Volunteer In Local Syrian Schools Program: Come be a part of the Local Syrian Schools Volunteer Program and make a wonderful impact on the lives of Syrian children, refugees, and youth! Our volunteer program in Damascus, Syria, is open to everyone—whether you’re a native or non-native English speaker, a student, a graduate, a professional, or a retiree. If you’re passionate about improving the English and life skills of local Syrian students, this is your chance to join us and make a difference. We’d love to have you on board!
As a volunteer in Syria, you get to visit local Syrian schools, refugee camps, and places around Damascus. Here, you’ll make meaningful contributions to the Syrian community. Furthermore, by joining this volunteer program, you help Syrian students gain important skills and knowledge while learning about their culture and way of life. It’s a perfect volunteer opportunity for anyone passionate about education, Syrian community development, and making a positive impact in Syria.
Our Volunteer Program in Local Syrian Schools is for everyone who speaks English, whether you’re a student, professional, retiree, or graduate. It’s a fantastic opportunity for anyone interested in volunteering in Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, the Middle East, or the wider Arabic world.
Volunteer in Local Syrian Schools Program for 2026-2027
Volunteer in Syria is excited to announce the opening of applications for the Volunteer in Local Syrian Schools Program for the 2026-2027 academic year. This unique program offers participants the chance to work closely with Syrian students, refugees, children, youth, teachers, and local communities, contributing to education and positive social change.
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A Wide Range Of Impact
Our Volunteer in Local Syrian Schools Program in Damascus is well researched, targeted, and suitable for anyone who wants to gain insights into daily Syrian life, education, and teaching English.
We aim to make a long-term difference for the Syrian local community through the exchange of ideas and “walking in each other’s shoes”. Our volunteer and internship programs foster shared and mutual learning for both our community and our volunteers and interns. When you take on the role of a volunteer teacher, you not only help others learn, but you yourself will learn so much from your students, which will have an impact on your life even after you leave Syria.
Volunteering and interning are unique opportunities to genuinely make an impact on your life as well as on others, including Syrian children, refugees, youth, and community members in Syria.
Immerse Yourself In Syrian Culture
Our volunteering with the Syrian children and youth program is designed to fully immerse you in Syrian culture and forge strong relationships, whilst challenging you as a person. You will be working alongside the Syrian men, women, and children of the local area – allowing you to meet plenty of new people, study a new language, and learn more about the local Syrians and refugees living in and around Damascus.
Once you arrive at Volunteer in Syria and complete your personalized orientation, you will have the opportunity to design and create your own workshops aimed at benefiting Syrian children and youth. These workshops will make up the majority of your workload during your time in Syria. Previous workshops created by volunteers have included:
- Fun days for Syrian children in the refugee camps
- Conversational English language courses
- Arts and music courses for disabled children
- Media training for students
- Environmental camps for students
- Mathematics lessons
- Drama lessons
- Journalism workshops for high school students
- Medical workshops, such as first aid courses
As long as you have the willingness to participate, this volunteer program in Syria is open to everyone aged 18 – 70 years old from all countries, all majors, and all walks of life.
Volunteer With Syrian Children And Youth In Summer
The Volunteer in Local Syrian Schools Program in the Summer is ideal for you if you are seeking to engage with and volunteer with Syrian children and youth. This volunteer program is especially suitable for university students seeking internships to gain practical in-person experience in Syria and the Middle East.
While we operate our Volunteer in Local Schools in Syrian Program year-round (spring, summer, fall, and winter), we also offer dedicated summer volunteer programs specifically designed for students seeking opportunities to volunteer abroad in teaching and working with children and youth while earning credit toward their studies. Volunteer in Syria can grant academic credit to our enrolled university students through collaboration with the Syrian Ministry of Education.
Please note that, as students in Syria have school holidays in summer, our summer volunteer and internship program will be a little different from when it runs throughout the rest of the year. However, there will still be many exciting and varied opportunities to participate, whether you join us in the summer or at any other time.
