About the Organization

The Cabrini Missionary Sisters have been serving at St. Philip's Mission in the low veld region of Swaziland since 1971. Today, they continue to serve at the mission running the health care services, the outreaches, and boarding hostels, as well as teaching in the school and providing skills training. In recent years, efforts have been made to respond to the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Swaziland by expanding their services to include:

Cabrini Hostel - established to care for the high rate of children orphaned by AIDS. Many of the children are compromised by malnutrition and chronic conditions such as TB and kidney disease.

Agriculture - In 2005, Cabrini Ministries established an agricultural project. This project provides water for about 100 local residents and irrigation for small gardens. It also provides food for over 1000 HIV and AIDS patients as well as supplementing the diets for 140 orphans in residential care.

Home Based Care - The Home Based Care program focuses on caring for the sick and dying at their homesteads; testing for HIV; helping people begin treatment, disease management, transporting people to the hospital, treatment of opportunistic infections and community health education .

Education - The educational program began over fifteen years ago when it was discovered that many children in the homesteads were not in school and their families could not afford to send them. With the assistance of the Swiss based Solon Foundation, once the children are on the foundation grant, their education is guaranteed through 7th grade if they pass. This increases their chances for individualized growth and better employment opportunities. In addition there is an educational enhancement program that is part of the orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) residential care program that tracks the children according to age and ability.

Job Description

Duties and job description would be tailored depending on the specific education, experience, and skills of the Intern. Interns will work in one of three areas of the Mission: the Cabrini Hostel and School, Special Management Projects, or Agricultural Programs. Regardless of their assignment, it is the expectation of Cabrini Ministries that, through their work, internship will share their skills and professional abilities with their Swazi staff counterparts.

Cabrini Hostel and School – Jobs will be tailored for specific skills and training of the intern but may include:
• Tutoring children in small groups or individually as needed
• Helping to coordinate interdisciplinary team case management of children
• Helping to develop and implement individualized residential care plans
• Helping to further develop, implement and oversee a program of Life Skill Trainings
• Mentoring, guiding, nurturing and assisting children with daily activities
• Helping to develop in-service training for paraprofessional and unskilled staff
• Providing administrative assistance to the hostel department

Special Projects – Assist with the daily operations and management of the mission, and special projects as needed. Examples of some possible tasks include:
• Grant management, reporting, measurement and evaluation
• Data management and creation of a database system to track productivity and program effectiveness within departments
• Development of public relations materials
• Liaising with media, visiting donors, and short term volunteers
• Helping to develop management policies, procedures and instruments of measurement/ accountability.
• Working with the Executive Director and Executive team regarding relationships with partners in Swaziland regarding HIV/AIDS policy and delivery of services.
• Helping to develop skills of local staff and role model work ethic and productivity.
• General administration tasks such as typing, filing, answering phone and assuring flow of information throughout the organization, aligning policy with practice

Agriculture Programs - Cabrini Ministries farms about 6 hectares (12 acres of land) to produce vegetables as nutritional supplements for HIV/AIDS patients and for orphaned children. We receive technical support from a USAID non-for profit organization called Techno-Serve. Food is an integral part of a healthy living plan for people who have HIV. Yet because of the ongoing effects of the drought of 1992 and very low rain fall throughout the subsequent years, a people who once supported themselves with subsistence farming are no longer able to do so. Interns with expertise in this area may assist in projects designed to raise crops, increase productivity, lower costs and to find viable markets for produce in excess of the need of our 1200 patients and 250 children.

# of Positions per term

Usually one or two

Start Dates

All terms.  Fall term interns must finish by early December and Winter term interns must start mid-January.

Duration of Internship

Minimum of ten weeks, maximum of six months

Academic Background

Relevant academic backgrounds include communications/IT, social work, education, accounting, non-profit management, public health and health education

Skills/Experience

Interns must show initiative and be self-starters.
A driver’s license and ability to drive a standard shift car are preferred but not required.

Language Ability

SiSwati is the national language and spoken by everyone, but for the period of time that interns will be in Swaziland, it is not realistic to expect that they can become proficient in siSwati.

In the rural area where Cabrini Ministries is situated, very few people have more than 2-3 years of education, thus it is the only language spoken by the vast majority of the people the Ministries serve. Although the consumers of Cabrini’s services speak only siSwati, the organization functions in a donor, policy, and practice field that demands English. Because Cabrini Ministries prioritizes hiring practices that favor the employment of the local people and helping them to develop marketable skills in the larger job market, one of the great assets that an intern brings is proficiency in English.

Other Requirements

Interns must be prepared to live in a rural location. While the living facilities are comfortable and relatively modern, the Mission is located fifty miles from the nearest city over dirt roads. The work is stimulating, but outside of work hours, social life is quiet and somewhat limited.
While interns need not share the religious beliefs of the Mission, they must be prepared to live according to the values of the Mission throughout their time in Swaziland.

Total costs vary depending on how long you plan to be abroad, where you will be living, your personal spending habits, and current exchange rates. The following estimates will give you a ballpark figure for this internship. Get help with the math from our handy Cost Calculator.

IE₃ Program Fee

The program fee* for the first term of any internship is $2950 - $3150. You do not pay tuition in addition to the program fee. Visit your University's IE₃ page for details, costs for additional terms, and campus administrative fees.

*The program fee noted above reflects the anticipated fee increase that will go into effect for the Fall 2010 term and will apply to all terms thereafter.

Estimated One-Time Expenses

Expense Type	Price
International Travel	Round trip airfare from Portland to Manzini is approximately $2000.
Visa Fees
Recommended Immunizations	Approximately $440

*See Additional Cost Information below.

Estimated Monthly Expenses

Expense Type	Price/month
Housing	Provided by Cabrini MInistries
Food	Provided by Cabrini
Local Transportation	Approximately $50/month
Recreation	Approximately $50/month
Personal Expenses	Approximately $50/month

Compensation

While there is no monetary compensation, interns will be provided housing and meals at the Mission. Transport from the airport will also be provided.