Subject: [CivilSoc] 15 internships in Russian NGOs
From: Center for Civil Society International (ccsi@u.washington.edu)
Date: Mon Sep 25 2000 - 12:57:59 EDT
From: Kerstin Nickig <Kerstin.Nickig@austausch.com>
Dear colleagues,
Please help to distribute the following information about 15
volunteer opportunities in Russian NGOs for Western Europeans with
Russian language skills.
--> Deadline is the 5th of October 2000.
EUROPEAN VOLUNTARY SERVICE--PROGRAMME INFORMATION, 2000/2001
VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES IN NGOs IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Coordinating organisation: Deutsch-Russischer Austausch.e.V.
(German-Russian Exchange)
The Deutsch-Russischer Austausch e.V. is happy to announce that with
the aid of the EU we will be able to implement this year's European
volunteer programme for young people wishing to go to Russia. If you
are interested in our organisation you can obtain more infromation
about us at our website: www.austausch.org (an English version is
available).
General Information
This volunteer programme will start at the beginning of November 2000
and last until the end of April 2001 (so far we habe only received an
oral confirmation, therefore we would like to emphasize that all
details given here might be subject to change. This programme
provides opportunities in the Russian Federation for 15 EU citizens.
We plan to send volunteers from Germany (7), France (2), the UK (2),
Finland (2) and Austria (2). The number of applicants from each
country may vary slightly according to the number of applications we
receive.
An essential requirement for all volunteers is basic knowledge of
Russian, which enables them to get by in every-day situations and
which provides a basis for developing a good command of Russian
within a short time period. For some placements a good command of
Russian is required. Please check with the more detailed descriptions
of placements. Last year's programme has shown that the linguistic
training and the homestay in Russian families play a key role for the
linguistic success of the volunteer stay. For further information on
the volunteer's profile, please refer to the selection criteria as
set out in each description of placements.
Programme dates
· Beginning of November 2000: 4 day long introductory seminar in Berlin
· November 2000: language course and introductory training at place
of work (2 weeks )
· End of November 2000-end of April: volunteers' placement in
their respective NGOs
· February 2000: 4 day long interim evaluation seminar in St. Petersburg
· End of April: 4 day long final seminar in Berlin
Financial Support through the EVS-programme
· Introductory seminar: accomodation and travel expenses (see
international travel allowance)
· Interim evaluation seminar: accomodation, meals, travel expenses to
and from St.Petersburg
· Final evaluation seminar: accomodation, travel expenses (see
international travel allowance)
· Spending money (100 Euro per month)
· Contribution towards accomodation expenses in Russia (50 Euro a month)
· Contribution towards international travel expenses: return fare
home town / home country Russia via Berlin
Application
· Cover letter in Russian and German or English
· Curriculum vitae in Russian and German or English
· Application form (questionnaire) in Russian and German or English
Applications are to be sent by post or email to:
Deutsch-Russischer Austausch e.V.
z.Hd. Kerstin Nickig
Koordinatorin Freiwilligenprogramme
Brunnenstr. 181
10119 Berlin
Germany
E-mail: kerstin.nickig@austausch.com
The deadline for applications is the 5th of october, 2000.
Hosting organisations/Number of Volunteers
NGOs (depending on preference, internships are available in social,
environmental and human rights organisations), St. Petersburg 2
Grazhdanskaja Initiativa, St. Petersburg 1
Baikal Environment Wave, Irkutsk 2
Vozrozhdenie Zemli Sibirskoj, Irkutsk 1
ZPNKO NGO(Support Centre), Perm 1
NGOs (focusing on social work) Perm 2
Memorial Human Rights Centre,Moskow 2
Siberian Centre for the Support of Civic Initiatives
(SCPOI), Novosibirsk 1
NGO (depending on preference, volunteer work is available in social,
environmental and human rights organisations), Novosibirsk 1
Dom Miloserdie, Volgograd 1
Maria Materi protiv Narkotikov, Volgograd 1
The hosting organisations and their activities
ST.PETERSBURG
Grazhdanskaia Initiativa/ Citizen's Initiative
Citizen's Initiative provides legal and informational support for
NGOs in St. Petersburg and Northwest Russia. It holds public seminars
on selected topics and plays a major role in Russian human rights.
