Youth Challenge International (YCI) is recruiting a team of eight volunteers between the ages of 18 and 30 with diverse skills, experiences and backgrounds for a five-week youth development project in Costa Rica from January 11 to February 15, 2010.
Volunteers must be Canadian or American citizens, landed immigrants or permanent residents.
This exciting opportunity will include a pre-project distance-learning program, followed by an intensive five-week placement in Costa Rica. While in Costa Rica, you will work with YCI’s partner, Reto Juvenil Internacional, to further the reach and relevance of their youth development program.
KEY PROJECT ACTIVITIES:
• Support the community in the construction of a community centre
• Facilitate English skills and languages education for local youth and adults
• Facilitate local youth involvement in program activities with a particular emphasis on leadership development and peer-to-peer education
• Mainstream gender equality into all program activities
• Respond to community defined needs by collaborating with local stakeholders to design and implement local development initiatives.
RECOMMENDED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
• Experience in facilitation and community mobilization, preferably with youth
• Background in development, social science, engineering, physical education, teaching, nursing, health sciences or gender studies
• Training, experience or interest in business, youth programming, monitoring and evaluation, and/or international development
• Previous experience teaching English or literacy
• Experience leading workshops
• Experience working with at-risk, marginalized and/or indigenous populations
• Training in gender issues; proven effectiveness in cross-cultural settings
• Prior overseas experience an asset
FUNDRAISING GOAL:
YCI’s volunteer participants are required to fundraise and/or contribute a minimum of $3,000 to contribute to YCI’s global youth development programs worldwide.
**As part of our 20th Anniversary celebration, YCI is offering 20 Volunteer Scholarships of $1500 to go towards volunteer fundraising targets for this project! More information on the scholarship and how to apply is available at
http://www.yci.org/html/news/full_story.asp?item=2481
WHAT’S COVERED BY YCI:
• Preparatory support and pre-project distance learning
• In-country training
• Modest local accommodations and food
• In-country work-related travel
• Comprehensive medical and evacuation insurance
WHAT’S NOT COVERED:
• Airfare and personal expenses
• Travel insurance
• Participants will be expected obtain the required vaccinations and take anti-malarials at their own expense
