Volunteer Teaching in The Republic of Georgia

Volunteer Teaching in The Republic of Georgia

• New opportunities emerging to teach and volunteer in Georgia
• Rent and return airfare completely covered
• Apply directly with TLG, or through a responsible recruiting agency

Interested in serving as a volunteer teacher in Georgia? If so, you are a part of a growing trend. Since July 2010 a surprising number of Westerners have landed in the Republic of Georgia to teach English, and in 2011 this interest is only expected to grow.

A scenic Eastern European country located in the Caucuses and bordering the Black Sea, Georgia is a country of mountainous terrain, ancient hillside castles and churches, cobblestone streets, and friendly locals. In the past year, hundreds of volunteers have landed in the capital, Tbilisi, to teach in public schools throughout the country. The Republic of Georgia, a lesser-known former Soviet Republic, has made huge strides towards modernization in recent years. The program’s aim – to improve the quality of education in the country – is a top priority for the Government of Georgia.

The program has attracted many young volunteers eager to make a difference, but who don’t have the money for expensive volunteer programs. Said Richard Weaver, 24 year old who recently started in Georgia through Greenheart Travel, “I knew I wanted to make a difference, but didn’t have the money to pay for an expensive volunteer program. Volunteering (in Georgia) hasn’t been easy, but each and every day I’m making a difference. That feels great.”

While the TLG program is new, it has quickly gained popularity. In the last six months alone, over 500 new volunteers have arrived in Georgia. According to the Georgian government, the goal is to have nearly 3,000 teachers in Georgia within the next year. In order to find suitable applicants, TLG is working with Western recruitment organizations, such as Reach To Teach. Carrie Kellenberger, HR Director at Reach To Teach, recently returned from a visit to Georgia and had this to say about her experience, “TLG genuinely cares about their teacher volunteers. They carefully screen the home stay families and schools. Teachers should expect challenges, but a very rewarding overall experience.”

Ananuri, Georgia

Footprints Recruiting, one of the world’s largest teacher recruitment companies, has also played an integral role in helping the TLG program get off the ground. According to Co-Owner Ben Glickman, Footprints sent 279 teachers to Georgia in 2010 and plans to send many more in 2011. Said Glickman, “This program is not only about teaching English, but also about inculcating Georgia with western values and the western way of life.”

The program is not without detractors. Some teachers have expressed frustration at the lack of proper teaching materials in schools. Others have found the transition difficult; many of the volunteers we spoke to experienced strong feelings of culture shock. Despite the difficulties, nearly every volunteer was happy with their decision to volunteer in Georgia. Said one teacher, “The experience hasn’t always been easy, but I’ve learned an incredible amount about myself. I’m young and now is the time to challenge myself. I wouldn’t trade this experience for the world.”

Benefits

The benefits of teaching in Georgia are excellent for a volunteer program: Round trip airfare is fully covered, housing is free, medical insurance is included, and teachers are provided a stipend of approximately $300 US Dollars per month. Teachers should keep in mind, however, that the benefits pale in comparison to those offered in countries such as South Korea, China, Japan, and Taiwan. Teachers may save some money, but this shouldn’t be the primary motivation for participation. Anna Kacyn, who recruits volunteers for Greenheart Travel, advises candidates to have a realistic approach, “Don’t go to Georgia because it will be easy. Go because you’re interested in the culture, history and in providing education to those who need it. You need to embrace that.”

Many teachers emphasized the importance of the connections they made with fellow volunteers. Upon arrival, all volunteers participate in a week-long orientation. The orientation includes Georgian language classes, teacher training, and courses in cross-cultural understanding. This provides teachers the opportunity to make lasting connections during their time in Georgia. Said Kristen Jones, “Orientation week was so important for me. I made great friends from all over the world. I see them all the time. We support each other through ups and downs, which has made a huge difference to me.”

Georgian Culture

Georgian culture is incredibly warm and welcoming. It’s a Georgian tradition to consider all guests “gifts”. Since every volunteer will live with a Georgian family, this is a very positive cultural attribute. Georgian meals typically include copious amounts of alcohol, a fact enjoyed by most volunteers. Another popular local customs is a “supra”, the Georgian version of an extremely lavish feast.

Qualifications for Volunteering in Georgia

The Black Sea coast of Georgia

All volunteers have the choice of signing six month or one year contracts. In contrast to many teach abroad programs, TLG does not require applicants be citizens of traditional native English speaking counties. Successful applicants will be fluent English speakers, preferably with teaching or volunteer experience. Two years of post-secondary education is preferred. Reach To Teach, Footprints and Greenheart all emphasize experience abroad as an attribute of most successful applications. Says Ms. Kacyn, “There are certain things you learn from traveling that you can’t learn in other ways.” According to Ms. Kellenberger, “Reach To Teach looks for applicants with experience living abroad” and a, “flexible and upbeat attitude”.

Safety

By almost any standard, Georgia is a safe country. According to the last UN survey on crime trends, Georgia had a lower crime rate than the United States, Canada, the UK and France. Still, teachers should take the same precautions as in their home countries. According to Glickman and Kacyn, TLG registers all teachers with their embassies upon arrival in Georgia.

How to apply to the Teach & Learn with Georgia Program

The TLG program works with three teacher/volunteer programs: Footprints, Reach To Teach and Greenheart. Regardless of which organization you choose, the TLG program is the same. However, there are differences in the post-placement support you will receive from each organization. We recommend you thoroughly research all three organizations and choose the best fit for you.