International Youth Volunteering with the French Red Cross

Presles en Brie, France

The International Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement is the largest humanitarian organisation in the world. It promotes humanitarian values and provides emergency help to people in crisis throughout the UK and around the world.

The British Red Cross has ambitious plans to increase the engagement of young people to take action as humanitarian citizens. In joint partnership with our sister FrenchNational Society, we are able to offer a unique long-term youth volunteering opportunity in Presles en Brie for one young person from the UK.

THE CONTEXT

The French Red Cross is part of the international Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement which shares the seven Fundamental Principles. The French Red Cross is a highly regarded emergency response and health organisation in France with over 52 000 volunteers and 17 000 employees working across 550 organisations. Other areas of work include First Aid, International Humanitarian Law and youth volunteer projects.

In Villepatour, near Presles en Brie, the French Red Cross runs a day and weekly boarding school for pupils aged 12-20 with physical disabilities. Built around an old chateau, the school houses 43 weekly boarders and 18 day pupils. As well as following traditional lessons, pupils are encouraged to take part in sports, extra-curricular clubs and outings in the local area (cinema, exhibitions, theme parks etc).

THE ROLE

We are looking to recruit one volunteer, who will take part in a split placement between the French Red Cross boarding school for children with physical disabilities and a project supporting young people with physical disabilities, who are studying at university level oron work placements in local businesses. This project is part of a SESSAD (Service d'éducation spécialisée et de soins à domicile) service for young people with physical disabilities.The exact placement will depend on the support needed by the service users and the volunteer’s areas of interest.

In the school, the volunteer will work with the teachers during lessons, volunteering alongside pupils to provide additional support in the classroom with writing, young people’s mobility and supporting the teachers. Outside the formal timetable, the volunteer may help with personal care (washing, toileting, feeding)as well as on the pastoral side, during extra-curricular clubs and excursions.

In the external SESSAD project, the volunteer may accompany the young people to university, or on their work placements, assisting with all practical aspects, from taking notes to helping with mobility needs in order to support the young people’s integration and to promote their success in that environment. The volunteer will also support leisure activities for the young people, including trips to football matches, cinema, restaurants etc…

Some flexibility is required to accommodate activities that occasionally run at the weekendsor in evenings. There are also 2 days of holiday per month of placement (not including national public holidays), which can be taken with prior arrangement with your supervisor.

The volunteer will be expected to study French in order to facilitate integration into the host community and the project.Moreover, the volunteer is strongly encouraged to become actively involved in other activities or services of the Red Cross in the Parisian region that may be of interest.

Volunteers will be encouraged to use their own initiative, and will be provided with support from the FrenchRed Cross. It is important that volunteers arecommitted, involved and sensitive to the needs of others. This is a pilot project and we are looking for someone who can contribute to the development of the placement and the programme’s quality.
QUALITIES WE ARE LOOKING FOR

The successful candidate will be aged 20-26, and will also demonstrate the following:

  • Committed, mature and independent work ethic
  • Genuine interest and/or experience in youth work and working with young people with disabilities
  • Excellent communication and social skills
  • Creative, supportive and willing to take the initiative when running activities for vulnerable people
  • Understand the importance of looking after yourself and have the ability to switch off at the end of the day
  • Realistic expectations regarding the benefits and challenges of volunteering overseas for12 months
  • Prepared to live with a modest allowance and accommodation
  • Good English & a good knowledge of French (at least AS level or equivalent, if not higher) with a willingness to study and learn whilst on the placement
  • And most importantly, a commitment to the Red Cross movement, volunteering and working with children and young people

PRACTICALITIES

The placement will run from 1st October 2010 for 12 months. The successful candidates will be funded and accredited through the European Voluntary Service (EVS) scheme of the European Commission. More details about EVS can be found at

Our priority is to recruit young people who would otherwise not have access to such international opportunities. A room in thein addition, each volunteer will receive a small allowance of 125 Euros per month.

