Volunteer in beautiful Kigali, Rwanda!
Pays: Rwanda
Last Activity: 11.07.2011
Description
A is a small but busy NGO operating in Kigali, Rwanda. Our mission is to support and empower Rwandan women victims of violence in this country.
We serve women living in Rwanda, regardless of their age, ethnicity, nationality, or religion. In particular: genocide survivors; victims of gender-based violence and oppression; women living with HIV/AIDS and other critical illnesses; single mothers, grandmothers and orphan girls heading up households; and widows. Sadly, many of the organization's beneficiaries fall into more than one of these categories.
HISTORY OF THE ORGANIZATION
The Association's Director is a genocide survivor. She founded the organistion in January 2006, after the murder of one of her dear friends. Following the 1994 genocide of nearly one million people, including her own husband, she made it a regular practice to meet informally with women to share burdens and provide one another with emotional support. Her friend's murder, however, was the catalyst for her to formalize an organization that would support women in many ways.
CURRENT PROGRAMS
We now serve over 300 women victims of violence through regular trauma counselling, micro-financing, skills training - including a very active sewing, embroidery and quilting program, and other educational programming.
We serve women living in Rwanda, regardless of their age, ethnicity, nationality, or religion. In particular: genocide survivors; victims of gender-based violence and oppression; women living with HIV/AIDS and other critical illnesses; single mothers, grandmothers and orphan girls heading up households; and widows. Sadly, many of the organization's beneficiaries fall into more than one of these categories.
HISTORY OF THE ORGANIZATION
The Association's Director is a genocide survivor. She founded the organistion in January 2006, after the murder of one of her dear friends. Following the 1994 genocide of nearly one million people, including her own husband, she made it a regular practice to meet informally with women to share burdens and provide one another with emotional support. Her friend's murder, however, was the catalyst for her to formalize an organization that would support women in many ways.
CURRENT PROGRAMS
We now serve over 300 women victims of violence through regular trauma counselling, micro-financing, skills training - including a very active sewing, embroidery and quilting program, and other educational programming.
Région
East Africa
Type de travail
Teaching,Help with Computers / internet,
Other,
Language practise,
Charity work,
Gardening
Travail
We are looking for volunteers to assist us in a range of work with our 300 beneficiaries.
1. FUNDRAISING
We are entering a capital campaign in order to build a fully-functioning WOMEN'S HEALING CENTRE- this will be a large, safe space in which women can overcome trauma through counselling, and then acquire the skills that they need to become empowered, productive members of society.
We need help with raising money for this important venture.
2. COMMUNICATIONS
We need help with updating our Website and Facebook page, as well as with communications in English and translation from French, writing grant proposals, and other communications/administrative tasks in the office.
3. BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT - SECURING MARKETS
We also need help with publicity and to seek out markets for our busy Sewing Cooperative. We need to secure markets domestically as well as in Europe and North America. The products that these young women make are beautiful, colourful, and of high quality.
4. WORKSHOPS
Any volunteer with skills in the above three areas would also be asked to run a few workshops. This may include teaching English lessons as well as offering lessons or workshops on topics in which you have some expertise.
Examples of topics that might be of interest to our women are: yoga/relaxation/fitness, artistic expression, nutrition, health and reproductive health, women's rights, mediation, and self-defense. We are open to your suggestions.
The hours here are flexible. We would ask volunteers to contribute at least 20 hours per week to our work. Some workshops would be in the evenings, but there would likely be some down time during the days to compensate for this. Weekends would be free.
THE CENTRE
Two rooms are available at the Centre itself. One room has an en suite bathroom. There is also a shower, but with cold water only. (Warm water is available for washing from a bucket.)
The Centre is gated and has a full-time guard who also serves as domestic help, with laundry and cleaning. We will eat lunch together every day, along with the students of our sewing school and the members of the sewing cooperative.
The nearby market is cheap and the kitchen is on site and fully functional. The Centre is spacious and pleasant. In addition to the two bedrooms, there is an office (with internet access available from our computer), a small living room area, a dining area (which doubles as a workshop space) and the kitchen. There are lemon trees out front and a little garden out back.
This is a family-run NGO, and all staff are unpaid. Volunteers would be considered part of the family, and included in outings and events.
VOLUNTEERS
We are looking for volunteers with specific skill sets in order to help us meet our goals- fundraising, communications, and business development.
We seek sensitive, highly motivated people who are genuinely interested in making a difference in the lives of some of the most disenfranchised people in the world.
Some previous experience working in a cross-cultural context and engaging with victims of violence and trauma would be a strong asset. (This work can be emotionally difficult, and is not for everyone. But for the right person, it can be highly rewarding and the experience of a lifetime.)
