Wednesday, December 11, 2013

UNV Special Educator - United Nations Volunteers (UNV) / UNDP



Location: District Churachandpur, Manipur                                     Apply by: 25th December 2013

UN VOLUNTEER DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENT

Preamble:


The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the UN organization that promotes volunteerism to support peace and development worldwide. Volunteerism can transform the pace and nature of development and it benefits both society at large and the individual volunteer. UNV contributes to peace and development by advocating for volunteerism globally, encouraging partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming, and mobilizing volunteers.





In most cultures volunteerism is deeply embedded in long-established, ancient traditions of sharing and support within the communities. In this context, UN Volunteers take part in various forms of volunteerism and play a role in development and peace together with co-workers, host agencies and local communities.

In all assignments, UN Volunteers promote volunteerism through their action and conduct. Engaging in volunteer activity can effectively and positively enrich their understanding of local and social realities, as well as create a bridge between themselves and the people in their host community. This will make the time they spend as UN Volunteers even more rewarding and productive.

1. UNV Assignment Title: UNV Special Educator 

2. Type of Assignment: National UN Volunteer

3. Project Title: The Malsawm Initiative (A School for Children with Special Needs)

4. Duration: One Year with possibility of Extension 

5. Location, Country: District Churachandpur, Manipur, India

6. Expected Starting Date: January 2013 

7. Brief Project Description:

The 12th Five Year Plan focusses on “inclusive” growth, as the percentage of population below the poverty line still remains large in India. This inclusive agenda is in line with the UNDP country focus of working with disadvantaged sections of the population like SC/ST communities, marginalized women, dalits, Muslim and persons with disabilities (PWD).

Given this background, UNDP supports a comprehensive community based rehabilitation (CBR) models through Malsum Initiative at Churachandpur District, Manipur. This pilot will draw on technical UNVs to support the CBR process and mentor teachers, parents and guardians.

The pilot project of CCI is The Malsawm Initiative (A School for Children with Special Needs), in short TMI. TMI is started not because of availability of professional or funding but compelling to provide appropriate education to their very own child by parents with disabled children. No institution or school for special needs children in the District, so the only option parents had is to start an institution by themselves. 

As such, TMI enrolled 15 children this year with all categories of disabilities which includes Visually Impaired, Hearing Impaired, Cerebral Palsy, Mentally Retarded, Autistic, and some are with associated Disabilities. As there are shortage of trained teacher in the region, the staffs at TMI are trained with short term course and the management team lacking behind in management of school, organization, funding, etc as they working as the need urged. 
TMI is inaugurated in 2011 and it is running in a make-shift room lend by well-wishers. With limited rooms, staffs, equipments and funding, it cannot enrol more students though the waiting list is longer than intake. 

8. Host Agency/Host Institute: UNDP 

9. Organizational Context:

Centre for Community Initiative (CCI) is a not-for-profit organization registered as Society in 2002, started by like-minded individuals dealing with various issues to provide a better society through community initiative and participation towards their welfare.

Centre for community Initiative (CCI) was restructured in 2007 when the Secretary, a father of a blind child, with other parents of persons with disabilities felt the urgent need to address the cause of persons with special needs; to encourage one another in challenging times and to work towards creating an accepting society.

10. Type of Assignment Place: Assignment with family

11. Description of tasks:

Under the direct supervision of Director of CCI, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

• Assisting the Civil Society Organisation (CSO) in Churachanpur District in Manipur working with children with special needs.

• Attend to the special education needs of the children with special needs for their overall well being

• Support the Civil Society Organisation in Churachandpur district, Manipur in coordination with the other stakeholders including state and central government departments/Ministries.

• Capacity building of the existing local personnel.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to: 

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark IVD);
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;
• Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities;
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.;
• Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers;
• Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible. 

12. Results/Expected Output:

• Adapt the ability school curriculum to teach Life Skills, Basic Skills English, Basic Skills Mathematics, etc to students with disabilities
• Tutor students with disabilities 
• Support the school through planning special curriculum and prepared appropriate instructional materials
• Plan teaching techniques according to physical, emotional, and educational levels of students
• Create learning materials geared to each student's abilities and interests
• Partner with parents/ guardians to accept and develop skills on the caring for the special education needs of children with disabilities 
• Collaborate with students, parents, special education teachers, para educators, and administrators to help students prepare to become independently functioning adults
• A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.


13. Qualifications/Requirements:

• University level degree (Bachelors) in Special Education or related disciplines with sound experience of working with people having learning disabilities.
• Good analytical skills, good communications and inter-personal skills and the ability to work under pressure, both independently and as part of a team.
• Experience and motivation for volunteerism and experience of working with the children with special needs will be considered as asset.
• Experience of working in north-eastern part of India will be considered as a distinct advantage.
• Fluency in English (required) and other languages of the north-eastern region (desirable).

14. Living Conditions:

The North East is a true frontier region. It has over 2000 km of border with Bhutan, China, Myanmar and Bangladesh and is connected to the rest of India by a narrow 20 km wide corridor of land. One of the most ethically and linguistically diverse regions in Asia, each state has its distinct cultures and traditions. Manipur means the 'land of gems'. This north-eastern state was described as the land of gold or ‘Suvarnabhu’. Agriculture is the main stay of the people. About 88% of the total working population in the hills and about 60% of the working population in the valley depend entirely on the agriculture and allied pursuits like animal husbandry, fisheries and forestry. Precautionary security measure is required in the duty station.

Churachandpur District, in the southwestern corner of Manipur, has an area of 4,570 sq. km. It is a hilly district with a very small percentage of the plain area. It is bounded by Burma in the South, Mizoram in the West & South West, Bishenpur district in the North, Tamenglong district in the West and Thoubal district in the East. The total population of the district as per 2011 census is 271,274. This district with its headquarters at Churachandpur has been divided into five blocks, i.e. Churachandpur, Thanlon, Henglep, Singhat and Parbung.

15. Conditions of Service 

A 12-month contract; monthly volunteer living allowance (VLA) intended to cover housing, basic needs and utilities, equivalent to Rs. 25,160 per month; settling-in-grant (if applicable); life, health, and permanent disability insurance; return airfares (if applicable); resettlement allowance for satisfactory service.

Interested candidates should submit their applications from http://www.in.undp.org/content/india/en/home/operations/careers/. The CV template can be downloaded from http://www.in.undp.org/content/dam/india/docs/UNV/NUNVStandardCV.doc. The closing date of application is 25th December 2013. This position is open to applicants of either sex. Preference will be given to equally qualified women candidates. Only short listed candidates would be contacted.



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