Volunteer Teacher - American Samoa
Donation protected
Hi! My name is Alex Rubin and I am currently a volunteer teacher in American Samoa. I am 22 years old and just graduated from James Madison University with a BS in Biology. I have been on the island for almost 3 weeks and have been attending orientation sessions, learning the language, discovering the island, and establishing home base. I will be here for the next 11 months and will be living in the capital city of Pago Pago, on the main island of Tutuila. I have just met my principal, seen my classroom, and found out that I will be teaching Biology and Physics at Samoana High School. Go Sharks!
School funding here is extremely sparse and teachers are expected to provide almost all of the provisions needed for school. Even desks and tables are not guaranteed. With classes of 30-45 students things can get pretty hectic. The island is exceedingly beautiful, but also has many challenges: supplies are expensive and many specific things are hard to find here; the heat and humidity are absolutely brutal and ruin electronics easily; stealing is a common occurrence in class; a lot of local teacher's attendance is spotty; most teacher's practice sasa (corporal punishment). Despite this, I have met some extremely inspiring teachers, administrators, and locals here on the island and am so exited to finally meet my students! I start school in exactly two weeks and need to prepare my classroom with buying paper, a printer (because my school does not have one), pencils, markers, organizers, wall decor, a fan ( AC is not common), paint and cleaning supplies. Many of the children I will be teaching are extremely impoverished and do not have the money to afford their own school supplies.
I hope to raise money so that I can have the basic supplies needed for my students to learn effectively. Because I am a volunteer, I do not get a normal pay check but only receive a small stipend per month for food, utilities, bus fair, and general life expenses that I need to live while I am here. Any sort of donation, even $1 would make an impact in the lives of the 150 children I will be teaching this year! Fa'afetia - Thank you!
Help spread the word!
School funding here is extremely sparse and teachers are expected to provide almost all of the provisions needed for school. Even desks and tables are not guaranteed. With classes of 30-45 students things can get pretty hectic. The island is exceedingly beautiful, but also has many challenges: supplies are expensive and many specific things are hard to find here; the heat and humidity are absolutely brutal and ruin electronics easily; stealing is a common occurrence in class; a lot of local teacher's attendance is spotty; most teacher's practice sasa (corporal punishment). Despite this, I have met some extremely inspiring teachers, administrators, and locals here on the island and am so exited to finally meet my students! I start school in exactly two weeks and need to prepare my classroom with buying paper, a printer (because my school does not have one), pencils, markers, organizers, wall decor, a fan ( AC is not common), paint and cleaning supplies. Many of the children I will be teaching are extremely impoverished and do not have the money to afford their own school supplies.
I hope to raise money so that I can have the basic supplies needed for my students to learn effectively. Because I am a volunteer, I do not get a normal pay check but only receive a small stipend per month for food, utilities, bus fair, and general life expenses that I need to live while I am here. Any sort of donation, even $1 would make an impact in the lives of the 150 children I will be teaching this year! Fa'afetia - Thank you!
Help spread the word!
Organizer
Alexandra Rubin
Organizer
Pago Pago, AS
