New Post Opportunities in Laos Myanmar (Burma)

In 2007, VIA will offer at least two posts in Laos and Myanmar (Burma) for exceptionally independent, motivated, and qualified candidates to volunteer in a unique setting and help VIA with its long-term goals of creating new country programs in these countries.

Unlike VIA posts in China, Indonesia, and Vietnam, volunteers at these posts will not have a cohort of VIA volunteers or an in-country representative for support. Volunteers at these posts are expected to be self-starters - setting up the post for future volunteers, regularly reporting back to the home office about their posts, and helping in the development of new country programs. These posts present an exciting opportunity for the right candidates!

The Committee for Planning and Investment (CPI), Bokeo is a Lao government agency responsible for foreign aid and investment projects. This English teaching post at CPI is funded by Rural Development in Mountainous Areas (RDMA), a German NGO-funded project aiming to increase the livelihood and welfare of Lao people in the region.

Qualifications: Background and/or interest in teaching English to students of other languages (TESOL), communications, public relations, media development, and/or rural development. Previous experience in Laos and Laos language skills highly desirable.

Role: English Teaching/English Resource. As more development and foreign investment comes to Houai Xai, the need for English skills within local government has risen. The primary focus of this volunteer position will be to teach beginning and intermediate level English courses to adult students who work directly for the Lao government in one of many provincial departments, including CPI, and employees of RMDA.

The volunteer will also work in conjunction with RDMA to support media activities around agriculture, health, and education; coordinate village theater activities in cooperation with a local advisor; manage media development budget (including radio programs, theater performances, video clips, posters, etc.); and may assist with English-to-Lao translation.

Housing: The volunteer is responsible for finding their own housing and will receive a monthly housing stipend.

Place: Houai Xai, Bokeo Province is a scenic and peaceful bordertown in the northwestern corner of Laos (see photos on this page). The quiet Mekong river runs along Houai Xai and Thailand is a short boat ride across it. The region is rural and mountainous with a large percentage of minority hilltribe people. There is a small community of expatriates who work for international NGOs.

This post is at a nonprofit school in Yangon (Rangoon). A special program at this post guides 10-15 high school graduates through classroom discussions and group and individual service projects in preparation for undergraduate studies abroad. The VIA volunteer will spend his/her time facilitating classroom discussions and setting up volunteer activities and internships for the students.

All parts of the curriculum are designed to enable students to transform themselves from passive learners skilled at memorization into active, inquisitive, cooperative learners.

This post is an amazing opportunity to learn about culture and society in Myanmar (Burma) through interactions with students and NGOs.

Qualifications: Ideal for volunteers who may have a background in service-learning or volunteerism. Strong academic background. Highly intellectual, inquisitive, and critical thinker. Has passionate knowledge of a particular subject (such as literature, philosophy, environment, anthropology, history, international relations) to share with students.

Role: English Teaching/English Resource. The VIA volunteer will spend their time working with the students of the school. To compliment classes the VIA volunteer will facilitate, he/she will also be asked to set-up volunteer activities and internships dealing with the issues the students are studying and to contribute to the goals of the curriculum. Previous VIA volunteers have found opportunities for the students to volunteer at local orphanages and have set up a range of internships allowing students to do anything from designing artwork for an environmental organization to helping an NGO for the disabled with their newsletter. One VIA volunteer taught the student a class on yoga! Finding these opportunities will require the VIA volunteer to make contact with both international and local NGOs.