Location: La Legua, Costa Rica
Youth Challenge International (YCI) is recruiting a team of seven Youth Ambassadors between the ages of 18 and 35 with diverse skills, experiences and backgrounds for a five-week focused community and youth development project in Costa Rica from July 11 to August 15, 2011.
This exciting opportunity will include a pre-project distance-learning program, followed by an intensive five-week placement in Costa Rica. While in Costa Rica, you will work with YCI’s partner, Reto Juvenil Internacional, to further the reach and relevance of their community and youth development program.
Key Project Activities May Include:
Volunteers will be involved in activities focused in economic and social development of the community of La Legua. The activities might include the following:
• Assist local Women’s Association with environmental programs addressing recycling, garbage collection and waste management and reforestation.
• Conduct activities to raise awareness about environmental issues with community members.
• Conduct activities to raise awareness about gender issues with community members.
• Develop new income generation projects to increase local women’s earning potential.
• Conduct English and Computer classes for adult women and youth.
• Facilitate workshops for local young people on life skills development and sexual reproductive health.
• Support and develop new initiatives for ecotourism projects in the area.
Recommended Skills and Experience:
• Experience working in a team with demonstrated leadership skills
• Experience in teaching, facilitation, project management, organizing events and activities and community mobilization, preferably with youth
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to communicate well with others
• Previous working or living experience in a cross-cultural setting or in a developing country is an asset
• Basic First Aid certification is an asset
• Have a positive attitude towards others and a willingness to engage with people of different cultures and languages
• Ability to work within a Latin America setting taking into consideration time constraints of working within a different culture/ developing country
• Ability to communicate in Spanish and/or willingness to learn before and/or during project
• Willingness and ability to work as part of a cross-cultural team
• An understanding of issues facing organizations within the developing world
• Be motivated, proactive and take initiative towards making a difference in the world
Fundraising Goal:
YCI’s volunteer participants are required to fundraise and/or contribute a minimum of $3,100 to contribute to YCI’s global youth development programs worldwide.
What’s Covered by YCI:
• Preparatory support and pre-project distance learning
• In-country training
• Modest local accommodations and food
• In-country work-related travel
• Comprehensive medical and evacuation insurance
What’s Not Covered by YCI:
• Airfare and personal expenses
• Travel/medical insurance
• Volunteers will be expected obtain the required vaccinations and take anti-malaria’s at their own expense
Please apply online using YCI’s online application form available at
http://www.yci.org/html/volunteer/globally/applynow.asp
