NGO Management and Administration

About the Project

This versatile experience and observation program gives insight into all aspects of running the Aldeas de Paz Foundation. This program is focused on those who are interested in starting their own charity or want hands-on experience in working in an NGO. 

The NGO Administration volunteers and interns observe and assist the coordinator with office work, as well as in-community project support and administrative work and the coordination and supervision of community programs. The NGO volunteers will also help to ensure the well-being of our volunteers and their full integration into various programs offered, as well as into the social life of the community. The foundation relies on NGO volunteers to ensure smooth operations and therefore requires flexible volunteers. Direct work with our primary beneficiaries is an essential part of the work of Aldeas de Paz so that the NGO volunteers are also expected to participate in foundation-wide events and activities involving our beneficiaries.

Your time at Aldeas de Paz
This program can be booked as volunteer placement or as internship. Most of our participants join as volunteers and are free to commit from between 12 to 40 hours per week. Thats up to you! As an intern however you probably have to fulfil requirements set by your school or university. Please let us know your school or universities internship requirements in advance so that we can work out your personalised work plan together. Also inform us about your personal goals and expectations and we will see how we can help you to achieve them! We expect our volunteers and interns to dedicate a minimum of three hours/ four days per week and a maximum of eight hours/five days per week working in their respective programs.

Requirements 
No previous experience or special skills are required. A typical candidate needs to be enthusiastic, self-reliant, willing to learn, ready for a challenge and has to have an open mind and the desire to take initiative. Friendliness, care, commitment, and patience are among important qualities. The ideal volunteer would have a passion for development aid, some experience and a desire to help other volunteers to have a great stay with us. Activities that a volunteer can participate in are entirely dependent on motivation and previous experience. Staff and other volunteers as a team will support the participant. Basic conversational Spanish is very helpful for some activities but even without knowledge of the Spanish language, there is lots of work to do. To enable deeper integration into the community we provide free Spanish classes every week on a regular basis, full support and 24/7 backup. We ask you to bring your laptop as well as a pen drive with you as flexibility regarding your working environment is necessary.

The longer you stay, the less you pay!
Aldeas de Paz works hard to keep the required financial contribution to an absolute minimum and to offer financial transparency by practicing an open book policy. The calculation of your financial contribution or donation is set up so that the longer you stay the less you give per week. We do this to encourage longer stays, recognising that longer stays lead to more significant volunteer work and more energy contributed in the form of donated time in place of money! We are a registered tax exempted charity and all monetary contributions are referred to as donation since what you pay is generally 100% tax-deductible for you. Speak with your tax adviser to learn how the cost of international airfare can be tax-deductible as well. Please also read our Terms & Conditions. Check out how your donation is spent, and read our Financial Reports.

Activities can include but are not limited to

• Assisting with the coordination of volunteers, including conducting meetings with the volunteers
  
• Supporting the day-to-day running of the NGO and attend meetings with local actors, authorities and community members
  
• Shadowing the director/coordinator in general administration and day-to-day tasks
  
• Working in financial accountability tasks such as financial planning and budgeting
  
• Attending frequent operational meetings to discuss events at the foundation
  
• Participating in and remain informed of all the foundation programs
  
• Assisting with updating social networks and the webpage
  
• Help promoting our cause online and practice fundraising through social media and grant writing
  
• Assisting board meetings, take useful meeting minutes and prepare reports
  
• Assisting with editing our monthly newsletter
  
• Helping with editing information and job descriptions and assist with updating listing opportunities and forward updated information to our international sending agents
  

Samana is the name of both the peninsula and its biggest town, as well as the bay to the south located in the northeastern part of the Dominican Republic. It is a dramatically beautiful peninsula, like an island unto itself, of coconut trees stretching into the sea.

The town of Samana is a scenic, beautiful and peaceful port, with friendly and easy-going Dominicans, living their life with tourism, agriculture and fishing activities, all set to the beat and rhythms of Merengue, Bachata and Salsa music. The newly renovated Malecon (seaside promenade) of two kilometers length is perfect for strolling by day and night. It is the perfect place to while away the evening in a relaxing atmosphere in one of the many surrounding restaurants and bars. Hundreds of fantastic beaches surround the peninsula of Samana, which can be explored during a day trip or for the whole weekend.

Las Galeras y El Rincon: A small fisherman's town with beautiful beaches surrounded by nature. Travel by Bus (45 minutes / US$ 2,-)

El Limón: Famous waterfall and swimming. Travel by Bus (20 minutes / US$ 1,50,-)

Cayo Levantado: Small Island with beautiful beaches just of the coastline in Samana. Travel by Boat (15 minutes / US$ 2,-)

Parque National de los Haiteses: Park made of mangroves, caves with ancient paintings and beautiful bays with pristine beaches. Magnificent limestone caves to explore. Travel by Boat 60 minutes / US$ 10,-

Playa El Valle: A small fisherman's settlement with a beautiful beach surrounded by pristine nature. Travel by Moto Concho (MotoTaxi) (20 Minutes / US$ 3,-)

There are famous Kitesurf beaches in Las Terrenas and Cabarete only an hour from Samana! The whole Peninsula of Samana is a Wild and precious natural gem! People are extremely friendly and the nature is gorgeous! From mid-January to late March the bay is home to to some of the world's best whale-watching.