Description

Your tasks will revolve finding meaningful formal employment for persons with physical and hearing disabilities and to incorporate them into the labour market. You will provide job skill training workshops and help prepare them for job interviews. You will research potential employers and make contact with local businesses to find dignified work for them. You will provide employers with information on the benefits of employing a person with a disability and discuss the importance of a diverse and inclusive workforce for both the business and the community.

Please note that this placement requires a minimum commitment of 6 months.

Highlights

El Equipo de Educacion y autogestion social (EDAPROSPO) is a non-government organization that aims to increase the capacity of economically and socially marginalized segments of the population. Their primary objective is to help men, women, and youth of Lima increase their skills and attain dignified work and therefore societal inclusion. In this way, they are working toward greater social and economic justice in Peruvian society.

Edaprospo was formed in 1978, after the military government at the time fired five thousand trade union leaders for promoting a nationwide strike. A group of students and faculty at San Marcos University in Lima decided to support the victims financially and provide capacity training. Edaprospo was born out of this response, and has since been marked with a strong commitment to social policy with the country. In the 1990's, mass migration to Lima, due to terrorism in the rural provinces, created a large group of micro-entrepreneurs in the informal market, who desired to improve their health and hygiene conditions. Edaprospo then expanded to include Ecohealth and Individual Credit programs for these informal laborers.

Edaprospo now includes group microcredit programs, job training programs for the disabled, and business skills development for youth, as a response to the recognized needs for employment and business capacitation in Peru. They deliver programs in the outer regions of Peru where the greatest economic exlusion and levels of poverty are found.
As they have expanded, some of their successes have been the inclusion of greater numbers of micro-entrepreneurs in their individual and group credit programs, the training of almost 300 people as Primary Health Educators in their communities, and participation of several groups of under-priviliged high school students in a business competition.

It is estimated that the number of persons with disabilities has increased more than 10% during the past five years. Numerous causes of this increase are suspected: lingering effects of the armed internal conflict, border conflict with Ecuador, continued political unrest, occupational accidents, environmental pollution, lack of an effective prevention policy, traffic accidents, poverty and malnutrition.

In Peru, there is a stigma attached to persons with disabilities. Most people with disabilities in Peru live in the poorest areas of the country and belong to the lower income scale. Many employers in Peru are reluctant to employ an individual with a disability of any sort, so these individuals often remain under-educated, unemployed, and dependent on their families for their entire lives. Edaprospo is trying to strengthen and develop programs in order to bring change to this situation. Volunteers can work to help to provide the support that is needed to achieve their aims.

Qualifications

You must have completed at least two years of studies in Psychology, Human Resources, Sociology, Business Management, or any other related discipline. You must also be able to speak Spanish at a conversational level, so that you can communicate effectively with local businesses and in the Edaprospo office.

Minimum Education

High School

Intern Types

• Human Resources
• Law
• Social Work

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

USD 3,245 for 8 weeks; USD 250 each additional wk.

Cost Includes:

• Emergency evacuation services
• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Language instruction
• Pre-departure orientation/Training
• Written materials abroad
• Written materials pre-departure

Program Fees Include:

Upon arrival in country our staff will pick you up at the airport and return you to our Orientation Center for a safety briefing and general country orientation. For this program you are required to complete one - 4 weeks of language training and orientation which is included in the cost of the program. At the end of that week you will transfer to your placement to begin volunteering. Our staff are available to assist you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week should you require help of any kind.

Experience Required

yes

A volunteer at this placement must be diligent, organized, able to take initiative, and cooperate well within a team.

Volunteer Types

• Business
• Disability Issues
• Human Rights
• Labor Issues
• Law
• Legal Aide

Typical Volunteer

We believe everyone can contribute by volunteering. Recent graduates from high school, college or university, professionals taking a career break, recent retirees, individuals or groups who are interested in a change and the chance to enrich their own life and the lives of others. If you are 18 years or older you can apply for any of the placements available. If you are from 16-18 years old you may apply for placements near our Volunteer Abroad Office and Residence, so that we are able to give you more support. Both students and professionals are needed for placements in all our countries.

Age Range

18+

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Dormitory
• Group living
• Home-stays

Participants Travel

Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work

Independently or in Groups of Depends on the placement

Application Process Involves

• Letters of Reference
• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Resume

Typically The Application Process Time is

24-48 hrs

Basecamp International Centers's Mission Statement

We believe international volunteering promotes cross-cultural learning that helps create global awareness, understanding between cultures and provides the platform for positive change. Our volunteers have taught in schools, provided disaster relief support for the International Red Cross, conducted essential research to improve the management strategies of threatened environments, built homes for impoverished people, provided vocational training and programs for street kids and have worked in co-operation with hundreds of local organizations to distribute aid and improve the quality of life for people throughout Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Year Founded

1998