The Maranyundo Initiative currently is seeking candidates interested in volunteering at the Maranyundo School in Nyamata Rwanda as English Language Learning Mentors. Volunteers should be willing to spend an academic school year, January through November at the school.
The Maranyundo School is an independent school for girls in Grades 7, 8 and 9 (two classes of 30 girls in each grade for a total school population of 180). It is an English-speaking boarding school located in Nyamata, about 30 kilometers south of Kigali. All classes at the school will be taught in English. The school’s mission is to provide an excellent community-based private education for girls of limited financial means to help them develop into future leaders for Rwanda.
Kinyarwanda and French are the primary languages in Rwanda, but English is a major priority in Rwanda’s future growth and success. We are currently looking for volunteers who, under the supervision of the Head of School, will be on-site English language mentors for the girls and the broader community. Volunteers are expected to live on site and interact with students throughout the day whenever the girls are not in class, to create a supportive, English speaking environment at the school. Volunteers are also expected to work with the community in ways that offer opportunities for community members to develop and/or practice English speaking skills.
Objectives:
To assist the Head of School, faculty and staff in creating a supportive, English speaking environment at the school.
To work in the community as an ambassador of the Maranyundo School to foster the development of English skills and enhance the image of the school as a community resource.
- ResponsibilitiesDevelop and lead extra-curricular activities for the students in areas of your strengths and interests (sports, drama, art, music, dance, woodworking, etc.)
- Interact daily with students at meals, during extra-curricular activities and during free time.
- Provide one-on-one tutoring and/or support services to students as directed by the Head of School or her designee.
- Provide student assistance and support during study halls or other times as appropriate.
- Develop and implement creative ways to provide English language skills to the broader community as appropriate.
- Under the supervision of the Head of School or her designee, develop and implement projects that bring the community and school together
- Develop and implement creative ways to connect U.S. donors and/or volunteers to the life of the school (e.g. pen-pal programs, sponsorship programs, sister school programs, etc.)
Qualifications
The ideal candidates will be able to work effectively as part of a cross-cultural team and a will be a self-starter. He or she will have strong oral and written communications skills, strong technological skills and a passion to initiate change and make a difference. This person should be able to create a rapport with both students at the school and members of the local community using English as the primary language.
She or he will make an 8-month commitment, from January through November 2009 and commit to raising $5000 to participate. This amount is required to cover all program costs and is 100% tax deductible for U.S. residents. Program costs include: an orientation in Boston, room and board in the faculty residence of the Maranyundo School, on-going support both in-country and from U.S. staff, medical evacuation and Rwandan health insurance.
In addition, the ideal candidates will possess talents and interests beyond the classroom and will be able to share these talents with the students and the community.
Specific Qualifications
- Bachelors Degree
- Experience working with young people
- Ability to adapt to and work in a different culture
- Spirit of openness and flexibility
- Ability to work as part of a team
Preferred Qualifications
- Knowledge of French
- TEFL (Teacher of English as a Foreign Language) certification or the willingness to obtain it
- Experience teaching English to those for whom English is not their first language
- Cross-cultural experience
Application process: All interested candidates should submit an application and resume. Please click on the following link to download the application document:esl application
Please submit all information to: The Maranyundo Initiative, 207 E Street, South Boston, MA 02127, 617-268-1286
info@maranyundo.org