The initiative is often quoted in the press. Decision-makers in
European politics consult the Grazhdanskaya Initiativa. The volunteer
will have to deal with the ever increasing difficulites human and
citizen's rights activists in Russia are faced with today. The
current main objectives of Grazhdanskaya Initiativa are:
- The spreading of social and economic principles of a democratic
society among the Russian population
- Monitoring the adherence to legal norms in the Russian Federation
- Citizens' protection in cases where legal standards have been violated
- Strengthening the activities of NGOs working in the legal and
social sphere
- Supporting NGOs which work in the filed of environmental protection
- Social protection for refugees and displaced persons
- Cooperation with the city government, the aim of which is to
develop a law on children's protection
Job description
The volunteers will help contacting NGOs in St. Petersburg, do research
connected with certain organisational fields of work and assist in the
logistic preparation for the initiative's couselling service. The
volunteers will be expected to do the following jobs:
- Accepting and processing inquiries from NGOs, forwarding of
technical questions to the responsible staff member
- Research on legal issues for local NGOs
- Contacting western partner organizations, foundations and other
sponsors
- Informational preparation of seminars
- Publicity
- Assistance in preparing and conducting seminars
- Database management, research on specific topics and subsequent
publication, i. e. research on environmental organizations and their
activities in St. Petersburg
Selection Criteria
- volunteers should have a good command of Russian
- volunteers should have an interest in NGO work
- some experience in legal or environmental work is an advantage (but
is not a prerequisite)
Volunteer work in NGOs--Depending on preference, internships are
available in social, environmental and human rights organisations
Examples
Green Cross, North-South Branch "Zelyonyi Krest"
The non-governmental organisation, with 6 full-time employees, was
founded in 1993. It runs projects that educate the public about the
environmental concerns of the Northwest region.
Job description
· Fundraiser: acquiring funds for environmental programmes run by the
Green Cross, establishing and maintaining contacts with Western
sponsors, writing project applications in English and in German
· Public relations work: carrying out research on ecological
subjects, writing articles for local newspapers and the
organisation’s own magazine Zeljonyj Krest
Selection Criteria
Apart from an interest in NGOs and knowledge of Russian volunteers should
fulfill the following requirements:
- Fundraiser: good command of English
- Public relations: journalistic skills and knowledge of English are an
advantage
"Innovations Centre"
The non-profit organisation "Zentr Innovazii" operates several projects
for neglected children (street children in St. Petersburg) and a home in
Pavlovsk for children with severe multiple disabilities. Founded in 1996 in
order to support small, innovative projects, "Zentr Innovazii" seeks to
encourage and further develop up-to-date social work methods in Russia.
Job description
-translation work
-maintaining correspondence with the Western partner organisations and
private sponsors
-general office work
-dealing with telephone and e-mail inquireis
-possible work in one of the projects with street children
Selection Criteria
- basic command of Russian
Further possibilities for internships in St. Petersburg (please click
on "internships" at our website www.austausch.org for more
information). An English version is available.
· Liga zhiznennoj pomoschtschi umstvenno-otstalym ljudjam ("League
for Counselling and Aid for Mentally Handicapped People")
Non-profit-making organisation working with young adults aged 20-27
who have learning difficulties and slight phisical disabillitites.
· Association for People with Disabilities and their Families
"Arevik" A self-help group that organises recreational activities
(mostly) for children, with or without disabilities, and their family
members, along with rehabilitation exercises.
· Children's Crisis Centre Krisisnyj psichologitscheskij zentr dlja
detej The centre runs an emergency telephone line for young people,
offers psychotherapeutic meetings for children and youth who are in
danger of suicide or who have behavioural disturbances, and for their
parents.
Selection Criteria for the three jobs mentioned above
- Basic knowlege of Russian
- Preferably students of psychology or social education
· Jewish Association of Former Concentration Camp Prisoners and
Ghetto Residents
Selection criteria
-basic command of Russian
IRKUTSK
Baikal Environment Wave (www.baikalwave.eu.org)
Since 1990, Baikal Wave has been working for the purpose of saving
the unique nature reserve around Lake Baikal from environmental
pollution and making the population aware of ecological
interrelations. Current projects: education about organic waste,
competition against trash burning: «The Cleanest Yard», development
of recycling mechanisms (with the city administration), development
of eco-tourism, lobbying against the BZBK (cellulose combine),
information centre (press work, library, production of educational
material, videotheque, publishing the magazine "Volna", environmental
data base, information seminars, round tables), production of
documentary films about environmental topics.
