Placement Organization: The Cries of a Child
Placement Location: Bukeye, Burundi
Eligible Citizenship: Burundian
About: The Cries of a Child is a faith based nonprofit organization founded in November 2008 based out of Orlando, Fl. Our work focuses on helping orphaned and abandoned children and vulnerable people suffering from poverty to be restored and given hope for their futures. Our target population is about 5,000 – 6,000 people in the community of Bukeye, located in the province of Muramvya, Burundi.
TCOAC’s work in Burundi directly targets the underlying need for adequate family based care for orphaned and abandoned children in the local community who have no other options and are often suffering and neglected. There is an estimated 230,000 orphaned children in Burundi with over 5,000 of those children residing in centers. We are focused on empowering the local community and improving the quality of life for those deeply affected by poverty through providing excellent healthcare and education.
The population will be directly involved and impacted through our family-based children’s homes, meeting room, clinic, and trade school. We currently have 2 children’s homes and are about to begin the construction process of the clinic, followed by the construction of the meeting room and trade school. The current work is focused on constructing the clinic and meeting room, continuing to build and strengthen the management and protocol systems for the future functioning and sustainability of the clinic and community meeting room, along with building partnerships to help develop, grow, and strengthen the current projects at hand.
Position Overview: The Global Health Corps fellow will work hand in hand with our project directors in the construction phases for both our clinic and meeting room. He/she will also play an important role in continuing to build and strengthen a sustainable management and protocol system that supports our clinic and meeting room operations. TCOAC’s success and direct impact on the local community is closely tied with our management structure and ability to work in unity and meet the tangible needs of the local community.
Responsibilities: Key deliverables that will be achieved within the 2013-2014 fellowship year are tangible and will clearly support the rapid growth of The Cries of a Child this coming year. The Design and Construction Facilitator will assist with the construction management and observation along with material purchases and expenditure reporting in both the construction of our health clinic and community meeting room.
Required Skills and Experience:
- 1 or more years of work experience in construction, architecture or a related field
- Openness to participating in faith-based activities with staff and local community as facilitated by TCOAC
- Attention to detail
Preferred Skills and Experience:
- Strong leadership skills and experience
- Familiarity with computer programs used in management such as budgeting, procurement and project analysis
- Fluent verbal and written English; Intermediate verbal and written French
- Willingness to live in a rural community in the mountains
- Ability to work in a team setting working towards a focused goal
- A strong interest in community development and empowerment particularly in poverty stricken communities
- A creative and resourceful mind in problem solving and strategic planning
- Desire to grow and develop in character, skills and profession
Living Conditions: Fellows will be provided with housing, health insurance, and a living stipend of $550/month. Fellows will also receive an award of $1500 upon successful completion of the fellowship year. Flights to and from the placement site and all other costs associated with GHC programming are included. The fellow will live in rented housing up-country in Bukeye, Burundi and will be provided 3 meals per day. The fellow will have organization transportation provided to go to the city a minimum of 2 times per month. All transportation costs for work purposes will be covered by TCOAC.