Duration & Fees
| 3 weeks | £1,475 |
| 4 weeks | £1,899 |
| 6 weeks | £2,645 |
| 8 weeks | £3,295 |
Please note: The currency conversion is an estimate based on today's exchange rates and is to be used as a guide only. All payments to Amanzi Travel have to be made in Pounds Sterling (GBP)
Start Dates
Volunteers can join the project on any date during the year. We recommend that volunteers join on a Thursday or a Saturday so that we can arrange the speedboat to Naifaru Island, rather than the slower night ferry.
This project is open throughout the year however it does close from mid November to mid January.
Payment
£180 deposit at time of booking – balance payment of project fee due 12 weeks before departure
What's Included
- Accommodation
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Boat transfers from Male to Naifaru and back
- Orientation and support from project staff
- Local SIM card
- Visa (full details of the requirments are in your pre-departure pack and the visa is arranged for you)
What's not included
- Flights to Ibrahim Nassir International Airport (Male)
- Travel Insurance including cover for repatriation
- Overnight accommodation in Male on arrival (we will pre-arrange this for you)
- Snorkel equipment
- Optional excursions
Highlights
- Become involved in the whole teaching process in schools on a beautiful tropical island
- Teach a range of subjects or perhaps specialise in music, art or computing
- Choose to teach at primary or secondary level, collaborating with teachers from other schools
- Work in a multi-cultural environment amidst local island communities
- Learn to dive in one of the world's top dive locations
- Enjoy weekly boat trips to neighbouring islands
- Experience the 'real' Maldives and make friends for life with other like-minded volunteers
The teaching assistant project allows volunteers to become involved in the whole teaching process, from the early stages of lesson planning, right through to the delivery of these lessons, plus gaining an inside view of education in the Maldives. Volunteers will work with the resident teachers and administrators, as well as with the parents of the children, and will invariably strengthen their own skills at the same time. Volunteers are made very welcome and their input is very much appreciated. Volunteers can choose to work with primary or secondary age pupils and can teach English, art, maths, biology, chemistry, physics, music and computing - and can specialise in any subject or age range in which they have particular interest and experience.
Currently the teaching assistant programme is located on the islands of the Lhivayani Atoll - and on Naifaru in particular. It is planned to extend the programme to reach schools on some of the smaller islands and this could mean that a volunteer could take on the challenge of being the only international volunteer on one of these smaller islands - an opportunity not to be missed!
The Maldives are quickly becoming a computer literate country and volunteers with experience in this subject - whether it be in social media or graphic design - will be especially welcome. This work is done in a fully equipped ICT centre and volunteers can also expect to teach adults, parents and government officials how to use specific programmes and software - from Microsoft Word to Adobe Design, to building websites and teaching about internet security.
Volunteers who are more creative with a paint brush than a mouse, can use their artistic expertise to volunteer as an art teacher in either a primary or secondary school. Such teachers will have free reign when planning a creative curriculum and there will be opportunities to work with other schools on joint art projects, which can be exhibited in the local community. Music teachers similarly can share their music knowledge and help to widen the skill range of the young people with whom they will be working.
There will also be opportunities to work on joint projects with other volunteers - such as art or environmental exhibitions or campaigns such as the 'Clean Up Campaign' which helps to educate the children and the communities about recycling.
Important Notes: Volunteers will be required to provide evidence of qualifications or experience in the subject they wish to teach (high school diploma is the minimum).
Volunteer wishing to join this project will have to enter on a businesss visa. Amanzi Travel will arrange this for you however it does take at least 5 weeks to arrange and we will require documents from you at least 5 weeks before you join (as detailed in your pre-depature pack that you receive upon booking).
Naifaru Island
The beautiful island of Naifaru is located in the Lhaviyani Atoll in the Northern Maldives. The island lies approximately 142 kilometers (88 miles) north of the capital, Malé and is approximately 53 hectares (53 km²) in size. It is the fifth most populated island in the Maldives yet small enough to enjoy seeing everything on foot. Naifaru is a bustling little community, with a beautifully friendly and welcoming community, many restaurants, coffee shops, a hospital, post office and a bank. Naifaru has just over 5,000 people currently registered on the island with the majority being Maldivian whilst there are a small number of expatriate workers from countries such as Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Naifaru has a few main streets which form a grid within which you will find a maze of intricate side streets and alleys. Both the main streets and side streets are always filled with people of all ages, sitting around talking, playing local card games or even playing Maldivian music in the street – Naifaru is an island full of life and friendly people, a great place to make new friends and have a amazing volunteer experience.
Given the relatively small size of the island, everything is within easy reach – From the volunteer house you can walk to any of our projects in less than ten minutes. Or you might walk down to one of the island's four restaurants and enjoy the cool evening breeze with a cup of coffee and a view of the Indian Ocean and the Naifaru ‘skyline’.
