VOLUNTEER IN PHILIPPINES IMA'S HOME
You can choose from 5 volunteer project options in Ima’s, including Teaching, Construction and Renovation, Sports, Music and Environmental. You will experience eating traditional food, exploring the local area, seeing smiling faces every day and making a difference in all the children.
AT A GLANCE…
- Available year-round
- 5 meaningful project options
- Projects based on the property of Ima’s Home
- Accommodations to be determined
- Between 10 and 30 volunteers start in the Philippines each Year
- Registration fees are $300 per trip
- Program fees start at $300 per week and includes airport pick-up, orientation, accommodation, 1 meal per day and 24/7 in-country support
- Explore the Filipino culture with an optional Week add-on
Project
TEACHING
TEACHING PRE-KINDERGARTEN
Volunteers on the Pre-Kindergarten project are leading lessons within the compound of Ima’s Home. You will be teaching pre-school English, Math, Science and Arts and Crafts to children aged between 3 and 5 years old. While you will follow the stipulated curriculum, the lessons are conducted in an exciting and practical way through basic drawing, painting and playing – with an essential focus on having a lot of fun! This project is a great option for aspiring teachers or volunteers with no experience in curriculum planning or teaching. You can expect to work approximately 4 to 5 hours per day, Monday to Friday. You will teach and arrange activities at the classroom in the morning and afternoon for approximately 2 hours each time, followed by preparing lessons/activities for the next day in the evening. During the holiday periods, volunteers will have the opportunity to conduct special classes in the community which are organized by our local team. These classes are an opportunity for volunteers to teach outside of the assigned curriculum and they are very successful and appreciated by the local community.
TEACHING ENGLISH
On this Teaching project, you will work with primary and secondary school age children, teaching primarily English and sometime Arts and Crafts. Filipino’s learn English from a young age and the children benefit greatly from communicating with fluent English speakers to develop their English communication skills. You will work in an organized class and will follow the given curriculum. You can expect to work approximately 4 hours per day, Monday to Friday. You will teach and arrange activities at the assigned classroom in the morning and afternoon for approximately 2 hours each time, followed by preparing lessons/activities for the next day in the evening. During the holiday periods, volunteers will have the opportunity to conduct special classes in the community which are organized by our local team. These classes are an opportunity for volunteers to teach outside of the normal curriculum and they are very successful and appreciated by the local community. As you will work with the support of the local team and placement staff, you will not need to be qualified or have teaching experience to participate. However, we encourage volunteers to come prepared by completing some relevant training, like a teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) course.
Volunteers on the Pre-Kindergarten project are leading lessons within the compound of Ima’s Home. You will be teaching pre-school English, Math, Science and Arts and Crafts to children aged between 3 and 5 years old. While you will follow the stipulated curriculum, the lessons are conducted in an exciting and practical way through basic drawing, painting and playing – with an essential focus on having a lot of fun! This project is a great option for aspiring teachers or volunteers with no experience in curriculum planning or teaching. You can expect to work approximately 4 to 5 hours per day, Monday to Friday. You will teach and arrange activities at the classroom in the morning and afternoon for approximately 2 hours each time, followed by preparing lessons/activities for the next day in the evening. During the holiday periods, volunteers will have the opportunity to conduct special classes in the community which are organized by our local team. These classes are an opportunity for volunteers to teach outside of the assigned curriculum and they are very successful and appreciated by the local community.
TEACHING ENGLISH
On this Teaching project, you will work with primary and secondary school age children, teaching primarily English and sometime Arts and Crafts. Filipino’s learn English from a young age and the children benefit greatly from communicating with fluent English speakers to develop their English communication skills. You will work in an organized class and will follow the given curriculum. You can expect to work approximately 4 hours per day, Monday to Friday. You will teach and arrange activities at the assigned classroom in the morning and afternoon for approximately 2 hours each time, followed by preparing lessons/activities for the next day in the evening. During the holiday periods, volunteers will have the opportunity to conduct special classes in the community which are organized by our local team. These classes are an opportunity for volunteers to teach outside of the normal curriculum and they are very successful and appreciated by the local community. As you will work with the support of the local team and placement staff, you will not need to be qualified or have teaching experience to participate. However, we encourage volunteers to come prepared by completing some relevant training, like a teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) course.
CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION
Volunteers on the Construction and Renovation project assist with light construction and renovation tasks throughout the Campus, including making improvements to the dorms, or learning centers and grounds. Your tasks can include, but are not limited to, building, renovating, painting, restoration, carpentry and landscaping. The Construction and Renovation project is ever changing and the tasks that are assigned can be varied as they are frequently re-prioritized according to the specific needs of the home at the time. You can expect to work on a variety of projects during your time in the Philippines, and you must be open to complete the range of work that is required at the time of your placement. This project is suitable for all volunteers who are interested in physical work and who are not afraid to get their hands dirty. You do not need prior construction or renovation experience to participate on this project, as you work alongside the local staff to complete the work, although skilled workers are very welcome. The Construction and Renovation project has extra costs and will need fundraising involvement for materials and the logistics involved in this project. This amount will be included in your Mission Packet when you apply. Please note that the Construction and Renovation project has a 2 week minimum duration.
SPORTS
MUSIC
Do you enjoy sharing the gift of music with others? Then sign up for our Music Missions Trip at Ima’s Home. During this unique trip we host a music camp where we teach songs and dance to the children from Ima’s Home as we prepare them for a concert to perform for the local community at the end of the camp. The songs teach the children about the power of God’s love and how special they are to His heart. It is a beautiful experience to watch these orphans sing about their Heavenly Father.
During this time we also focus on developing individuals at Ima’s who have natural musical talent with lessons and special sessions teaching them how to be better musicians and leaders.
During this time we also focus on developing individuals at Ima’s who have natural musical talent with lessons and special sessions teaching them how to be better musicians and leaders.
ENVIRONMENTAL
As a volunteer on our Environmental project, you will have the privilege of working to restore and conserve the amazing environment of the Philippines. Volunteers will work within the Compound area and around the local village and the main focus is Gardening, farming, cleaning up the local area and upkeep. If you’re someone who loves the outdoors and are looking to serve the community and environment, then this is a great option for you! Work on this project is based around three core tasks. The first and main task is replanting which is typically done on most days of the working week. Other tasks include working within the local schools or within the local community educating them on the effects that rubbish/litter can have on the environment. Alongside this, volunteers work on cleaning up the local area particularly along the roadside which is a great opportunity to engage and involve the local community in the environmental efforts. As you will be volunteering alongside our local team, you do not need to have prior experience in environmental conservation to participate on this project.
Arrival and orientation
The program orientation is held every Tuesday and volunteers need to arrive in Ima’s Home on the day before orientation.
After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive at the Manilla International Airport between 10am and 5pm. Your airport pick-up is included in your Program Fee. We recommend that volunteers under the age of 18 travel internationally with a notarized letter from their parents to support their documentation.
When you arrive, you will be greeted at the airport by a member of the local team and transported to the volunteer accommodation in Ima’s Home. Your accommodation is covered by your Program Fee and includes the night before your program orientation. If you are traveling in the Philippines prior to your volunteer program, we can arrange for you to be picked up in Manilla on the day before your program orientation.
There are two options for orientation in the Philippines. The first option is a one-day orientation that begins on your selected start date, which all volunteers will attend. This covers everything you need to know for your volunteer program in the Philippines, including an introduction to the Ima’s Home Philippines program, the local team, general rules and a class on the local culture and language. In the afternoon, you’ll learn about the projects, take a walking tour of the local area and arrange your sim card. The orientation will also give you a chance to meet other volunteers and swap contact details for weekend travel and socializing.
After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive at the Manilla International Airport between 10am and 5pm. Your airport pick-up is included in your Program Fee. We recommend that volunteers under the age of 18 travel internationally with a notarized letter from their parents to support their documentation.
When you arrive, you will be greeted at the airport by a member of the local team and transported to the volunteer accommodation in Ima’s Home. Your accommodation is covered by your Program Fee and includes the night before your program orientation. If you are traveling in the Philippines prior to your volunteer program, we can arrange for you to be picked up in Manilla on the day before your program orientation.
