Support Planning for Living Centers for Disabled Individuals
Activity/project background
Partner: McLain Association for Children, Georgia (MAC Georgia) (Local NGO)
McLain Association for Children, Georgia (MAC Georgia) was founded in 2008 as a non-profit organization. MAC Georgia strives to provide the services, resources, and technical assistance necessary to enable individuals of all ages across Georgia to achieve their full potential.
MAC Georgia is currently developing two projects that will have a meaningful impact for persons with disabilities in Georgia. The first project involves the strengthening of six independent living centers and the subsequent expansion of the model to new locations. The second project involves introducing new wheelchairs to the country that will provide crucial postural support to children, thus increasing the likelihood of living independent lives. MAC Georgia has employees that are dedicated and skilled, but the organization lacks someone with strong business planning and organizational development skills.
MAC Georgia requests the support of a Virtual Service Pilot Participant (VSPP) to strengthen the capacity of MAC Georgia’s staff in various aspects of NGO management to ensure staff are able to positively impact the lives of persons with disabilities. Additionally, the VSPP will support staff to create a plan for 1 to 2 new independent living centers and the refinement of current strategic plans for the centers, including in areas of networking and communications.
MAC Georgia has previously worked with a Peace Corps Response Volunteer (PCRV) and a VSPP. They understand that the role of a VSPP is very different than a two-year Volunteer or a PCRV.
Virtual service engagement and tasks
The VSPP will engage in the following tasks, in collaboration with their Host Country Partners:
• Co-develop strategic plans for independent regional/local hubs, including capacity building in writing a mission statement, fundraising, communication, partnership, and networking strategic objectives
• Co-develop within the strategic plan, the partnership strategic objective to connect independent living centers, establish a country-wide parent network, and cultivate international partnerships
• Co-create a plan for establishing 1-2 new independent living centers
• Support counterpart to review and refine its wheelchair distribution business plan, assisting the initiative to be self-sustaining over the longer-term
This engagement is expected to be approximately 22 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.
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 management, business administration, public administration, or a related field
Experience: 2 years of work experience in management, project management, strategic planning, or business development
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 management, business administration, public administration, or a related field
Technical Skills:
• Familiarity with virtual engagement and communication
• Certification in Project Management
• Familiarity with domestic and international programs serving differently abled communities
Experience:
• 3 years of management or organizational development with NGO
• Experience in entrepreneurial work and or social enterprise
• Experience in networking and developing partnerships
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.