Development work in Africa
WHAT IS EXPECTED FROM THE DEVELOPMENT INSTRUCTOR?
The Education and Action period is followed by a six months period as a Development Instructor in Africa. Development Instructor is our word for a volunteer. People from all corners of the world and from all walks of life are offered the possibility to practice Solitary Humanism through direct participation in the HUMANA People to People projects in Zambia and Guinea-Bissau. Humana People to People members runs over 330 projects in Southern Africa. Most of the projects have positions for Development Instructors. The projects are working with the following main issues of development:
· Child Aid and Community programs.
· Fighting HIV/AIDS.
· Making programmes for orphans and street children.
· Training future teachers.
· Teaching in vocational schools.
· Agriculture, farming and environmental protection.
· Business, marketing and partnership.
The Development Instructor supports the projects and is looked upon as a corner stone in Humana People to People’s efforts to create sustainable development. The Development Instructors contribution and setting of example is of immense importance. Not only for the day-to-day running of the projects, but for that part of the whole movement where the picture of international solidarity is drawn.
Each project has a permanent staff who together with the people at and around the project, constitute the continuation and future of the project. This is exactly why the Development Instructor can come for a short period of time and still make a difference. However it is expected that the Development Instructor -regardless what job description he/she has prepared to fill- is flexible and ready to step into a situation where ends do not meet -and there are always such situations. This is a question of attitude and having respect for the people who are running the project in the long run.
Being a Development Instructor is no way an easy task. Cooperation with the Project Leader and respect and loyalty towards all the people involved in the daily work is absolutely a precondition for a successful period. It is all about making changes- but this can only be achieved when all the people involved go for the same goal and pull in the same direction. Possible disagreements and different point of views have to be discussed and concrete steps towards change and improvement have to be taken. In this, Development Instructors play an important role when they look upon themselves as team players and contributors.
HUMANA PEOPLE TO PEOPLE
The Development Instructor Work is carried out in close cooperation with and under the leadership of the Federation of Associations connected to the International Humana People to People Movement. 43 national associations are members of the Federation, and together they run over 330 projects all over the world. The projects in Europe and North America generate funds for the projects in the developing world through the collection and selling of second hand clothes.
The projects in the developing world targets basic human needs through creation of sustainable development. Each project has a Project Leader and a permanent staff who lives and works at the project. Development is targeted from a holistic approach, placing the human beings at the centre of development. Humana People to People’s website is: www.humana.org
THE JOB OF THE DEVELOPMENT INSTRUCTOR
Development Instructors, who have done their training at DRH South Zealand can choose projects within community work, education, fundraising and administration, tree planting, water supply, orphan programs and HOPE (fighting against HIV/AIDS) in Zambia, Mozambique or Guinea-Bissau.
THE PROCEDURE FOR CHOOSING A JOB IS AS FOLLOWS
When a new team starts, DRH South Zealand receives from Humana a number of job descriptions equivalent to the number of participants in the team. During the first month of the program the team goes through all the job descriptions and the process starts of distributing the jobs according to the wishes of each person and the needs at the projects. This is a process with a lot of discussions, considerations and sometimes compromises.
It is a process which doesn't stop before everybody is satisfied and in agreement with each other. The Structure Of The Development Instructor’s stay at the project. The teams of Development Instructors are at the projects for six months. The Development Instructors cannot travel to other countries during those six months and the Development Instructors cannot stay longer in the country than the planned six months.
PROJECT'S STRUCTURE
· 3 days: Arrival and get to know the project.
· 2 weeks: Thorough introduction to the work at the project, get started and confirm the position in a meeting with the Project Leader after 2 Weeks.
· 4 weeks: Project Period. The Development Instructor works in the job.
· 1 day: Golden Cut Meeting.
· 1 week: Task Force Period. E.g. with actions or production of information materials outlined by The Federation and the Project and planned in details together with the Project Leader.
· 1 week: The Development Instructors plan and implement a travel of experiences of their own choice.
· 15 weeks: Project Period. The Development Instructor continues in the job.
· 2 days: Conclusion, reporting, handing over and departure.
The Development Instructors have an active weekend program. The weekend activities are planned according to the program of the project and the job of the Development Instructor.
WEEKENDS' EXAMPLES
· Project weekend: A special activity with and for the people at the project like Open Sunday or other activities and events.
· Cluster meeting: Common program where the Development Instructors report to the team of Project Leaders in the area (called a Cluster).
· Cluster weekend: An activity to promote the development in the Cluster and its activities: A building weekend, a common action, an outreach weekend or an income rally.