Volunteers needed for cultural exchange in Beijing.
Dates: April 8-18, 2026 (tentative)
Location: Beijing, China
Team Leader: Jerry Swisshelm
Project Task: Volunteers will participate in cultural exchange activities to learn about Chinese culture and history through site visits and school presentations. Volunteers will also have opportunities to observe English classes in a Chinese school and to discuss and model American methods of teaching English as a foreign language.
Volunteer Qualifications:
Seeking licensed / experienced teachers of English to speakers of other language
Also seeking families with children ages 8-14 who are studying Mandarin (Parent or guardian must travel with child)
Expenses: Airfare plus an estimated cost of $900 per person for hotel and meals for 10 days
Currently seeking team leaders and volunteers for Survey Teams for China, Taiwan, Thailand, Kyrgyzstan, Israel, or Brazil. Details will be determined based on leader input and international travel policies.
Project Task: Survey Teams can be formed any time of the year for potential cultural exchange sites. Survey teams assess needs and opportunities in strategic areas such as universities, private schools, and government schools. They become acquainted with local culture in order to be “Onsite With Insight” while encouraging full-time workers. Survey teams are a vital means of development and support for our overall work in cultural exchange. The focus of these teams may differ depending on the needs and opportunities discovered. Team members must be flexible to changes in locations and travel plans depending on the needs and opportunities encountered.
Volunteers needed to teach academic English in preparation for IELTS testing.
Dates: March 23 – April 12, 2025
Location: Zhejiang Province, China
Team Leader: Jerry Swisshelm
Project Task: Volunteers will teach academic English classes in Listening, Speaking, Reading, and/or Writing to university students preparing to take the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) test in December. Volunteers will teach classes each weekday afternoon/evening and will be available to coach students as needed during the day and on weekends.
Volunteer Qualifications: Experienced teachers of English or ESL in academic settings are needed as lead teachers. Other volunteers are welcomed as assistants and conversation partners.
Expenses: Accommodations, meals, and transportation will be available at a low cost by staying on campus. Estimated Cost: $900 plus airfare
Project Task: Volunteers will teach academic English classes in Listening, Speaking, Reading, and/or Writing to university students preparing to take the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) test in December. Volunteers will teach classes each weekday afternoon/evening and will be available to coach students as needed during the day and on weekends.
Volunteer Qualifications: Experienced teachers of English or ESL in academic settings are needed as lead teachers. Other volunteers are welcomed as assistants and conversation partners.
Expenses: Accommodations, meals, and transportation will be available at a low cost by staying on campus. Estimated Cost: $900 plus airfare
Dates: June 25 – July 18, 2020 This opportunity has been postponed. New dates will be posted when available.
Location: Hope Learning Center in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Project Tasks: Program activities will include English language lessons and activities, conversation practice, and games. High school age volunteers will make friends and enjoy the activities. Program participants will be 15-18 years old, mostly girls. Most will be from single parent homes or orphans with difficult pasts.
Volunteer Qualifications: Open to volunteers ages 15-80. Volunteers should have appropriate background personality to interact with children and teens. Orientation will be provided by Hope Learning Center.
Expenses: Daily costs will be minimal once in country. Costs depend on whether volunteers eat local or western foods. Airfare will be determined by the rate available at the time of booking.
Volunteers needed to teach academic English in preparation for IELTS testing.
Dates: October 17 – November 2, 2019
Location: Zhejiang University of Technology Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, China
Team Leader: Cheryl Tarr
Project Task: Volunteers will teach academic English classes in Listening, Speaking, Reading, and/or Writing to university students preparing to take the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) test in December. Volunteers will teach classes each weekday afternoon/evening and will be available to coach students as needed during the day and on weekends.
Volunteer Qualifications: Experienced teachers of English or ESL in academic settings are needed as lead teachers. Other volunteers are welcomed as assistants and conversation partners.
Expenses: Accommodations, meals, and transportation will be available at a low cost by staying on campus. Estimated Cost: $900 plus airfare
Dates: July 11-31, 2019 ** These dates include a tour prior to the teaching dates. ** Volunteers for this program may also participate in the HengYang program.
Location: Zhuzhou, Hunan Province, China
Team Leader: Terri Mikolaitis
Project Task: Teaching American classroom content to Chinese children. Subjects include: simple English Language Arts, art, music, dance, sports, crafts, etc. The students will be 6-10 years old.
Volunteer Qualifications: Experienced teachers are needed for the classroom. Other volunteers are welcomed as assistants to teachers.
