ILP has two main volunteer programs: Exchange and Humanitarian (plus a Hybrid Program that combines elements from both).

In the Exchange Program, volunteers are teaching students who primarily come from middle to upper socioeconomic classes. To keep costs low for you, host schools subsidize some of the expenses through tuition. In this sense, it is truly an exchange. This is also the situation for a portion of the kids you teach in Hybrid Programs.

In the Humanitarian Program, the children come from extremely limited means. Many families come from underprivileged circumstances and some of the children live in an orphanage. The ability to speak English is an incredibly valuable skill to set the stage for a successful future for any child, and this is especially true in touristic areas. The education you give in these programs is free for the children and their families who are unable to help subsidize your costs. This is also the situation for a portion of the kids you teach in Hybrid Programs.

Our goal has always been to open doors for children by teaching them English — but what we didn’t realize is that learning this language would only be the “tip of the iceberg” — these kids truly benefit from their relationships with our volunteers. ILP volunteers are there to teach, but are also there to act as a positive role model and a friend to these kids.