Volunteer with VSA

Change your scene and become a VSA Volunteer and share your experience, knowledge, and skills to transform the lives of many. Work with our partner organisation to create a fair future for all. 
 
VSA will organise and fund, flights, visas, insurance, accommodation, living allowance and utilities while on assignment. 

Please note VSA Volunteers must be a NZ citizen or permanent resident. 

Volunteering with VSA 
 
Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA) is not your typical volunteering agency, we are committed to building sustainable communities across the Pacific. If you’re an experienced Grand and Proposal writing mentor, looking for an extraordinary overseas experience in the Pacific to build into your field of expertise – working collaboratively with the Samoa Victim Support Group then read on, as we have an exciting opportunity in store for you!
 
Our Partner Organisation - Samoa Victim Support Group.
Samoa Victim Support Group (SVSG) is a proactive non-governmental organisation (NGO) established in Samoa in 2005. It was set up by young volunteers who were working as Prosecutors within the Attorney
General’s Office and realised that daily they were dealing with victims of sexual crimes.

The young volunteers saw that there was no place of refuge, nor support for the victims. The volunteers’ compassion for the victims led to them approaching ex-police officers and members of the criminal team at the
Attorney General’s Office, to collaborate to establish a community group that could support and counsel victims. Hence the inception of SVSG almost 20 years ago.

After 19 years of hard labour by the SVSG staff and local volunteers, the services they offer have expanded, and the organization has gained the trust of the community. SVSG has worked very hard to raise awareness throughout all of Samoa and to encourage people to address these difficult and sensitive issues pertaining to sexual crimes and abuse and neglect in general.

The Assignment
This assignment is a partnership assignment between VSA and the Samoa Victim Support Group.

In this assignment a VSA Volunteer will work with the SVSG Communications Division (CD). This role and skills are crucial to the sustainability of the SVSG support services.

The VSA Volunteer will provide support and assist in building capacity in significantly researching and exploring the right financial pathways, where proposals can be submitted for financial assistance, which will enable SVSG to fulfil and deliver its vision of “Caring for children, supporting victims and uplifting the vulnerable”.

The Volunteer

Are you someone who wants to make a difference, have a sense of adventure and like the challenge of being outside your comfort zone?  VSA Volunteers are technical experts who impart their skills and knowledge to the local community. You will need to be flexible, adaptable, resourceful, resilient with a passion for Aotearoa and the wider Pacific community.

We're looking for a volunteer with the following:

•  Minimum of 3-5 years’ experience in grant / proposal writing and general fundraising.
•   Knowledge and experience of grant proposal application processes (preferably in the international development environment)
•  Demonstrated ability to synthesize information and data from various sources, and create tailored, compelling, engaging, and winning proposals.
• Strong editing and persuasive writing skills
• Proven ability to communicate, collaborate, and work effectively with cross-cultural teams at all levels (both internally and externally)

Desirable: 
• Work experience in international development
• Ability to train others in a diverse and multi-cultural environment
• Project management, partnership, and stakeholder management skills

The Country

Samoa, is situated in the South Pacific approximately halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand. It sits squarely in the cyclone belt and is highly vulnerable to devastating storms. Around three-quarters of its 195,000 population live on the main island of Upolu; the rest live on the neighbouring island of Savai'i or one of the seven small islets.
The traditional Samoan way, the fa’a Samoa, remains a strong force in Samoan life and politics where family is all-important, and elders are highly respected.
  
Each village is made up of extended families that are represented on the village council by a chief (matai). The more western-style parliamentary system in Samoa is highly influenced by traditional social systems and the family, civic and political duties performed by the matai at village level. The country is predominantly Christian.
  

Apply Now!

Apply for this amazing opportunity through our website. For more information on this assignment, email volunteer@vsa.org.nz.


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We are looking for a volunteer with:

• 12-month full time volunteering assignment based in Samoa
• Flights, accommodation and other expenses covered by VSA
• Make an impact on the local community.