Expenses: Accommodations, meals and transportation to and from the school will be provided. The program will plan a tour for the volunteers after the program.
Dates: July 11-31, 2019 ** Dates include a tour prior to the teaching program. ** Volunteers for this program may also participate in the HengYang program.
Location: Changsha, Hunan Province, China
Team Leader: Terri Mikolaitis
Project Task: Teaching American classroom content to Chinese children. Subjects include: simple English Language Arts, art, music, dance, sports, crafts, etc. The students will be 6-10 years old.
Volunteer Qualifications: Experienced teachers are needed for the classroom. Other volunteers are welcomed as assistants to teachers.
Expenses: Accommodations, meals, and transportation to and from the school will be provided. The program will plan a tour for the volunteers after the program.
Dates: July 2-18, 2019 ** Dates include a tour after the teaching program is complete.
Location: Hengyang, Hunan Province, China
Team Leader: Nolan Tomboulian
Project Task: Teaching American classroom content to Chinese children. Subjects include: simple English Language Arts, art, music, dance, sports, crafts, etc. The students will be 7-15 years old.
Volunteer Qualifications: Experienced teachers are needed for the classroom. Other volunteers are welcomed as assistants to teachers.
Expenses: Accommodations, meals, and transportation to and from the school will be provided. The program will plan a tour for the volunteers after the program.
Estimated Cost: $600 plus airfare
Contact us for more information:
Address:
The Edge Institute
P.O. Box 480152
Charlotte, NC 28269
Posted: September 9, 2025 by Cheryl Tarr
Beijing, China – Spring 2026
Volunteers needed for cultural exchange in Beijing.
Dates: April 8-18, 2026 (tentative)
Location: Beijing, China
Team Leader: Jerry Swisshelm
Project Task: Volunteers will participate in cultural exchange activities to learn about Chinese culture and history through site visits and school presentations. Volunteers will also have opportunities to observe English classes in a Chinese school and to discuss and model American methods of teaching English as a foreign language.
Volunteer Qualifications:
(Parent or guardian must travel with child)
Expenses: Airfare plus an estimated cost of $900 per person for hotel and meals for 10 days
Last Updated: June 2, 2025 by Cheryl Tarr
Opportunities Under Construction
The Edge Institute is currently developing partnerships for future international opportunities.
Future opportunities in developmental stages include:
Last Updated: June 2, 2025 by Cheryl Tarr
Survey Teams
Currently seeking team leaders and volunteers for Survey Teams for China, Taiwan, Thailand, Kyrgyzstan, Israel, or Brazil. Details will be determined based on leader input and international travel policies.
Project Task: Survey Teams can be formed any time of the year for potential cultural exchange sites. Survey teams assess needs and opportunities in strategic areas such as universities, private schools, and government schools. They become acquainted with local culture in order to be “Onsite With Insight” while encouraging full-time workers. Survey teams are a vital means of development and support for our overall work in cultural exchange. The focus of these teams may differ depending on the needs and opportunities discovered. Team members must be flexible to changes in locations and travel plans depending on the needs and opportunities encountered.
Estimated Cost: $1000.00 plus airfare
Last Updated: June 2, 2025 by Cheryl Tarr
Shaoxing, China – Spring 2025
Volunteers needed to teach academic English in preparation for IELTS testing.
Dates: March 23 – April 12, 2025
Location: Zhejiang Province, China
Team Leader: Jerry Swisshelm
Project Task: Volunteers will teach academic English classes in Listening, Speaking, Reading, and/or Writing to university students preparing to take the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) test in December. Volunteers will teach classes each weekday afternoon/evening and will be available to coach students as needed during the day and on weekends.
Volunteer Qualifications: Experienced teachers of English or ESL in academic settings are needed as lead teachers. Other volunteers are welcomed as assistants and conversation partners.
Expenses: Accommodations, meals, and transportation will be available at a low cost by staying on campus.
Estimated Cost: $900 plus airfare
Last Updated: December 2, 2024 by Cheryl Tarr
Shaoxing, China – Fall 2023
Dates: October 17 – November 6, 2023
Location: Zhejiang Province, China
Team Leader: Cheryl Tarr
Project Task: Volunteers will teach academic English classes in Listening, Speaking, Reading, and/or Writing to university students preparing to take the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) test in December. Volunteers will teach classes each weekday afternoon/evening and will be available to coach students as needed during the day and on weekends.