We invite you to join this program to make the most of this excellent chance to travel throughout the summer, obtain practical experience in a related profession, and work towards your degree all at the same time.
Experience The Syrian School System
In this volunteering program in Syria, we aim to bridge the gap between Syrian students in Damascus and international volunteers who come to the Center. This is for two reasons:
1) In order to allow the students to become familiar with foreign nationals
2) To enable you to experience and understand the Syrian school system yourself directly
While Syrians learn English in school, they have limited opportunities to practice speaking English with fluent English speakers (whether native or non-native). This program helps to bridge that gap by connecting international English speakers with Syrian children and youth. This will not only help them improve their English through practice but also boost their confidence, benefiting not only their English but also their overall self-esteem.
This program also gives you, as a participant, unique insight into the Syrian school system by allowing you to experience it firsthand. This gives you the opportunity to both learn and teach. You will have the opportunity to learn from other teachers and students, and to gain practical experience by participating and teaching.
Volunteer In Local Syrian Schools Program: Overview
| Location of Volunteer Program | Damascus, Syria |
| Program Language | English |
| Volunteering Duration | 1-13 weeks |
| Starting/ Ending Dates | Year round |
| Program Focus | Syrian children and refugees Syrian school students Volunteering with Syrian children Internship with Syrian refugees |
| Monthly Costs | See our Price List for details. |
| Accommodation options | Syrian host family Shared, fully-furnished apartments Private (additional fees apply) |
| Educational Degree | Not required |
| University Credit | Available |
| Application Deadline | No deadline |
| Reviews and Ratings | Reviews On Gooverseas.com Reviews On Goabroad.com Participants video testimonials |
A Flexible Volunteering Program
As a participant in the Volunteer in Local Syrian Schools Program, you are welcome to choose which activities you would like to organize during your program and whether you would like to work with specific target groups (for example, children of a certain age).
We understand that our international participants have different skills, interests, and circumstances, so we are very flexible about the activities and experiences you wish to have. We also make the program length very flexible, anywhere from 1 to 13 weeks, so you are able to choose the option that best suits you.
Which Kind Of Activities Can You Organize?
At Volunteer in Syria, we strive to provide our volunteers with a flexible and customized experience that aligns with their interests and goals. We are happy to work with you to create a volunteering plan that suits your preferences and skills.
Currently, our program offers a variety of opportunities, including:
- Teaching conversational English to Syrian children, youth, and refugee children in local schools in and around Damascus
- Planning and organizing interactive activities, including painting, photography, and writing workshops.
- Organizing activities aimed at entertaining refugee children in Damascus
- Assisting in organizing weekly workshops for Syrian refugees on educational-related subjects such as writing resumes and formal emails, teaching employment skills, and educational writing skills.
- Helping Volunteer in Syria’s staff with administrative activities, such as writing articles and reports, and printing materials for students.
By participating in our volunteer program, you can gain valuable experience and make a meaningful contribution to the local community. We look forward to working with you to create a volunteering plan that aligns with your interests and goals.
What Do You Get From Volunteer in Syria?
- 12 hours of Arabic lessons for each month that you intern with us, or 3hours per week
- Accommodation with a host family or in a shared flat
- Breakfast with other participants (6 times a week)
- Support before your departure and during your time in Syria
- Visits to various sites in the city of Damascus, including refugee camps, the old city, and different factories
- Engagement in educational, social, and community activities
- Arabic hospitality and a pleasant climate
- Access to nearby cities and tourist sites
- Assistance from well-qualified, attentive Arabic teachers with excellent educational backgrounds
- A certificate upon completion
To Volunteer In A Local Syrian School, You Should Be:
- Willing to work with diverse Syrian children, youth, and school students
- A student or graduate who seeks teaching experience
- Someone interested in the educational system in Syria
- An interest or major in English or education
- 18+ and willing to make an impact on the local community
- Someone who desires to help the future leaders of Syria
What do you need to be a volunteer in a local school in Syria?
