Support National Youth Strategy for Youth Community Centers
Activity/project background
Partner: Youth Agency (Government)
Established in 2019, Youth Agency is a government entity under the umbrella of the Ministry of Culture, Sport, and Youth of Georgia. The Youth Agency aims to create a sustainable youth sector where youth - as full members of society - are involved in the community, have decent employment, their health and wellbeing are protected, and information, resources and development opportunities are equally available.
Currently, the Youth Agency has the majority of its youth centers at formal educational institutions. However, the agency has found barriers in accessibility for non-formal education services located at educational institutions. This is especially true for youth not studying or training at formal institutions. Youth Agency supports the establishment of youth centers independent from formal educational institutions and that are run as community centers for all youth in Georgia.
The Youth Agency requests a Virtual Service Pilot Participant (VSPP) to support the development of a scope of work that aligns with the Agency’s strategic plan, the National Youth Strategy. Additionally, the VSPP is requested to support in the Youth Agency’s development of guidelines to support volunteer activities such as inclusive volunteering, reintegration and socialization, disaster risk reduction, and intergenerational and family volunteering.
Youth Agency has previously worked with a Peace Corps Response Volunteer and VSPP. They understand that the role of a VSPP is very different than a two-year Volunteer.
Virtual service engagement and tasks
The VSPP will engage in the following tasks, in collaboration with their Host Country Partners:
• Co-conduct a comparative assessment and research on typical youth centers and youth volunteer programs in the region and if available, in the EU and U.S.
• Co-develop the recommendations for designing youth centers (facilities, technical details)
• Co-plan and develop the strategy of development for the youth centers
• Co-design educational modules and template of program schedule for running education activities in the youth centers
• Co-develop guidelines on implementing various types of volunteering activities
This engagement is expected to be approximately 25 weeks. VSPPs are expected to engage on the tasks listed above for an estimated 5-15 hours per week.
Meetings between VSPPs and Host Country Counterparts will take place during normal office hours, 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Georgia time. Specific times will be determined during orientation.
The Host Country Counterpart will have access to WhatsApp, Messenger, Teams, Zoom, Google Drive, and Google Meet for regular communication and collaboration.
Per the Child Protection Code of Conduct, when engaging online with minors (0-18), two adults must be present.
Optional additional activities
The Peace Corps mission is to promote world peace and friendship by fulfilling three goals:
- To help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.
- To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.
- To help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.
Goal 1 will be achieved through the VSPP's engagement and completion of the above tasks. The counterpart and VSPP may also choose to identify an activity that aligns with Goal 2. Additionally, the VSPP may identify a Goal 3 activity to implement during their engagement. See recommendations and tools for Goal 3 activities.
Essential qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s degree in non-profit management, public administration, or a related field
Experience:
• 3 years of work experience in youth and volunteer program management or policy development
• Experience working in a public sector organization (NGO, non-profit or government)
Intercultural skills and motivation: Flexible, strong cross-cultural agility, high tolerance for ambiguity, able to work independently, resourceful, creative, and genuinely motivated and capable to serve virtually
Desired qualifications
Education: Master’s degree in non-profit management, public administration, or a related field
Technical Skills: Familiarity with virtual engagement and communication
Experience:
• Experience in youth mobility and international volunteering programs
• Experience working on certification programs meant to develop skills for youth
Terms and conditions of engagement
VSPPs will be engaging with the host country partner, in coordination with Peace Corps post staff, remotely from the US. They should have access to a computer, internet, and telephone in order to enable direct engagement with the Peace Corps overseas office and the Host Country Counterpart assigned by the host country partner.
Orientation with the host country partner will be provided, within the designated virtual service hours, during the first week of virtual service via an online presentation and discussion. The host country partner will provide an overview of its organization, the local context, and how they envision collaborating with the VSPP.
The VSPP will have regular check-ins with their counterpart and bi-weekly check-ins with Peace Corps staff. Spending unstructured time with counterparts can be critical to relationship-building and is encouraged through activities such as coffee chats and informal calls within the weekly 5-15 hours.
Engagement-specific safety and security
The VSPP will receive an orientation on Peace Corps’ Child Protection Policy and how it relates to online engagement along with IT security best practices. The VSPP will be expected to follow safety and security guidelines for online engagement to ensure their safety and that of the Host Country Partner and their counterpart, and any beneficiaries of the engagement.
Supervision requirements
The VSPP will report to a designated Peace Corps staff member. The VSPP will be expected to abide by the Virtual Service Pilot Participant and Donation Agreement and Participant Principles of Engagement. The VSPP will also be expected to check in with the designated host country counterpart as assigned by the host county partner.
Does this sound like the virtual engagement for you?
Get started on your journey.