Volunteering in Shanghai

Shanghai is a dynamic, diverse and stimulating city - the very epitome of modern, cosmopolitan China. A walk through this economically booming city with its world-class modern buildings reveals many glimpses of its colorful past. Hidden among skyscrapers and expressways are remains of the original Shanghai, important memorials to the founding of New China, and reminders of early 20th century Western influences.

With population of over 21 million, Shanghai has developed faster than almost any city in the world in the last 15 years. The building boom has resulted in a flood of migrant laborers arriving from the surrounding countryside and the city government has rushed to develop areas surrounding the city, resulting in a total developed area of over two thousand square miles.

The city is an ideal destination for metropolitan tourists. It has always been known as a thriving metropolis, with convenient communications, transportation systems and an intermingling of Chinese and Western cultures. There is also a great call for English Teachers in Shanghai, including many schools which cannot afford to hire native speaking English teachers.

Volunteer Projects in Shanghai

Xu Bo volunteers work with more than twenty schools throughout Shanghai City and the nearby suburbs. The types of volunteer positions available include the following:

Kindergarten Assistant
There are about 450 children in the kindergarten we support, with children there ranging between 4 and 7 years of age. Volunteers assist the regular teacher in the classroom, helping in such areas such as English, music, arts and crafts, dancing and PE.

Primary School, English Teaching
Volunteers teaching in the primary schools teach between 11 and 15 lessons each week, with each lesson lasting 35 minutes. Primary school students range in age between 7 amd 12 years old and class sizes vary between 30 and 40 students. Volunteers will learn from local teachers how to develop lesson plans and teach classes. In some schools volunteers will follow the curriculum provided through school textbooks. In other schools, volunteers may develop their own curriculum but, even here, local teachers will help guide lesson development. Volunteers may also have the opportunity to take charge of an English-language play or western festival activities at the school.

Secondary School, English Teaching
Secondary school students are between 12 and 15 years old and there are usually 30 to 40 students per class. In addition to teaching English, volunteers may have the opportunity to teach such subjects as music, art, football or basketball. They may also have the opportunity to be in charge of the school play, western festival activities or the English Corner at the school.

High Schools, English Teaching
High school students are between 16 to 19 years old and volunteers will teach between 11 to 15 English lessons per week. After a 1 to 2 week orientation, volunteers will conduct their own classes. High school student English proficiency is relatively high. Volunteers will also have the opportunity to assist in extracurricular activities within the school.

Summer Time
While there are always many placements needed during the summer months, we do require that our volunteers be flexible, especially at the start and end of the summer, when many schools and students are reluctant to engage in any formal lessons. In 2009, during the summer vacation, three different program options will be available in Shanghai:

	Summer Camp for University Students:  We're very excited to announce that we will be involved in a summer camp for university students! We will have positions available as camp counselors at this summer camp. Usually, the summer break in China runs from July through August, and the summer camp is a time for learning, and for fun! Foreign volunteers will work as group leaders. Group activities will teach students the importance of team cooperation. Social activities will include themed house parties, tea time, enjoying movies together, and learning about other cultures: all will create an environment that helps the students learn more about other countries.
	"One-world" Program in a Shanghai Kindergarten:  Bringing the whole world together is our final target! The smiling faces of the kids will encourage you to show all your talent! Here is a stage for you to showcase the culture of your mother country and let the children acquire more knowledge through your brilliant performances! You will be free to show all the cultural things from your home. The shared stories, games, and laughter will leave indelible memories in your heart.
	Work with Disabled Children in Shanghai:  Being a volunteer at the center, you can help to take care of disabled children and play games with them. Most kids there have suffered from cerebral palsy (CP) and they appreciate your love and care so much! Volunteers help the staff to design some clinics that suit the children and also help to update the current information and news of the center website. Volunteers majoring in nursing and medicine area may be able to help with the children's treatment plans. This is a truly worthwhile and rewarding project to take part in as a volunteer. Your warmth and kindness will be rewarded with sincere love from the kids!

