Summer Instructors Needed: International Student Volunteers
Would it be possible to distribute this position announcement to any interested individuals in your department (faculty, lecturers, graduate students)? We are looking to fill two university-level instructor positions in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina for the coming summer.
Employment Opportunity - International Student Volunteers
International Student Volunteers Inc. (ISV) is currently seeking two qualified and resourceful Instructors to represent ISV and lead groups of participants on their educational volunteer programs this summer in our two new destination countries: Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
ISV is a non-profit organization that has been operating and coordinating educational volunteer work and outdoor adventure programs for university students and young adults since 2002 (www.isvonline.org). Each year, thousands of university students from the USA, Canada, the UK, New Zealand and Australia participate in our summer programs around the world. ISV collaborates with local, grass-roots and research-based organizations internationally to offer participants the best possible experience in assisting with conservation and community development initiatives. Currently, ISV participants contribute over 200,000 hours of volunteer work annually. In addition, each year hundreds of ISV participants receive academic credit for their participation in the volunteer work program. We are a member of The Association of International Educators NAFSA (www.nafsa.org).
Each volunteer work project is two weeks in length and consists of 8-15 participants. ISV groups work directly with the host organization in hands-on tasks that contribute to conservation research, sustainable development and improved livelihoods for small communities. All ISV programs and instruction are in English. Accommodations range from dormitory/bunk style, to camping. Three meals a day (local cuisine) are provided during the volunteer work projects.
Successful candidates must have:
- Fluency in English (spoken and written);
- Leadership and teaching experience, preferably with young adults;
- Experience living and working outdoors for extended periods;
- Moderate to high physical fitness and ability to work 8-hour days outdoors, sometimes in difficult conditions (heat, humidity, rain, insects, etc) for at least four weeks;
- Physical ability to conduct manual labor (digging, light construction, weeding, planting, etc);
- At least some international travel experience.
Candidates with the following additional knowledge and skills are strongly encouraged to apply:
- Previous experience in experiential education instruction or leading groups on multi-day excursions;
- Excellent knowledge of North American culture and
- Previous experience teaching ESL or EFL.
For both positions, the successful candidate must attend a staff training session in Zagreb, Croatia from April 24-26, 2009. Meals and dorm-style accommodations will be provided.
Position 1: Instructor - Bosnia and Herzegovina
The ISV Instructor will be leading groups of participants on a conservation-based project within the small community of Krupa na Vrbasu, outside of Banja Luka. Projects in the area will include:
- Clearing and maintaining hiking and biking paths
- Making a bio wastewater cleaner for the local school.
- Environmental protection works along the river Vrbas.
- Making a bivouac/shelter in the canyon for climbers/hikers.
In addition, the ISV Instructor will travel to Romania and lead a group of participants on a project constructing a school at an orphanage for a period of four days.
Dates: April 24-26 Staff training (Zagreb, Croatia); June 13 - June 17 (Romania) June 27 - July 25 (Bosnia and Herzegovina).
Remuneration: The instructor will be paid a stipend of 500 EUR (Graduate Students) or 550 EUR with a PhD or Masters. Accommodations and meals are provided during the volunteer work projects as well as during the training period in Zagreb.
Position 2: Instructor - Croatia
The ISV instructor will be leading two community development-based volunteer work projects in Croatia. Suncokret - Center for Community Development based in Gvozd is a place where adults, youth and children come to participate in a variety of activities aimed at improving the quality of life for community members (with a special focus on youth), promoting community rebuilding and supporting the development of a sustainable democratic society. Specific project work will include:
- documentary film workshops
- event planning (exhibitions, etc)
- arts/crafts workshops
- dance/music classes
- informative and educative workshops (on hygiene, children’s rights, youth empowerment, astronomy, language courses, math and English tutoring etc)
- ecological cleanups - cleaning of park and river banks, graffiti removal
- community projects - bridge building, murals, karaoke, theater
Dates: April 24-26 Staff training (Zagreb, Croatia); May 30 - June 13 and July 25 - August 8.
Remuneration: The instructor will be paid a stipend of 5460 HRK (Graduate Students) or 5730 HRK with a PhD or Masters. Accommodations and meals are provided during the volunteer work project as well as during the training period in Zagreb.
For more information or to request an application, please reply ASAP via email to maja@isvonline.org with the subject: EE Project Leader Position. Applications will be received up until March 27.