“Panama will always have such a special place in my heart thanks to my experience at TeachPTY . I decided to volunteer teach abroad to be able to have the opportunity to give back, share my passions, and give all I had to offer. Little did I know I would be leaving with so much more than I was able to give.”

“TeachPTY is a very very special volunteer program that I would recommend to absolutely anyone; it was truly an experience I will never forget. I was able to meet incredible people, travel to amazing places and have great experiences. It’s the type of volunteer experience that doesn’t make you feel like a number, but rather a part of the program and a part of the community. TeachPTY ensures that you have the opportunity to be immersed into the Panamanian culture and become a part of the town. It was the little things like local beach trips, smoothie runs, and bike trips that made my experience whole. You have the freedom to do what you please and experience the town how you wish.
TeachPTY is located in Pedasi, the most adorable, magical small town by the ocean. I can honestly say that Pedasi became home for me, on weekends I would go away and found myself calling Pedasi home and wanting to go back.
As a volunteer it’s really based on your personality and comfort how much you want to be a part of lesson planning and weekly schedules. TeachPTY really works with your ideas. The most important thing is to be creative, fun and not afraid to branch outside standard basic English lessons. Throughout the month I was able to see the difference I was making and the progress that the students were making which was super exciting to me. I was able to come be a part of a positive program in a community and feel like I was doing something.
TeachPTY touched my heart and I will be forever grateful for what my time here in Panama taught me.  I leave with a newfound sense of gratitude for another culture that welcomed me with open arms, and the desire to explore, teach, and never stop learning.”

“Giving back in the best possible way

I am born in Panama, but adopted to Sweden, so when I decided to take a career break it came natural to me that I wanted to give back to the Panamanian community. Only a small problem – I don’t speak Spanish, but luckily enough I found Teach PTY on goabroad.com and I was welcome even though I don’t speak Spanish. Jose, the founder said it could be an advantage as the kids then had to speak English to me. 🙂

I spent 4 weeks with Teach PTY and it was an adventure of a life time, that I will bring with me always. The kids were absolutely adorable and they are all so keen to learn English.

On my first day Jose and his assistant Carmela went through all the four-week’s teaching plan with me, so that I knew what to prepare. I have so enjoyed preparing the classes. Examples of what I taught them and repeated are; how to say what time it is, animal names, directions, body parts, shapes & forms but the most fun both for me and the kids must be, how to order a hamburger in English J And as a reward for hard work the kids got to visit a hamburger restaurant and they ordered a hamburger with fries. The kids are all so clever and bright and I am sure they will do well in life.

The kids so love Jose and Carmela and they really respect them. The world needs more people like them. Kind, loving people that give rather than take from society.

As you have the weekends free, I got to travel and see beautiful Panama. The Panamanians are so helpful and kind. With a lot of help from strangers I managed for example to take 5 different busses in a day to visit adventures & surfers’ paradise Santa Catalina (remember I don’t speak any Spanish 🙂 )

I can totally recommend Teach PTY if you are looking to give back by empowering children by teaching them English and at the same time you get to discover all of Panama’s treasures – the people, the food, the environment, the beaches, the culture.

Don’t wait. Reach out to Teach PTY and it might change your life as well as the children of Pedasi.”

“When I decided to join the volunteering program of TeachPTY, I knew I was going to enjoy it, but this has gone over my expectations ! The principle is that you prepare the classes and teach to the kids during the week, and then you have three days to travel and to explore Panama. Now that my experience has come to an end, the only thing I want, is to see the kids again, they were so appealing and friendly with us (the volunteers). Teaching them english using different thematics such has preservation of the environment, wild life… makes you realize that you can make a difference.

Traveling across Panama was also a memorable experience because this country has a lot to offer : hiking, WALES WATCHING, seeing sea turtles giving birth, enjoying crazy parties in Bocas del Toro, enormous beaches with nobody on it except you, beautiful islands… The boss (Jose) helps you organize your week-ends and tells you about all the things you can do around. And after all these crazy week-ends, you know that you have a house waiting for you to come-back. You really feel home which is nice !.”

“I arrived in Panama with 3 other mates thank’s to TeachPTY. We had to do an internship for our Business School, and we made the choice to do it with TeachPTY because for us it was the best way to mix the volunteering, and the discovery of a new country and culture. During this 2 months we had the pleasure to spend the week with the Panamanian kids, teaching them English, and to travel across Panama during our weekends. The teaching was one of the best experience of my life. It was the first time that I had to teach, and the Panamanians kids are awesome. The teaching was great fun for me to because now I understand how to teach and give explinations for a kid is not that easy, but after all, I understood that when you try to explain for a kid, it has to be as easy and fun as possible. Giving “easy explanations” is a really valuable thing in business I think, so during the internship I taught, but I also learned a lot about me. Despite this fact my favorite part was discovering Panama, with all the landscapes between beach and mountains. I was really excited when I saw animals that I could never see in France like the whales, the monkeys, the sloths etc …”

“When I decided to go abroad for my international experience, I did not know where to go.

