Volunteers will work for the program BiIlingual Education for Central America (BECA), 2016-17
I am an alumni of an incredible program called Bilingual Education for Central America (BECA), and they’re hiring for the upcoming 2016-17 academic year. BECA was featured in a recent VICE documentary highlighting the positive methods it is using to help solve some of the region’s endemic problems- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vINx0ajcVw
Their mission is to promote cultural exchange and affordable bilingual education. Their volunteer driven bilingual school model creates an environment in which Honduran students learn from dedicated volunteer teachers, and those volunteers learn from the community in which they are immersed – a true grassroots approach to development.
I was drawn to this program for a number of reasons. BECA provides its volunteers with all associated living costs throughout the year making it economically viable. One of the BECA program’s highlights is the 5 week Summer Institute training program it runs to train new volunteers in the art of teaching while also offering multiple professional development opportunities and custom curriculum materials for use throughout the year. .
BECA takes pride in providing bilingual education of the highest-quality, and at the heart of its mission is a desire to foster long-term community investment. Our partnership model ensures that those who lead and direct BECA schools are Hondurans native to the communities in which we engage, and our alternative contribution tuition-model allows families from a variety of economic backgrounds to participate in our schools.
Currently, we collaborate with three different communities spread through two different regions of Honduras: Macuelizo, Santa Barbara; Vida Nueva, Cortes; and Cofradia, Cortes. Each school takes on a unique identity representative of its adjoining community, and partners work closely with BECA teachers and staff to provide cultural training that promotes united community engagement and cultural exchange.
For more information, please feel free to contact me directly, or check out our website – becaschools.org
BECA is hiring 34 volunteers for a full-year contract beginning July 2016. Spots are competitive, hovering around a 25% acceptance rate, and volunteers are accepted on a rolling basis.
