Heifer International

Duration: Summer Season (~3 month commitment); Must arrive by May 17, 2009 thru August 17-29, 2009

Location: Rutland, Massachusetts

Position Title:  Full-time (residential) volunteer at a Learning Center

Housing: Housing will be provided with a willingness and ability to share housing (including room) with a diverse group of other Overlook Farm staff and participate in the household community including housekeeping chores.

For more information: http://www.heifer.org/overlook

Description: Interns will live in volunteer housing at a Learning Center with a three-month minimum and an 18 yr. old minimum and various positions, but all in some capacity are involved in Overlook's hunger & poverty education programs.  The Learning Center is located at Overlook Farm in Rutland, Massachusetts.

Qualifications:

• Good interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to work cooperatively with a wide range of people;
• Willingness to supervise groups of program participants during educational programming, work projects or livestock chores;
• Interest in education and issues concerning world poverty and sustainable development desirable;
• Ability to assist with work associated with Overlook Farm’s education programs, livestock, gardens, maintenance, construction and kitchen as the farm needs and your skills allow;
• Willing to work outdoors during inclement weather.
• Willingness to be cross-trained and assist in other farm areas when needed.

Funding:
Available through the Center for the Environment Summer Leadership Fellowship Program; see application instructions.  Also, Heifer International provides a Cost of Living Reimbursement of $400 per month and there are occasional Americorps opportunities available.

Requirements:
Applicants must be 18+ years old and must fill out Heifer application as well as MHC Universal Application.  Heifer also requires the completion of authorization forms for required background checks.   Overlook Farm requires participation in the two-week training program for the season – training for summer season 2009 is May 18-29.

About the Organization:

Heifer's Learning Centers

Heifer's Learning Centers, or “living classrooms,” offer tours, Global Village immersion experiences, single and multi-day educational programs, Service Learning events and more! Experiential, hands-on, interactive and fun – Heifer’s Learning Centers provide working examples of the type of sustainable agriculture we support around the world.  Many of the educational programs and farm operations are lead by volunteers.  Visit the Learning Centers and gain new understanding of the causes of hunger and poverty, and a renewed appreciation for the solutions Heifer provides.

Background

Heifer's Mission to End Hunger

Heifer envisions...
A world of communities living together in peace and equitably sharing the resources of a healthy planet.

Heifer’s mission is...
To work with communities to end hunger and poverty and to care for the earth.

Heifer's strategy is...
To “pass on the gift.” As people share their animals’ offspring with others – along with their knowledge, resources, and skills – an expanding network of hope, dignity, and self-reliance is created that reaches around the globe.

Heifer’s History:
This simple idea of giving families a source of food rather than short-term relief caught on and has continued for over 60 years. Today, millions of families in 128 countries have been given the gifts of self-reliance and hope.