Volunteer Teaching as a Venue for Personal Growth
Cultivating Empathy and Social Awareness
One of the most profound effects of volunteer teaching is the way it shapes volunteers’ perspectives on education, poverty, and social inequality. Working directly with students from marginalized backgrounds, volunteers gain firsthand insight into the struggles faced by disadvantaged communities.
A volunteer from volunteer teaching program named KK-ALAY quotes:
“There’s a constant immersion of volunteer teachers in the community with the campaign of ‘education for all’… we are trying to hold trainings, volunteer orientations, volunteer education, so they could better understand the essence of volunteerism”
“Hindi siya basta basta na magtuturo ka or magbabasa or magsusulat, para matulungan mo talaga nang effectively and efficiently yung community, kailangan mo talaga muna maintindihan yung nature around them, and then customize your solution to that problem encounter.”
A Lifelong Impact: Beyond the Classroom
Many volunteers find that their teaching experiences leave a lasting impact. The relationships formed with students, the stories they encounter, and the challenges they overcome contribute to long-term personal growth.
KK-ALAY found that fostering a strong sense of community, providing opportunities for personal and professional growth, and celebrating the positive impacts on students’ lives are more powerful drivers for retaining passionate volunteer teachers; as mentioned one of our interviewee, quoting:
“For me, it’s really fun. Being with kids is fine with me, I have a soft spot for them. I find them genuine and innocent. Seeing their enthusiasm, especially those in marginalized communities, motivates me. It gives me a reason to keep coming back to the students I teach.”
Ultimately, volunteer teaching is more than just an opportunity to help others—it is a journey of self-discovery, skill-building, and personal transformation.
