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Teacher Skills Exchange
Teacher training with a difference

Our Teacher Skills Exchange programmes (TSE) offer the ultimate CPD opportunity for qualified teachers. The team-based exchanges are based within rural African communities and take place over the School summer holidays.

Our TSE programmes give qualified teachers the opportunity to ‘give something back’ by providing training and generating new teaching and learning ideas for rural teachers working with our partner charities.

As a team member on a TSE you will gain new experiences and skills during your summer break and come back with plenty of new ideas to translate to your own classroom.

How Does It Work?
Each TSE starts with a UK Training Day, where you will meet your fellow teacher team-mates and be introduced to what to expect from your time in rural Africa. Our aim is to ensure that you arrive in country feeling confident and knowing what to expect.

On arrival in Africa Inspire run a detailed in-country orientation course covering rural teaching techniques, cultural differences and local issues before you are introduced to your partner teachers. Throughout your time in Africa you will be supported by an experienced local education professional who acts as a 'Facilitator' to help the team to learn more about the key issues the local teachers face, how to improve the quality of teaching and use of resources and suggest ways to introduce new and appropriate teaching and learning techniques.

Your host communities have plenty of experience working with volunteers and warmly welcome our Teacher Exchange teams when they arrive. They appreciate the time you give and the skills and experience that you can bring to their communities.

Logistics
Each TSE is run as a team trip, with teachers joining as individuals, or sometimes with friends. As with all our trips we provide full support to your group through a fully trained and professional Inspire Expedition Leader who is based with the team and manages all the trip logistics.

A local education 'Facilitator' will also work with your team to help generate ideas, give advice and manage the educational elements of the programme.

We guarantee you will find our Exchanges a great way to meet like-minded friends as well as gaining a unique professional development experience.

Programme Structure
We run a one day Pre-departure Training course in the UK, which prepares you for what you will experience, from cultural differences, to climate, to what to pack. We also provide detailed information packs, with advice on what to prepare and bring with you.

On arrival, we run a detailed in-country orientation course. This will introduce you to the different teaching styles used in rural schools in the developing world, the local language and the conditions and cultural influences that also impact on teaching.

The team will then meet your peers from these rural communities and will work with them and the local education Facilitator to observe local techniques, learn more about the issues the teachers face and the problems they experience.

Depending on what is deemed as most appropriate and effective for the local school, the team may be split into small groups or work on a one-on-one training basis with your local counterparts.

Over the next two weeks your team will work together with your partner teachers and our education Facilitator to improve the quality of teaching at the schools by introducing new styles of teaching, resource use and learning techniques.

Daily Life
Work takes place Monday to Friday and usually consists of observations and reflections in the mornings, followed by workshops or community projects in the early afternoon. Accommodation is basic but comfortable and you will be based in the midst of the community, so you really feel part of the family.

Days Off
In your spare time there are plenty of other opportunities to spend time with the local children or people. Sundays are free time for you to explore the surrounding area and Inspire can easily arrange optional activities on request such as safaris, coastal/lake trips or trekking.

Your role
The main problems in the communities where you will be working are local teachers who have sparse resources and limited training opportunities. You can provide assistance by giving advice on interactive teaching styles and creative resource use as well as providing basic skills training where requested.

What Skills Do I need?
Inspire accepts all experienced Primary and Secondary teachers as well as NQTs. To join one of our Skills Exchange teams you must be a flexible and competent classroom practitioner with a willingness to share ideas. You should be able to think laterally and be innovative with limited resources. You must also be happy to live and work in a rural African environment.

On arrival back in the UK, Inspire run a ½ day re-orientation workshop to help the group discuss how they feel about returning to the UK, deal with any concerns and help provide advice on how to maintain the links formed from their trip.

Cross Exchange
Inspire is seeking funding to allow teachers from the developing world to take part in a return visit to the UK/US to enable a true two-way skills exchange. If you would like to find out more about how you can help with this proposal, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Non-Teacher Team Members
If you have a partner who would like to join you but who is not a qualified teacher please contact us. Our host communities often require other skilled volunteers, and if your partner fits the requirements we can arrange for them to take part in the trip as an ‘alternative skills worker’. Key requests currently include those with experience in: IT, Accountancy, Business Skills, Health, HIV/AIDS, Engineering and Management.

There are also many opportunities to get involved with local community projects including school renovation, painting, carpentry and more.

Summary

• Pre-departure training (1 day)
• 2 week trip (in-country orientation and introduction to rural teaching course, skills exchange workshops partnered with peers in rural schools, debrief. Optional activities such as safaris/treks/lake visit can easily be added on to your Exchange - just This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more details)
• Post-trip debrief (1/2 day)
  

Trip Dates and Locations
Malawi: Aug 2010 - Exact dates to be confirmed, please contact us for more details

Costs
Dependent on location our Exchanges cost from £899 p/p, plus a recommended fundraised donation of £200-250 p/p to our partner charities to cover local teacher expenses, resources and on-going support.

NB. These costs include all food, accommodation and airport transfers but do not include flights.
For more details on costs click here

To find our more please contact Beth on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 01273 738 558