Street Outreach and Pre-school Coordinator

Rescate de Calle (Rescate) aims to restore and promote the fulfilment of rights for vulnerable and working children and adolescents in Quito's poorest market sectors. The program identifies and analyzes specific sectors of the city where there are at-risk and vulnerable girls, boys and adolescent workers, with the goal to place them in the various educational programs offered by the organization or other educational institutions. The program currently operates in Quito's Chiriyacu-Camal and San Roque markets.

Although child labour is an everyday occurrence in Quito, we believe that not all "everyday" occurrences in society are justified. RESCATE´s social workers coordinate with other institutions to build awareness of the harmfulness of child labour. They also educate parents on themes of fair treatment to initiate changes in familial relations that ensure the wellbeing of all family members.

Many children spend the whole day accompanying their parents or working in the markets. Often they do not receive the attention or intellectual stimulation necessary to develop socially and mentally as fast as their non-working peers. RESCATE provides informal pre-school education that prepares 3 -5 year olds for their entrance into formal schooling and prevents them from becoming child workers. Our service focuses on motor skills, instruction on education basics such as learning colors and numbers, and development of good hygiene habits. A team of 10 – 15 volunteers along with paid Ecuadorian staff provide this service.

Overview:

As the Rescate Street Outreach Coordinator, you will partner with Ecuadorian social workers in coordinating the activities of the pre-school program and fostering interaction with the families of at-risk and working children. This is a great opportunity for those interested in working with children and learning about the social and economic challenges of disadvantaged indigenous and mestizo communities.

Responsibilities:

• Supervise and motivate a team of 4-5 volunteers in the pre-school education program and participate in daily activities as needed.
• Maintain communication among the staff and volunteers, and refer any concerns about a child's safety and well-being to CENIT's Health Services and Social Work Departments.
• Accompany, visit and support families in the orientation of services that are offered by CENIT and other institutions.
• Assist social worker with relevant tasks, including research of resources for the beneficiary population, analysis of case notes and program archives, paperwork completion and the application of technical instruments.
• Systemize the process for the tracking and analysis of cases and develop methods to retain institutional knowledge.
• Plan and execute games and cultural activities for children, adolescents and their families in the markets.
• Ensure all aspects of the program are planned, cohesive and implemented effectively.

Qualifications:

• Undergraduate degree in social work, psychology, education, international relations or related social science field.
• Minimum commitment of 6 months; 1 year preferred.
• Intermediate Spanish required; advanced Spanish preferred.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a team to motivate volunteers
• Strong organizational and cross-cultural communication skills.
• Good empathy and listening skills
• Strong level of commitment to working with disadvantaged and low-income populations.
• Experience working with children.

Costs:

We ask each volunteer for a one-time contribution of $100. In exchange, you will receive daily lunch, a CENIT T-shirt and the support of a full-time volunteer coordinator. Your contribution also supports the administrative costs of the volunteer office and the sustainability of our programs.