One of my friend who did the Panama TEACHPTY experience last year told me about this and it was good looking so I sign up and start preparing myself.

Since I arrived in the TEACHPTY house, my trip has changed! I was expecting to have a room and live my life when there is no class but it’s so different!

First of all, TEACHPTY is a family where everybody are welcome, you can share meals, point of views and more!

Jose is someone really friendly and you feel like at home in less than one week, it’s really cool when you will spend long time in the same place.

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are class day during which you teach kids and play with them in English. Friday, Saturday, Sunday are your trip day’s you can follow the advices of Jose to do your excursions or just make your plans. Every place in Panama is crazy so I recommend you to travel a lot and explore within this beautiful country!!

Finally maybe you think that teaching and taking care of kids is something difficult but just come and see them you’ll fall in love!”

“I think, I did the most amazing volunteering program !! It’s a new one, so everything is like if you are family. Jose (the boss) is perfect, he is all the time there for you, if you want to book something, to organize your trip, etc… And there is a very good atmosphere in the house, like when you leave, you want to come back soon !! The main task of this program is to teach English for children, but you also gonna do some yoga, musique, art, etc… All the kids are incredible, they come to learn and have a good time with you ! If you can do it, do it !!!!”

I absolutely loved the two weeks I got to spend with TeachPTY and wish I could have stayed longer! I was a bit nervous to volunteer the first couple of days, but had a lot of wonderful help and encouragement, and the kids were super sweet and so much fun to work with – plus it was amazing to see their progress learning English in just the short time I was there. This was my first visit to Panama too, and I loved it so much I ended up booking another trip back! Pedasi was an amazing town to stay in, I felt very at home in the volunteer house, and definitely recommend TeachPTY for any traveler, especially if this is your first trip abroad or your first volunteer trip.

TeachPTY is a fantastic choice to go explore another country with an opportunity to help children learn English in a comfortable setting. I am very happy I made the choice to volunteer for this program, the kids are fun, full of energy and willing to learn. The city is an amazing little town with so many hidden gems, beautiful beaches and a lot of places to explore. I was there for three weeks and had made friends with a lot of the local merchants and citizens, the people here are awesome. I would definitely recommend this program for anyone who wants to volunteer especially if this is your first time!

I participated in TeachPTY for one week in Panama and there was so much good that came from my experience there. First, I was greeted at the airport by the founder of the program, who picked me up from the airport and gave me a tour of Panama City, including the canal and other beautiful landmarks. It was beautiful. I was then brought to Pedasi, which was where I spent the remainder of my stay. It certainly did not disappoint. Whereas Panama City is amazing with it’s skyscrapers and unique architecture, Pedasi is a very quiet town with lots of greenery, beautiful beaches and very friendly people. This program was a great balance of work and relaxation. When I wasn’t teaching, I had the freedom to explore! There are local restaurants and stores as well as beaches that are just a bike ride away. I wish I could’ve stayed longer to see what else there was to see. And let’s not forget about the most important part: the teaching! Teaching was the most rewarding. The kids were so fun much and certainly eager to learn! Don’t worry if you don’t have teaching experience. There are usually other volunteers to piggy back off of or another partner of the program to support you along the way! I would highly recommend to other teachers (like myself) who want a break from the classroom but still want to make a difference with children in a different way, and still be able to relax! And I recommend this to anyone who wants a real authentic experience in a country different from your own. Everything from the food to the people only is worth doing all over again, and I plan to!

I was looking for voluntary work in Panama but couldn’t find a lot, then I saw the website of TeachPTY. I got in contact with the founder, Jose. He has so much enthusiasm and is very easy going that I wanted to join his program straight away. When I arrived in Pedasi Jose showed me around and told me all the places you can go to in town. Its a small, sleepy but beautiful and characteristic town with a lot of friendly people! There are many options to go to beaches, visit other places nearby or go in the weekend to must sees in Panama, such as Bocas del Toro. The teaching is absolutely lovely! The kids are very eager to learn English, work hard and make a lot of fun together. You can have as much input in the lessons as you want to and Jose or another volunteer can help you if you want to. The other volunteer and me had a lot of fun just conceptualizing the lessons and prepare everything.
The food during the week was really good, I liked the Panamanian food a lot (it’s also possible to have another style of food if you want to) and learned a lot about the culture.

Would definitely recommend doing voluntary work at TeachPTY! It’s a very good mix of doing voluntary work and giving something back to the community as well as exploring Panama and relaxing on the beach.

This is a unique opportunity to be able to make an impact in a small community, and be able to travel around Panama! Upon arrival, Jose gave me a wonderful expenses paid tour of Panama City which included visiting the canal, trying great food and drinks, and two nights at a fun backpackers hostel in Casco Viejo.