Job description
The organisation cooperates with partners worldwide who share a
similar profile. Therefore English, German and French speaking
volunteers are of great help in the daily work of the organisation.
Volunteers will be asked to do the following jobs:
- English- and German lessons for employees and volunteers
- Extraction of laboratory samples, analyses of water and soil samples from
the Baikal region;
- assisting in work connected with Baikal Wave's own magazine
Volna;
- collecting signatures
- carrying out public surveys, helping with political actions;
- translation work into English and German;
- conducting information meetings at schools;
- preparation of seminars
- assisting with the publication of pamphlets, leaflets and brochures
- Maintenance of the database;
- Preperation of exhibitions and round tables;
Selection criteria
- volunteers should have a basic command of Russian
- interest in NGO work
- some experience (or a pronounced interest) in ecological work are an
advantage
- the Baikal Wave is looking for native speakers of German and English.
Vozrozhdenie Zemli Sibirskoj (www.irnet.ru/mbf)
Support Centre for non-profit Organisations from the region (holding
seminars, trainings, consultations, data base), information service
for citizens in 4 cities concerning social issues), publishing a
monthly magazine: "Non-governmental World" (Nekommercheskii Mir),
Support Centre for Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture (Bulletin
"The Way to Success" (Put' k uspechu), building an eco-village near
Irkutsk, which will combine agriculture and a children's home,
environmental monitoring.
Tätigkeitsprofil des/der Freiwilligen
Office work, organising seminars, assistance in environmental
actions, translations, searching for partners abroad when the
eco-village project is under way, helping in farming and in the
children's home, cooperation with Russian pupils and students who
help with general office work, with the preperation of seminars and
with giving legal advice. The organisation is especially interested
in English volunteers who have had some experience with citizens
advice centres.
Selection criteria
- Interest in NGO work
- Good command of Russian
- Experience in the work of English citizen advice centres is an
advantage
- Basic command of English
NOVOSIBIRSK
Siberian Centre for the Support of Civic Initiatives (SCPOI)
SCPOI focuses on the linking up of non-governmental organisations in
Western Siberia. In its function as an information and training
centre the SCPOI is an important place for local NGOs to contact and
receive support for their work. It is a resource-centre (providing
training, consultation, technological support and infrastructure, a
library, etc.) and publishes of own material.
The SCPOI carries out programmes (e.g. development of the cooperation
between NGOs and businesses, cooperation between NGOs and local
self-governing bodies), and does other foundation work (independent
grant programmes). Other activities include: TACIS-Ecology Project
(small grants given to NGOs in Novosibirsk and surroundings, a
further vocational training for journalists is part of this project;
organisation of annual NGO-fairs, charity balls, setting up of
volunteer centres in 69 Russian cities, educational programme:
«volunteer management» via internet.
Job description
- helping with finding Western European partners for local NGOs;
- assisting in the organisation of seminars, trainings, round tables that
local NGOs will participate in;
- gaining an insight into the counselling activities of the SCPOI for
local NGOs
- assisting in publishing activities of the centre;
- translation work and correspondence with Western partner
organisations
Selection criteria
- volunteers should have a good command of Russian
- some experience in NGO work is an advantage (but is not a
prerequisite)
- volunteers should have organisational skills
Volunteer work in an NGO in Novosibirsk or surroundings--Depending on
preference, jobs are available in ecological, social or human rights
organisations
Example
Legal Association Pravovoe Obschestvo
The Pravovoe Obshchestvo is a new human rights organisation that is
known far beyond the boundaries of Novosibirsk. Current projects are:
legal counselling on military service and civilian service, actions
for the establishment of a professional army, supporting the non-
governmental organisations and city structures. Cooperation with the
Soldiers' Mothers of Novosibirsk and the London School of Economics.
Job description
Analysis of the laws in Germany on cooperation of non-governmental
organisations, the business sector and state structures, assistance
in organising seminars and actions, maintaining the data base.
Selection criteria
Good command of Russian
Some experience in human rights work
MOSKOW
Memorial
(Memorial--International Association for Historical Education, Human
Rights, and Social Welfare)
The historical educational work of "Memorial" is concerned with the
history of penal policy in the USSR, the political resistance against
the regime from 1920 to 1950, the dissidents' movement from the 1950s
to the 1980s and the repression of Polish citizens. Social welfare
work, another aspect of "Memorial's" activity, includes social, legal
and other help for the victims of political repression. The human
rights organisation is concerned especially with current human rights
violations, such as racial/ ethnic discrimination and political
repression. In addition, an informational and educational programme
is broadcast via "Radio Rossiya".
