We are looking for volunteers in Serbia

ADRA Slovakia continues its successful tradition of sending development and humanitarian volunteers to third countries. This year, again through the Slovak Agency for International Development Cooperation (SAMRS) programme, two Slovak men or women will have the opportunity to gain this unique experience in our two partner organisations in Serbia - ADRA and Čovekoljublje.

For almost 20 years, Slovakia's cooperation with the Western Balkans region has been part of the Official Development Assistance (ODA), which pursues the objectives of the successful integration of this region into the EU. We offer you a unique opportunity to be a part of it.

We currently offer the following postings:

Junior development volunteer with expertise in social work

 

 

VOLUNTEERING:

The volunteer in this position will be involved in programme development, which are aimed at Improving the quality of life of seniors and helping the homeless. In the first case, it is mainly senior women in rural areas who are among the most vulnerable group, so the focus is on increasing gender equity. For example, activities will include field work identifying their needs for further programme development, planning and organising advocacy campaigns, as well as humanitarian assistance. In the second program, the volunteer will participate in the operation of a newly built shelter for homeless people, mainly by designing, planning, but also in the implementation of daily work activities of the clients, which have the character of occupational therapy.

On a daily or weekly basis, the volunteer will also perform administrative tasks, seek and engage in sourcing new project opportunities and other tasks related to project management. He will have the opportunity to strengthen the capacity of the Čovekoljublje team depending on his competence portfolio.

CITY:

Apart from Belgrade, Čovekoljublje operates in Serbia's fourth largest city, Kragujevac, where it has an office that manages several of its development programmes in adjacent regions. The volunteer will be an essential part of the development of these programmes.

POSTING TIME:

12 months, beginning in September 2021. The deployment will be preceded by pre-deployment training in ADRA Slovakia.

HOST ORGANISATION:

Chovekoljublje operates in Belgrade, in Serbia already since 1991 and in the field of humanitarian aid has a wealth of experience. In its early days it helped people affected by war, now in the former Yugoslavia. In recent years she has been working with various vulnerable groups such as victims of violence, the elderly, ex-prisoners, asylum seekers and many others. Read more here.

Čovekoljublje programmes as well as humanitarian intervention activities create space for active volunteer engagement over the long term. During 15 years, it has involved more than 300 volunteers in Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 2020, under the supervision of ADRA Slovakia EU Aid Volunteers (EUAV) certification, which has met standards in the areas of safety and security, risk management, professional volunteer management, etc., making it a relevant partner for EU countries in sending EU expert volunteers to low-income countries under the EUAV programme.

WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR:

The programme is open to all citizens of the Slovak Republic aged 18 years and over, with the aim of involving both young people and the older age group in development cooperation in order to expand the group of people with a professional interest in development cooperation.

Profile of the suitable candidate:

• a strong interest in development cooperation and humanitarian aid
• English - advanced; knowledge of Serbian an advantage
• good knowledge of MS Office programs
• affinity for administrative tasks
• flexibility and ability to adapt to local conditions
• a sense of teamwork, but also independence and a proactive approach to work
• university degree min. I. degree in a relevant field (international relations, development studies, social work, etc.) an advantage
• orientation in social work, social exclusion and inclusion of vulnerable groups an advantage
• driving licence and active driving an advantage

 

Project Management and PR/Communications Assistant

 

 

VOLUNTEERING:

The volunteer in this position will support the Project Manager primarily in programme areas of WASH activities (Water, Sanitation, Hygiene), assistance to homeless people and Roma inclusion. Specific activities consist of accompanying and assisting during field trips in the communities (homeless people, excluded Roma families) in order to carry out needs surveys or direct distribution of food and other material aid (e.g. hygiene kits), as well as in assisting during professional training aimed at strengthening the employability of young Roma, in social and recreational activities for young people from socially disadvantaged families. The volunteer will also assist with the preparation of regular reports and getting feedback from beneficiaries.

