Trip Details

This volunteer program consists of two parts: A unique cultural experience where you can learn firsthand about the local people and an opportunity for teaching students within the community. Your presence will allow an exchange of ideas and all involved will enjoy the benefit of seeing a wider world.

You will explore historical sites that are significant to this ancient village, visit attractive scenic spots here and experience the intricacies of life of Meimei Village life. What you can expect to gain is are one-of-a-kind memories over the course of your stay.

The children will all be excited to meet you and exceptionally welcoming. This will be due in part to the genuine friendliness of the local people, but also because of the fact that you will be one of the very few foreigners they have ever met! Simply by getting them enthused about coming to school and giving them some very basic English phrases (such as simple greetings), you may well have sown the seeds of a lifelong learning habit for them.

Aims & Objectives

  • Improve the village children’s educational prospects and widen their cultural interactions
  • Gain invaluable and practical experience in teaching
  • Assist the local staff by providing an extra hand

Trip Itinerary

Monday to Friday
You will have the opportunity to teach half-days from Monday to Friday, either in the morning or the afternoon for 3-5 hours. You will also have lots of time to explore the local area on your own and discover the many hidden treasures within this region.

For the other half-day there will be time for lesson planning and a variety of activities that will be arranged, which may include: Walking around the Meimei village; Visiting Arcade Streets; Discovering the Volcano Park; Local Farm Experience; Relaxing on the Beach.

Monday

  • Breakfast
  • Volunteer on the project for 3 hours
  • Lunch
  • Lesson planning
  • Dinner
  • Free Time

Tuesday

  • Breakfast
  • Volunteer on the project  3-5 hours
  • Lunch
  • Lesson planning
  • Dinner
  • Free Time

Wednesday 

  • Breakfast
  • Volunteer on the project  3-5 hours
  • Lunch
  • Lesson planning
  • Dinner
  • Free Time

Thursday

  • Breakfast
  • Volunteer on the project  3-5 hours
  • Lunch
  • Lesson planning
  • Dinner
  • Free Time

Friday 

  • Breakfast
  • Volunteer on the project  3-5 hours
  • Lunch
  • Lesson planning
  • Dinner
  • Free Time

Evenings: Volunteers are free to sightsee around the local area, do some shopping, and/or plan for the next day.

Weekends – Weekends are free. You are welcome to relax and hang out at the volunteer accommodation with other volunteers or you can use this time to travel and explore Hainan with your new friends.

***This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances***

Trip Accommodation

Hainan is a lovely island province located at the southernmost end of China. With a spectacular coastline that measures 1,500 km long, the beaches and the mountains in this region are breathtaking. Some have called it the “Hawaii of China”, because the weather is tropically warm and humid all year, as it has no real winter season. It’s a place that is rich in history and natural resources, where there are numerous seafood delicacies to be found on the menu. If you love hiking, there are scenic trails in the rain forest to enjoy local suspension bridges and cascading waterfalls. Hainan has something for anyone who wants to relax and chill and/or be adventurous.

Accommodation & Food

Our accommodation is located within Meimei Village, and it has standard rooms (4-6 people per room), which are male and female separated. It has hot showers, western style bathrooms and limited WIFI (the signal may be affected according to local conditions). There are public areas for volunteers to relax.

Food Arrangements
Volunteers can expect to have three meals a day served at the accommodation (two on weekends). Meals will be typical for the region and will likely include lots of rice, noodles and vegetables. Meat or fish may be served on occasions as well.

Facilities
There are limited facilities in Meimei village. A small shop where you can buy some basic items, a playground and a clinic. It takes 20 minutes to get to the town where you can find ATM’s and restaurants and just about anything else you might need. Once week a transfer to the town for shopping will be provided.

Sights & Surroundings
It’s around 35 minutes from Meimei Village to Haikou, which is the capital city of the Hainan Province. With beautiful scenery, numerous natural and cultural relics, during your stay you can experience the life of the local’s life and visit vivid statues of famous officials from the Tang and Song Dynasties in Five Ancestral Temple (Wugong Ci). You can also explore streets that are hundreds of years old, by bicycle to experience its unique architectural style and historical culture. Haikou People’s Park is another must-see, that is also a great place for you to relax yourself, as it’s covered with old-flourishing trees and vibrant greenery.

Trip Country Info

China

Capital: Beijing
Language: Standard Chinese
Currency: Renminbi (Yuan) (CNY)
Time zone: CST (UTC +8)

China covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometers making it the 2nd largest country by land area. It is not only the country with the largest population in the world but it is also one of the largest economies laying claim to being the world’s largest exporter and 2nd largest importer of goods.

It is a country of incredible cultural history boasting one of the earliest ancient civilisations dating back to around 2800 BC. Its landscape is equally rich in diversity, ranging from its forest steppes, its deserts in the north and subtropical forests in the south to its 14,500km long stretch of Pacific Ocean coastline. All of this makes China an incredible and exciting place to be, both in what it has to offer today and the story of its past.

China has solidified itself as a contender for global recognition and as a tourist hotspot.  We have a number of  travel experiences in China from volunteering & gap year travel  to Tours and Paid Teaching.

With an assortment of climates and social structures, it is near impossible to experience all of China in a gap year trip. You can invest yourself and discover a whole new culture and still miss out on a dozen other cultures within arm’s reach while travelling in China, and these programs are dedicated to helping you help others while experiencing the different wonders of the country. Combine adventuring through nature with helping those less fortunate, and you have got yourself a stellar journey ahead of you. If you are looking for a gap year holiday in China, conservation work, an exciting road trip in China,  volunteer work with Pandas, teaching or other work & travel in China have a look at our latest experiences below or contact us for more information.

Please Note TRU are not currently able to accept any volunteers in China due to the current Covid-19 pandemic. We will be sure to update you when it is safe to travel and restrictions ease in China.

Participant Criteria & Requirements

Standard Requirements

Modest clothing for teaching

Additional Requirements

No requirements have been provided.

What's included

  • 24/7 support in case of emergencies
  • Accommodation
  • Airport Pick up
  • English speaking coordinator
  • Meals
  • Orientation

What's not included

  • Flights
  • Travel insurance
  • Vaccination
  • Visa