This week we
are exploring the options for jobs and/or roles in the INTERNATIONAL early
childhood community.
I first chose
to investigate the UNICEF website at http://www.unicef.org. Why? Unicef is an organization which
was familiar to me. It is an organization that is well established and
reputable. Unicef has deep roots and a
global impact on the health and well being of children around the world. They
support the health and nutrition of children in developing countries through
the provision of vaccinations, good water, sanitation, and quality education
for all boys and girls.
There were no
available jobs in the Early Childhood Development department, so I looked into
their internship program.
UNICEF
Internship Programme
Purpose of the
Position: offers
eligible/qualified students at both Headquarters and country offices the
opportunity to acquire direct practical experience in UNICEF's work under the
direct supervision of experienced UNICEF staff.
Qualifications: You
need to be a currently-enrolled graduate or post-graduate student in a field
related to UNICEF’s interests. You must be enrolled during the full duration of
the proposed internship period. At this time we do not accept
undergraduates. You should be fluent in English and one other UNICEF
working language i.e. French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian or Chinese. Your
academic performance should be excellent, as demonstrated by recent university
or institution records.
Your application for an internship should be supported
by your university or related institution. A minimum requirement is a letter
from one of your professors supporting your application. This is only needed
when an internship assignment has been offered to you. Applicants must have a demonstrated interest in the field of
international development, particularly in areas of UNICEF priorities. Ability to adapt and
work in a multi-cultural setting.
Has strong commitment to the values and
principles of the United Nations and UNICEF's mission, guiding principles and
Convention on the Rights of the Child. Additional
consideration will be given for any past work experiences.
I
am not sure that an internship appeals to me, however, working for the UNICEF
organization is prestigious and I would be lucky to be with such an association
SAVE THE
CHILDREN:
a leading
international, independent organization that seeks to create lasting change in
the lives of children in need across the world. They link early childhood
professionals, organizations, and governments together in order to help
children and families to help themselves. They are especially instrumental when
disasters strike around the world and come to the aid of families by providing
food, medical care, and education, as well as long-term recovery programs.
There were several types of positions available:
1. U.S. Headquarters
Positions
Headquartered
in Fairfield, Connecticut with a major office in Washington D.C., our
staff is a diverse group of people working in a variety of specialties
including:
·
Program and policy
work in the areas of U.S. programs, Child Protection and HIV/AIDs, Education
and Child Development, Health and Nutrition, Hunger and Livelihoods and
Humanitarian Response.
·
Marketing &
Communications
·
Resource Development
·
Finance
·
Human Resources
·
Information Services
2. U.S. Field-Based
Positions
Save the Children runs
and coordinates programs for children and families in 29 states across the
country. Our field-based positions work with local and national partners to
implement programs in Early Childhood and Education, Literacy, Nutrition and
Exercise.
3. International
Field-Based Positions
Our U.S. headquarters also recruits a limited number of qualified individuals
to support field-based programs in a variety of International locations. In
addition Save the Children International and 30 national Save the Children
organizations around the world also recruit for positions overseas.
All of these positions
appealed to me somewhat, but I feel that having an international field-based
position would be the most interesting, and the most different from my current
position.
Early Childhood
Exchange:
According to their website, “Exchange is
committed to supporting early childhood professionals worldwide in their
efforts to craft early childhood environments where adults and children thrive
– environments that foster friendship, curiosity, self-esteem, joy, and
respect; where the talents of all are fully challenged and justly rewarded”
(information retrieved from http://www.childcareexchange.com/about-us/mission/).
They have
several job postings for teachers and directors, but I found it interesting
that they were also looking for writers in the ECE field. Early Childhood
Exchange sends out a daily email to professionals that I have been receiving
for several years.
Write for
Exchange
Exchange is
committed to supporting early childhood professionals worldwide in their
efforts to craft early childhood environments where adults and children live –
environments that foster friendship, curiosity, self-esteem, joy, and respect;
where the talents of all are fully challenged and justly rewarded.
This intrigued
me because it would be supplemental work. I can easily do something like this alongside
the work that I am already doing with infants. It can be a great vehicle for my
writing and for communicating my passion with movement and exploration based on
the needs and interests of the individual child.