Flexible Schedule
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Tena, Ecuador
Application Deadline for July 2023 start date: March 23, 2023 We are so excited to welcome volunteers back to our site in 2022! For our complete up-to-date onsite COVID-19 policies, please click HERE. Dates of positions on site in Ecuador: 3-month position: July 2023- October 2023 5-month position: July 2023-December 2023 *13 month paid fellowships are also available* During your time with Manna Project International you will experience life and work alongside other young leaders and community members. At our site in Ecuador, you will direct a variety of impactful programs designed to meet the specific needs and opportunities of the community. You will be based in either Shandia, an indigenous Kichwa village outside of Tena (village is rural and rustic in the Amazon rainforest, and around 70% of residents are underserved) These include long-standing and established programs. You will also have the flexibility to create new programs where the community's vision intersect with your own education, passions and interests. This unique model creates the most impactful experience for you and the communities you'll be serving, and is designed to fulfill our mission: To foster communities of talented young leaders to become the next generation of social change agents by engaging in collaborative, on-the-ground service with international communities in need. Manna Project International (MPI) is a U.S.-based 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that operates international sites in Ecuador where groups of volunteers live and work together to implement a variety of community development programs focused on improving health, education and livelihoods. Program Coordinators run the day-to-day operations of MPI’s community programs on the grounds in Ecuador. Program Coordinators live and work together with a team of 6-12 other individuals. Program Coordinators contribute to the organization’s program design, implementation of new projects, monitoring and evaluation, short-term volunteer oversight, recruitment, financial oversight, grant writing, fundraising, social media, public relations, and donor relations. Program Coordinators become part of the communities they serve and make new connections while building upon established relationships and partnerships. Program Coordinators report to the Program Directors or Country Director. Ask about scholarship opportunities* There are 5 primary roles for Program Directors: 1. Developing and running community programs 2. Managing organizational operations 3. Raising awareness in the U.S. of international issues 4. Hosting short-term volunteers & training incoming Program Coordinators 5. Building relationships with local organizations and community members Responsibilities: The responsibilities of Program Coordinators include any and all tasks necessary to maintaining and improving the day-to-day operations of MPI. This includes but is not limited to: Maintaining current community development programs, and designing and implementing new initiatives; Building and deepening MPI’s local and international partnerships Collaborating regularly with fellow Program Coordinators, Program Directors, and the Country Director to improve the reach and effectiveness of MPI’s programs; Submitting programmatic reports to the Country Director and regularly tracking metrics to assess the impact of MPI’s programs; Collaborating regularly with fellow Program Coordinators, Program Directors, and the Country Director to improve the reach and effectiveness of MPI’s programs; Training the incoming group of Program Coordinators, with an eye to efficient, effective, and sustainable progress and programming; Fundraising for on-site programmatic and operational development, room and board, and a weekly stipend; and Participating in organization-wide planning and development, including recruitment, finances, grant writing, fundraising, social media, public relations, and donor relations. Benefits: Extensive ongoing leadership experience and preparation for many professional fields including but not limited to: International Development, International Business, Latin American Studies, Nonprofit, Education, Healthcare, Law, Communication, Foreign Relations 5-10 personal days (depending on length of commitment); 10 national holidays annually MEDEX international travel insurance Valuable workforce and life skills A visa to live in-country for the duration of your work with MPI Professional development including language training, mentorship, quarterly retreats Access to a growing and very distinguished Alumni Network of 2,000+ and resources to help with your future A communal experience of a lifetime Lifelong friendships Qualifications: A willingness to commit to MPI’s principles and approach to community development Strong collaboration skills and ability to work in a team, professionally and personally, as Program Directors both live and work together enthusiasm to experience a new culture and customs and to step outside your comfort zone High level of patience and flexibility, as living and working in a developing country is often unpredictable and moves at a different pace than in the U.S. Self-starter, able to succeed in an environment with a high level of autonomy Excellent communication and interpersonal skills Spanish skills preferred but not required What Manna Project Alumni are saying: "Manna was an integral part of getting me to where I am now. Without the experience I got abroad, I can't imagine getting the job I have now or getting into grad school. It taught me so much about putting what I had studied in undergrad into practice, and gave me real life experience. I talk about it all the time in interviews, as "fun facts" when you have to do those lame introduce yourself games, and just in every day conversation." - Liz Rosenbaum, 5-month Program Director "As a Program Director in Ecuador, I developed confidence in ways that have helped me continue to grow personally and professionally. Some examples: -In Ecuador we were consistently adapting to challenges in order to find success. -We were presented with multiple opportunities to step up and gain experience leading program, group or class. -We learned firsthand the power and impact of building strong community alliances." - Evan Quinell, 11-month Program Director
Date Posted: Oct 5, 2023
Flexible Schedule
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Tena, Ecuador