You definitely do not need to have teaching experience for this opportunity. Just make sure to bring an open mind, some creativity, and energy! Anything you need help with though, Veronica will be there. You can be as involved, or un-involved in the lesson planning process as you want. 

I unfortunately was the only volunteer for 4 weeks near the holidays, so I typically only taught 2 days a week. I think in other parts of the year though you will do more days per week. 

Pedasi itself is a sleepy little town with not a whole lot to do, but I explored Panama almost every weekend (at one point was gone for 5 days).  Playa Venao is an awesome place to visit less than an hour from Pedasi, so I highly recommend staying at the Selina’s hostel there. 

I also went to Bocas del Toro during my visit which is a must! ( Try to take the private shuttles through Selina’s to get there though).

If it is your first time out of the country, definitely educate yourself on what to expect as far as food, customs, and accommodations in Panama so that you do not have any culture shock. Definitely do not except any “luxuries” of home. Embrace all that it is though!

I recommend this program if you are looking for a way to travel in Panama but also give back to a community. Jose is an awesome host so you will be in good hands. 

My experience as a volunteer at TeachPTY is definitely one of the best thing that I ever did so far! The feeling of being helpful and useful is something that you can really feel while teaching and I love it! The way how the kids learn English is really entertaining and they’re having so much fun to do it. Moreover, the free week-ends allow you to explore Pedasi and the rest of Panama. I have discovered some amazing places like playa Venao, Panama city, many places in Pedasi and met many friends on the road.
If you’re looking for a cross-cultural and sharing experience, TeachPTY is definitely for you! What I love is the way you can mix trips and improvements of the local community by teaching. Help develop the future of the kids is priceless and their joy will fill your heart!
I’ve spent 5 weeks in Pedasi and I still have 5 other weeks to spend but by now I can assure you that it’s all worth it. During the coming 5 weeks I have planned to go to Bocas del Toro, Boquete, San Blas and who knows where else! Jose and Vero are also lovely! They always share their knowledge about the good tips in Panama, the local traditions that no book will cover about Panama and the tasty Panamanian food. I am experiencing the real PANAMA! They will for sure be your mates and make you feel comfortable and at home. You’ll definitely come back with your mind changed and your head full of wonderful memories. I’ll update you about the 5 more weeks I’ll spend here.

I am a Dutch senior that lives 6 months in Panama and 6 months in The Netherlands. I wanted to help the community of Panama and integrate with the local people and at the same time get to see another part of Panama, beside Panama city and Coronado. When I found out about TeachPTY, I wrote. From the beginning Jose was very helpful and full of energy with his project. That made me decide to go. I spent one week at Pedasi in the month of May 2017. It was a great experience. You are never too OLD to be able to give your knowledge, energy and love specially to the children. I went several times with Jose and Vero to the school and gave English classes to 30 children. WOW. They injected me with their energy. I loved it. Teacher Georgie, they would call me . During the week end I explored the beautiful beaches, the colonial town of Pedasi, had wonderful meals at the famous fondas and at a nice Italian restaurant. Jose during the week gave us very good Panamanian food and the accommodations are simple but comfortable, I got a special room with bathroom inside and it was clean and with air conditioned. No suffering for senior citizens. I recommend this experience for the retirees/seniors that still feel young and still want to work with children and help the society. Definitely I will go again next year, this time for three weeks. Thank you TeachPTY for giving me this opportunity.

Our arrival at TeachPTY began with the meeting of the association’s members, all of them nice and clearly motivated. To know that another organisation gave lessons to children in schools was a good surprise to us, and surprised we were during all the day! We spent an afternoon in the elementary school of Pedasi where we have been able to teach several english notions about sea turtles to the kids: vocabulary, basic grammar and conjugation in a funny and dynamic atmosphere, the best way to teach pupils this old. During our lesson, Jose and Veronica helped us to be sure children understood what we said and did not get lost. We also felt that the kids understood the educative methods because we saw them pick their book and write all the important words, all by themselves: First time in 2 months! Children were all focused and participating, surely thanks to TeachPTY! It was a great experience for us; we thank them for their time and hope we will work with them again soon!

I’ve volunteered with Teach PTY a few times now, and it is honestly my favourite part of Panama! The local kids and teachers have so much love and respect for Jose and Veronica, and it goes a long way towards encouraging them to learn English, and subsequently empowering them. When you volunteer with Teach PTY, you are actually contributing in a large, direct, and hands-on way. From my first time volunteering, I was in the classroom, meeting the kids and helping them with their English pronunciations, and synonyms and antonyms. The children are so friendly and welcoming that by my second time volunteering they all knew and hugged me! I’ve sat in on an adult class and the topics covered were extremely interesting and informative. I’m so glad I get to be involved with such a wonderful organization during my time here. It is truly an amazing and authentic experience, which I would highly recommend to anyone interested in interacting with and empowering small rural communities!