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International Women's Peace Service

Application Pack

for

Long Term and Short Term Volunteers

(Revised May 2012)

IWPS

  • is a small international team of women, based in the Salfit district of the West Bank, who provide accompaniment to Palestinian civilians; document and non-violently intervene in human rights abuses; and support acts of non-violent resistance to end the Israeli Occupation of Palestine and oppose the Apartheid Wall. It is the only international peace team based in Salfit and has been providing an on-going presence there since 2002.
  • seeks to develop and use non-violence skills, training and support for intervention in conflict situations in Palestine.
  • is an independent, grass-roots, activist organisation supported only by donations and grants.
  • is run by women from different countries around the world, supporting and participating in the work in Palestine. It is intentionally diverse, seeking to recruit volunteers from a wide spectrum of racial, age, religious, and cultural backgrounds.

Aims and Objectives

  • to support Palestinians in their non-violent resistance to the occupationby providing trained, skilled teams of international women from outside the conflict areas
  • to respond to any instances of injustice witnessed through direct, non-violent intervention, by bearing witness and reporting to the international community
  • to effect a change in world opinion so as to bring about an end to the Occupation and to lessen the sense of isolation and despair of the Palestinian people

To do this we:

  • train and support an international team of women to be a continuous presence in Palestine;
  • monitor and appropriately alert the world community to human rights abuses in the Salfit area and intervene with non-violence to prevent abuses;
  • monitor and gather information about human rights abuses in order to disseminate to a wide range of agencies world-wide eg. media, governments, NGOs, the UN etc.
  • seek and implement non-violent alternatives to conflict in the PalestinianOccupiedTerritories;
  • support non-violent civil resistance by Palestinians and Israelis;
  • offer supportive accompaniment to ordinary Palestinianswhen they fear violence from the Israeli military or settlers (for example accompanying farmers to their land, children to school, or people to medical appointments etc);
  • organise and provideinternational support, protection and accompanimentat harvest time;
  • strengthen relationships with all sections of society in nearby villages, including with women;

campaign against the Apartheid Wall and support international opposition to the wall;

  • maintain and improve relationships with Israeli, Palestinian and other international organisations working against the Occupation. *

* IWPS works closely with a large number of organisations from various sectors: Palestinian organisations, eg Women for Life; Women’s Centre for Legal Aid & Counselling (WCLAC); Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committee (PARC), Israeli groups, eg Anarchists Against The Wall; Machsom Watch; Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD); Rabbis for Human Rights (RHR), as well as International groups, eg the International Solidarity Movement (ISM); EAPPI (Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel), Christian Peacemaker Team (CPT), Michigan Peace Team (MPT) and Operation Dove.

Methods of Working

1. In Palestine we pursue our objectives by carrying out the following tasks:

  • work closely with people in the local villages, with women and their organisations and with farmers, supporting their non-violent actions and meetings as appropriate and when requested
  • attend and support non-violent demonstrations in local villages and across the country where possible
  • monitor checkpoints and road-blocks
  • support families and individuals who are the victims of human rights violations
  • organise international teams for the olive harvest in local villages
  • keep updated village profiles in the Salfit region, documenting the long term impact of the occupation, and maintain and strengthen contacts there
  • gather information about human rights abuses and write background reports
  • use reports, photographs and films to inform a wide variety of organisations, as above
  • liaise with human rights organisations in Palestine, Israel and internationally
  • work together with other Palestinian and Israeli organisations at local and national levels
  • carry out research on topics such as women’s issues, settlement activity, settler violence, industrial pollution etc.
  • host volunteers and delegations from other organisations.

2. Internationally we pursue our objectives by carrying out the following tasks:

  • Outreach work in our individual countries, including giving talks / presentations and media work, to raise awareness and funds.
  • Support the work of IWPS in Palestine through on-going development of IWPS Working Groups, such as fundraising, recruitment, training, finance, personnel, media and website. Long Term Volunteers (LTV's) are expected to participate in regular on-line discussion and decision making, and to participate in monthly on-line meetings
  • In order to support the recruitment and retention of volunteers we:

engage in on-going recruitment initiatives to provide a rolling programme of new and

returning volunteers to Palestine;

provide an annual training of 6 days on different continents for people wishing to become

LTVs;

maintain a formal evaluation and feedback process with all volunteers;

maintain a buddy system for the support of all volunteers;

hold an annual 3 day meeting for developing policy and practice.

