SOUTH AFRICA - SEELAND DEVELOPMENT TRUST
Number of Placements: 1 (an additional placement could be considered depending on interest)
Placement Site: Saint Helena Bay/Vredenburg, Western Cape, South Africa
URL:
http://seelanddevelopmenttrust.com/ (main Trust website)
http://siyabongacare.org.za/index.html (Seeland local partner organization, Siyabonga)
Field/Subject Area:
Open to all York students who meet the eligibility criteria. Would be of particular interest to students of the following programs of study:
- African Studies - Engineering & International Development Studies
- Business - Environmental Studies
- Design - Global Health
- Digital Media - International Development Studies
- Nursing - Social Work
Position Description:
The Renewable Energy and Community Projects Assistant (RECPA) will work directly with the Managing Director on the implementation of the future plans of the Trust. The RECPA will assist with development/maintenance of the Trust website. The RECPA will also participate in the Trust's community outreach and education work, and assist other local organizations with proposal writing and website development, marketing plans and social media and grant proposals.
Activities related to the Trust's planned wind and solar projects will likely take-up a significant portion of the RECPA's time during this period. That said, there will be time for the RECPA to explore and enjoy this beautiful coastal area of South Africa as well as the Mother City, Cape Town.
Depending on the skills and interests of the interested student intern(s), there is the possibility for the intern(s) to work more closely with local health NGOs Siyabonga and Call-to-Serve Community Care for some of their placement time. More information on the Siyabonga Care Village (located just outside of Vredenburg) and Call-to-Serve can be found on the Siyabonga website (http://siyabongacare.org.za).
Tasks/Duties
• Developing content including visuals, video, and text to be used in the development of a website, social media platform, research grants, and a marketing plan for the Trust.
• Development of a website and social media platform.
• Development of content for research and grant proposals.
• Assist with development of marketing plans for partner organizations.
• Assist with other activities of partner health NGOs (depending on intern(s) skills/interests and partner organization agreement.
• Other duties as determined collaboratively between the intern(s) and Seeland.
Expected work hours: 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday (breaks for lunch and recreational/cultural activities provided).
Preferred start date: Beginning of May or earlier if possible.
Qualifications/skills required:
• Web design (technically proficient and able to work with technological challenges and limited resources).
• Highly adaptable (able to thrive in new situations).
• Team player (able to work effectively with people from diverse cultural and educational backgrounds).
• Helpful reading: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Africa / http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Cape / http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Helena_Bay
• Access to personal laptop and mobile internet device (can be purchased locally) for the duration of the placement would be beneficial (though not a requirement).
Language requirements:
Fluent English
Highlights of Organization/background information:
Community Development Trust - The Seeland Development Trust was established in 2006 to help procure 717 hectares of farmland through the LRAD Program (Land Redistribution) of the then Dept. of Land Affairs. Seeland promotes alternative economic opportunities for the Trust's 205 member-families in an area that was formerly dependent on the local fishery. As this fishery declined (due to overfishing by large fishing companies, loss of fishing quotas for independent fishers, and climate change), the community experience economic hardship and economic diversification is of great importance for the future of the community. The projects that the Trust is currently pursuing include:
• The development of a 30 MegaWatt Wind Farm (in collaboration with Just Energy, an Oxfam Great Britain subsidiary) of which the Trust will have a significant equity share.
• Possible development of a Solar Park in collaboration with Just Energy.
• An array of social programs within the St. Helena Bay area both independently and in collaboration with partner organizations such as Siyabonga and Call-to-Serve Community Care.
• Investigation of a possible homestay rural, eco/responsible tourism venture.
• A variety of other programs are in various stages of development and the intern(s) is welcome to bring her/his creativity to bear in terms of suggesting future initiatives for the Trust (and/or partner organizations) to consider undertaking (supported by best practice case studies, draft business plans, etc.).