Call for Application: Dream Corps 2010 Summer Volunteer Program

Organization

DREAM CORPS is an innovative non‐profit organization dedicated to bettering the learning environment for students in disadvantaged communities in rural and urban China.

Program

Dream Corps is recruiting 35‐40 international volunteers to participate in its 2010 Summer Volunteer Program in rural villages and urban migrant communities of China. Volunteers will take part in activities that include

• Building basic library infrastructures

• Developing library management system

• Reading programs

• English teaching

• Facilitating community initiatives and projects

• Community understanding

The program consists of 3 days of training in Beijing, 3 weeks of volunteer work on assigned volunteer sites, and 3 days of concluding camp in Beijing.

We also have internship opportunities in our Summer Intern Program (see below).

Qualification

This is an exciting opportunity for students, researchers, and young professionals interested in international development, rural education, and the non‐profit sector in China.

Our past volunteers were from more than 10 countries and regions and were primarily undergraduate and graduate students.

Ability to speak mandarin Chinese is mandatory.

Expense

While no fee is charged, volunteers shall cover all of their travel, board and lodging expenses during the program, including airfare for the traveling to China. Typical total expense per person during the program is around 250 US dollars.

Application Process

• STEP 1: Online Application at http://www.dreamcorps.org 

a. Application form

b. Personal Statement (see guidelines for details)

c. Resume or CV

We have a rolling application process and the positions fill up quickly, you are strongly encouraged to apply as early as possible. There is no application fee.

• STEP 2: Interview

Applications are typically reviewed within a week. Qualified applicants will be interviewed over the phone or in person.

• STEP 3: Notification of Decision

Final decision will be sent to you no later than March 19.

Important Dates

• Jan 24: Online application opens

• February 26: Online application officially closes

• March 19: All acceptances notified

• Mid April to Early May: Online training (4 or 5 sessions, about 2 hours per session)

• May 23: Volunteer registration in Beijing, program begins

• May 24‐25: Volunteer training in Beijing

• May 26: Volunteers departing for sites

• June 25: Program ends at end of concluding forum in Beijing

Additional Information

If you have any more questions regarding our program, please visit Dream Corps 2010 Summer Program FAQ at http://www.dreamcorps.org/2010faq.html 

If you have any questions regarding the application and volunteer selection process, please contact the Recruitment Committee at recruitment@dreamcorps.org .

Personal Statement Guidelines

Please keep your statement between 300‐500 English words or 500‐700 Chinese characters. As a general guideline, please cover the following:

1. Why do you want to volunteer with Dream Corps?

2. You previous social work or volunteer experience? Please include dates, locations, activities, and your roles.

3. Have you traveled or lived in rural China? For how long? If not, have you traveled or lived internationally? For how long? If so, please describe briefly (locations, dates and activities).

4. Have you had any teaching or tutoring experience? If so, please describe briefly (subjects, target audience and formats)

5. Do you hope to conduct a personal or academic research project during your possible stay in China with Dream Corps? If so, please describe briefly.

6. What do you believe are the values of books and reading to the lives of underprivileged children in China?

Dream Corps 2010 Summer Internship Program

Late May to late July

Dream Corps offers 8‐ to 10‐week long, unpaid Summer Internship Programs (SIP) for motivated volunteers with strong initiative and leadership to work in the areas of library management, information system support, community outreach, reading program, and organizational communication. Internship period officially starts with the Beijing Training Camp of the Summer Volunteer Program (SVP) in late May and ends in late July. Work‐related travel expenses will be reimbursed. This year there are the following positions available:

• Beijing ‐ SVP Information Specialist: Responsible for collection, selection, and organization of site‐specific SVP information, documents, and media files during and after the SVP, with the option of conducting reading program and community outreach activities at the New Century Dream Library in Zhufang Village, Beijing after the SVP. Involvement starts with the SVP online training.

• Hunan Chaling County Dream Libraries ‐ Information System Support Specialist: Responsible for setting up electronic library management system, and assisting local librarians in using the system, and provide general computer training for local teachers.

• Sichuan Yibin Nanguang Dream Library ‐ Library Management Specialist: Responsible for setting up electronic library management, providing support to local librarian, teachers, and students regarding how to use the system, and in general ensuring the school’s readiness for library access and use in the subsequent academic year.

Requirements for the SIP in addition to those for the regular (SVP) include: If applicants have not participated in the SVP in previous years, they must participate in this year’s SVP

Internships are on‐site and continuous with the SVP (running from late May to late June), with no vacation time in between.

Submission to Dream Corps of documents required for your enrollment in your university’s internship programs, such as (1) purpose or research statement and (2) funding application form, where applicable.

In addition to an application to the regular SVP, all applicants must submit a Dream Corps SIP proposal to sites@dreamcorps.org  that (1) identify their intended position, (2) explain their specific motivations and qualifications, (3) identify their specific goals, and (4) articulate their specific plan for reaching these goals. Please direct further inquiries to sites@dreamcorps.org .