About the Organization

Pathways to Development

Pathways to Development (Pathways), is a local non-governmental, non-religious, non-profit organization which started under the name of Project Aids Khmer (PAK) in 2003 by a dedicated group of Khmer in Cambodia, Khmer Americans and Americans in Rhode Island. Since its inception, the organization has been working very closely with and supporting orphaned and vulnerable children who are at-risk of separating from their birth families. Pathways is based in Phnom Penh and has a branch office in Takeo Province, where a Provincial Coordinator and dedicated community outreach volunteers implement various family preservation activities. The organization has been able to provide support and build the capacity of the target community in the areas of child rights, livelihood development including home gardening and animal raising, non-formal education including English language for children, and health education. Pathways also implements a rice bank and small scale micro-credit program. With the support of Holt International Children’s Services and a Korean non-governmental organization, Pathways is working in 6 communes with 278 children from the most vulnerable families. Read more about Pathways to Development on their website.

Holt International

Holt International Children’s Services partners with Pathways on their programming and provides financial and technical support to their programs. Interns going to Pathways will be working with a Holt program manager (based in Eugene, OR) in preparation for and throughout the internship. Please read about Holt below:

In October 1955, responding to the plight of homeless children orphaned by the Korean War, Harry and Bertha Holt adopted eight mixed raced children from Korea (it took an Act of the U.S. Congress to allow this) and brought them home to Creswell, a small town in Oregon. It was a bold and courageous idea—children of one race and nationality being adopted by parents of another. From a simple act of love and compassion, Holt International Children’s Services has grown into an internationally recognized child welfare agency.

Holt International is dedicated to finding a permanent loving family for every child. Holt finds families for the world’s orphaned, abandoned and vulnerable children, using an ethical, child-centered approach. Holt helps build permanent, loving homes regardless of race, ethnicity or faith.

Holt accomplishes its mission through its international headquarters in Eugene, Oregon, six US branch offices, collaborative efforts with over 200 US-based cooperating social service agencies, and overseas Holt offices and partner agencies. Since its founding, Holt has united nearly 40,000 children with adoptive families in the United States, and helped hundreds of thousands more, through family preservation programs, foster care, single parent programs and domestic adoption, in 34 countries. In 2009, Holt served a total of 36,333 children, and found permanent placements (family reunification, family preservation, or domestic or international adoption) for 4,776 children. Learn more about Holt International here.

Job Description

The intern will have a unique opportunity to work with a grass-roots organization based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Pathways to Development, a non-profit organization, has partnered with Holt International Children’s Services for the last five years. Pathways is an independent entity that receives funding and technical support from Holt. Pathways provides a variety of services to vulnerable families in the rural Province of Takeo. They have a committed group of staff members, volunteers and Board members who want to grow the organization to serve more children and families. This position is designed to provide general support to the organization as it grows, assisting in improving the quality of programs and expanding awareness raising and funding opportunities.

Pathways has a small office of three staff members in Phnom Penh, along with a Provincial Coordinator based in a field office in Takeo Province. At this point in its evolution, the organization would benefit from the contribution of a native English speaking intern who can assist with grant writing, fund development, report writing and the development of public relations material to be used by Holt International. In addition, the intern will assist with two key areas: the roll-out of the Child Management System and the community outreach worker program.

Holt International Children’s Services is working with partners around the world to implement a new system of child sponsorship reporting. The intern will support local Cambodian staff in the use of the new sponsorship database, called the Child Management System, and help to improve the quality and timeliness of reporting. Training can be provided in Eugene on the Child Management System prior to departure.

The intern will also lead an analysis of the existing system of recruitment, training and support for community outreach workers. Pathways currently supports thirteen community outreach workers who are critical in the dissemination of information at the community level. Outreach workers provide education and messages about nutrition, hygiene, water and sanitation. The intern will work closely with the Pathways staff to document the current system of recruitment, training and support, and then work with the staff to develop recommendations for improving the structure and support system in place for these volunteers. If time allows, the intern will assist in establishing training materials and resources for outreach workers.

The intern will be supervised by the Executive Director of Pathways, with some additional support from the Program Director for South & Southeast Asia at Holt International Children’s Services based in Eugene, Oregon. A one-day orientation to Holt International will be possible prior to departure.

This internship will be a good fit for a mature, independent, and self-motivated individual who is interested in learning more about international development and non-profit administration in an international context. Effective interpersonal communication skills are critical. The intern will need to take a pro-active approach and work closely with his/her Cambodian colleagues.

Duties and Responsibilities:
• Represent Pathways to external entities in a professional manner
• Work cooperatively with staff, community outreach workers and relevant stakeholders to enhance the impact of Pathway’s programs
• Gather information, analyze and make recommendations to improve the community outreach worker program
• Assist in implementing new methods of support and training for community outreach workers
• Grant proposal research and preparation
• Case management support, including the completion of written sponsorship reports and assessments
• Assist the staff in Cambodia to utilize the new Holt database for child sponsorship reports
• Contribute to the promotion of Pathways work by writing articles and blog entries for Holt International to use in publications
• Other duties as assigned

Read about an intern's recent experience through her blog post for Holt International.

# of Positions per term

1

Start Dates

any time

Duration of Internship

3-12 months

Academic Background

Required: Undergraduate course work in Social Work, Psychology, Community Development or Non-Profit Administration is helpful. Intern should have basic knowledge and understanding of international development, non-profit administration and community development. Intern must have some basic understanding of Cambodian society and culture, though this can be learned prior to departure through independent research. Maturity, independence and flexibility are critical.

Skills/Experience

Preferred: Experience in working with a non-profit agency or non-governmental organization would be an asset. Previous travel or work experience in Southeast Asia preferred. Experience working with people from other cultures is an asset.

Language Ability

The people in the office speak English and it is preferred that the intern is a native English speaker. However, knowledge of Khmer is useful for working and living in Cambodia.

Other Requirements

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.
ALL ESTIMATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

IE₃ Program Fee

The IE₃ program fee is $3450 for the first term for both in-state and out-of-state students and $1000 for each additional term, regardless of credit earned. You do not pay tuition for the term(s) you are abroad. Visit your University's IE₃ page for details, costs for additional terms, and campus administrative fees.

Estimated One-Time Expenses

Expense Type	Price
International Travel	Approximately $1500
Visa Fees	$25 per month
Recommended Immunizations	$600

*See Additional Cost Information below.

Estimated Monthly Expenses

Expense Type	Price/month
Housing	$250-500
Food	$200
Local Transportation	$75
Recreation	$100
Personal Expenses	$50

Compensation

$300 per month stipend will be provided.

Additional Expense Information

Please not that these estimated expenses are contingent upon the intern's purchasing habits, lifestyle, and subject to change with the economy.

Read about an intern's recent experience in her report:Falltermreport_2011.pdf

Read her blog post for Holt International or Lauren's final blog post here.

Visit the Pathways to Development website.

Holt International Children’s Services website.

Lonely Planet Guide to Cambodia

CIA World Factbook

US Department of State

Suggested websites on Angkor:
http://www.historyangkor.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angkor
http://www.travel-cambodia.com/cam-travel-info/history_angkor.htm

Suggested reading on Khmer Rouge: The Gate by Francois Bizot River of Time by Jon Swain
Suggested newspapers: The Cambodia Daily, The Phnom Penh Post

Field Notes Postings:

A Heartfelt Encounter in Cambodia by Lauren Fletcher: an Oregon State University student interning with Pathways to Development in Cambodia. (September 15, 2011)