Volunteer Qualifications: Experienced teachers of English or ESL in academic settings are needed as lead teachers. Other volunteers are welcomed as assistants and conversation partners.
Expenses: Accommodations, meals, and transportation will be available at a low cost by staying on campus.
Estimated Cost: $900 plus airfare
Last Updated: June 2, 2025 by Cheryl Tarr
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan – Summer 2020
Dates:
June 25 – July 18, 2020This opportunity has been postponed.
New dates will be posted when available.
Location: Hope Learning Center in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Project Tasks: Program activities will include English language lessons and activities, conversation practice, and games. High school age volunteers will make friends and enjoy the activities. Program participants will be 15-18 years old, mostly girls. Most will be from single parent homes or orphans with difficult pasts.
Volunteer Qualifications: Open to volunteers ages 15-80.
Volunteers should have appropriate background personality to interact with children and teens. Orientation will be provided by Hope Learning Center.
Expenses: Daily costs will be minimal once in country. Costs depend on whether volunteers eat local or western foods. Airfare will be determined by the rate available at the time of booking.
Estimated Cost: $600 plus airfare
Last Updated: November 20, 2019 by Cheryl Tarr
Shaoxing, China – Fall 2019
Volunteers needed to teach academic English
in preparation for IELTS testing.
Dates: October 17 – November 2, 2019
Location: Zhejiang University of Technology
Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, China
Team Leader: Cheryl Tarr
Project Task: Volunteers will teach academic English classes in Listening, Speaking, Reading, and/or Writing to university students preparing to take the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) test in December. Volunteers will teach classes each weekday afternoon/evening and will be available to coach students as needed during the day and on weekends.
Volunteer Qualifications: Experienced teachers of English or ESL in academic settings are needed as lead teachers. Other volunteers are welcomed as assistants and conversation partners.
Expenses: Accommodations, meals, and transportation will be available at a low cost by staying on campus.
Estimated Cost: $900 plus airfare
Last Updated: November 20, 2019 by Cheryl Tarr
ZhuZhou, China – Summer 2019
Seeking volunteer teachers and assistants!
Dates: July 11-31, 2019
** These dates include a tour prior to the teaching dates.
** Volunteers for this program may also participate in the HengYang program.
Location: Zhuzhou, Hunan Province, China
Team Leader: Terri Mikolaitis
Project Task: Teaching American classroom content to Chinese children. Subjects include: simple English Language Arts, art, music, dance, sports, crafts, etc. The students will be 6-10 years old.
Volunteer Qualifications: Experienced teachers are needed for the classroom. Other volunteers are welcomed as assistants to teachers.
Expenses: Accommodations, meals and transportation to and from the school will be provided. The program will plan a tour for the volunteers after the program.
Estimated Cost: $600 plus airfare
Last Updated: November 20, 2019 by Cheryl Tarr
Changsha, China – Summer 2019
Seeking volunteer teachers and assistants!
Dates: July 11-31, 2019
** Dates include a tour prior to the teaching program.
** Volunteers for this program may also participate in the HengYang program.
Location: Changsha, Hunan Province, China
Team Leader: Terri Mikolaitis
Project Task: Teaching American classroom content to Chinese children. Subjects include: simple English Language Arts, art, music, dance, sports, crafts, etc. The students will be 6-10 years old.
Volunteer Qualifications: Experienced teachers are needed for the classroom. Other volunteers are welcomed as assistants to teachers.
Expenses: Accommodations, meals, and transportation to and from the school will be provided. The program will plan a tour for the volunteers after the program.
Estimated Cost: $600 plus airfare
Last Updated: November 20, 2019 by Cheryl Tarr
Hengyang, China – July 2019
Seeking volunteer teachers and assistants!
Dates: July 2-18, 2019
** Dates include a tour after the teaching program is complete.
Location: Hengyang, Hunan Province, China
Team Leader: Nolan Tomboulian
Project Task: Teaching American classroom content to Chinese children. Subjects include: simple English Language Arts, art, music, dance, sports, crafts, etc. The students will be 7-15 years old.
Volunteer Qualifications: Experienced teachers are needed for the classroom. Other volunteers are welcomed as assistants to teachers.
Expenses: Accommodations, meals, and transportation to and from the school will be provided. The program will plan a tour for the volunteers after the program.
Estimated Cost: $600 plus airfare
Contact us for more information:
Address:
The Edge Institute
P.O. Box 480152
Charlotte, NC 28269
Email: info@theedgeinstitute.org
Phone: 704-598-6200
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