MIFACIF Training and Resource Centre is full of biodiversity. Due to the lack of awareness matched by a rapid population growth, natural resources have been depleted much more quickly than expected. If this continues, communities may face devastating natural disasters such as soil erosion, landslides and a consequent outbreak of epidemics. MIFACIG therefore mobilizes environment and agroforestry volunteer program is one that revolves around giving awareness to the local people on the condition of the environment, or placing volunteers into an agroforestry project set up by a German organization. MIFACIG believes that the current state of the environment directly impacts one’s way of life and general well-being. Therefore, the current environment’s well-being is the people’s well-being.
You as a volunteer may partake in this program by letting MIFACIG place you in one of the rural areas, with a MIFACIG family. During your stay you will put together various activities, in the hopes of raising awareness on the issue of resources being depleted in the local community much quicker than expected, and the subsequent matter of sustainability. You may carry out this awareness campaign through drama productions, games, etc. If you work within us you may work under skilled MIFACIG farmers’ instructions, cultivating land and basically engaging in agroforestry. If you are an expert in agriculture (preferable,) you may even get a chance to set up a workshop for the farmers, in which you would be assuming authority and teaching essential techniques of agroforestry.
PROGRAM AT A GLANCE:
| Project: | Environment and Agroforestry |
|---|---|
| Start Dates: | 1st and 20th of each month |
| Language Requirements: | English or French |
| Food and Accommodation: | MIFACIF standard at hostel / host family |
| Key Activities: | Working at farm, teaching English to farmers'/ children/youths |
| Beneficiaries: | Disadvantaged farmers, Youths |
| Working Hours: | 4 to 5 hours a day / 6 days a week |
| Required Qualifications and Skills: | High School Diploma, passion to work for disadvantaged community, |
MIFACIG is full of biodiversity. Due to the lack of awareness matched by a rapid population growth, natural resources have been depleted much more quickly than expected. If this continues, communities may face devastating natural disasters such as soil erosion, landslides and a consequent outbreak of epidemics. MIFACIG therefore mobilizes people from home and abroad as Volunteers and Interns to make the community people aware of these impending issues in association with community based organizations and children clubs. In this program, volunteers / Interns will help to develop village and school profiles organizing meetings with school management committees, students, and community members, in an effort to identify the further needs of the school and the community.
Volunteers will identify their needs by using Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) tools i.e. community mapping, Focused Group Discussions, sorting and Ranking. In this way, volunteers are positively contributing because succeeding projects can thus be prioritized and developed through this process and the platform it has set. During their stay in the community, the volunteers can also organize many awareness raising activities to help promote the understanding of various environmental and developmental issues. Awareness campaigns are achieved through drama productions, rallies, stories, games and competitions.
This process has strengthened and empowered children's groups, Women Groups and youths. These activities cover environmental and sanitation campaigns, conservation campaigns, health issue campaigns, etc.
the volunteering opportunities with us include: working with farmers in their set farms; renovation of farms; Teaching English to farmers and their children.
Possible number of volunteer placements: maximum 4
Time period of placement: between June 2013 and November 2016
Length of placement: 3 weeks – 5 month (limitation by visa regulations)
Employment fields: Working on farm in an agroforestry project, teaching English to farmers and farmer’s youth.
Food and accommodation for volunteers:
- Accommodation will be in the MIFACIG Training and Resource Centre. MIFACIG have 17 self-contain rooms lodging facilities.
- Volunteers will get breakfast and dinner (or a comparable meal) and a snack for lunch in MIFACIG.