Manna Project International (MPI), a US-based nonprofit organization operating health, education, and economic empowerment programs in Ecuador, is looking for 13-month Program Directors (PDs) to strengthen our team creating communities of young leaders that help break the cycle of poverty in underserved communities around the world. Since 2004, Manna Project International has fostered communities of talented young leaders to become the next generation of social change agents by engaging in collaborative, on-the-ground service with international communities in need. Shandia will be a new site for MPI, starting operations in May 2023, so we’re seeking entrepreneurial, flexible, innovative, and resilient Program Directors to help us launch a new site! MPI’s talented staff and volunteers will focus on building deep crosscultural relationships with local residents, partner organizations, community leaders while creating and implementing small, start-up community programs. We seek to empower and develop our short-term and long-term volunteers, and Program Directors, through challenging field work, active skills building, and hands-on leadership opportunities over the course of their service. For more background on MPI, please visit our website, www.mannaproject.org. MPI has continuously grown and evolved its impact over the past 20 years through creative partnerships, award-winning programs and initiatives, and diverse sources of funding. Over our history, nearly 2000 volunteers have served around 10,000 participants in Ecuador, Nicaragua and Guatemala. These volunteers typically come from the US, are college students or recent graduates, and serve on-site for 1 week to 1 year. The PD gains practical, developing-country experience creating and implementing community development projects, fulfilling nonprofit organization roles, helping with administrative tasks, and helping support foreign volunteers. The PD also gains experience with Spanish and intercultural awareness, many opportunities for personal growth, and fun connecting with U.S. volunteers. The stipend and benefits are designed to pay for all of a PD’s living expenses over the year, except international airfare and personal travel. This "dream job" is a rare opportunity to gain career & leadership skills, co-lead the creation of a new site, build deep relationships with locals, find meaning in helping underserved people, and have many adventures in a fascinating and spectacular foreign country! Shandia is a rural, indigenous Kichwa, very underserved community in the Amazon, about 3.5 hours drive from Quito, and 30 min by bus from Tena. Job Responsibilities The PD works with other in-country staff to contribute to the successful building of new relationships in Shandia with residents and partner organizations, creation & implementation of community programs that will start small and grassroots, assisting staff with volunteer support and capacity building, and coordinating nonprofit operations and administrative tasks. Each PD can work on community programs in various fields, or can commit to work mostly in one field, from the choices of teaching English, youth development, Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH), and public health. The PD’s daily responsibilities vary a lot by month, and include any and all tasks necessary to maintaining and improving community relationships, community programs, foreign volunteer development & administration of MPI, including but not limited to: Creating and developing relationships with community residents, partner organizations, local vendors, etc. (around 30% of time): Since Shandia is a new site for MPI, PDs are critical in building the foundational relationships of trust, respect, cultural exchange that are the base of our mission implementing community impact and foreign volunteer development. As part of their 40 hour work week, PDs will visit residents, join them in community activities, engage in social activities, as well as lead deliberate community programs. PDs will assist with community needs research, learning local culture, sharing the PD’s cultural background, and creating and implementing community programs in partnership with locals. MPI serves the local community, and the local community serves MPI at the same time. Creating & managing community development programs in education, health and economic livelihood (around 30% of time): Depending on the needs of the community, what small resources & funding are available, what activities can’t be covered by other staff, and the skills & interests of the PD, s/he creates and implements small community programs in collaboration with the PD’s supervisor. Such programs may include teaching English, public health education, Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH), sports & recreation clubs for kids, facilitating a women’s group, constructing a new playground at the school, facilitating nutritional cooking workshops, running summer camp for kids, academic tutoring or homework help for kids, organic gardening, kids’ music & art classes, and more. Other programs may include gender empowerment, business development, sustainability & environmental conservation, computer literacy, ecotourism development, STEM, and more! In this site launch phase, each PD can work on community programs in various fields, or can commit to work mostly in one field, from the choices of teaching English, youth development, Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH), and public health. We’re in startup mode, so we’ll start small. Supporting foreign volunteers (15%): For one-week college group trips summer interns and 3-9 month volunteers, PDs help with recruitment, orientation, logistics, program placements, and volunteer professional development & support. Some of these foreign volunteers will assist the PD in doing community programs and other tasks led by the PD. Organizational Operations (20%): The PD coordinates or supports various nonprofit organization roles, as assigned by the supervisor. Roles may involve: community needs research and partner development; communications & social media; coordinating fundraising events, grant writing and donor cultivation; finance processes; program metrics, monitoring & evaluation; partnership development; and other administrative tasks. Fundraising (5%): The PD commits to fundraising, from their own network of friends, family and the public, $1500 over the 13-month term.. MPI trains the PDs to do the critical skill of fundraising, and provides much content, like stories, photos, formats for letters and social media, online donation processing, etc. Of course any PD can donate some or all of the funds entirely themself if they want. Required skills/experience/training ● Bachelor's degree from an accredited university required ● Commitment to MPI’s collaborative, community-based, holistic approach to community development ● Passion for relationship building with kids, adults and leaders in a new community ● Demonstrated skills & passion for leadership, overcoming barriers, and creating your own structure & routine ● Demonstrated flexibility & comfort with ambiguity, sudden changes, as this phase in Shandia is entrepreneurial, startup with much uncertainty ● Willingness to integrate with cultural & lifestyle norms a rural, indigenous, under-resourced community in the Amazon region of Ecuador ● Willingness to work with kids aged 5-17 ● Strong ability to multi-task and balance short- and long-term goals ● Personal or professional cross-cultural experience ● Lived overseas 2 months or more ● Spanish at intermediate level ● Experience teaching English as a foreign language, or working with kids, a plus Compensation: MPI covers housing, food, local transport, travel insurance, and visa fees, plus a weekly stipend of $20 to cover necessities. Benefits as below: ● Two weeks paid vacation ● Ten national holidays of Ecuador ● Emergency Travel Insurance (covers emergency medical care & evacuation) ● Visa to live/work in Ecuador for the duration of employment with MPI ● Leadership & professional development: paid trimester retreats and monthly workshops, mentoring & other training.
Date Posted: Oct 5, 2023
