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Despite the chilly February weather in Toronto, over 40 excited participants joined us in Dream Corps University of Toronto Chapter speed dating mixer as they celebrate the start of Reading Week. Situated in O’Grady’s Pub and Grill, the participants eagerly waited for the emcees three minute announcement as they rotate to meet new friends, with cell phones and blackberries in hand, ready to take down the numbers and emails of potential dates. As the event progressed, the participants are happily enjoying their conversations, ranging from wine tastings to Dream Corps! In fact, the speed dating process went so well that we had to cancel our salsa dance session that was originally scheduled at the end of the event!
Overall, the speed dating mixer was a great success, with over CAD$200 raised in two hours, despite the many speed dating events that were crammed in the same week. Many participants who expressed interest in Dream Corps’s volunteer program and fundraising events, so we definitely look forward to U of T Chapter events and speed dating mixers in the future!
On the night of January 19th, 2010, the McGill University Chapter hosted a screening of the documentary "Up the Yangtze", followed by a Q and A session with the Chinese-Canadian director Yung Chang.
One by one, the lights by the sluice gate turned on. Their reflection danced off the surface of a calm river, the mythical Yangtze, flowing steadily through the world's largest hydroelectric dam. Thus closed the documentary portraying the lives of those affected by the construction of the dam. As Yung approached the podium, he was welcomed by the applause of a full house audience in the Chemistry Department auditorium. More than 150 McGill students attended the event, a ninety minutes screening followed by an hour of discussion.
This free public film screening is the first in a series of events planned by the McGill University Chapter to increase the chapter's presence in the university community, in addition to fundraising and volunteer recruitment events.
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 .
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