Application Deadline: Wednesday, 20th December 2017.
VSO is the world’s leading international development organization whose vision is “A World without poverty”. Our approach to fighting poverty is through the lasting power of volunteering. VSO currently works in 24 countries across Africa, Asia and The Pacific.
The International Citizen Service (ICS) is a volunteering programme for 18-25 year olds, led by VSO and funded by the UK Government. ICS brings together young people from the UK and developing countries to volunteer in rural communities in Africa, Asia and Latin America for a period of 10 – 12 weeks. Presently, ICS projects in Nigeria center on Education and Livelihoods. Nigerian volunteers (In country Volunteers) work side-by-side with UK volunteers in these communities, staying with host families in the local community.
ICS is not a holiday. It is demanding but hugely rewarding. It is a great opportunity for personal development, a stepping-stone to future careers and a chance to make your world a better place.
VSO Nigeria is currently looking for motivated and passionate candidates to be a part of the next cycle of the ICS programme, which will run from February to April 2018. If you believe you have the ambition to make a difference and meet all the above criteria, please proceed to the next page to begin your application process.
Who can take part?
Any Nigerian who falls under the age bracket 18-25
No skills or qualification are required to take part.
We look out for volunteers who are flexible, adaptable, team players, committed to learning and sensitive to the needs of others.
How many months is the ICS programme?
The ICS programme is usually three months, although from the recruitment, selection, induction and training, it might take up to four months.
Volunteers are not allowed to go home once they have signed up to be on the programme
How does it work?
Volunteers will live and work in a community for 3 months.
Volunteers will work alongside UK volunteers in a team.
Volunteers will stay in a mixed pair of a UK volunteer and a Nigeria volunteer and will live with a local family (host home)
Volunteers will work with community-based organisations
All volunteers are required to complete an action at home on their return to promote awareness of international development issues
What are the benefits of ICS to the volunteers?
Becoming an ICS volunteer provides young people with an opportunity to:
Learn more about how other people live and about themselves
Gain experience and skills which will enhance their employability
Do work which is of practical value to people in a developing country
Develop skills, knowledge and attitudes, which will enable them to play a positive role in their individual society.
What Support is provided?
Training:
Selected volunteers receive four days of training just before the start of the programme and further training in-country at the start of the programme.
This provides an opportunity to understand the ICS programme and for volunteers to begin developing the necessary skills to take part in the programme.
Volunteers also begin to look at cross cultural issues and team building.
Facilitation and Support:
One Project Officer and Two Team Leaders (one from UK, one from the host country) accompany the volunteers during the programme.
They also provide training, mentoring and medical support if needed.
Who pays for what?
VSO pays for the following:
N2000 weekly allowance to the volunteers
Host home allowance for host home to feed volunteers
Transport allowance or arrange for transport in the case of group travels
Medical and personal accident insurance (including emergency)*
Code of Conduct for all Volunteers
The success of each programme depends on volunteers treating each other, and all members of host communities, with respect. The repercussions of inappropriate behaviour in a cross-cultural exchange are often impossible for volunteers to foresee, or even to understand during their quite short involvement.
Volunteers Must:
· Treat everyone equally and with respect, regardless of any difference.
· Abide by and respect all the laws of the country
· Always stay within host communities
· Respect the customs and cultures of host communities and specifically their host families.
· Take part in all the activities and phases of the programme, including pre-departure preparation and the post-programme review weekend.
· Live modestly, avoiding showy behaviour. Volunteers must not:
· Use or possess any illegal drugs or abuse prescription drugs.
· Drink for any reason, ICS in Nigeria is a dry program.
· Develop any exclusive and/or sexual relationship, which may adversely affect interaction within the group and the host community.
· Sexually harass any other person.
· Participate in any activity or work for personal monetary gain.
· Hitch-hike during the programme.
· Use Host Home computers under any circumstance.
Decisions that may seem sensible to one person or to a small group of people can sometimes put an entire programme at risk. To help guard against these problems, all volunteers must conform to the above simple Code of Conduct, which, in our experience, form the foundation for a successful youth volunteer programme.
People who are interested in becoming volunteers should be comfortable with these standards and expectations before they apply.
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