Educate for Life Programmes Coordinator Job Profile

Job Profile

The successful candidate will work alongside our existing coordinator, the RBKS and Educate for Life teams and the staff and community at Hunar Ghar. As such, team spirit and the ability to build a good rapport with colleagues is important.

The successful applicant will have two main responsibilities- ensuring smooth day-to-day running of Hunar Ghar and working towards future improvement at Hunar Ghar.

Regular tasks include:

• Training and planning with teachers.
• Meeting community members, taking their opinions and giving feedback about Hunar Ghar.
• Purchasing materials for Hunar Ghar and maintaining accounts.
• Motivating staff and resolving any conflicts that arise.
• Recruiting new teachers each year.
• Maintaining records and reports about work carried out.
• Maintaining existing and new infrastructure.
• Organising exposure trips to appropriate places for staff, community and children.
• Liaising with RBKS and Educate for Life staff via phone and online.
• Writing about activities on the Educate for Life web-site.

You are not expected to be able to do all these activities before starting, but will be trained and gradually expected to take on most of these responsibilities.

Future improvements at Hunar Ghar may include:

• Work to improve the curriculum and classroom processes at Hunar Ghar.
• Village livelihood activities like reforestation, water harvesting and sharing of innovative farming techniques.
• Managing the transition from primary level education to secondary level, including recruiting new teams, developing curriculum and organizing infrastructure.
• Increasing community involvement in Hunar Ghar activities.
• Over time there may also be the opportunity to establish more schools like Hunar Ghar across India.

Again not all of these activities will be your responsibility. Much will depend on your own personal areas of interest and support will be given where required.

We are looking for someone that is committed to increasing their skills, knowledge and ability, and is committed to the Educate for Life team for the long-term, ideally growing into the position of managing all RBKS-Educate for Life’s Indian activities.

Organisation Profile

The successful candidate will join Rajasthan Bal Kalyan Samiti (RBKS) and become a full-time member of our Educate for Life team, which runs a pioneering skills-based alternative education centre called Hunar Ghar.

RBKS is one of the most reputable NGOs in North India, and for over 30 years our work has focused on rural development and education in the tribal regions of southern Rajasthan. With a wide range of projects spread over 600 villages our work has touched the lives of thousands of people in the area and we pride ourselves on having hard working staff that create strong relationships with the communities they work with.

Educate for Life is the UK based funding partner of RBKS and together we have established Hunar Ghar an experimental and highly successful rural school model. Educate for Life’s major area of interest is in rural education and their team have worked closely with RBKS in the establishment of Hunar Ghar.

Hunar Ghar is a pioneering alternative education centre that has been established by RBKS and Educate for Life in Bakhel village. The school is attended by over 100 Adhivasi children, between the ages of 4 and 12. Here the children grow and learn with freedom and are encouraged to play, ask questions and engage in practical activities. Hunar Ghar does not follow a formal curriculum, but instead creates it’s own, using the local environment and culture to create relevant and rich learning experiences. Hunar Ghar has been running for 2 years and each year accepts 30 new children. Children do not pay fees, teachers are local and class sizes are 15 children with 1 teacher. Having run for 2 years, much progress has been made but the school is still in its early stages and there is much more to do. The new coordinator will be a key team member leading this change.

Personal Description

• Hard working
• Committed, honest & reliable
• Keen to learn new skills
• Interested in rural development & education
• Happy to live and work with rural communities.

Personal Specification

• Undergraduate or Postgraduate degree desirable.
• Fluency in Hindi, English, Mewari/Marwari and computer skills are helpful.
• Strong management, communication and organisational skills.

Note: Educational attainment & experience are not as important as willingness to be challenged, work hard and learn.

Benefits

• Involvement in one of the most pioneering educational projects in North India.
• Opportunity to lead expansion of Indian operations of UK NGO & career development.
• Training, support & opportunities to pursue personal interests.
• Experience of working closely with UK donors.
• Positive and friendly working environment.
• Exposure trips to pioneering institutes & organisations around India.

Challenges

• The work is based in an isolated rural environment, which not everyone can tolerate.
• You are expected to work hard and honestly. Sometimes days can start at 6am and finish at 11pm, but most days are not like this.
• You must be open-minded and readily adapt your own attitudes.
• Working with children requires high energy levels, patience and understanding.
• You will be expected to familiarize yourself with local culture, practices and language over time.

Note: Overall this job is incredibly rewarding, but can also be extremely challenging. The applicant must be prepared to face these challenges & should not apply if the location or nature of work will be a problem.

Main Location

Mandwa (staff residence/office) and Bakhel (school), Kotra block, Udaipur District, Rajasthan. This is about 1 hour from Abu Road, 3 hours from Udaipur and 6 hours from Ahmedabad.

Pay scale

Approximately Rs 7,000 - 10,000, plus Pension Fund, plus 10 percent annual pay increase.

Application Process

If you are willing for a challenge and a unique opportunity to work with a very exciting international NGO with very big scope for growth, and are willing to learn and work hard to achieve that growth with us then we would love to hear from you. The recruitment period runs up to the end of February 2010, but the post will be filled as soon as possible.

1. Please read over the rest of our website and get in touch by emailing  or calling Ed Forrest on 0 99989 30 7 30 or Ina Mondikar on 0 9867 907 366.
2. Having looked over your application and completed a brief telephone conversation, some candidates will be selected for interview with RBKS and Educate for Life staff. This may happen in Udaipur or you may be required to come to Hunar Ghar. Travel and reasonable expenses will be provided for this.
3. After the interview process successful candidates will be informed, and some candidates will be kept on standby in case of any unforeseen changes.

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