Sunday, March 3, 2013

YOUTH INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME MARCH - SEPTEMBER 2013


COMMONWEALTH YOUTH PROGRAMME CARIBBEAN CENTRE

                                     YOUTH INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME- MARCH - SEPTEMBER 2013
                                                                 GEORGETOWN, GUYANA

 Background
The Commonwealth Youth Programme Caribbean Centre (CYP Caribbean) invites applications from young University graduates aged 20 – 29 in the Commonwealth Caribbean for two posts of Commonwealth Intern with the CYP Caribbean Centre based in Georgetown, Guyana.  The positions are immediately available to be filled March to September 2013.

CYP Caribbean is part of the Youth Affairs Division (YAD) of the Commonwealth Secretariat.  YAD operates from a pan-Commonwealth international office at the Commonwealth Secretariat’s headquarters in London and four regional CYP centres located in Africa (Zambia), Caribbean (India), the Caribbean (Guyana) and the Pacific (Solomon Islands) and the pan-Commonwealth Office in London, United Kingdom. 

YAD focuses on areas of major political, economic and social importance to young people, based on mandates received from CHOGMs and Commonwealth Youth Ministers’ Meetings (CYMMs). The Commonwealth Plan of Action for Youth Empowerment (PAYE), developed by YAD in partnership with youth development stakeholders, provides encouragement and guidance to member governments and other development organisations to create the optimum enabling environment for young people to participate as equal partners in development and democracy.

 Our work
The work of YAD is anchored in the belief that empowered young people are assets to their societies.  YAD’s work traditionally facilitates and supports spaces and access for young leaders and country representatives to participate in decision-making opportunities at Commonwealth and other national, regional and global forums.
All our work is underpinned by the Commonwealth Plan for Action on Youth Empowerment (2007-2015), which provides an excellent framework and indicators for youth centred policies and programmes. Specifically, the CYP develops and implements programmes around three strategic work areas that articulate with the Commonwealth Secretariat’s main goals on poverty alleviation and democracy and governance. CYP’s three strategic Programme Strategic areas are:
  • Governance, Development And Youth Networks (GDYN)- ;
  • Youth Enterprise And Economic Empowerment (YEE) and
  • Youth Work, Education And Training (YWET)
The main development outcomes to be realised by our main programme areas are further detailed below:-
1.      Build enabling frameworks that embrace and support socially, politically and economically empowered young people through:- 
a. Advocacy for and initiate / strengthen frameworks for integrated youth engagement and empowerment. 
Areas of work will include technical assistance and support for national and regional youth-relevant policies and environments; advocacy for investment in youth ministries and programmes; development and sharing of frameworks, guidelines and tools (e.g. for financial inclusion, youth mainstreaming, sport for development and peace); and creation of a Youth Development Index (YDI).

 b.Advocacy for and support the professionalisation of youth development work.
Areas of work will include competency standards for youth development work; exploration and facilitation of tertiary level and short courses in youth development work; advocacy and support for recognition of youth work as a profession, and for establishment of national and pan-Commonwealth youth worker associations.

 
2.      Networks, platforms, institutions and mechanisms for engagement and empowerment of
      young people developed and supported, and enhanced youth-led activity through:-
a.       Establishing and supporting functional national, regional and pan-Commonwealth youth networks and platforms.
a.       Areas of work will include technical assistance and support for national, regional and pan-Commonwealth youth networks (National Youth Councils, Commonwealth Youth Council, Commonwealth Students’ Association, Commonwealth Alliance of Young Entrepreneurs); platforms for youth voice and facilitated interaction (yourcommonwealth.org, Commonwealth Youth Ministers Meeting, Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting, Youth Forums at CHOGM and Ministerial Meetings, networks on Commonwealth Connects)

b. Building capacity of national, regional and international governments / institutions / mechanisms in youth development and programming.

 a. Areas of work will include technical assistance for youth development projects (sport for development and peace, civil paths to peace); training of trainers (youth workers, ministry officials, youth leaders) in various aspects of youth development, (democratic leadership, entrepreneurship, peace building and human rights); advocacy for and employment of young talent; celebration of young people 

Outcomes in all areas will be pursued with a specific focus on democratic leadership, youth employment (especially entrepreneurship), sport for development and peace, and civil paths to peace. 

 

The Youth Internship Programme:

The internships will provide a space for young people to contribute more robustly to the design and implementation of YAD’s strategic programmes and services for Commonwealth youth.

The position is for six months from March 25th to September 31, 2013. CYP Caribbean will rely on the professional training and knowledge of the interns and their planning, networking and logistical skills, among others, while contributing to an exciting bring-learn ratio for the young gain exposure and experience, not widely available during their educational careers.

