Teachers should include a letter from the teacher indicating the BFE Group Leader and team and dates of travel stated and signed. Include your home address, telephone and email.

Because of problems with credit cards used by teachers with expired dates, overlimits and time restrictions, bank certified checks alone are acceptable to Vision 2000 Travel for BFE Group Travel.

Please send by overnight courier only Fed Ex or UPS to:

Vision 2000 Travel
328 Guelph Street
Georgetown, Ontario, Canada
L7G 4B5
Attn: Charles Galea
Tel no: 905-873-2000

TEACHING REQUIREMENTS

Teachers must have state certification or have successfully taught in a private school or college. Teaching assistants may include educated adults, student teachers and college students. Families with teenagers are welcome. All subject areas are welcome. Additional skills/hobbies are a plus. Native speakers of English are requested; no other language proficiency is required. Teachers must exhibit patience, flexibility, a great sense of humor, openness to new experiences, be outstanding role models and good team players, and have excellent mental and physical health. Teachers must agree to follow all rules of BFE and host country. Costs and requirements for passports and visas, if needed, are the participants' responsibility.

Teachers must agree to follow all rules of BFE and host country. Costs and requirements for passports and visas, if needed, are the participants' responsibility. All teachers selected MUST attend local pre-departure training sessions. BFE requires a written program evaluation at the end of the program.

College Credits/In Service credits

BFE participation may qualify for in-service credit, community service or college credit. Check with your institution. BFE Group Leaders will provide candidates with a letter of acceptance after the application process is completed, and we will provide written evaluations of participation after the BFE program is completed. Outstanding volunteers will receive BFE recommendations.

WHAT IS PROVIDED

The BFE Group Leader, prior to departure, organizes orientation and educational training sessions in language teaching and preparation. In each country, Bridges for Education negotiates three weeks' room and board in a dormitory while teaching, weekend activities, and a fourth week of travel, which includes room and board, ground transportation, guides and sightseeing, provided by the host country. Bathrooms are usually down the hall and shared. There is no air conditioning. Accommodations may be basic depending on country and school. This is like a "Mini Peace Corps assignment". Please check this site for pictures of each facility and links to country information. Partner countries are confirmed in December/January.

PROGRAM COSTS

Bridges for Education offers an exceptionally low cost, TAX DEDUCTIBLE international educational opportunity in order to provide service to the developing countries of Eastern and Central Europe. Application forms may be downloaded here.

All contributions to BFE are tax deductible, USA (501(c)(3) status

Payment schedule:

• $600.00 USD deposit certified bank check is required postmarked & received by BFE before or on March 31, 2008. No personal checks allowed. Non refundable.
• Final BFE administrative fee payment ($350 USD Europe and $380.00 USD for China) - required postmarked & received by BFE before or on May 01, 2008.
• Total cost of BFE administrative fee is: $950.00 USD Europe, $980.00 USD for China.
• Airline costs & travel insurance payment: Credit Card only.
• Insufficient Funds or bounced check - $50.00 penalty fee. No exceptions.

Cancellation Policy:

Because of the costs to develop these programs, the application deposit of $600.00 USD is non- refundable.

• Cancelled before May 01, 2008 - Refund final payment only
  
• Cancelled after May 01, 2008 - Payment non refundable
• Airline cancellation penalties to be confirmed by Vision 2000 Travel Inc.

BFE reserves the right to cancel any program at any time. If program cancelled by BFE (1) Before May 1st, , refund of final payment (2) After May 1 - all payments are non refundable. However, please note that if the BFE summer programs are cancelled by our partners after May 01, BFE is in not legally responsible. No refunds will be made of the BFE administrative fee and the airline cancellation penalty after that date.

BEST DEAL:

BFE is the ONLY non profit organization which is not a religious or ethnicgroup and which organizes international camps. Our teachers, who also include educated adults, and teaching assistants( high school and college students) are trained in basic ESL methods and are provided a curriculum development package. We prepare our program as a team before we arrive. This preplanning also sets us apart from any other organization. We show results in English speaking skills. We include lessons and activities on conflict resolution, tolerance, team building, intercultural awareness, volunteerism, human rights, responsibility, initiative, debates, and critical thinking in an active approach. Our students learn much more than English and their parents and teachers tell us this.There is great competition to get into our camps.

COMPARE to other programs:

If you have checked around you will know that BFE is also the best program for the price. We offer more. We have the best camp facilities and best partners available. We offer a high level program and have earned a very good reputation. We prepare the teachers, Group Leaders and Camp Directors and the results show. BFE also pays scholarships for Int'l students. No other organization does that. Join BFE for the best experience in your life.

HOW TO ENROLL:

PLEASE NOTE! Teams are recruited locally and train together prior to departure. Group Leaders choose their own teams. Please contact the area representative closest to you.

NOTE:The forms provided below should be filled out and submitted only by those North Americans who would like to participate in our camps as teachers.