Values and working methods

The principal of and commitment to non-violence is central to the work of IWPS, and underpins all our actions and interventions

  • commitment to consensus decision making;
  • awareness of international law/human rights;
  • awareness of privileges of gender and international status ;
  • being rooted in the local community;
  • inclusion of Palestinian women in the process as much as possible;
  • openness and accountability in all our work;
  • openness and non-discriminatory approach with respect to ethnicity, religion, age, sexuality and economic class
  • continual striving to improve the quality and effectiveness of the organisation and the service we offer in Palestine

Recruitment

1. Long Term Volunteers (LTVs)

IWPS is currently recruiting women to become Long Term Volunteers.

IWPS consists of a team of Long Term Volunteers (LTVs) and Short Term Volunteers (STVs). An LTV ideally makes a commitment to IWPS of at least three years, spending one term of three months in Palestine during her first year, and ideally serving a further two terms of between one and three months in the second and third year of her commitment.

Alongside her commitment to serving in Palestine, each LTV is expected to join one or more Working Groups, thus making a regular commitment in her home country to supporting and furthering the work of IWPS. Working Groups currently in operation include: Recruitment, Personnel, Media and Website Fundraising, Finance, Training and Annual Meeting, and Olive Harvest;

All LTVs are encouraged, with support, to fundraise to cover their costs and to use this as an opportunity to raise awareness of the situation in Palestine in their own countries and the need for the work of IWPS. Daily living expenses in Palestine will be paid for by IWPS.

2. Short Term Volunteers (STVs)

Short Term Volunteers serve a minimum of 4 weeks in Palestine and may apply to go for up to 3 months. Once they have served a first term they may wish to apply to become an LTV, or to return again as a STV. STVs pay 50NIS per day towards living expenses (including accommodation, utilities, food, travel, work related phone costs).After one month this is reducedto 20NIS per day. We do not wish to discourage those who find it hard to raise the necessary finance; whilst we cannot offer bursaries we can assist and support you with ideas for fundraising.

3. Volunteers who do not go to Palestine

IWPS welcomes support from women who can not or do not wish to go to Palestine. We have a wide range of opportunities for volunteers, from one off projects like designing leaflets, to on-going support with fund-raising, website development, raising the profile of IWPS through social media sites etc. If you are interested in actively supporting the work of IWPS please email us outlining your area of interest.

Volunteer Qualifications:

  • minimum age of 20 years old;
  • experience in Palestine or in other conflict areas and/or experience in non-violent activism (desirable, but not essential);
  • belief and commitment to non-violence
  • willingness to undertake non-violence training in own country and in Palestine;
  • comprehension and support of the aims and objectives of IWPS-Palestine;
  • commitment to consensus decision making;
  • good written and verbal communication skills;
  • ability to work closely in a team of women from different backgrounds and of various ages;
  • ability in LTV applicants to lead a team and provide orientation and guidance to short term volunteers;
  • ability to work independently;
  • willingness to accept guidance from women younger or older than self;
  • respect for other cultures;
  • willingness to accept the consequences of direct action (ie arrest, deportation, or injury);
  • calm temperament and ability to display objectivity when necessary;
  • strong self discipline;
  • adequate level in spoken English in order to communicate effectively (especially in an emergency) and willingness to learn some basic Arabic;
  • willingness to live communally under simple conditions and be involved in day-to day housework and cooking;
  • able-bodied volunteers should be in good health, able to walk on uneven and rocky terrain, and with the stamina to withstand unplanned difficulties. Disability or limited ability will not be a barrier to recruitment, but it will naturally limit activities and must be discussed at interview.
  • willingness to disseminate information about the Occupation and promote the work of IWPS in home country;
  • IWPS seeks to recruit volunteers from a full range of backgrounds and ages, and is intentionally diverse in its selection of candidates.
The Role of IWPS Volunteers in their Day-to-Day Work in Palestine

The role of both LTVs and STVs includes the following tasks, though no single person is expected to be able to fulfill all of them:

living and working in a Palestinian village gaining a first-hand understanding of the impact of Occupation.

observing and providing written and photographic documentation of human rights abuses, both for use of the project, and for use in own home country.

responding to emergency calls requiring mediation, intervention or care, in coordination with the house team.

non-violent intervention in human rights abuses (volunteers must have experience/training in non-violent direct action before participating with IWPS in Palestine).

engaging in acts of non-violent civil resistance alongside Palestinians, and in coordination with the house team.

assisting in the development of village profiles, documenting the long-term effects of the military occupation

working with independent media and international press.

keeping decision makers, and others with influence, informed of the situation.

sending regular reports to supporting groups in home countries.

inducting, orientating and supporting STVs

taking a full share of all domestic duties such as cleaning, washing and cooking.

