English Teaching Assistant- Refugee Camp

About the Role

Join Sandblast Arts in supporting our creative education program, Desert Voicebox, which provides English and music education to Saharawi refugee children living in exile in Algeria. As an Assistant English Teacher, you’ll work alongside local Saharawi teachers to deliver fun, interactive English lessons that help children build confidence in speaking, listening, and creative expression.

You’ll also have the opportunity to organize a Saturday book club to strengthen listening skills and cultural exchange through storytelling and pen-pal activities. Volunteers with additional experience may also run creative English workshops, introducing drama, music, or role-playing to make learning engaging and memorable.

Key Responsibilities

• Support local teachers in preparing and delivering English lessons
• Lead small-group or one-on-one English practice sessions
• Help organize extracurricular learning activities such as the Saturday book club and pen-pal projects
• Encourage creativity and confidence through interactive games and storytelling
• Collaborate with the teaching team to share new ideas and resources

Time Commitment

• Minimum 3 weeks in the camps (September–May)
• Ideally 1–2 months to build strong connections with students and teachers

Skills & Qualifications

• Experience teaching children (TEFL/TESOL certification preferred)
• At least 3+ months’ classroom or tutoring experience
• Fluency in English
• Experience working with vulnerable groups preferred
• Flexibility, creativity, and a willingness to adapt to new challenges
• Experience in theatre, storytelling, or creative writing is a plus

Why Volunteer with Sandblast?

This is a meaningful opportunity to make a tangible impact on children’s lives while gaining hands-on teaching experience in a unique cross-cultural setting. You’ll be part of a small, dedicated team supporting education and empowerment in one of the world’s most overlooked refugee communities.

We provide full support with visas, travel logistics, and accommodation with a local host family during your time in the camps.

What we provide

Sandblast will cover the costs of accommodation and meals with a local host family for up to one month of volunteering time. If you would like to volunteer beyond one month, accommodation and food costs will amount to $17 per day.

How to Apply

Please email commssandblast@gmail.com with your CV and a brief statement about why you’d like to volunteer, your availability, and how long you’d be able to stay.