This volunteer project also extends to the surrounding small Isands and depending on the needs of the proejct and your skills you may be placed on one of these Islands also for your adventure.
Maldives
Maldives Overview
The Maldives is comprised of an archipelago of islands with a double chain of 26 atolls, sitting in the Laccadive Sea, approximately 700 kilometres from Sri Lanka. There are 1,192 coral islands. The Maldives is the smallest Asian country by population and land area, and one of the most dispersed countries as it covers almost 90,000 square kilometres. The Maldives is also the lowest country in the world where the highest point is only 2.4 metres (or 7 ft 10 inches).
The islands are home to some of the world’s best beaches, boasting the pure white sands that are softly lapped at by the clear azure waters of the ocean. The Maldives are well known as an Indian Ocean paradise, and attract plenty of keen scuba divers, beach worshipping tourists and honeymooners. There are over 100 private island resorts in the Maldives, some being top luxury retreats while others have simpler hotels specially designed for families or scuba diving groups, as well as eco resorts and budget choices.
The ocean surrounding the Maldives is home to several ecosystems; colourful coral reefs, more than 1100 species of fish, five types of sea turtles and over 20 species of whales and dolphins ranging from planktonic organisms to the huge graceful whale sharks. All of this underwater life makes the Maldives one of the best dive locations in the world with huge coral walls, caves, manta rays and where the water is so warm no-one needs to wear a wetsuit.
Highlights of country
- Stunning white sandy beaches
- Fascinating underwater world
- Warm temperatures all year round
- No need for a wetsuit when diving
- Chance to see whale sharks
Climate
| Seasons | Max | Min |
|---|
| Summer |
35 °C |
27 °C |
| Winter |
30 °C |
27 °C |
The Maldives benefit from a tropical monsoon climate that is affected by the area of South Asia to the north of the Maldives. There are two main seasons: the dry season and the rainy season. The dry season is during the months of April and May, while the rainy season is from June until the end of August.
The hottest month of the year is usually March, but temperatures are pretty steady throughout the year. The coldest month of the year is often January. Most rainfall is in September with an average of 243 mm. More rain usually falls between September and December, while the least is usually between January and April.
Key Facts
Population – 333,400 inhabitants
Capital - Male
Currency – Maldivian rufiyaa
Official languages – Dhivehi
Time difference – GMT + 5 hours
Telephone - + 960
Naifaru will forever have a special place in my heart; the life here is full of such rich culture and has left me with an experience I will never forget.
I spent 4 weeks in Naifaru developing my skills and love for music by teaching the community in various music teaching avenues, from teaching theory to the school band, private piano/keyboard lessons and teaching music to a small group of youths at the community centre. My favourite part about my project was that I decided to put on a community concert with the group of youths, and seeing them after only 3 weeks of learning how to play, get up on stage and dazzle the island with their own songs and new skills
The scenes are fantastic, beautiful blue seas, white sands and the sunsets are just out of this world. The weekly excursions added a whole new level of excitement to my trip where we snorkelled at a shipwreck, and visited uninhabited islands an experience you will never find anywhere else.
The locals are so friendly and cannot do enough to help you, such a relaxed and peaceful environment full of colour and laughter – I would recommend this volunteer experience to everyone it really is one of the best decisions I have ever made.
Natalie, UK (Maldives Teaching Assistant)
During my 4 week stay as a teaching assistant, I primarily lead and assisted Physics classes in Higher Secondary (Grades 11 & 12) as well as leading the odd secondary class and taking the occasional substitution. The school staff were extremely helpful and flexible allowing me to choose the workload I wished to undertake. The school is very professional and is instituting a high standard of education.
The friendships you will make with the students are priceless. Being such a small community, I would see many of the students I taught and their friends in the street, so before long you become familiar with quite a few of the locals. It was fascinating to interact to with the students, learning of their remarkable and intriguing culture.
The small moments with the students were by far the highlight of the trip, taking into account the natural and exotic beauty of the Maldives that we experienced through excursions on the project. The people of Naifaru are warm and hospitable; experiencing their culture and way of life is an incredibly enriching experience.
Sven, Australia (Maldives Pre-School Teaching Volunteer, Maldives Teaching Assistant)
I am truly grateful for having met so many amazing people and making some unforgettable memories. It is experiences like this that impart such profound impacts on your life. Take in the small moments. Appreciate the sunsets and the vastness of the night sky filled with stars. Take pride in the fact that you are contributing to the preservation of the natural world. Inspire one another. Gain perspective and grow.
I am leaving this island full of ambition. My drive and compassion to preserve the integrity of the earth has only been amplified through this experience. Whatever aspirations you may have in life, I only hope that your time here ignites some sort of inspiration, as it did for me.
Stephanie, Canada (Maldives Teaching Assistant, Maldives Marine and Turtle Conservation)