Volunteers
Looking to do a year or two of service?
Yap Catholic High School offers a unique international cultural immersion experience through our Volunteer Program. Volunteers teach three academic classes at Yap Catholic High School in a small classroom environment. With ongoing support and mentoring from the school administration, along with bright, eager students who are excited to come to school each day, YCHS is the perfect place to learn how to teach.
Our volunteers live in a small, intentional community located in a local village which is right on the outskirts of the main town (Colonia) and a ten-minute drive from our school campus. Volunteers have the opportunity to become immersed in the traditional local culture. Each year, the volunteer community is given the opportunity for regular faith sharing and reflection with tremendous support from the local Catholic community.
Volunteers also help to moderate and coach clubs and sports activities, including campus ministry. Many volunteers have even started up new clubs and organizations based on their unique interests and talents.
If you are interested in learning more about our Volunteer Program, please e-mail our principal at: ychsprincipal@gmail.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Is English spoken in Yap? Yes. Although there are many different indigenous & foreign languages here, almost everyone can speak English. Students are required to speak while on campus (their English language skills are quite good considering that they are ESL learners). English is also spoken in the stores and in all government offices as the official language.
Where will I live? Living arrangements vary slightly each year, depending on the number of volunteers. Usually with two-three volunteers, they live together in a house on a ridge over town in the village of Nimar. We've used this house for nearly a decade. It has three bedrooms, a large common space with kitchen, washer & dryer, internet, and a beautify l small deck off the back of the house overlooking the jungled valley. There are also some wonderful neighbors in this small cul-de-sac. The Nimar house is about six miles from campus and about half a mile from the center of town. Starting in 2023, we also began using a living quarter fit for one volunteer in one of the duplex houses above the AIT Building and adjacent to the Jesuit House. The living quarter includes one bedreoom with attached bathroom, small kitchen & living space, and a small deck off the bedroom overlooking Chamorro Bay. If there are more than three volunteers, we also have a small house on the mission grounds of St. Mary's School and St. Mary's Church. This house has two semi-separate bedrooms, a sitting area, laundry room, small kitchen, and a screended-in porch area. This house sits between the first two houses and is on the way to the Nimar house.
How will I get to the school campus? The school also provides a car and gas money for transporation to school. Any volunteer with a valid US Driver's License is able to drive on-island by filing for a Yap State Driver's License. Volunteers without driver's licenses can learn how to drive and apply for a Yap State Driver's License. You also have the option of catching the public bus in the morning from town to school, and then after school back to town. The bus fare per route is $1.
Will I have health care coverage? YCHS cannot offer health care coverage. We ask volunteer teachers to stay on their parents' coverage. We do have a fairly nice hospital here with a staff that includes certified doctors. Most hospital services are free (there are small costs for an overnight stay, medicine, and ambulance rides). In the case of any serious illness or injury, YCHS would fly the volunteer teacher to Guam to be treated at a hospital there.
Is there a support system in place for volunteer teachers? Yes. We have a person who is designated as the “support person” for volunteers (currently, this is a Jesuit priest who teaches at the school.) The support person meets with the volunteers on a regular basis for dinner, faith sharing, and reflection. He also has ongoing, informal conversations with each of the volunteers. At school, the principal runs an orientation for volunteer teachers at the beginning of the year and also holds regular faculty meetings. Much of the discussion at these meetings centers on teaching and learning strategies. Teachers also meet with the principal for weekly one-on-one mentoring sessions.
What will my duties be? Most volunteers teach three different courses. One or two of the courses may not line up with the teacher’s background, but this has not been a problem in the past. Volunteers have enjoyed teaching new subjects – e.g. Micronesian Politics or Micronesian Government. Each teacher is expected to create an organized electronic file with all lesson plans, unit plans, and assessments. These files from past years are a terrific resource to help new teachers plan the courses. Teachers are also expected to provide updates during Morning Assembly, help plan & execute Retreat Days and Days of Recollection, help coach sports teams and/or run activities, and run a homeroom or proctor a period. The school day runs from 8:15 – 4:00. The last 70 minutes or so is an extended Study Hall when students can get help from teachers as they work on homework. This is also when sports practices and activity meetings take place.
How long is my commitment? We ask volunteer teachers to commit for at least one year, but we recommend two years. Those who have stayed on for a second year have really enjoyed “feeling at home” – mostly teaching the same courses, knowing their way around, and knowing the students and families. We’ve never had a three-year volunteer, but that is also a possibility!
Will I get paid? Volunteer teachers receive a monthly stipend to cover personal expenses. They also receive food money (which gets pooled together) and gas money. In the past, one-year volunteers have paid their own airfare (about $2,000 from the east coast) and two-year volunteers have been reimbursed by the school (some volunteers have successfully raised money on their own to pay for their tickets). The school can help pay airfare for a one-year volunteer if necessary.
Is there much to do in Yap? There are no movie theaters, malls, bookstores, etc. However, there are many very interesting “local” activities. Getting to see a cultural dance is a treat (a number of YCHS students take part in these). There is also a cultural festival called Yap Day (which actually lasts for 2-3 days). There are kayaks for rent, and there are two hotels that have small swimming pools. Many of the volunteers are runners, and some play in volleyball and basketball leagues at the Sports Complex. Yap is also a well-known dive destination. Most of the volunteers have become certified in scuba diving. Yap is known for its excellent safety standards and is famous for its manta rays.
Can I receive “care packages” from back home? Yes. One of the great perks about living in Yap is that the US Postal Service considers Yap a “domestic” address. So postage is the same as it is within the US. Flat-rate priority boxes are commonly used for “care packages” to Yap. Priority mail takes about 8-10 days to get here. (All USPS mail comes by plane – which is only twice a week.) Packages shipped parcel post (much cheaper) come by ship and take about two months. Volunteer teachers share a post office box. (There are no “addresses” here since the streets don’t have names. Everyone has a PO Box and picks up their mail at the post office.)