Do You Want to Be a Global Change Campaigner for Actionaid?

DO YOU WANT TO BE A GLOBAL CHANGE CAMPAIGNER FOR ACTIONAID?

If you’re aged 18-25 you can apply to be one of 2 x Volunteer Activista Champions(8 month role):

You will receive a scholarship for our unique, intensive 2 month Global Change training in Nepalworth over £1500. Through our flagship training programme, you will learn how to be a campaigner with young people from around the world

You must be available between 3rdSeptember – 9thNovember 2012

On your return, you’ll be armed with the skills and knowledge to be anActivista Champion: playing a key part in strengthening and supporting our UK Activista Network and pushing forward our global campaigns.

You must be available to volunteer 5-7 hours a week, where you’re based,until May 2013

WHO ARE WE?

We’re ActionAid’s youth arm providing young people with guilt free ways to get involved by doing something they love. ActionAid works in 40 countries around the world. We want a world without poverty, so we work with local people to fight hunger, seek justice for women and education for children, and cope with emergencies.Find out more about ActionAid

Activista is our global youth network, involving thousands of volunteers in more than 25 countries. We campaign, mobilise, lobby and spread the world to fight against global injustice. Find out more about Activista

WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

We’re looking for two motivated young people, aged 18-25,to be our Activista Champions over the 2012-13 academic year. The course is ideal for a student, someone on a year out or someone involved in their community/ volunteering.

Personal qualities:

You aren’t necessarily an experienced campaigner, but you have a willingness to learn, a passion for creating change, and a commitment to global justice.
You are a ‘do-er’ and have organised events, or mobilised your friends or peers before. You love making things happen!

HOW DO I APPLY?

Please fill in the Application form below so we can find out a bit about yourself, your motivations and experience, and please provide details of a referee too.

We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all backgrounds.

We will get back to all applicants to tell them whether they have been successful or not within a week. If you are shortlisted we may ask you to come into the office or ring you up to have a further chat about your application.

Deadlinefor application: Wednesday 23rd May

NB.If you are a student, we understand the course may conflict with your studies. We ask that before you apply, you look into whether it would be possible to take the time off between 3rdSeptember and 9thNovember. We can provide details of the course and if successful can help you talk to the university or course leader, however we cannot guarantee that it will be possible. Please get in touch if you need further details of the course syllabus.

I WANT TO FIND OUT MORE!

What is the Global Change training?

The Global Change training is an intensive two month course with 15-20 other young peoplefrom all over the world in Kathmandu, Nepal between3rd September and 9th November 2012.

It is designed to empower you to address the root causes of inequality and poverty, and become a driver of social and political change back at home.

What will I do?

The course is designed to provide participants with tools, methods and actual experience in mobilising the public and putting decisive pressure on decision makers.

So, over the two months you will go on field trips, do research, learn leadership skills, find out how best to facilitate others, blog and communicate your experience,mobilise people, and plan, develop and carry out your very own campaign.

Find out more about our flagship Global Change course at:

What does the scholarship cover? The scholarship includes all course fees, food, accommodation, field trips and insurance for your two month stay at our Global Platform in Nepal. However, you will need to cover travel expenses, including your flight from UK to Nepal, and your visa and any other expenses (incl. weekend travel, pocket money etc).

We can give you fundraising support to help you raise the money to cover your travel, visa, spending money etc. We want this opportunity to be open to everyone, so please do get in touch with us if you think this will be a problem.

Where will I stay?You’ll be staying and training at the Global Platform centre, in the lively, ancient and fascinating city of Kathmandu. The Platform’s training facilities are located in a leafy campus, with a big garden and rooftop terrace. There are excellent rooms for training and good wireless Internet access. And you’ll be staying in dorm rooms with shared toilet and shower facilities. Gender separated accommodation is possible. Find out more about the platform in Nepal:

What can I expect from you? What support will you give me? This is a voluntary position. You will not be paid by ActionAid to undertake this work.

