The Madaris Volunteer Program is a program based in Davao City, Philippines that sends volunteers to teach DepEd-mandated subjects like English, Math, and Science, in selected pilot madaris (Islamic schools) in selected Bangsamoro areas for a long-term, immersive program dedicated to an active “apostolate of presence.”

Volunteers stay with host families in the Bangsamoro for the duration of an entire school year to teach school-aged children in madaris, engage in interreligious dialogue with Bangsamoro communities, and advocate peacebuilding through education.

The Madaris Volunteer Program is open to people from all faith traditions. Applicants only need to be at least 21 years old, and have ANY college degree to apply. It is an initiative of the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP), and is implemented by Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU) through its partnerships with National Association of Bangsamoro Education, Inc (NABEI), the Bureau of Madaris Education (BME), and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). 

It is “Peacebuilding through Education” but also “Peacebuilding through Friendship,” as volunteers create a new environment of shared learning, respect, and cooperation between and among Islamic schools and Catholic schools toward improving the quality of education in the Bangsamoro.

Location

Davao City, DAS, Philippines