Internship Description

About the Organization:
This site has been reopened to applicants for winter term 2009 and beyond.

The East African Center for the Empowerment of Women and Children (EAC) is a non-profit organization committed to assisting communities to achieve empowerment through adult and child literacy programs, health education and poverty eradication projects.

The EAC recognizes that much of the monetary and general assistance that is currently available in East Africa is either not plentiful enough to make a significant impact in dealing with the complex issues related to economic, social and resource development, or is not efficiently utilized. Either way, populations of many villages often have extremely limited access to potentially beneficial information, resources and services. The EAC aims to connect health education, general education and poverty eradication information and services to women and children in villages throughout East Africa.

How will the EAC accomplish this? The information and services offered will be organized in small, inexpensive, largely community-operated resource centers. We believe that by offering sites that are close to, or right in, the villages, we will increase the populations’ ability to access and utilize the information and services they request. Also, where many other organizations may launch short-term campaigns, each of the EAC's resource centers will become a permanent fixture in the community, much like a shop or a library. The only change over time will be a general increase in both the amount of information available and the number of services offered.

Local Activities:

Specifically, the EAC is fulfilling its mission through developing and/or offering programs in the following three areas:

Health Education and Care
• Providing a library at the Center offering extensive general health information.
• Offering weekly public health lectures focusing on a variety of topics but including a significant HIV/AIDS component
• Developing an education program for youth on HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, violence and family planning
• Creating drama productions with local youth, which address various health topics.
•The EAC health clinic offers services including reproductive health, HIV/AIDS education, treatment and counseling, pre and postnatal care, nutrition information, immunization, early child care, and general treatment of malaria, typhoid, diarrhea among others.
•The community health worker program organizes and trains a group local people in basic health care who then go out to the communities to talk about HIV/AIDS prevention, care ,treatment and prevention, nutrition, immunization and refer those who are sick to the health clinic.

General Education
• Providing adult education classes at the Center to increase the literacy rate in the region. (An estimated 3 of 20 women in the area are literate)
• Providing a nursery and primary school at the Center.
• Offering opportunities for cultural sharing and technological education through the Technology for Youth Program.
• Offering after school tutoring at the Center.
• Provide a platform for foreigners to learn from local residents and vice versa through offering international volunteer opportunities through our partnership with the Come Kuona international volunteer program.

Poverty Eradication
•EAC runs, together with the local women, a sewing and manufacturing program which produces the "Takaungu" label as part of its poverty eradication program. Women are taught basic tailoring skills which can be used for the establishment of their own business or work in the production of the fabulous "Takaungu" label. EAC believes business ownership/economic independence is one of the most effective ways for women to achieve social and economic justice. It also increases their self esteem and improves the health and basic survival of a family through increased access to food, housing, health andeducation.
• Running the Farmer’s Field School which educates local men and women on higher yield farming techniques in order to encourage marketing of their products.
• Provide bi-monthly business skills training classes at the Center.

Job Description:

Interns will work on existing programs in health education, general education or poverty eradication. There is a daily nursery school, adult education classes, after-school tutoring, and projects designed to generate income for the residents of local villages including a sewing club, a field school for farmers, and informal business advising.

Interns with accounting and business skills are also needed to work alongside the EAC CPA in preparing budgets, financial statements, bookkeeping and auditing. Students with business skills may also work with the sewing program, on product and business development and marketing.

Interns can work on many of these projects or specialize in an area of their interest. Research or focal areas may also be proposed in the application process.

Additional Information:

http://www.eastafricancenter.org

See documentaries of EAC's programs at their YouTube page:
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=eastafricancenter

Orientation to Takaungu and Kenyan culture, the internship site, and safety issues will be provided for interns upon arrival by local project coordinators.

Takaungu is within an hour of both Mombasa and Malindi, large cities with all amenities and tourism opportunities.

Start Date:
any academic term

Duration:
3-6 months

Number of Positions:
4 per term

Intern Qualifications

Academic Background:

Students with an academic or professional focus in international and/or sustainable development are ideal for this position. Possible majors and areas of interest include social work, women’s studies, child development, family health studies, international studies, public health, health education, education, micro-credit, horticulture/permaculture, architecture, non-profit management, business, accountancy, and other training, strategies and skills aimed at facilitating rural community development.

Skills/Experience:
Applicants must clearly identify any practical or academic training in international or sustainable development in their application.

Language Requirement:
None.

Other Requirements:
Internship applicants must have some demonstrated previous experience (intern, volunteer, employment, etc.) with a local or international community development organization, articulated in a reference letter submitted by the supervisor. Previous experience living abroad is highly recommended.

Internship Costs

Program Fees:
The program fee includes tuition, internship site development and placement, pre-departure orientation, international health insurance, internship monitoring and follow-up.
Click here for application information, including the program fee, for your school.
Note: The program fee does not include airfare, housing, living expenses or any other estimated costs noted below.

Budget Note: In addition to the IE3 program fee (see IE3 Application Information), EAC also requires a fee for accommodation and support in Kenya. This charge is $160/week for accommodation, three meals a day (when you’re at site), airport pick-up, orientation to the site, and daily supervision of your internship activities. Thus, as 10-week internship is $1600, a 12-week internship is $1920, and a 24-week internship is $3840.

Students who have participated in Africa internships have suggested that interns may want to bring additional money so that they may participate more in uniquely African activities, such as visits to game parks, buying local clothing and crafts, contributing to local organizations, and bringing home gifts for friends and family. Therefore, depending on your interests, you may want to budget additional funds.

Note:
Any financial or in-kind support provided by the host organization is explicitly indicated.

Compensation:
None.

Accommodation:
Accommodation is with local host families in the community near the EAC compound.

International Travel:
Approximately $2200 from Portland to Mombasa.

Cost of Living:
Budget an additional $100-$200 per month for personal supplies (postage, internet cafes, phone cards, toiletries, etc.), and personal recreation, travel and tourism.

Budget Note:
Applicants should use these estimates for preliminary budgeting purposes.
IE3 will issue an official budget after acceptance by the host organization.

Application Information

Academic Credit:
Up to 12 credits available as per arrangement with supervising department.

Application Materials:
IE3 is a program of the Oregon University System.
Students from participating partner universities are also eligible to apply.
Click here for application information and select your school from the list.

Created/Revised:11/29/2007