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VolunteerHELP Swim

Swim Instructor or Support Staff

Teach children aged 3–16 to swim and stay safe in the water during the Peruvian summer season.

Hours a week
15–20
Minimum stay
Summer
Age
18+

About the role

HELP Swim volunteer instructors teach learn-to-swim and drowning-prevention lessons to children aged 3–16 in a safe, respectful and fun way.

You'll work closely with the HELP Swim volunteer environmental educator to deliver the full programme, which combines drowning prevention with water stewardship, reporting to our Country Manager. Lessons follow the SwimTayka curriculum.

The programme runs over the Peruvian summer and typically lasts two to three months. We recommend arriving a week before lessons begin so you can get to know the team and the project.

What you'll do
  • Teach learn-to-swim and drowning-prevention lessons following the SwimTayka curriculum and the local lesson schedule
  • Where needed, develop lesson plans, a class schedule and a transport plan to and from the pool
  • Assess children's swimming ability and group them by age and ability, keeping a ratio of one instructor to every 5–8 swimmers
  • Record participants' details and parental contact information, and obtain parental consent for every child
  • Keep daily registers and notes from daily and weekly lessons
  • Look after teaching aids and equipment
  • Keep in daily contact with the Programme Coordinator and fellow volunteers, and join regular volunteer meetings
  • Get to know the SwimTayka Emergency Action Plan
  • Show teamwork, respect and a commitment to safety in the local community
What we provide
  • Personal pick-up when you arrive, plus a walking tour of Huanchaco
  • Help organising your accommodation in Huanchaco
  • A thorough introduction to OCN and how we work
  • Certified training in first aid and child safeguarding
  • 2 days' holiday per month
  • 24/7 emergency support
  • Organised activities: barbecues, games nights, the weekly volunteer lunch and more
  • A certificate of completion detailing your role, projects and dates
Skills & experience
  • Able to lead conversations about swimming, drowning prevention and water stewardship
  • Leadership and project-management skills
  • Enthusiastic, friendly and approachable
  • Flexible, responsible and full of initiative
Requirements
  • Age 18+ on arrival
  • Time commitment: the summer season (typically 2–3 months)
  • Current first aid and/or CPR certification (or you'll have it before you start)
  • The right certification and/or experience to teach youth swimming
  • A current background check from your home country

Safeguarding comes first

Our projects work with children and other vulnerable people, so every volunteer provides a current background check from their home country and completes our first aid and child safeguarding training.

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