In the field of PR and communication development will assist in the creation of communication plan and campaigns, compile information on project activities for the PR manager, translate communication materials and organise public/online Events.

On a daily or weekly basis, the volunteer will also perform administrative tasks, seek and engage in sourcing new project opportunities and other tasks related to with project management. It will have the opportunity to strengthen the capacity of the ADRA Serbia team depending on its competence portfolio.

LOCATION:

Capital of Serbia - Belgrade

POSTING TIME:

6 months, starting in October 2021. The deployment will be preceded by pre-deployment training at ADRA Slovakia.

HOST ORGANISATION:

ADRA Serbia is a humanitarian non-profit organisation within the ADRA global network. Since 1990 it has been working in the following areas:

1) Education (refugee and Roma minority children in Serbia and adult basic education)

2) Economic opportunities (vocational training, employment assistance, stabilization of family businesses in Roma communities)

3) WASH (daily mobile assistance to the homeless in Belgrade). It is also actively involved in preparedness and assistance in humanitarian crises. 

They are currently ADRA Slovakia and ADRA Serbia partners in two projects. The first is a humanitarian intervention project during the covid-19 pandemic aimed at preventing outbreaks of covid-19 in homeless communities in Belgrade. The second is a capacity building project for future host organisations which, after successful certification (EU Aid Volunteers), will provide expert secondment of European volunteers to low-income countries in cooperation with an EU sending organisation. ADRA Serbia has obtained this certification.

 

WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR:

The programme is open to all citizens of the Slovak Republic aged 18 years and over, with the aim of involving both young people and the older age group in development cooperation in order to expand the group of people with a professional interest in development cooperation.

Profile of the suitable candidate:

• a strong interest in development cooperation and humanitarian aid
• English - advanced; knowledge of Serbian an advantage
• good knowledge of MS Office programs
• affinity for administrative tasks
• affinity for PR and communications roles; practical experience an advantage (copywriting/writing talent, social media publishing, ad creation)
• soft skills
• flexibility and ability to adapt to local conditions
• a sense of teamwork, but also independence and a proactive approach to work
• university degree min. I degree in a relevant field (international relations, development studies, social work, project management in the non-profit sector, public policy, etc.) an advantage
• good knowledge/ practical experience in project management an advantage
• orientation in the topics of social exclusion and inclusion of vulnerable groups an advantage

 

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COST OF POSTING:

All costs are covered by the SAMRS grant, including transportation, visas, pre-departure medical examination, insurance, lodging and meals. More information here. 

SUBSCRIPTIONS:

The application form should be sent by email to volunteering@adra.sk until 15 June 2021. The application form must include:

1) Professional CV in English

2) Cover letter in English

3) Consent to the processing of personal data granted in accordance with Article 6(1)(a) and Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data in accordance with Act No 18/2018 Coll. on the Protection of Personal Data and on Amendments and Additions to Certain Acts in the Slovak language.

4) Affidavit of health within the meaning of Section 6(3) of Act No 406/2011 Coll. on Volunteering and on Amendments and Additions to Certain Acts in the Slovak language.

Selected candidates will be invited to an interview, which will be conducted in Slovak and English. The expected date of the interviews is 16-30 June 2021. The successful candidate will be awarded a contract in the first half of July 2021.

ADRA SLOVAKIA AS A SENDING ORGANISATION:

We have a long tradition in the field of sending volunteers, as evidenced by the dozens of volunteers we have sent to various countries around the world, the regular approval of our projects, which we apply for support to send volunteers to partner organizations, as well as the award „Volunteer of the Year“ by volunteers sent by us. We are characterised by high quality pre-deployment training, well-functioning volunteer cycles, and alignment with ODA sectoral and territorial priorities. 

Under the SAMRS programme we send volunteers Since 2012, we are part of the European programme expert volunteering EUAV as of 2017.

The deployment of volunteer volunteers will be carried out in accordance with official safety and epidemiological precautions.