Experience writing grant proposals or in communications would be an important asset. At least some French or English language skills are necessary this work.
Volunteers would be asked to stay at least one month, preferably several months. It takes time to understand the social and economic context in which the women we serve live, so the longer volunteers stay, the more they can learn and grow, and the more meaningful their contribution can become. Three to four months is usually a successful stay for volunteers.
We ask that volunteers approach us with at least one idea for a workshop or educational program that they would like to offer, and that they specify what specifically they wish to contribute.
Because of the sensitive nature of our work, we regret that we can only host female volunteers, and that they must be over the age of 25.
Volunteers who have stayed at the Association in the past have found it deeply rewarding, challenging, and fun.
We welcome warmly applications and questions.
1. FUNDRAISING
We are entering a capital campaign in order to build a fully-functioning WOMEN'S HEALING CENTRE- this will be a large, safe space in which women can overcome trauma through counselling, and then acquire the skills that they need to become empowered, productive members of society.
We need help with raising money for this important venture.
2. COMMUNICATIONS
We need help with updating our Website and Facebook page, as well as with communications in English and translation from French, writing grant proposals, and other communications/administrative tasks in the office.
3. BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT - SECURING MARKETS
We also need help with publicity and to seek out markets for our busy Sewing Cooperative. We need to secure markets domestically as well as in Europe and North America. The products that these young women make are beautiful, colourful, and of high quality.
4. WORKSHOPS
Any volunteer with skills in the above three areas would also be asked to run a few workshops. This may include teaching English lessons as well as offering lessons or workshops on topics in which you have some expertise.
Examples of topics that might be of interest to our women are: yoga/relaxation/fitness, artistic expression, nutrition, health and reproductive health, women's rights, mediation, and self-defense. We are open to your suggestions.
The hours here are flexible. We would ask volunteers to contribute at least 20 hours per week to our work. Some workshops would be in the evenings, but there would likely be some down time during the days to compensate for this. Weekends would be free.
THE CENTRE
Two rooms are available at the Centre itself. One room has an en suite bathroom. There is also a shower, but with cold water only. (Warm water is available for washing from a bucket.)
The Centre is gated and has a full-time guard who also serves as domestic help, with laundry and cleaning. We will eat lunch together every day, along with the students of our sewing school and the members of the sewing cooperative.
The nearby market is cheap and the kitchen is on site and fully functional. The Centre is spacious and pleasant. In addition to the two bedrooms, there is an office (with internet access available from our computer), a small living room area, a dining area (which doubles as a workshop space) and the kitchen. There are lemon trees out front and a little garden out back.
This is a family-run NGO, and all staff are unpaid. Volunteers would be considered part of the family, and included in outings and events.
VOLUNTEERS
We are looking for volunteers with specific skill sets in order to help us meet our goals- fundraising, communications, and business development.
We seek sensitive, highly motivated people who are genuinely interested in making a difference in the lives of some of the most disenfranchised people in the world.
Some previous experience working in a cross-cultural context and engaging with victims of violence and trauma would be a strong asset. (This work can be emotionally difficult, and is not for everyone. But for the right person, it can be highly rewarding and the experience of a lifetime.)
Experience writing grant proposals or in communications would be an important asset. At least some French or English language skills are necessary this work.
Volunteers would be asked to stay at least one month, preferably several months. It takes time to understand the social and economic context in which the women we serve live, so the longer volunteers stay, the more they can learn and grow, and the more meaningful their contribution can become. Three to four months is usually a successful stay for volunteers.
We ask that volunteers approach us with at least one idea for a workshop or educational program that they would like to offer, and that they specify what specifically they wish to contribute.
Because of the sensitive nature of our work, we regret that we can only host female volunteers, and that they must be over the age of 25.
Volunteers who have stayed at the Association in the past have found it deeply rewarding, challenging, and fun.
We welcome warmly applications and questions.
Langues parlées
Kinyarwanda, Swahili, French, some English
Logement
at the Centre
Autres choses...
The Association's Centre is situated in Kabeza, a busy and fun neighbourhood of Kigali. We are near to markets, many clothing shops, and just an easy busride away from downtown. Volunteers interested in getting to know the city of Kigali will not be disappointed. It is colourful, friendly, and safe.
Today considered one of the safest countries in Africa, Rwanda is a beautiful country to discover! There is amazing wildlife viewing (from elephants to mountain gorillas), beautiful cultural experiences to be had, and everywhere, Rwanda's famous green rolling hills!
Today considered one of the safest countries in Africa, Rwanda is a beautiful country to discover! There is amazing wildlife viewing (from elephants to mountain gorillas), beautiful cultural experiences to be had, and everywhere, Rwanda's famous green rolling hills!
Host ref number: 4478647474ab
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