- 18+
- The ability to communicate in English
- The ability to work with an international team
- Patience and enthusiasm
- To be eager to learn
What don’t you need?
- The ability to speak Arabic
- Travel or work experience
- To be a native speaker of English
- A degree in English or any specialization
- Experience in teaching English as a foreign language
Arabic Lessons For Volunteers
All our international volunteers and interns receive 3 hours of Arabic classes a week or 12 hours a month with an experienced and knowledgeable Syrian teacher. With this foundation, all volunteers will have plenty of chances to interact with locals to learn and practice the language.
Whether you are a total beginner or an advanced learner, we tailor our Arabic lessons to your level. On top of that, as a volunteer or intern, you can freely choose what kind of Arabic you would like to learn.
When Does The Volunteering In Local Schools In Syria Program Accept Volunteers?
Volunteer in Syria welcomes international volunteers year-round and allows them to choose when to start their program. We are very flexible with start and end dates, and you can choose your volunteer period between 1 and 13 weeks.
We understand that everyone has different schedules and availability, so we work with each volunteer to create a program that fits their individual needs. Whether you want to volunteer for a few weeks during your summer break or for several months during your gap year, we can help you design a program that aligns with your goals and availability.
Awards And Recognitions
Volunteer in Syria has proudly earned several Community Awards, including recognition as the Best Arabic Language School overseas, one of the best Online Programs for Syrian Colloquial Arabic Providers, and the Top Provider of Volunteer and Internship Opportunities abroad for the years 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. For further details, please visit our profiles on GoOverseas.com and GoAbroad.com.
- +950 reviews (96.8%) on gooverseas.com
- +190 reviews (93%) on goabroad.com
- Participants’ video testimonials
- Our Awards
Traveling To Damascus, Syria
Traveling to Volunteer in Syria in Damascus is simple and stress-free. You’ll fly directly into Damascus, and from the airport it’s only about a one-hour drive — roughly 40 km — to reach our school. If you have any questions about your journey or need help with arrangements, our team is always happy to assist. You can find our contact information at the bottom of this page.
Summary
The Volunteer in Local Syrian Schools Program in Damascus is the perfect opportunity for university students, graduates, those taking a sabbatical or gap year, and people who are looking to make a difference in the lives of Syrian children in Damascus. The ways in which you, as a volunteer, can apply your skills are nearly endless. You will not only get to volunteer and have an impact, but you will be immersed in Syrian culture and get to learn a lot about Syria.
During your volunteer program in Syria, you will get to engage with the local community, particularly Syrian children and youth. You will get the opportunity to learn first-hand about the Syrian school system and participate in it. There are many potential activities you can choose to do in this program, such as running conversational English classes, art, music, drama, or dance workshops, or workshops in media, journalism, or healthcare and medicine. This program is very flexible, so you will be able to engage in the activities and areas of interest of your choosing.
Volunteering with Syrian children and youth in Syria is a unique experience that will shape your perspective for years to come. Whether you are a native or non-native English speaker, you are welcome to participate in our programs. No matter your level of Arabic, you are welcome and can learn Arabic for the first time or build on your existing level.
In addition, volunteering in Syria is a perfect opportunity for anyone interested in a career working with children, refugees, early childhood education, or children’s welfare. If you are a current university or college student, you can even obtain credit towards your studies while volunteering with us in Syria. Whether you are a student or not, you can participate in this program year-round for as long as you like, between 1 and 13 weeks.
How To Apply
If you are interested in volunteering with us at Volunteer in Syria, please send an email to Info@ecsyria.org with the subject line “Volunteer in Local Syrian Schools“. We will send you the application form to get started on your journey with us.
Our team is happy to answer any questions you may have and guide you through the application process. We look forward to hearing from you and working together to make a positive impact on the lives of Syrian children and youth.
Contact Us
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at:
Website: https://ecsyria.org/
EC Website: https://excellencenter.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excellence.center
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ExcellenceCenter