Volunteer Coordinator

VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR - Starting early June 2024

If you love a challenge, working with children, and are looking to make a difference, we need you!

The Tanzanian Children’s Fund (TCF) works to eliminate poverty and improve the lives of marginalized children and families in the Oldeani area of northern Tanzania. With a budget of approximately $3 million USD, our goal is to ensure that all children and families in this region have the opportunity to lead healthy, secure, and fulfilling lives. Through four programmatic areas - a children’s home (Rift Valley Children’s Village), a health clinic, educational partnerships with local schools, and an economic opportunity program - we endeavor to provide a community of 10,000 with all the tools, systems and opportunities they need to find a path out of generational poverty.

We are looking for a mature, organized and flexible individual with excellent interpersonal skills to manage our volunteer program at the Rift Valley Children’s Village (RVCV) in rural Tanzania. RVCV operates in partnership with the Tanzanian Children’s Fund and is home to more than 100 children. RVCV is located in a remote village in Karatu District, adjacent to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

This full-time position will offer you the opportunity to make an important difference in the lives of the RVCV children by helping our volunteers have a positive impact on the village and a meaningful experience during their stay. 

The Volunteer Coordinator is a member of the senior staff and reports to the Managing Director of Programs and Operations. The duties of the Volunteer Coordinator include, but are not limited to:

Volunteer Program Management

• Pre-arrival & Recruitment:
• Scheduling and preparing volunteers for their trip through regular communication beginning with pre-arrival information through the volunteer’s departure
• Responding to all email inquiries regarding the volunteer program
• Assisting with in country travel arrangements, including transport, hotels, safaris, etc. as needed for volunteers and visitors
• Applying for Work and Residence Permits for qualifying volunteers and foreign staff; assisting volunteers and visitors completing online permit applications
• Maintaining a detailed volunteer calendar of arrivals, departures, housing arrangements, etc.
• Liaising with the U.S. office on volunteer and visitor trip details
• Collaborate with U.S. office staff and RVCF Sponsorship and Communications Coordinator to manage volunteer postings online and partnerships with volunteer placement organizations to aid in the recruitment of volunteers
• Volunteer Management: 
• Daily management of volunteers; determining, scheduling and supervising volunteer job duties; providing support, counsel and training to volunteers as needed
• Meeting and greeting all volunteers along with overnight visitors as requested
• Conducting volunteer program orientation as well as coordinating with RVCV Senior Staff to set up other department’s volunteer orientations
• Conducting weekly group meetings with the volunteers to discuss plans, problems and concerns
• Creating and maintaining files (hard copy and electronic file) on all volunteers 
• Scheduling days off for long-term volunteers and Sundays off for all volunteers and foreign staff
• Communicating with the Managing Director and U.S. Director on volunteer/staff relations 
• Volunteer Departure and Continued Connection: 
• Connecting the Volunteer Alumni representative with volunteers once they have completed their time at RVCV

Children’s Programs

• Staff the RVCV Early Childhood Care and Education Program  (ECCE) with volunteers in collaboration with the ECCE Lead to ensure program vitality
• Assist in coordinating weekly activities with the Social Work Team for kids, weekend activities, holiday events, and activities for the children during school breaks
• Overseeing volunteers during classes, activities, playtimes, evening events
• Collaborate with the Director of Child Welfare and Social Work team on kid-related issues reported by volunteers and visitors 

Resource Management

• Determining the most needed items at RVCV and communicating these needs through our supply request process
• Keeping the library, ECCE center, and all materials for ECCE classes and activities stocked and organized
• Organizing and maintaining volunteer resources and materials in the Volunteer House
• Coordinating with the Volunteer House cooks on meal planning

Qualifications:

• Must love kids! Experience or training in teaching or childhood development is helpful but not required
• Candidate must be outgoing, friendly, easygoing, and patient with all types of personalities coming from all walks of life, as well as open-minded to different experiences and cultures
• Strong attention to detail and ability to multitask
• Initiative driven and ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Team oriented and collaborative
• Ability to thrive living in a very beautiful but rural setting in Africa
• Experience living abroad for six months or more is helpful but not required
• Bachelor’s degree required
• Strict minimum commitment of 1 year required; 2 year commitment preferred
• Sense of humor and positive attitude

Package: 

• This is a paid position, with a competitive monthly stipend
• Relocation and airfare allowance for applicable candidates 
• Room and board including private apartment, all meals, work internet, local phone, and housekeeping support; transport to town as needed.
• Health insurance for term of service
• One month annual leave per year of commitment