There are two options for orientation in the Philippines. The first option is a one-day orientation that begins on your selected start date, which all volunteers will attend. This covers everything you need to know for your volunteer program in the Philippines, including an introduction to the Ima’s Home Philippines program, the local team, general rules and a class on the local culture and language. In the afternoon, you’ll learn about the projects, take a walking tour of the local area and arrange your sim card. The orientation will also give you a chance to meet other volunteers and swap contact details for weekend travel and socializing.
Example: Volunteer schedule
Weekdays: After the initial orientation, you will work for approximately 4 to 6 hours per day and a typical schedule is as follows:
8.00AM: Breakfast with fellow volunteers.
9.00 - 12.30AM: Volunteers work at their placements.
12.30AM: Volunteers break for lunch. If volunteers are unable to return to the volunteer accommodation, they will be given a packed lunch.
1.30 - 4.30PM: Work at the placement resumes (except Kindergarten volunteers, who use their afternoons to prepare for the following day)
4.30 - 6PM: Work ends and volunteers have free time to play with the kids and explore the local area.
6 - 8.30PM: Dinner with fellow volunteers.
Please note this schedule varies from project to project.
Saturday:
8.00AM: Breakfast with fellow volunteers.
10.00 - 11.30AM: Worship service with the children.
12.30AM: Volunteers break for lunch.
Volunteers have the afternoon off.
Weekdays: After the initial orientation, you will work for approximately 4 to 6 hours per day and a typical schedule is as follows:
8.00AM: Breakfast with fellow volunteers.
9.00 - 12.30AM: Volunteers work at their placements.
12.30AM: Volunteers break for lunch. If volunteers are unable to return to the volunteer accommodation, they will be given a packed lunch.
1.30 - 4.30PM: Work at the placement resumes (except Kindergarten volunteers, who use their afternoons to prepare for the following day)
4.30 - 6PM: Work ends and volunteers have free time to play with the kids and explore the local area.
6 - 8.30PM: Dinner with fellow volunteers.
Please note this schedule varies from project to project.
Saturday:
8.00AM: Breakfast with fellow volunteers.
10.00 - 11.30AM: Worship service with the children.
12.30AM: Volunteers break for lunch.
Volunteers have the afternoon off.
Accommodation and WiFi
Volunteers are accommodated in dormitory-style accommodation, located within Imas Home. Volunteers should expect to share a room with up to 3-5 other volunteers of the same gender. The accommodation provides air-conditioning in the bedrooms, a shared bathroom with western toilets and showers with cold running water (nice and refreshing in the hot weather!). A fridge is available to store your personal items and an area for hand washing laundry. Bedding is provided and includes a bottom sheet, top sheet and a pillow.
Given the remote location, internet and phone reception at the accommodation site is limited and often non-existent. While at times there may be 3G Wi-Fi dongles for volunteers to connect to, you shouldn’t expect to have the same connection speed that you are used to at home. There is better reception and internet available from some of the nearby villages (10 to 15 minute drive from the volunteer accommodation). We recommend bringing an unlocked mobile phone and purchasing a local SIM card with data when you arrive in the Philippines. You can then use this to access the internet in the nearby villages.
Meals
Volunteers are served one meal on campus. It will consist of local Filipino cuisine. Rice is a staple in the Philippines and most meals will include a portion of rice, accompanied by a combination of vegetables, meat or seafood cooked in local spices and sauces. You will be responsible for any other meals and snacks.
Volunteers are accommodated in dormitory-style accommodation, located within Imas Home. Volunteers should expect to share a room with up to 3-5 other volunteers of the same gender. The accommodation provides air-conditioning in the bedrooms, a shared bathroom with western toilets and showers with cold running water (nice and refreshing in the hot weather!). A fridge is available to store your personal items and an area for hand washing laundry. Bedding is provided and includes a bottom sheet, top sheet and a pillow.
Given the remote location, internet and phone reception at the accommodation site is limited and often non-existent. While at times there may be 3G Wi-Fi dongles for volunteers to connect to, you shouldn’t expect to have the same connection speed that you are used to at home. There is better reception and internet available from some of the nearby villages (10 to 15 minute drive from the volunteer accommodation). We recommend bringing an unlocked mobile phone and purchasing a local SIM card with data when you arrive in the Philippines. You can then use this to access the internet in the nearby villages.
