Volunteer Music Teacher

VOLUNTEER POSITION: Volunteer Music Teacher

The Starfish Foundation (Fundación Estrellitas del Mar) is looking for short and long-term volunteers to work with our high school students giving music classes in Guayaquil, Ecuador! This is a great opportunity for anyone who enjoys working with youth, is passionate about Latin American culture, and believes that education is the path to a better future!

WHERE: Guayaquil, Ecuador

Starfish Foundation volunteers live with a host family from our partner foundation, Mi Cometa, in a neighborhood called Guasmo Sur. Volunteers work in Guasmo Sur with our partner foundation and in Starfish's other neighborhood, Flor de Bastión. All families with which Starfish volunteers stay are experienced in hosting foreign volunteers and the accommodations are very comfortable. Buses are easily accessible to take you to the center of the city on your days off.

VOLUNTEERS RESPONSIBILITIES: Our students are interested in learning how to sing, play guitar, piano and many other various instruments. Volunteers will teach classes in the instruments they are proficient in with a fixed schedule during our tutoring program or on weekends. Additionally, all volunteers will:

• Act as a mentor to our students through their presence at our regularly scheduled programming such as monthly meetings and/or field trips.
• Write for The Starfish Foundation's blog with updates on your volunteer experience
• Opportunities exist to assist with special workshops, homework help, house visits and other programming as they arise.

SKILLS NEEDED:

• Some Spanish - specifically music terms (and willing to learn!)
• High School graduate (College preferred but not required)
• Experience and passion for working with youth
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Patience and flexibility
• Strong sense of initiative
• Excellent communication skills
• Travel experience in developing nations (recommended)

WORKING HOURS:

Current programming runs Monday – Thursday 9:00am-11:30am and 2:30-5pm and 1 Saturday/Sunday per month from 1:30-4pm. Music classes could be set up during these times and/or on Fridays and weekends. When not teaching music classes, volunteers are expected to be present at other programming to be a constant, positive presence in the lives of our students.

INCLUDES:

• Airport Pick-Up and Drop-Off
• Starfish Polo
• Cell Phone for use during volunteer experience (will need to add minutes)
• Work related business expenses
• Work related travel expenses
• Coordinate housing with a family in Guasmo
• 1 week in-country orientation
• Assistance with Visa paperwork if staying beyond the 90-day tourist visa

DOES NOT INCLUDE:

• Cost of Housing and Food
  • With host families this is $5/person/night including housing and 3 home-cooked meals per day.
• Personal Expenses including re-charging cell phone with minutes
• Cost of international health insurance (recommended - For short-term experiences usually costs $50/$60 per month)

TIME COMMITMENT: We recommend at least a 1 month time commitment*. If you have a special project proposal for less than 1 month, please contact us as it may be possible to do an adapted version of our volunteer program!

• Note* The school year in Guayaquil runs from April-January. In February-March preparations are made for the new school year, including the selection of new scholarship recipients. During this time, a volunteer would have a less-fixed schedule and would have to be flexible and patient with last-minute schedule changes.