SVN Services

SVN is pleased to consider requests for its services from any part of the world. We work within the following guidelines:

What SVN does:

• SVN is a group of mainly retired teachers, and others who have worked in education.
• They are committed to help with short-term educational projects, usually overseas.
• SVN makes no charge for this help.
• Projects typically range from one to five weeks.

What SVN does not do:

• SVN does not undertake projects focused on mission or evangelism.
• It does not provide money, either for specific projects or ongoing work, but only supplies volunteers.
• Volunteers do not teach classes in schools, but support and train those who do.

SVN Volunteers have undertaken a wide variety of projects. Here are some examples:

In-service training

A team of nine volunteers spent two weeks in Zambia running training workshops for primary and secondary teachers from a number of schools.

School evaluation

Three volunteers have been to India to help the Principal and staff of a Christian school with an evaluation of their work, leading to the development of an improvement plan.

Special Needs

Two volunteers helped lead a one week conference in Abuja, Nigeria focusing on Special Education. They worked with fifty teachers, many of whom had little experience in this area.

Teacher training

One volunteer and his wife travelled to Rumbek in southern Sudan to work for a short period at a teacher training college.

TEFL

Volunteers have visited Bangladesh to help establish a TEFL course. The request was for a six-month visit, but this was too long a period for SVN volunteers, so two people went for several weeks each.

Home schooling

SVN has an ongoing work in Thailand with the OMF missionary society, bringing home-schooled children together for a creative arts week, and giving them the experience of learning together.

Support by email

One SVN member gave tuition and support by email to the daughter of a missionary family in Spain to help her with IGCSE exams, following a short visit to meet her.

Partnerships

SVN is developing links with other charities of similar philosophy and operating style, but which lack educational expertise. This will enable joint projects to be arranged, adding an educational input to existing charitable work. Projects are currently being undertaken with Mission Direct and Links International.

Further information on SVN can be found on our About Us page or in Frequently Asked Questions.
If you would like to discuss a possible project, please get in touch with us via our Contact page.