Placement in, Lima, Peru
Job Title: Development worker
Duration: Minimum 6 Months, Ideally, 12 Months
Employer: Peru Children’s Charity
Country: Lima, Peru.
Organisational Background
Peru Children’s Charity was established six years ago. It is a voluntary organisation which was established in Ireland by a retired business man Michael Murphy whom following a visit to the area in 2004 was self motivated to empower the people of Las Lomas to reduce the poverty cycle. Peru Children’s Charity are a group of co workers who work on a voluntary basis fund raising in Ireland and completing administration work while having the accounts frequently audited. The charity aims to empower families to reduce the cycle of poverty through training and employment and education relating to health and hygiene. The Charity’s key strategy is working in partnership with the people of Las Lomas. To date the charity has built in partnership with families 24 starter homes, 18 community dining rooms (which are also family support centres) 4 kinder gardens and have established a therapy centre and support children and adolescents with medication and other health visits. To date the people of Las Lomas have met approximately 30 co workers, some whom have gone out on more than one occasion and are also going back to commence work on the therapy centre in May.
Key Duties and responsibilities:
During the past six years Peru Children’s Charity in partnership with the Communities build 18 community dining rooms/ family support centres These centres were initially set up as centres to provide Breakfast and Lunch for the poorest families Later they began to be developed as family resource centres.
Facilities provided included:
Nurseries where Mothers could leave their children, while they worked part time or full time.
Classes in adult education are also provided in some centres.
Others have After school Clubs where kids can stay while there parent is working,as there is no one to care for them in the home.
Craft Classes are provided in some centres which can become “Micro businesses”.
The Volunteer will be required to continue to develop and expand these facilities in partnership with each community, according to their needs and with resources made available by “Peru Children’s Charity” and Government Agencies in Lima.
In particular they will be required to:
• Develop relationships with Families in each centre and significant others.
• Work in partnership with Peru Children’s Charity and the staff team in Lima ensuring policies and procedures are followed and best practice is used at all times.
• Gather baseline data on the needs and capacities of all the Communities and to draw up and review plans to ensure each Centre’s needs are met, as far as is practical
• Maintain records and reports including plans, on, activities, family visits and any specific “Needs” of the children in the Community.
• Draw up a work schedule and a time table for each Centre .
• Regular meetings with those carrying out the work and documenting same.
Liaise with senior management regarding progress of the work in each centre, to share information and to get support from management
VOLUNTEER PROFILE
Qualifications and or work experience required.
A Social Science, , Community Development, background is required.
A basic knowledge of Spanish is essential, a course can be provided if necessary. For important appointments or meetings an interpreter can be arranged.
Work experience in some of the following areas is essential;
• Previous experience of working with voluntary communities
• Experience of working with families
• Report writing and completing records and care plans
• Reviewing and evaluating care plans
• Iniating and participating in frequent community meetings
• Ability to work in a loosely constructed environment
The candidate must also be very community centred and driven, to ensure that the Communities with greatest “needs” are supported, where practical
There will also be support available from one of the co workers in Lima and in Ireland, this support will take place through e mail or skype.
Placement Location:
The Therapy Centre is Located in Las Lomas de Carabayllo, a shanty town in the North of Lima, about 15 miles from the City Centre. The area has a population of about 50,000 and is poorly serviced, no running water or sewerage, part of the area has electricity.
The houses are mainly constructed of mud bricks with plastic or galvanised roofs. Some are just huts built of plastic and bamboo weave sheets. A small number of houses are built with Concrete and bricks
There are some small shops serving the area and a recently constructed Health Centre
There is a Thriving town, Puenta Piedra about 5 miles from Las Lomas with a shopping Centre and other modern facilities.
The population generally are very appreciative of the work being undertaken by Peru Children’s Charity. It is a very friendly area to work, and the Locals really appreciate the Charity’s ethos of working in Partnership.
Accommodation:
The volunteer would have the option either to reside in the area with a local family or in Puenta Piedra where they could rent a self contained flat and commute by bus. The charity will source accommodation.
For more information:
www.peruchildrenscharity.org
email: info@peruchildrenscharity.org