Helena Charlesworth volunteering in Kiribati

Sacred Heart High School, Kiribati

The Republic of Kiribati is an island nation located in the central Pacific Ocean. The country's 33 atolls are scattered over 3,500,000 square kilometres.

The urban centres of the Republic of Kiribati are found in south Tarawa from Betio to Bonriki. Tarawa, like all the other islands, is a coral atoll and the majority of agriculture is made up of coconut trees, pandanus and breadfruit.

A recent study into Education in Kiribati, commissioned by Palms Australia and carried out by the Queensland Catholic Education Commission, identified a lack of confidence in English amongst teachers and students as a major reason for poor results and low numbers of tertiary entrants in Kiribati.

The Catholic Education Office of Kiribati has made requests to Palms Australia to provide experienced English teachers to help in mentoring and assisting local teachers in their schools.

Helena Charlesworth

Helena Charlesworth, from Tasmania, will teach English to Form 5 and 6 students of Sacred Heart High School. She will work closely with local teachers to develop their English and teaching skills.

Helena has previously volunteered through Palms Australia at Vunapope International Primary School, Papua New Guinea and Edmund Rice Sinon School, Tanzania. She has broad skills from classroom teaching, including teaching English as a Second Language, curriculum development and school administration. Palms Australia and Immaculate Heart High School believe Helena is very well equipped for the task.