We take duty of care seriously. There will always be someone at hand to provide support and give you advice, both in your development as a course participant and personally.

How safe will I be?During the course, you will stay in our platform guest house where there is 24 hour security and a staff member is always on hand to help out. Our insurance included in the scholarship covers treatments at the best clinics /hospitals locally while you are in Nepal.

What happens when I return from Nepal?When you return home, we will work closely with you to design a work plan that works for you - for your time, your skills and your interests.

We will offer one- to-one support and continued trainingwhere needed for you. You will be expected to come into the ActionAid office at least once on your return. (We will cover any reasonable expenses incurred)

What will I do? We will work with you to find a work-plan that works for you and your skills. But your role may include: being a blogger/ social media guru, a regional outreach trainer, a campaignerin your area, organising a mobilisation event or setting up an Activista group at your university.

What do we expect from you?

You will be representing ActionAid UK. You are expected to conduct yourself in a professional manner and to adhere to the following ActionAid values: Mutual respect, Honesty and transparency, Solidarity with the poor, Humility.

We expect you to have an enthusiasm to learn and to actively take part in the course. This is a unique experience, take advantage of it - immerse yourselves in it! We also expect you to treat fellow Activistas with respect. There will be other participants from all kinds of countries, cultures and backgrounds. Some will have received scholarships, some will not have. Be humble and learn from them too!

The first 2 months are for you - to develop, to learn to get skilled up. So when you return, your role as an Activista Champion will get going! We expect you will spend roughly 5-7 hours a week in order for you to be an effective Champion in your area.We will work with you to develop a work-plan that is based on your skills and interests, suits you and is manageable alongside your other commitments.

ACTIVISTA UK CHAMPION APPLICATION FORM

Please make sure you read all of this info pack and that you understand the responsibilities of this role before applying.

PLEASE TYPE YOUR ANSWERS OR WRITE CLEARLY

CONTACT DETAILS

First name..…………………………………. Surname …………………………………………

Date of Birth ………………………………... (You must be 18-25 during Sept ‘12 – May ‘13)

Gender……………………..

Main address …………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………… Postcode ….……………..

Mobile ……………………………………………….

Email …………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Nationality ………………………………………….

A BIT ABOUT YOU

What do you do? (eg. Student, year out, graduate etc)

………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

If you’re not a student, tell us more about what you’re up to, and a bit about what you think you’ll be doing between now and May 2013

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

If you are a student, which University are you based at?
………………………………………………………………………………………………......

What are you studying? …………………………………………………………………………….

Graduation year?..…………………………………………………………………………………..

Have you spoken to your course leader about taking time off between Sept – Nov2012? Please tell us how likely it is they will allow you to do so.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Where did you hear about ActionAid/Activista?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Have you been involved with ActionAid/ Activista before? If so, how?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

WHY WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE AN ACTIVISTA CHAMPION?

1. Why do you want to be an Activista Champion? (300 words max)

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2. Why do you want to campaign against poverty? (300 words max)

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

3. What would you hope to learn from the Global Change training in Nepal?And what would you hope to bring back to do in the UK? (300 words max)

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

4. Tell us about when you’ve organised an event, or been involved in a project. What did you enjoy about it and what do you think was most successful about it? (300 words max)

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

5. Do you have any other skills or interests that you’d like to bring to the role? (eg. artist, musician, tweeter, knitter or synchronised swimmer)? (300 words max)

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

6. Please provide us with a name and contact details of a referee. Someone that has known you for at least a year (eg. a teacher/ lecturer/employer/ someone who has worked closely with you)

Name and Position………………………………………………………………………………......

Relationship to you…………………………………………………………………………………..

Phone …………………………………………….

Email………………………………………………

PLEASE EMAIL YOUR APPLICATION FORM TO:

OR POST IT TO:Youth Team, ActionAid, 33-39 Bowling Green Lane,London, EC1R 0BJ

DEADLINE:Wednesday 23rd May 2012

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contacts us:

or call 020 3122 0663

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