Info

If you have a lot of love, care, patience and compassion, you'll want to take part in this project!

You'll work in a home that is under the auspices of Mother Teresa of Calcutta and her Missionaries of Charity and was the first Mission Home to be opened in 1955 (there are now 610 Missions in 123 countries).

The Home is quietly tucked away in a suburban street and is an oasis of calm for the children, all of whom have been abandoned or rescued off the streets. You'll assist the dedicated sisters and helpers in their caring, teaching, healing and preventative work with these vulnerable babies and children. You'll instantly fall in love with the children and their smiles will melt your heart. You really will make a difference to their lives.

The children in this Home have all been abandoned - unwanted for many reasons, from being female to having mental for physical disabilities. Some are often street kids as young as 3 years old whom the sisters have rescued and brought into the Home. The number of children in the Home can vary at any one time.

The children's ages range from as young as one day old up to around 10 years of age. The Home works vigorously to try to get the children adopted into good homes and, fortunately, this does sometimes happen.

These children desperately need tender loving care and this is where you come in. You'll assist the sisters and helpers in caring for the children in their daily needs, such as feeding, bathing, and dressing them. But ther is a lot more you'll do, including helping to keep the Home clean and helping to teach the children. Generally, when the children reach 3 years old, they go to school every day and need help with homework when they get back. Some of your time will also be taken up with playing with the children, bringing some lighthearted fun into their lives!

WORK CONTENT

Your work will be very hands-on as you will be dealing with all of the children - be prepared to get very grubby!! Your work load and responsibilities will depend on your abilities and attitude to your work and you'll assume more responsibilities as you grow in confidence and as the staff's confidence in you grows. You should be supervised all of the time while you are there, and you will be given help and directions. Your work may include some or all of the following:

* Helping the staff wash and dress the older children
* Bottle feed the babies
* Changing nappies
* Feeding the older children
* Teaching basic English and Maths
* Teaching the older children nursery rhymes
* Organising and facilitating games for the children

By playing games with the children you also encourage confidence building. It also encourages children to use English in an informal way, and even with the younger children it gives them exposure to the language at an early age. Playing games may seem irrelevant on the surface, but it helps to build up team spirit and skills, leadership skills, dexterity and quick thinking, and a healthy competitive spirit. It also gives them a more developed ability to interact with their peers.

For many of the older children, you are able to integrate education into games and also help with homework etc. Where children are not taught at the orphanage you will help these on their return from school in the afternoon.

Duration

Available all year round. Our placements are very flexible, you can choose your own start and finish dates.

Start Dates

Flexible start and finish dates you choose. Our placements are flexible and can be tailored to match your preferences. For availability please contact the office.

Costs / Benefits

Costs vary depending on length of placement, but starts at £845 for two weeks. You can participate for up to one year, subject to visa requirements.
Included is full support from the moment of booking and throughout your placement to your return home. There are support staff 24/7 in all our destinations worldwide and a 24 hour emergency international telephone line direct to the Head Office. All meals are provided, unless otherwise stated. Accommodation is provided (whether a rented house, a hotel/hostel, homestay, apartment or flat).
You’ll be met at the nearest airport on your arrival by our in-country manager who will take you to your accommodation and give you a full induction into the area. He/she will also be on call 24/7 and you’ll see them frequently.
Pre-departure you’ll receive comprehensive information about every aspect of your placement and necessary preparations, ranging from what to pack, to visa information, to what to do on your weekend travel in the country. Your safety, well being and happiness throughout your placement are our primary concerns and we will keep in touch with you throughout. International flights not included.

Requirements

No qualifications or previous experience are necessary, just a good dose of enthusiasm! Everyone is welcome on a Travellers programme, whether gap year, undergraduate, on a career break - or even retired! From 17 years old upwards, and all nationalities. This placement would suit anyone who wants to make a real difference, wants first-hand experience of a different culture and has initiative.