TakingITGlobal Nigeria’s call for CLCWAVolunteer outreach State Coordinators (Volunteer position Description)

Project Background
Creating Local Connections West-Africa’s mission is to realize the great potential of youth as development actors though the use of information and communication technologies. The initial phase will be running for 12 months and this, in 5 West African countries: Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia.

The project’s main objective is to focus on increasing the level of issue awareness, engagement and empowerment within the West African youth community. It wants to get youth to become more inspired, informed, involved and overall, recognized actors, within their local, national and international communities.

For this, the project has divided its efforts into 4 distinct but interrelated online and offline activity components; peer-led ICT capacity building and training of trainers activities, national and regional networking, promoting and supporting activities of youth-led/oriented initiatives, individuals and opportunities, monthly youth award processes and ongoing ICT connectivity research and advocacy.

Creating Local Connections is a TakingITGlobal international youth organization initiative that has already been successfully implemented in both Russia in 2004 and Canada in 2005/06. Although its activities, objectives an expected outcomes are adapted to local reality, thus different, CLCWA is running along the same mission as its 2 past implementations: Empower youth though the use of technologies.

Volunteer Outreach State Coordinators. This core team is ultimately responsible for the implementation and delivery of the CLCWA Nigeria program in their various states.

CLCWA Volunteer State Coordinators

• The State outreach coordinators are representatives of their respective youth communities, aimed at strengthening and supporting the CLCWA reach through local outreach initiatives.
• Each volunteer outreach State coordinator will be well supported by the CLCWA National Project Coordinator through technical advice on the project delivery and fundraising techniques.
• State Coordinators will be provided with all related CLCWA project documents after they have been accepted to enable them solicit for support for his/her project.
• Each coordinator is free to select his/her own project implementation team in his/her own locality.

Core Responsibilities

Offline Engagement:

• Represent CLCWA at conferences and events in his locality/community
• Coordinate and facilitate Open Forums on relevant local issues in schools, community centres, libraries and other relevant venues in conjunction with partner organizations
• Coordinate CLCWA activities in his community-, which includes ICT capacity building, Regional networking of Youths, Youth awards and connectivity research.
• Liaise with stakeholders, form partnership, and source for support in kind or otherwise to enable him/her host CLCWA activities in his community.
• Making presentations and workshops for youth groups on how to leverage TakingITGlobal’s online tools
• Ability to travel within his state

Network Development:
• Maintain partnerships will local and national CLCWA partner organizations
• Continual support of local youth serving organizations in the way of web-based and issue-based capacity building workshops
• Create linkages and facilitate collaboration amongst locally-based and regionally-based organizations to further cultivation of local networks

Team Communications:
• Maintain communications with the local implementation organization Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN), National Project Coordinator, and submit progress reports on a monthly basis to the National Coordinator.
• Ensure attendance in monthly conference online chat with the CLCWA National Project Coordinator.
• Share ongoing progress and experiences with the CLCWA team and broader TakingITGlobal community via the CLCWA Nigeria Project Page.


Online Engagement:
• Responsible for the regional/state versions of the website, which includes adding content such as local events and opportunities listings, and strengthening the online database of youth serving organizations.
• Create and contribute submissions for the monthly newsletters (offline/ online). Promote, and send monthly newsletters to local youth organizations in order to encourage collaborations between local youth groups and share information and resources that are locally relevant.


• Related Skills and Experiences
• Applicants 25 years and under preferred
• Strong knowledge and experience in resident youth community development
•Advanced presentation and facilitation skills
• Understanding of and experience using online community tools
• Experience in liaising with youth organizations and other stakeholders in youth development and must have passion for youth development.
• An understanding of context and key issues in region/state and youth sector in Nigeria
• Self-motivated and highly organized, ability to multitask and meet tight deadlines
• Ability to take initiative, and work well in team setting

Application Procedure

• Please submit a resume and cover letter to nigeria@takingitglobal.org
• Must be available to participate in virtual team orientation during the first two weeks of July.
• For more information please contact: Jerry Nwigwe at nigeria@takingitglobal.org or (+234) -8036720776.






About TakingITGlobal:

TakingITGlobal is an international organization - led by youth and empowered by technology. TakingITGlobal inspires, informs and involves young people around the world to create positive change in their local and global communities. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, with a growing worldwide presence, the organization's flagship program is TakingITGlobal.org, the most popular online community for young people interested in connecting across cultures and making a difference, with hundreds of thousands of visitors each month.

TakingITGlobal also works with partners – from UN agencies, to major companies and youth organizations –to build the capacity of youth as leaders and stakeholders in their communities; to facilitate cross cultural dialogue and understanding; and to increase action and awareness among youth around global issues. We achieve this through supporting youth artistic expression through multi-media, working to create more engaging formal education, and involving young people in global decision-making.


Why Volunteer at TakingITGlobal CLCWA project??** (Volunteer Positions)
Description
People often choose to volunteer their time at TakingITGlobal for the following reasons:

Improve skills: Staff at TakingITGlobal improve a broad range of skills including various types of web development, design, marketing, evaluation and surveys, fundraising, writing, editing, and strategy. This project provides a good platform to improve and learn new skills due to the varied range of activities, and the opportunity to learn from others as you network.

Gain work experience: As a youth-run organization, TakingITGlobal is often the first or second ‘career-related’ experience for its staff and volunteers. This experience can be particularly valuable, considering that (due to constant growth; and most people being relatively new or on the same level of seniority) positions are generally both challenging and ‘senior’. Our reputation is growing and may be respected by future employers, and TakingITGlobal’s collaborative nature and opportunities for travel and representation mean volunteers may grow a solid professional network.

Make a difference: TakingITGlobal’s mission is essentially altruistic, and team members have the opportunity to put their skills and energy to volunteer for a ‘non-profit’, ‘good cause’. Volunteers can get a thrill out of the ‘cutting edge’ nature of TakingITGlobal’s work, the clear growth in our reach, and the positive feedback provided by members and partners.