International English Language Teacher – Desert Voicebox, Saharawi Refugee Camps

THIS ROLE HAS BEEN FILLED

Desert Voicebox is an after-school English and creative arts programme run by Sandblast, a UK human rights and arts charity, in the Boujdour refugee camp in southwest Algeria. Since 2016, the programme has provided Saharawi refugee children with quality English language education while supporting local women to develop as educators. This is a skilled, meaningful role at the heart of that work.

We are looking for two experienced English Language Teachers to join Desert Voicebox for the 2026 to 2027 school year. The two teachers will arrive and work together, leading classes across Levels 1 to 4 for children aged approximately 8 to 12. Classes have a maximum of 15 students. Children enter Level 1 with little or no English, and over four years we aim to help them build toward a strong A2 or early B1 level.

This is also a deeply collaborative role. Both teachers will work closely with our two local Saharawi women teachers, Nanaha and Tarba, in a team-teaching model. The purpose of the placement is not only to deliver strong English teaching to children, but to strengthen the lesson planning, classroom practice, and confidence of the local teachers through daily shared teaching and reflection. The skills developed during this placement are intended to shape the programme well beyond the placement period itself.

Desert Voicebox currently uses the Macmillan Learning Lands curriculum as its core framework. Teachers will work from this while helping to adapt and enrich content so that it better reflects the children's lived reality, community, and aspirations.

Teaching takes place for approximately 3 hours per day, five days a week, alongside lesson planning, reflection, and collaboration. You will live with a Saharawi host family in the camp throughout the placement.

Timing and commitment

Virtual preparation meetings: 7 to 14 August 2026 Main onsite placement: 25 September to 18 December 2026 Follow-up visits in 2027: two short visits of up to 2 weeks each, likely one before and one after Ramadan, with exact dates still to be confirmed

Candidate profile

Candidates should be native or fluent English speakers with at least 2 years of substantial experience teaching English to primary-aged children, alongside formal accreditation in English language teaching or education. This might be a relevant degree, CELTA, Trinity CertTESOL, Level 5 TEFL/TESOL Diploma, CELT-P, CELT-S, DELTA, or MA TESOL. Initial certificates are not sufficient on their own; substantial classroom experience is essential. Experience in non-traditional, low-resource, or non-Western educational settings is important, as is a proven ability to collaborate closely with other teachers through shared planning, co-teaching, or observation.

What we offer

An honorarium of €2,500 is offered for the 12-week onsite placement, covering a €600 stipend, €1,260 for food and accommodation, up to €500 toward return flights from Europe to Tindouf, €80 toward external transport costs outside Algeria, and €60 toward travel insurance. For confirmed follow-up visits in 2027, Sandblast expects to cover flight costs, food and board, and offer a €100 stipend per two-week visit.