Volunteer Coordinator

Do you want to assure that volunteers have a memorable time abroad while being part of that experience? Are you eager to enter the world of NGOs and to lend your skills for a good cause? Then join us in Peru as part of the Otra Cosa Network team!

About Otra Cosa Network:

Otra Cosa Network is a well-established UK Registered Charity and Peruvian registered not for profit (NGO), addressing the educational needs of children and vulnerable adults in an extremely impoverished area of Northern Peru. We work in informal settlements where many community members have been displaced by climate change, disaster and political instability. They live in precarious circumstances, few have running water, sewage provision and there is only sporadic electricity. Additionally, many children are forced to work instead of continuing their education, in order to boost family finances and there are no community-based facilities for learning and developing new skills in a safe environment.

Our dynamic range of activities address language skills, environmental awareness, women’s entrepreneurship, youth, employability and gender empowerment. we are seeking volunteers to work in project implementation in our new Recreation and Education Centre as well as our field office. Projects will restart as soon as the community is safely able to come out of isolation, post Corona-virus. Our range of activities are implemented by national and international volunteers, allowing them to express solidarity whilst boosting their field experience. 

About the Volunteer Coordinator position:

Working as a Volunteer Coordinator, you'll manage the group of volunteers within the organization during their time with us, such as helping new volunteers to settle into Huanchaco and their projects and organizing volunteer activities.

The role of Volunteer Coordinator is a very important one within our volunteering organisation. We value our volunteers very highly and want to be able to offer them the best possible experience whilst working with us. Adjusting to the cultural differences and getting settled into the projects can be a challenge for first-time volunteers or those who are new to travel. To help with this adjustment it is important to create a strong community, to reassure the volunteers and help then feel welcome, safe and integrated in our organisation, the community and amongst each other. You will be responsible for overseeing their health, wellbeing and integration, liaising with our management team to address any and all potential issues.

Please note that all volunteer positions are also available as Internships. With this add-on you will receive an extra level of mentorship and where necessary all appropriate liaison with your academic institution to ensure compliance with internship placement requirements. Please see our separate internships listing for further in-depth information or check out our website at www.otracosa.org.

This position includes tasks such as:

• Delivering training and workshops to new volunteers.
• Meeting and greeting new volunteers, including running airport/bus station pickups, giving welcome inductions and walking tours.
• Organizing volunteer activities, such as our weekly Volunteer Lunch and weekend excursions or trips.
• Monitoring, supporting and motivating volunteers in their work. This will include liaising with volunteers, coordinators and managers to understand how they work and assessing their needs in order to fully support them.
• Organizing and accompanying the volunteers to the clinic, hospital and migration office as and when necessary.
• Helping in the OCN office with administrative tasks relating to volunteer recruitment and fundraising.

What you can expect from us:

• Personal pick-up upon arriving and walking tour through Huanchaco
• Thorough introduction to the organization 
• Certified Training in First Aid and Child Safeguarding.
• You can can take part in in-house training, introducing you to the world of humanitarianism and development NGOs - touching on a wide range of basic skills. such as the creation and implementation of a project plan, including Needs Assessment, Log Frames and GANTT charts, all vital elements in the world of NGOs.
• Weekly one-to-one meetings with a Manager
• 24/7 emergency support 
• Organized activities & trips (barbeques, game nights, volunteer-lunch, team building trips) with like-minded people from all over the world
• Working in a friendly beach & surf town right next to many historical sites
• The satisfying feeling of committing your work to a good cause whilst gaining insight into a new culture
• Certificate of completion detailing your role, the project(s) you participated in and the dates you volunteered in.

Requirements: 

• Current background check from your home country.
• English and Spanish: Minimum intermediate level*
• Time Commitment: Minimum 6 months (preferable)

* We can arrange Spanish classes in advance for you if want to improve your Spanish

Desired Skills & Competencies: 

• Previous experience or knowledge within development studies, social work, psychology or communications desirable but not essential. 
• Excellent communication/ conflict resolution/ interpersonal skills essential.
• Experience in working with people from different cultural backgrounds desirable
• Mature and positive attitude with a good sense of humor!

Related Fields of Study:

• NGO Management
• International Relations
• Community Development Studies
• Communication studies
• Psychology
• Sociology
• Social Work and Sciences
• Anthropology

Volunteering hours: 

• Generally 30-35 hours per week.
• Exclusively for this role we will waive the volunteer contribution, due to the rigours of the role being beyond the standard volunteer requirements and in recompense for your contribution.

Typical day:

Whilst there is a lot of variety in this role, on a typical day as a Volunteer Coordinator you may start off picking up new volunteers from the local bus station or airport and help them stelle in in their new accommodation. When they have unpacked and rest you will meet them later on to give them a brief walking tour and introduction to the town. After that there will be some office-based activities for you to help with, before giving our induction presentation to the new volunteer and assisting them in accessing our online First Aid and Safeguarding Training. 

After that you return to the office to plan some team building exercises, training or fun evening or weekend activities for the group, such as trips to hike the mountains, go trekking or sandboarding in the desert or ride an iconic local caballito de totora (reed boat). 

After work there is plenty of time to catch one of Huanchaco’s world famous sunsets from the tranquility of the beach, or indeed from a surfboard. Then there are various options to fill your evening, socializing with local and other volunteers, sampling the famous Peruvian cuisine, attending talks and cultural events, music, dance, theatre, movies- the list is endless.

Huanchaco and free-time activities:

Huanchaco is a beautiful coastal town where the waves are perfect all year long, which makes this place popular among surfers. The long beaches and relaxed atmosphere attract both Peruvians from nearby cities and backpackers traveling through Peru. This gives the small town an extremely welcoming and friendly vibe where the locals, volunteers and travellers interact and getting to know each other on a daily basis. The city has adapted to this mix and hosts many cafés, restaurants, yoga studios, surf schools, gyms and other activities and sports that are available for everyone. However, the town still remains a quiet, easy-going place that retains its fishing-village ambience. Over the last three millennia, locals have stuck to traditional ways of fishing, going out on their caballitos de totora (traditional reed fishing boats), and using their nets to gather their catch for the day. Furthermore, Huanchaco is surrounded by mountains where it is possible to go hiking (tours are arranged by local guides, at reasonable prices). If you prefer cultural activities, the district is home to Chan Chan, the largest pre-Columbian city in South America and is only a few minutes away from Huaca del sol y de la luna, which are among the most well-preserved temple ruins of the old Incan empire that can be found in Peru. Trujillo, Peru’s third biggest city, is only a 30 minutes bus ride far away. The colonial city of Trujillo offers many shopping and sight-seeing opportunities accompanied by a lively big city feeling.

Inquiries and Applications:

To make an application, please visit our website at www.otracosa.org or contact us on info@otracosa.org for further information.