VSO is the world's leading independent international development organisation that works through volunteers to fight poverty in developing countries. VSO's high-impact approach involves bringing people together to share skills, build capabilities, promote international understanding and action, and change lives to make the world a fairer place for all. VSO has around 1,500 volunteers working with partner organisations in 36 countries.
A volunteer placement is currently open in Sierra Leone.
Employer: Ministry of Health and Sanitation
City, Country: Freetown, Sierra Leone
Start date: 7 October 2012
Length: 12 months
A strategic placement with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, to help putting in place an effective plan to develop a health education component of the existing youth programmes developed together by the Ministry of Youth Education and Sport, the National Youth Commission, YMCA, with the support of VSO volunteers and other agencies.
What does the role involve?
You will be working closely with the ministry in developing strategies for the youth programme. This programme is aimed at addressing the needs and challenges of youth in society and empowering them to be more productive members of the society. Specifically, the role of the volunteer involves the following:
- Developing strategies to identify the needs of youth and interventions to respond to these needs
- Drawing up policies for youth empowerment programme
- Coordinating with other institutions involved in youth issue, to come up with a collective plan for youth development
- Coaching and mentoring youth health educators
Skills, qualifications and experience required
You’ll need to be a qualified social worker or counsellor with at least three years experience in community work. You’ll need to have good skills in planning, management, and coordination. It is essential to have good communication and effective inter-personal skills, cultural sensitivity, as well as ability to both work independently with minimum supervision and efficiently with other people.
And the rest...
Freetown is the capital city of Sierra Leone where VSO Tanzania Programme Office is located and there are three VSO volunteers currently working in various ministries in Freetown, including one in the Ministry of Health and Sanitation. As the capital, Freetown hosts all the major centres for business, trade, and industry. It is situated in a hilly terrain and several road constructions and restorations are still taking place.
We’ll ask you to commit 12 months to make a sustainable contribution to development goals and in return we’ll provide you with invaluable training before your placement, a local living allowance, return flights, accommodation and insurance. When you return to your home country we’ll help you resettle and we’ll invite you to stay involved with us.
To apply for this role please visit VSO Netherlands vacancies and put the following reference on your application form: S0292/0002/0001
For further information contact: Hans Voerman, h.voerman@vso.nl
