Climate Farming Assistant

This programme targets Historically Marginalised People which; is traditional forest dwellers living on hunting and fruits gathering which; unfortunately is not possible in Rwanda following their eviction from their dwells for the creation of national parks. The Climate Farming programme aims at providing them with basic knowledge, skills and facility necessary for them to adopt farming as an alternative source of living through Climate Smart Agriculture. 

This programme involves among others the development of Small livestock whereby volunteers help in building hutches and distributing livestock as well as helping in their management, Soil protection by promoting anti-erosive practices such as tree planting and water catchment, farming including propagating innovative techniques, cultivating and crop management, seeds selection and multiplication and management, the development of family gardens as well as on farm learning and practicum for students and researchers and any other intervention related to climate farming resilience. 

Volunteer for this programme will be working with local beneficiaries and Partners For Conservation field staff including (Project Manager, and Technicians) and other stakeholders including conservation and development agencies as well as the local authorities. In order to provide volunteers with many opportunities to learn and contribute to community conservation efforts in Rwanda, volunteers are elected to join the team that represents Partners For Conservation in functions, meetings and other conservation gathering.

A day as a volunteer varies on a daily basis. However, Partners For Conservation ensures volunteer intervention supports the necessary need and where a volunteer is happy to intervene.  Partners For Conservation supports volunteer’s intervention by providing a comprehensive team involving among others a driver (where necessary), a local interpreter and senior officer/ project manager.  This is key to ensure there’s excellent communication on and off the field for a successful intervention and teamwork.

Working days are Mondays to Fridays. Except Mondays which; is a planning and evaluation meetings, the rest of the days are reserved for field works. Field works start by 8:00am to 2:00pm. Partners For Conservation respects days- off and weekends. Volunteers staying for over 6 months are entitled to a leave of 10 days in conformity of the local labor law.

Here are some key activities that a volunteer can expect from this programme:

• Small livestock development by helping in the construction of hutches, rearing and managing the small livestock 
  
• Support soil protection efforts including the develop anti-erosion practices, fixing water catchment, tree planting
  
• Promote Climate Smart Agriculture through Farming (cultivating, planting, crop and seeds management, harvesting  etc)
  
• Promote family gardens development
  
• On farm learning and practicum  (livestock  and farming )

Volunteer can join this programme at any time throughout the year as dictated by the farming seasons in Rwanda. On arrival, Partners For Conservation organizes a shuttle to pick up the volunteer at the airport (the organisation also provides a shuttle to drop the volunteer at the end of the volunteering). Upon arrival at PFC HQs and introduction to the staff, a volunteer is given a week for cultural immersion after which he’s introduced to the field and partners including beneficiaries and local authorities of where the activities are located. During the cultural immersion programme, the volunteer assisted by a personal interpreter visits important places in the area such as markets, recreation places etc and is introduced to the ways of living of Rwandans.

A volunteer is free agent on the free, public day and on leave. However, volunteers are required to follow rules provided by where they stay this implies that they are called to communicate about their time in and out of the lodge for example. Partners For Conservation recommends the best activities based to those available in and around the town although volunteers are free to choose according to their preferences. For volunteers looking to travel away from their bases (for holidays for example,) they’re requested to dully fill annual leave application forms available at Partners For Conservation. Volunteers are free to do whatever they want except political activities.