Application Deadline: February 12, 2020
PROGRAM DATES
Coordinator Arrival: 23 June 2020
Coordinator Orientation: 24 – 28 June 2020
Volunteer Arrival: 29 June 2020
Volunteer Orientation: 30 June – 5 July 2020
SHINE Project Dates: 6 July – 8 August 2020
Kindly note, the above dates are tentative. Applications will be reviewed by the admissions committee on a rolling basis, so applicants are encouraged to apply before the deadline., Application decisions will be disseminated on an ongoing basis until March 2020, however, please note, the application process is ongoing until the final cohort for SHINE 2020 is finalized.
Volunteer Teacher Applicants:
Please note that upon acceptance, all volunteers will be required to submit a $750 non-refundable payment to secure their position with SHINE no later than two weeks after their acceptance. This will cover overall program operational costs such as housing, utilities, breakfast/lunch, student trips, center fuel and supplies, printing costs, and coordinator stipends, among other costs.
Coordinator Applicants:
Coordinators will be contacted to conduct an interview. This process will continue through the beginning of April. Accepted coordinators must expect to arrive to Lebanon approximately one week before volunteer arrival for Coordinator Orientation and to prepare for the implementation of SHINE 2020. This involves an intensive training, setting up and arranging apartments, planning for volunteer orientation, volunteer airport pick-up, proctoring student diagnostic exams and supporting in grading tests, among numerous other tasks. Kindly note, coordinators receive a modest stipend for their participation.
Volunteer Expectations
LEAP seeks dynamic, compassionate, and motivated volunteers who enjoy working with young adults, value the right to quality education for all people, are passionate about refugee rights, are involved in or have experience with social justice movements, who maintain respect and diplomacy in their interactions with people of diverse backgrounds, and who are capable of working under challenging circumstances and working conditions.
Volunteers must be prepared to work in small classrooms with sporadic or scarce electricity, extreme heat, and limited resources, such as markers, paper, pencils, books, and electronics. Volunteers must also be able to endure difficult living conditions such as cramped and uncomfortable apartments with multiple people, as well as extreme heat and discomfort. Most importantly, LEAP volunteers must be culturally sensitive and considerate of local norms, as well as carry themselves in a mature, appropriate, conservative, and respectful manner at all times during the program since they are both representatives of LEAP and by extension, our partner organization. As a LEAP volunteer, you will be sponsored to obtain access into the camps. Therefore, LEAP and its partner organization is responsible for your movement and behavior. Thus, it is essential volunteers adhere strictly to the code of conduct.
Volunteers must demonstrate experience in one or more of the following: previous work or knowledge of the MENA region; Arabic (particularly colloquial spoken Arabic); experience in the field of music education; previous work with children/youth in a supervision role, after-school programs, recreational activities, etc.; advocacy and organizing work; refugees/IDPs; management and coordination; working abroad; and/or mental health/psychosocial support.
We strongly encourage interested applicants who meet the above criteria to apply. This is a unique opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of the Palestine refugee reality in Lebanon, and refugees in general. The Program has consistently been described as a meaningful, unforgettable experience, for youth and volunteers alike, and we hope that you will join our team. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at info@leap-program.org.
If you would like to take a break and return to the form, please scroll to the bottom of the page and click on “Save and Continue Later” in order to receive a unique link that allows you to return to the form to complete your application. This link should not be shared with others, and it remains valid for 30 days.
Technical note: Please refrain from using multiple sets of “quotation marks” or ‘single quotes’ in your answers. They are unnecessary – if you are naming a piece of music or another work, just use the title. Also, it is recommended to write your answers in a Word document and then copy and paste them into the form when it is complete in order to not lose your responses in the case you face technical issues upon submission.
