Bulgaria is a wonderful, beautiful, and fascinating country. Tucked into the southeast corner of Europe, it is a crossroads and melting pot for people from the entire eastern hemisphere. The Bulgarian people are warm, hard working, and especially kind to foreigners, as they consider it a duty to care for strangers in their midst. Bulgarian culture is rich in tradition, their cuisine simple yet delicious, and Bulgarians never tire of sitting with friends over a cup of coffee or tea.
Yet the needs in this country are vast. Communism devastated Bulgarian society. In the post-communist era, Bulgaria has struggled to right itself and advance into the 21st century, but resource shortages, flight to countries offering better life opportunities, and crumbling local institutions have left Bulgarians facing many serious social and economic problems. Bulgaria is the poorest country in the European Union, with average wages only half those of the next poorest country, and less than 20% of the EU average. Schools are struggling. The healthcare system is facing severe shortages. Across the country, children are in need of more resources and support for success.
In 2012, our team established the PINK Foundation to address the problems of under-resourced communities and improve life trajectories for Bulgarian kids. PINK's programs are a safe place where children can make new friends, learn new skills, and receive encouragement from adults. Our goal is to help them achieve a happy, healthy, and productive life through personal mentoring, after school activities, life skills training, and summer camps. Critical for this effort is introducing them to Jesus, and every child is given an opportunity to hear his story.
In the midst of these social problems, Christians have an opportunity to live and work among Bulgarian people in such a way as to demonstrate how following Jesus leads to transformation. As an English Teaching Assistant, you will assist public school teachers with lesson plans, educational resources, classroom teaching, after school English clubs and summer English camps.
Are you an aspiring teacher? Do you love children? Would you like to develop your skills in a cross-cultural setting? If so, then this might be the perfect opportunity for you.
Skills:
Native English speaker
Excellent communication skills
Desire to work with children and/or teenagers
Teamwork orientation
Curiosity and flexibility are essential for working in a cross-cultural environment.