French and German Teaching
Xu Bo volunteers can also teach French and German in three language schools in Shanghai. French and German are not part of the Chinese official curriculum, so volunteers will need to plan their own lessons and provide their own teaching materials. Students are not focused on passing a qualifying exam. Rather, the emphasis here is on encouraging their interest in other languages and cultures. The schools are also very happy for volunteers to organize French or German culture months within the schools. Volunteers usually teach between 11 to 15 lessons per week (35 to 40 minutes per lesson) which may be combined with primary school English teaching.

Xu Bo volunteers teach French and German in the Pu Dong primary and secondary schools which are large, well equipped boarding schools in the eastern part of Shanghai. One may also teach German at the Tong Ji No. 2 High School, which is affiliated with Tong Ji University, one of the top 10 universities in China. This affiliation makes the level of academic excellence generally very high, although German language levels will still be extremely basic.

Work with Disabled Children
The CereCare Wellness Centre for Children in Shanghai is a facility specializing in the care and education of children suffering from Cerebral Palsy. CP is a condition caused by a brain injury that occurs before or shortly after birth. Because physical development is impaired a child with Cerebral Palsy has trouble controlling the muscles of the body. Depending on what part of the brain is affected, a child might not be able to walk, talk, eat, or interact in the way most kids do. As a Xu Bo volunteer at the Centre, one can help take care of and play with the children, help with the children's personal development and hygiene education. Volunteers may also help the staff design the curriculum and/or help with the center's website by updating information and/or writing reports and articles for it. Volunteers with training in nursing or medicine may also be able to help with the children's treatment plans. This is a truly a worthwhile and rewarding project to take part in as a volunteer.

General Shanghai Information

Accommodations

Volunteers will live in a single, or shared room either at Xu Bo's flat or at school-provided accommodation. Some volunteers will live at the school accomodation during the week but stay at the flat on weekends. The flat has air-conditioning, heating, a washing machine, modern bathrooms and shower facilities, TV, computers with internet access, and a water dispenser.

Food
During the week (Monday through Friday) volunteers will eat their lunch meal in the school cafeteria and the school will make arrangements to provide the morning and evening meals. On weekends, volunteers are responsible for their providing their own meals. Because Shanghai is an international city there is every type of food and restaurant available from all types of Chinese food to all types of Western food ranging from the inexpensive (but delicious!) street stalls to fine dining restaurants. The Shanghai flat has a modern kitchen where meals may be prepared if desired.

Weather
Shanghai has a subtropical maritime monsoon climate, with four distinct seasons. The weather can mostly be described as moderate with a warm spring, hot summer, cool autumn, and cold winter. Temperatures almost never get into the extreme ranges. The rainy/summer season runs from June through September. Light rains fall in June and July, a time which is known in China as the "Plum Flower Rain" season. Torrential rains occur at times later in the summer. The average temperature is around 18 degree Celsius (64 Fahrenheit.) The annual precipitation is 1,240 millimeters (49 inches.)

Activities
There are endless activities to take part in and around Shanghai and volunteers can easily explore the many local wonders and sights of Shanghai City and the surrounding villages. Museums, temples, botanical gardens, and famous shopping districts are numerous. Some of favorite haunts of Shanghai are the many ancient and modern tea houses which remain an important part of Chinese culture. The Huju Opera is an authentic piece of Shanghai folk culture. And no place on earth offers more varied culinary delights than Shanghai, with Chinese food available from all regions of China, and all other cuisines of the world. Volunteers might also want to take classes in such courses as Martial Arts, Chinese Calligraphy, and many more.

To Apply or Learn More

To apply to volunteer in Shanghai please see our Overseas Partners page where you will find links to several different international organizations who will happy to help you submit your application or learn more about the program. You can also submit questions directly to Xu Bo by using the form below. After you enter your name, email address (take care to enter address correctly), age and your question in the provided fields, press the Send button. You will receive a confirmation email shortly and we will respond to your question as soon as possible.

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