. Repair desks so that students have a comfortable and productive workspace. Build play equipment that can aid the development of motor skills. Maintain the garden, creating a peaceful and stress-free environment.
Where will I work in Jamaica
Mandeville
You’ll stay with other volunteers in the university town of Mandeville, working at a publicly run daycare center. You may find the center to be understaffed and under-resourced, which is why your support is so valuable.
Mandeville is an in-land area of lush greenery, but you’ll also have the chance to visit Jamaica’s famous white beaches. The people of Jamaica are warm, friendly, and hospitable. You’ll experience the laid-back culture, letting the reggae rhythms guide you.
During your free time, discover majestic waterfalls on hikes or relax on idyllic beaches. Some memorable places within reach of Mandeville include Portland, Ocho Rios, Negril, YS Falls, and Treasure Beach.
What will my typical day be like?
You’ll arrive at the school at 8 am, giving you time to prepare your materials in the morning. As the children arrive, you’ll see the excitement in their eyes as they wait to see what you’ve planned.
Each workday will be different, as you rotate between lessons, games, singing, dancing, art, and other activities. Spend the day engaging with the children, monitoring how they respond and adjusting your approach to match their learning styles.
You’ll dedicate some days to renovating and gardening. This offers a break from teaching while you continue to support the education of children in Jamaica.
You’ll spend your evenings immersed in the culture of Jamaica. Play games and quizzes with your fellow volunteers, cook and eat local dishes, and relax with your host family.
On Friday, discover the town of Mandeville, hike the beautiful rolling hills that surround you, explore incredible waterfalls, and relax on stunning sandy beaches.
Aims and Impacts of volunteering with children in Jamaica
Your spring break in Jamaica will be impactful, for both you and the local community. Your role is to be part of our long-term efforts to strengthen the educational foundations of children in Jamaica.
Some areas of Mandeville are disadvantaged. There often isn’t enough investment in local schools. This has led to a cycle of intergenerational illiteracy, making it hard for residents to achieve their goals. You can help break this cycle by providing math and literacy education.
We’re working towards long-term goals to increase child numeracy and literacy rate, improve health and hygiene levels, and offer emotional support to disadvantaged young people. By volunteering with children in Jamaica, you’re part of helping us achieve this.
We also strive to leave a lasting impact on you. Spring break volunteering builds a variety of skills, including leadership, teamwork, communication, creativity, adaptability, and cultural awareness. These skills will help you thrive in your studies and beyond.
Management plans
We set out the aims and objectives of our projects in documents called Management Plans. We use them to properly plan the work you’ll do. They also help us measure and evaluate our achievements and impact each year.
Ultimately, our Management Plans help us make our projects better. This in turn means you get to be part of something that makes a real impact where it’s needed. Read more about our Management Plans.
Measuring our impact
Our projects work towards clear long-term goals, with specific annual objectives. Every volunteer and intern we send to these projects helps us work towards these goals, no matter how long they spend on our projects.
Every year we take a step back and look at how much progress we've made towards these goals. We put together a Global Impact Report, which documents our achievements. Find out more about the impact our global community of volunteers, interns and staff make, and read the latest report.
Food and accommodation
You'll stay with a host family in Mandeville. They’ll welcome you into their home, eager to share their customs and learn about your culture. We believe this is the best way to have a unique experience, immersed in the culture of Jamaica.
We’ll always try to let you live alongside other Projects Abroad volunteers or interns at the same host family. Your room will be modest, but comfortable, clean, and safe.
Your program fee includes three meals a day. Get ready to enjoy Jamaica’s delicious cuisine, from the ackee and codfish to the jerk chicken.
Find out more about our accommodation.
Leisure Activities
When you think of the tropical Caribbean, Jamaica is one of the first countries that comes to mind. With white-sand beaches and vibrant culture, this island nation has plenty to offer.
When you volunteer with children in Jamaica for spring break, you follow a set itinerary. This means we’ve already planned some memorable free time activities so you don’t have to! You’ll attend social events in the evenings, helping you relax, bond with fellow volunteers and local people, and soak in Jamaican culture.
On Friday, you’ll explore the incredible natural scenery that Jamaica has to offer. Feel the powerful refreshment of the iconic YS Falls and relax on the idyllic Bluefields Beach.
Safety and staff support
Your safety and security is our prime concern. We have many procedures and systems to ensure you have the support you need to enjoy your trip with peace of mind. Our Projects Abroad staff are available 24 hours a day to help, and will be on hand to make sure you settle in well at your accommodation and placement. If you encounter any problems, they will be available to help at any time.
Find out more about safety and backup.
This placement is fully researched, safety audited, and risk assessed in accordance with the British Standard BS8848 for the Adventure Travel Sector.
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