Job description
Postion nr. 1: in Memorial's office
- research work, evaluation of interviews and other sources, preperational
work for radio broadcasts;
- participating in counselling of victims of political or ethnic
repressions;
- participating in press conferences and events with other human
rights organisations;
- translation of correspondence;
- communication with Western partners;
- public relations work;
- cooperation in the setting up of an online-library
Selection criteria
- good command of Russian
- interest in NGO work
- experience in human rights work or work with refugees is an
advantage
- the need for native speakers of English is very high
Memorial postion nr. 2: work with refugees
A citizen's support organisation, the refugee centre Grazhdanskoe
Sodejstvie, is affiliated with Memorial. The organisation's main
objective is the practical support of refugees and ethnically
discriminated persons.
Job description
- helping with registering refugees;
- participating in giving legal advice to the refugees;
- psychological care of the refugees;
- Organising medical aid for the refugees;
- Coordinating tasks
Selection criteria
- good command of Russian
- Experience in the work with refugees
- Ability to take stress
- flexibility
VOLGOGRAD
Maria Materi protiv Narkotikov ("Maria - Mothers against Narcotics")
The organisation grew out of a self-help group and many employees are
themselves former drug addicts. With the help of street workers,
"Maria" gives information about the dangers of drug use and AIDS to
people at risk, offers a low-threshold free-time meeting place for
drug addicts and does lobbying among the population of Volgograd and
governmental officials.
Job description
Street work, translations, organising free-time activity (suitable
only for very independent volunteers with experience in helping drug
addicts)
Selection criteria
- Experience in social work an in helping drug addicts would be an advantage
- Preferably candidates with a degree or training in social education
- Basic knowledge or Russian
Dom Miloserdie
The house is a state-run day centre for the elderly, where older
people live for 1-3 months for rest and recuperation. Recreational
activities and medical services are offered for the elderly, and home
care services for old people living in the district ("Meals on
Wheels", minor household services).
Job description
House visits, organising recreation activities in the centre,
individual tasks depending on abilities (medical, nursing).
Selection criteria:
- Experience with working with the elderly is an advantage
- Preferably candidates with a medical or caring profession, degree or
students of medicine or social education
- Basic knowledge of Russian
PERM
Ural Support-Centre for NGOs
- Technical, logistic support for NGOs;
- Promote and provide support for the cooperation of NGOs and local
administration;
- Human rights project with Amnesty International
Job Description
Position nr. 1: in the office
- translations and coordination of translation services for NGOs,
including the strengthening of relationships and contacts with the
University of Perm's faculties, Western European institutes of higher
education and translation offices
- dealing with inquiries made by local NGOs.
- language courses for employees of the centre and the local NGOs
- providing support for the NGOs in linguistic, informal, technical
(IT) matters;
- carrying out research in connection with social issues and
inquiries from NGOs;
- providing support for the cooperation with Western partner
organisations and in finding partners for local NGOs;
- informational preparation and logistic conduction of seminars
- editorial assistance with the centre's publications
Selection criteria
- good command of Russian
- interest in NGO work
- experience in translation work is an advantage (but not a
prerequisite)
Ural Support-Centre for NGOs--position nr. 2: volunteer work in NGOs
focusing on social issues
Example
City Centre for Social Welfare Services/ Industrialnyi District
The state organisation offers various social services, leisure-time
courses for children from poor families, dancing for seniors, legal
counselling, etc. They have 12 employees, social workers, a
psychologist and a nurse on the staff. Since autumn 1999 the centre
has had a leisure-time group for 5-7 children with mental and mostly
physical disabilities. By being in contact with other children they
learn through play how to do basic things in life independently and
how to manage social contacts.
Job description
Independent direction of this group (with the help of volunteer
assistance from family members), teaching the employees about working
with mentally handicapped children and about the further leadership
of the group.
Selection criteria
Preferably students of remedial education or social workers with
previous experience
The deadline for applications is the 5th of October, 2000.
Thank you very much,
Kerstin Nickig
Koordinatorin der Freiwilligenprogramme
Koordinator dobrovoltsheskich programm
Deutsch-Russischer Austausch e.V.
Brunnenstr. 181
10119 Berlin
Tel. 030/44 66 80 24
Fax 030/444 94 60
mail to: kerstin.nickig@austausch.com
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