LIVE IN
RWANDA
VOLUNTEER
MAKE AN IMPACT
Multi-Week Global Jewish Service Corps | RWANDA
Assist orphaned and vulnerable youth in a college and career readiness program with Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village (ASYV), a JDC partner.
ABOUT JDC IN RWANDA
A landlocked country situated in Central Africa, Rwanda has had a tumultuous history plagued with ethnic tensions and political upheaval. In 1994, during the Rwandan Genocide, nearly one million people were killed over the course of approximately 100 days, and even more people were displaced. The country was left in ruins, and, today, Rwanda has the world’s highest per capita orphan population. These children were not only robbed of their families, of their homes, and of their communities, but also of their hope for a viable future.
JDC is inspired by the core Jewish value of tikkun olam (the obligation to repair the world) and is involved in humanitarian disaster relief and development efforts around the world. JDC has been a long standing partner of the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village located in Rwanda.
The Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village was founded by Anne Heyman and her husband, Seth Merrin. It all started when they heard a talk about the Rwandan genocide after which they were inspired to take action. They understood that the biggest problem facing Rwanda was the vast number of orphans with no systemic solution to support their well-being and development. Anne immediately connected the challenge of the Rwandan orphan population to the similar challenge that Israel faced after the Second World War. After the Holocaust, when there was a large influx of orphans into Israel, residential living communities called ‘youth villages’ were created. Anne was inspired by this idea and wanted to bring this model to Rwanda.
Anne began reaching out to people in Israel, Rwanda and the United States to share her idea. In April 2006, Anne and her team found a model to emulate, the Yemin Orde Youth Village in Israel. After careful consideration, they determined that this model would work extremely well in the Rwandan context. In September of 2006, Anne met with officials at the JDC and a partnership was born. It was then decided that JDC would house and offer logistical support for the project. JDC was instrumental in the start of this incredible project and by 2007, Anne had gathered enough support to break ground and begin constructing the Village. In December 2008, just two years after JDC’s initial support, the first 125 students moved into Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village, making it their home. Today, the Agahozo Shalom Youth Village is an independent 501(c)3 non-profit organization home to 500 incredible kids.
VOLUNTEER PLACEMENTS
The Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village (ASYV) is a residential community in rural Rwanda. Its 144 acres are home to local Rwandan youth who were orphaned during and after the genocide in 1994. The Village is designed to care for, protect and nurture these young people. It is a place of hope, where the aim is to live in peace (from the Hebrew word shalom). Within ASYV’s supportive and structured community, the rhythm of life is being restored, with the ultimate goal of equipping young people who have lived through great trauma to become healthy, self-sufficient, and engaged in the rebuilding of their nation. The environment of love and safety created at ASYV serves as the backdrop for programs designed to help teenagers grow both emotionally and intellectually. The young people at ASYV are learning through principle and practice, the value of mending the world around them. Located outside of Kigali, ASYV enables orphaned and vulnerable youth to become Rwanda’s future leaders.
Multi-Week Fellows will be placed at ASYV to assist graduating students of the Liquidnet Family High School in the annual College and Carrier Readiness Camp.
At the end of every school year, the Career Development Center at ASYV runs a College and Carrier Readiness Camp for selected students. This year, the Readiness Camp will guide 25 selected students in the application process for scholarships, gap year programs, and/or colleges outside of Rwanda. The Readiness Camp helps students master writing, interview and professional development skills necessary to navigate this competitive application process.
Multi-Week Fellows will assist in this Readiness Camp, individually guiding students in completing online applications and revising and editing their writing. Through the Readiness Camp, Multi-Week Fellows will make a direct impact on the lives of these seniors and their future endeavors.
Following the Readiness Camp, many students have enrolled in distinguished programs and institutions, including McGill University, University of British Columbia, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Earth University, Young Emerging Scholars (Education USA gap year program through the US Embassy in Rwanda), Bridge2Rwanda (prominent gap year program in Rwanda), and SHE-CAN (prominent mentorship gap year program for young women in Rwanda). Overall, students leave the Readiness Camp with skills that will benefit them for their lifetimes.
*JDC Global Leadership Grants JDC does not want the cost of the program to prevent your participation. If you are unable to contribute the full participation fee, we encourage you to apply for a JDC Global Leadership Grant (see JDC Global Leadership Grant section of online application). JDC willaward JDC Global Leadership Grants to a select number of participants on an as-need basis. Your decision to apply for a JDC Global Leadership Grant will not impact selection decisions. Beyond applying for a JDC Global Leadership Grant, we also encourage you to fundraise to cover the cost of your participation. We are happy to provide guidance as you reach out to friends and family to seek donations for this worthwhile experience.
Program Dates:
November 14-December 8,2016
Application Deadline:
September 19,2016
Desired Qualifications:
• Background in education
• Experience working in writing centers and or essay writing skills
• Tutoring experience
• Mentoring/advising background
• Skill-building background
• Experience in workshop facilitation
• Experience with teens
• Flexibility and comfort working in a rural setting
• Ability to adapt, comfortable in new cultural contexts
• Passion for volunteerism and the Jewish value of Tikkun Olam
Participation Fee: $2,900 (Global Leadership Grants available)*This includes:
• Comprehensive health and emergency medical evacuation insurance
• Housing
• Meals
• Airport pick-up and drop-off
• Excursions
This does not include:
• Airfare to and from Rwanda
• Meals while outside the Village (excursion days)
• Visa
• Leisure activities
Visas:
All accepted participants will be responsible for obtaining a visa to Rwanda. Upon arrival at airport, 30-day tourist visa can be purchased for $30.