  • To bridge the gap between formal education and a career;
  • To inject creativity, enthusiasm and entrepreneurial ideas to empower young people to develop their career goals and to gain valuable experience;
  • To provide participants with an international perspective of youth development;
  • To assist young professionals in enhancing their current skills and developing new ones; and
  • To ensure the presence and continual programme development input of young Commonwealth citizens.
The Commonwealth Youth Programme largely focuses on the entrepreneurial development of young people as a strategy for their economic development and participation and the professionalisation of youth development work.  CYP Caribbean also focuses on strengthening of youth networks and governance structures for mainstreaming of youth issues and concerns, and the enhancement of youth participation and involvement in the decision making and development processes at all levels.

 

Application Process
Candidates interested in the job should submit the following information either electronically or in a hard copy by February 28, 2013 as per details below:

1.                  Copy of current Curriculum Vitae (CV)

2.                  Letter of support from the government ministry/agency responsible for youth (desirable but not essential).

3.                  A write–up not exceeding two pages indicating the following:

·         Why you are seeking an international attachment and what qualities you possess that would support a successful Internship;
                        ·         How your participation in this programme fits into your future career goals;
                       ·         What skills you have from any previous volunteer work or educational experience;
             ·         Any international experience either through travelling, living or volunteering abroad; and
                  ·         How you will prepare and adapt to living and working in a new culture and country.

4.                  A legible photocopy of your passport, birth certificate or residency status – to verify age and citizenship status.
           5.                  Completed application form (attached) with one recent passport size photograph.
            6.                  Two letters of reference.

 Participant’s Responsibilities
All participants must:

  • Share in the realisation of the programme’s objectives
  • Agree to a pre and post internship assessment of skills
  • Carry out tasks outlined in their Internship
  • Respect duration of the internship and fulfil the term of the Internship
  • Take responsibility for and contribute to the objectives of the internship.
  • Manage their funds in a responsible manner, including returning any funds, which they have not earned should they leave their internship early.
  • Submit to CYP Caribbean written reports at six weeks, the mid-point of their Internship and at the end of their internship.
  • Contribute to the cost of their internship as outlined below in the section entitled “Participants Finances and Budget Responsibilities”
CYP Caribbean’s Responsibilities:

 Recruit participants according to eligibility guidelines
 Develop agreements with participants;
 Carry out pre and post Internship skills assessment of the selected participants;
 Provide a monthly stipend;
 Provide ongoing guidance and support for the duration of the internship;
 Provide full-time career development experience for the participant
 Provide necessary office space and equipment;
Provide a monthly rent for accommodation for participants recruited from outside of the duty station of the CYP Caribbean Office; if required;
Develop an activity plan in collaboration with the intern;


· Take reasonable precautions to ensure a safe and secure Internship environment free from harassment; and
· Provide the intern and the host government/organisation with regular updates on the Internship – one at the mid-point of the Internship and one at the conclusion of the Internship.

Participant Preparation before departure
Part of the preparation for the Internship involves participation in a pre-departure briefing by e.mail/telephone. The briefing introduces participants to the Commonwealth Secretariat, as well as providing information on travel and health issues, adaptation and country specific information.
Participant Finances and Budget Responsibilities
While CYP Caribbean is responsible for assisting the participants to cover the cost of their living expenses while they are involved in the programme, applicants should be aware that not all their costs would be covered by the stipend.  Preparations costs such as immunisations, extended health insurance, trip cancellation and items of a personal nature, for instance, will be the responsibility of the participant.
Payment
Participants will receive a monthly stipend for the period of their Internship.  This is payable monthly in arrears. The current monthly consolidated stipend ranges from US $500.00 (to U$ 1,000.00 depending on level of qualifications and experience. 

 Other Benefits

  • A  monthly allowance to cover accommodation for non-Guyanese participants;
  • Two days paid leave and one day medical leave per month.
  • One return economy class airfare to home country for non-Guyanese participants.
  • Participation in select CYP programme work in participating member states (duty travel)
  • Travel and subsistence allowance for mission travel.

Please submit applications clearly marked Internship Opportunity to the following:
Mail:               Regional Director
                        Commonwealth Youth Programme Caribbean Centre
                        Homestretch Avenue, Durban Park, Georgetown, Guyana
                       Tel: 011 592 226 8565; 3064  Fax: 011592 226 8371


 

Or scan and submit all documentation to cypcc@commonwealth.int and d.eversley@commonwealth.int

0 comments:

Post a Comment

Please share

Twitter Delicious Facebook Digg Stumbleupon Favorites More