Your Stay in the House

All volunteers must participate in non-violence training prior to being actively involved in the work of IWPS in Palestine.IWPS provide training on an annual basis (see below). ISM (International Solidarity Movement) may also provide training in your country. In addition, all volunteers are required on arrival in Palestine to participate in a 2 day training run by ISM in Ramallah. This is mandatory even if you have taken similar training in your home country. Up to date legal briefings will be given, along with the opportunity to meet fellow activists and learn of the current situations. This training currently costs 180 NIS,inclusive of food and accommodation, and volunteers are normally required to fund it themselves.

Evaluation:

All volunteers go through an evaluation process 2 weeks after arriving in the house and again towards the end of their stay. This is seen as a strength and an asset both for the individual and the organisation. It is seen as a positive experience encouraging dialogue, talking about strengths and looking at ways to support those areas where there are difficulties. It is approached in an open transparent manner where issues can be freely discussed. It is also an opportunity for IWPS to receive feedback.

Please notethat LTV applicants will be confirmed only after an evaluation at the end of one month’s service in the IWPS house in Palestine.

Day-to-Day Living:

The IWPS house is located in a small village in the Salfit region and provides basic but reasonably comfortable communal living space as well as office and reception space. Bedrooms are shared and privacy is restricted. It can be quite stressful living and working in close proximity with others. Whilst the village is beautifully situated, the working environment is not ideal because of the rather remote location, challenges with technical equipment and occasional cuts in electricity supplies. In addition transport is sometimes difficult. IWPS has no car and has to rely on local buses or taxis. If you do not speak Arabic this can also be a barrier, though many Palestinians do speak English to varying levels. Please be advised that you will need to adapt to these conditions in order to function well.

LTVs will have all living expenses for food, accommodation, transport and work phone calls covered for them while on IWPS duty (not on days off), with the expectation that they will raise funds for IWPS before and after their visit. STVs are asked to pay 50NIS per day, reducingto 20NISper day after one month. All volunteers should ensure they have a sufficient supply of money on them on arrival as the house is in a remote location.

It is important that all volunteers share equally the house chores.

All volunteers can expect to be included in decision-making about issues and actions that affect your stay. Decision-making is on a consensus basis and responsibilities are shared equally.

Working hours will not be fixed. All volunteersare expected to take three days off every two weeks. Each woman is responsible both for contributing what she can and for taking sufficient breaks to ensure she remains in good mental and physical health. All participants in IWPS-Palestine have a responsibility to support each other in this way.

A stay may involve chaotic and unpredictable situations, as well as situations in which volunteers have to mobilize quickly to travel long distances or intervene during the night. Your time in Palestine may also involve quieter periods, where you can get involved in longer term documentation of the occupation.

Volunteers are expected to use their time in the IWPS house for IWPS work, and not to use the house as a base for travelling and meeting friends. If there are particular places in the region that volunteers would like to visit, extra time should be allowed at the beginning or end of the trip.

If any volunteer wishes to carry outher own work, of whatever nature (including major projects, such as film making), whilst volunteering with IWPS it should be made clear at interview, or as soon as it is known. Such workalways takes second place to IWPS responsibilities; the volunteermay pursue her own projects on her days off and at other times to be negotiated with the house team,depending onwhat is happening on the ground.

Application Process

Both LTV and STV applicants are invited to complete the appropriate application form at the end of this pack and to return it to as soon as possible, together with a signed Volunteer Agreement form. All volunteers serving in Palestine will also be required to complete a registration form, giving emergency contact details and what you would like to happen and/or people to contact should you be arrested or injured.

Following receipt of the application, applicants will be contacted by a member of the team to arrange a telephone interview.

Following a successful telephone interview volunteers will be invited to attend a 6 day training course. Attendance is strongly advised (though not mandatory) for LTVs. STVs are also welcome to attend. The training may be followed by a 3 day Annual Meeting but this will be clarified during your phone interview.

All volunteers are selected by a concensus decision of the team’s Personnel Working Group. For STVs the decision is made following the phone interview. For LTVs the decision is made following evaluation after serving one month in the IWPS house.

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Thank you for your interest in the work of IWPS. We look forward to hearing from you.

Please return your application form to: .

For further information about IWPS please go to:

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