Volunteer Opportunities
There are various ways to get involved with Agahozo-Shalom. We welcome volunteers from around the world and rely on support from dedicated volunteers in order to fulfill our mission of serving vulnerable teenage orphans in Rwanda.
Volunteer opportunities include fundraising or collecting supplies in your local community, organizing a Service-Learning Trip for your college or community, or spending 1 year volunteering at Agahozo-Shalom as part of our Long-Term Volunteer Corps.
If you would like to get involved, please consider one of the options below. Email volunteer@asyv.org with any questions or for more information.
Long-Term Volunteer Corps
Each year, Agahozo-Shalom sends a cohort of international volunteers to spend 12 months living and working in the Village. They are placed into specific roles and work together with our Rwandan staff. They become an integral part of the staff team that enables the Village to fulfill our goal of "restoring the rhythm of life" for our 500 students. Each volunteer also joins a family and serves as a "big brother" or "big sister" to 16 students, working hand-in-hand with the Family Mothers and Counselors to create a loving and supportive family for our teens. In addition to their jobs and serving in families, they also tutor English and teach many of the Enrichment Programs offered in the Village.
Four of the ten volunteers in 2012 came to Agahozo-Shalom as part of the JDC Jewish Service Corps.
Applications are now available for the 2013 Long-Term Volunteer Corps!
To be considered for the Long-Term Volunteer Corps, please complete the online application before April 23, 2012. The application consists of 3 parts and details can be found by clicking the link below. Eligible candidates go through a comprehensive screening process. Email volunteer@asyv.org with questions or for more information.
For complete application instructions and position descriptions, click here.
Note: Interested applicants from Rwanda or East Africa should apply for jobs directly to our office in Rwanda by emailinge-recruitment@asyv.org.
Service-Learning Trips
Agahozo-Shalom offers 10-day Service-Learning trips for various groups and institutions. Designed for groups of 14-20 people, Service-Learning trip participants learn about the development of Agahozo-Shalom, the history and culture of Rwanda, and engage in meaningful discussions and learning sessions on topics including: social justice, individual and global responsibility, the importance of service work, justice and forgiveness, and the importance of service work. The focus of the learning sessions, as well as the trip itinerary, can be catered to the needs and interests of your group.
During their stay in the Village, trip participants volunteer daily to help with a project such as landscaping, farming, light construction, and/or teaching English and computer skills. All trip participants also have the opportunity to partake in our Enrichment Programs during the after-school hours and work alongside our youth during Tikkun Olam (link to Tikkun Olam page on website) and Saturday Service (the time each week devoted to "giving back" to the Village by farming, landscaping, or cleaning communal areas.)
Agahozo-Shalom Service-Learning trips include pre-trip orientation, logistical support and travel arrangements, educational materials, and post-trip engagement opportunities that bring the lessons and themes of this life-changing experience into the daily lives and communities of trip participants.
All groups are accompanied by an experienced ASYV trip staff person who not only serves as the group leader but also the lead educator, offering learning sessions and discussions to suit the interests of each group.
Trips can consist of students from schools and colleges, community centers, religious institutions, or even a group of families. (Please note that trips are tailored to participants ages 15 and up. Groups are also welcome to extend their trip and explore what Rwanda has to offer. Agahozo-Shalom staff will connect you with reliable tour providers and hotels but cannot be responsible for making arrangements for pre- or post- trip travel.)
The Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village Service-Learning program is supported in part by Repair the World.
Individual Volunteers
Agahozo-Shalom does not ordinarily place individual volunteers at the Village. Exceptions are made on rare occasion when an applicant possesses a specific skill set that is needed by the Village. In this scenario, the individual volunteer would work independently on a discreet project. Individual volunteers are typically seasoned professionals in their field.
Please email volunteer@asyv.org with resume and cover letter if would like to apply and believe that you meet the above requirements.