Meals
Volunteers are served one meal on campus. It will consist of local Filipino cuisine. Rice is a staple in the Philippines and most meals will include a portion of rice, accompanied by a combination of vegetables, meat or seafood cooked in local spices and sauces. You will be responsible for any other meals and snacks.
Program fees
Length of Program |
Program Fee $USD |
1 week |
$300 |
2 week |
$600 |
3 week |
$900 |
- All programs attract a Registration Fee (from US$300) on top of the Program Fee (partially refundable until 60 days before your program start date*).
What extra costs will I have?
- Visa, flights, travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check, souvenirs, in-country trips or tours, transport to and from placement if required.
- Food/snacks
- Spending money - Volunteers in Philippines generally find US$150 - $200 to be sufficient for weekly expenses
Weekends and travel
During the weekend, volunteers have some free time to relax and explore the local area. There are plenty of things to do and see around the area.
Essential country information
Capital |
Manila |
Population |
100 million |
Languages |
Filipino, English |
Currency |
Philippine Peso (PHP) |
Time zone |
CST Zone +13:00 |
Weather and climate: The Philippines has a hot and humid climate all year round, with average temperatures between 25°C and 30°C (77°F to 86°F). The coolest months are in November through to January where average temperatures fall below 30°C (86°F). The hottest months are April through to May, where the average temperature sits above 30°C (86°F), but feels like over (100°F). The dry season runs from January through to June. The wet season runs from July through to December.
Volunteer requirements
Volunteers who are under 18 years old will be required to provide Life with parental consent and two character reference letters in order to participate on the program, and may be asked to provide additional documentation to the local team. Independent volunteers under the age of 18 must provide a health certificate indicating that they are fit for the program in terms of physical, mental and emotional health. The Ima’s Home Philippines volunteer program is not able to accept participants under the age of 18 with psychological, serious heart or serious allergy health concerns. All volunteers are required to have adequate Volunteer Travel Insurance and provide a criminal background check to Life and Ima’s local team on arrival in The Philippines.
Free Interactive Volunteer Training - All volunteers are encouraged to complete our interactive pre-departure training, which is available exclusively to registered Ima’s volunteers. The training is designed to build an understanding of important aspects that need to be considered before embarking on an Ima’s Volunteer program. It helps volunteers to prepare in the right way by providing advice on what it takes to be a safe, responsible and valuable volunteer.
Volunteering abroad is a great way to experience a new culture, to live like a local and to make a positive contribution to a community. It’s also a great way to learn about yourself and to grow your understanding of the world.
It’s important to do the right preparation before volunteering abroad. While some people will be seasoned travelers, many Ima’s Home volunteers are traveling alone for the first time. Regardless of which group they fall into, we think is a whole range of issues that people need to consider before traveling abroad.
Volunteers should always do their own detailed research about the country that their chosen program is based in, but we’ve also developed a set of online training tools which help Ima's Home volunteers to get prepared in the best way. These tools are free to all of our volunteers and are accessible as soon as you become fully registered with us, so there’s plenty of time to work through them before you leave home.
Free Interactive Volunteer Training - All volunteers are encouraged to complete our interactive pre-departure training, which is available exclusively to registered Ima’s volunteers. The training is designed to build an understanding of important aspects that need to be considered before embarking on an Ima’s Volunteer program. It helps volunteers to prepare in the right way by providing advice on what it takes to be a safe, responsible and valuable volunteer.
Volunteering abroad is a great way to experience a new culture, to live like a local and to make a positive contribution to a community. It’s also a great way to learn about yourself and to grow your understanding of the world.
It’s important to do the right preparation before volunteering abroad. While some people will be seasoned travelers, many Ima’s Home volunteers are traveling alone for the first time. Regardless of which group they fall into, we think is a whole range of issues that people need to consider before traveling abroad.
Volunteers should always do their own detailed research about the country that their chosen program is based in, but we’ve also developed a set of online training tools which help Ima's Home volunteers to get prepared in the best way. These tools are free to all of our volunteers and are accessible as soon as you become fully registered with us, so there’s plenty of time to work through them before you leave home.