Volunteers at the Red Cross are highly valued for the skills and energy they bring to our work. The successful candidates will receive pre-departure and on-arrival training from both the Red Cross and the European Commission, as well as have access to confidential support and supervision throughout the duration of the placement.

Location:Presles en Brie, near Paris, France

Presles en Brie is located in the Seine et Marne départment, named after the Seine and Marne rivers, in the Ile de France region. This area is fairly rural with several nature reserves and 60% of land used for farming, predominantly growing cereals and sugar beet. One of the principal towns is Fontainebleau and the area is also home to EuroDisney. Presles en Brie is a small village near Tournan en Brie, which is the terminus of the RER E train line, direct into central Paris in 35 minutes.
Reporting to:

  • Supervisors in the IEM de Villepatour school and SESSAD
  • Caroline Soubie: Youth Officer – French Red Cross
  • Alex Jackson: Programme Coordinator – International Youth Volunteering, British Red Cross

Application deadline:1st August2010

Interviews: Suitable candidates will be invited for a selection day at our UK Office in London with Alex Jackson and a representative from the French Red Cross on Wednesday 4th August 2010. Please be aware that part of the interview will be in French. To apply, please fill out the enclosed application form and return to with your name and ‘French RC opportunity’ in the subject heading of the email.

For more information, see:

email Alex Jackson

International Youth Volunteering Programme

FranceApplication Form 2010-2011

Please complete all sections in English. All information provided will remain strictly confidential. We welcome receiving copies of CVs submitted with the application form.

Section 1: Personal Information
Last Name / First Name / Middle Name(s)
E-mail: / Date of Birth: / Gender:
Male Female
Town and Country of Birth: / Passport number: / Nationality:
Current correspondence address: / Home telephone: / Mobile telephone:
Permanent address (if different): / Home telephone:
Do you have any existing insurance cover (travel/medical)? If so, please give details below
Emergency Contact Information
Name: / Relationship to you: / Home telephone:
Home address: / Email address: / Mobile telephone:
Section 2: Education (continue on additional sheet if necessary)
Secondary School/College: / Years Attended: / Qualifications Obtained (GCSE, A-level, NVQ etc.):
to
to
Tertiary Education (College, University etc.): / Years Attended: / Qualifications Obtained (Diploma, Bachelors, Masters, Doctorate etc):
to
to
Section 3: Work Experience (continue on additional sheet if necessary)
Organisation: / Year: / Position: / Responsibilities:
Section 4: Additional Skills
Languages: / Spoken: / Written: / Reading:
Driver’s Licence: / Other:
Section 5: Additional Questions (continue on an additional sheet if necessary)
Please describe any relevant prior work or voluntary experience, especially with children or young people. Give as much detail as possible.
Please explain your reasons for volunteering abroad with the Red Cross. Why do you want to go to the Red Cross inFrance particularly?Please write at least 200 words.
Please describe any personal trials and how you overcame them.
Please describe any prior international experience (include countries and duration away).
What challenges do you think you will face during your time abroad?
How will you overcome them?
As the Red Cross, our priority is to provide international placements to people who would ordinarily have less access to them due to socio-economic, health or other personal reasons. If appropriate, please use this space to describe why you think this programme is especially applicable to you.
Section 6: Additional Information
Please detail any allergies, medical conditions or other support needs.
Section 7: Practicalities
We are looking to send 1 volunteer out to Spainin mid-September. Please state when you would be able to leave, which (if any) Red Cross training courses/events you have already attended, and confirm that your passport will be valid for departure in September.
Section 8: References
Please provide the names and contact information of two referees. These may include an employer, supervisor, teacher, or a close friend (but not a relative).
Name:
Address:
Telephone:
E-mail:
Relationship to You: / Name:
Location:
Telephone:
E-mail:
Relationship to You:
I hereby acknowledge that all information contained within this form is true to the best of my knowledge.
Signature: / Date: