Youth Development officer at Benimpuhwe

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT OFFICER AT RUNGANO-NDOTA INITIATIVE (RNI)

BACKGROUND

BENIMPUHWE is a local non-profit organization legally recognized in 1995. It is implementing various projects in 11 districts of Rwanda. The organization provides assistance to the vulnerable women, orphans and other vulnerable children and youth so as to improve their livelihood and sustain adequate living conditions.

BENIMPUHWE ORGANIZATION is implementing Rungano-Ndota project among others.

Project overview

This project was created by a Founding Team of 15 young leaders from Ruhango District. Our vision and effort catalyzed a new initiative that helps vulnerable youth develop as leaders and entrepreneurs, using an innovative experiential, community-building approach. In 2017 Rungano-Ndota Initiative started working officially in the District. Some of the Founding Team now serve as staff. 

Since then the program has improved the livelihoods of 340 vulnerable youth in the district. We designed Rungano-Ndota to build a truly empowering path for vulnerable youth so they can develop not only as leaders and entrepreneurs but also develop entrepreneurial mindset in all their life. The goal of the program is to empower a community of vulnerable youth as holistic leaders who are able to secure their livelihoods for future and help others at the same time.

RNI’s program in a district is operated by a staff with a volunteer Leadership Team that comes from the community. Our approach starts with mentoring to guide youth’s choices regarding their wellness and their livelihood. Monthly program days bring the entire group together to practice leadership skills and develop entrepreneurial abilities, all in an active, experiential style that unlocks their potential. From that foundation, youth develop pathways for their livelihoods – including vocational training, individual entrepreneurship, and cooperative businesses with their peers. We keep coaching and helping them operate and sustain their businesses over a period of three years. After graduation, youth continue to be involved through alumni activities.

We have developed RNI in collaboration with Rwanda Youth Partnership, our partners in the USA. Through this partnership we interact with supporters and mentors from the USA and other countries who support our mission. Together we are planning to scale up the program in other districts of the country.

Website: runganondota.org

benimpuhwe.org

Job Description:

Position Title: Youth Development officer

General Responsibilities for All Rungano-Ndota Program Staff:

1. Cultivate constructive engagement within the Rungano-Ndota (RNI) community, fostering positive relationships with youth participants.
2. Contribute to the execution of Rungano Program Days, Alumni Forums, and virtual events in collaboration with Rwanda Youth Partnership, ensuring seamless coordination and facilitation.
3. Actively engage in Monitoring and Evaluation processes, providing valuable insights and feedback to enhance program effectiveness.
4. Serve as a mentor to individual youth, offering guidance and support, including an annual home visit to assess their progress.
5. Contribute to the successful implementation and facilitation of RNI Business Bootcamp, Business Idea Generation Day, and personal business ventures, fostering entrepreneurial skills among program participants.
6. Participate in Staff Development Retreats and be available for weekend or overnight commitments away from home during the Annual RYP Delegation, as required.
7. Collaborate with colleagues, offering support through constructive feedback and mutual assistance in fulfilling individual responsibilities.

Specific Responsibilities for the Youth development Role:

• Collaborate with the staff team to enhance the personal wellness of all RNI youth, implementing one-to-one and group mentoring strategies.
• Develop and implement specialized support programs for youth returning from Rehabilitation Centers, single parents, and those living with disabilities.
• Identify external counseling resources and establish partnerships for the benefit of RNI youth requiring additional support.
• Coordinate RNI's annual youth home visits.
• Oversee the coordination of annual TVET English classes.
• Design agendas for Rungano Days, coordinating all logistics and communicating details to the youth.
• Maintain records and complete required reports.

The Youth Development Officer will be based in Ruhango District and will operate under the supervision of the District Coordinator

Essential Qualifications and Required Skills:

All Rungano-Ndota staff :

• Possess reliable, clear teamwork communication style, with colleagues, youth, and external partners
• Possess deep understanding of the barriers faced by youth who are not in formal education and employment – coupled with equal belief in their potential for success
• Demonstrate ability to build positive, empowering relationships with vulnerable youth
• Have high integrity and ethical behavior in all they do
• Are Rwandan by nationality and thoroughly understand the context of the country
• Have mid to high level skills in MS office
• Are fluent in spoken and written Kinyarwanda and English

For this particular job:

• Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, psychology, social work, mental health, or related field.
• 1+ years’ experience working with vulnerable youth
• Experience with the dynamics of addiction and recovery is an added advantage

How to apply:

Interested candidates should submit their application through info@runganondota.org and copy to pallotti@benimpuhwe.org. Include a cover letter and CV. In your cover letter, you are welcome to explain any parts of your professional, academic, or personal life experience that truly motivate you to pursue this job.

Deadline: June 10^th, 2024 at 5:00 pm.

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be invited for a written test!

BENIMPUHWE is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to the equal treatment of all employees without regard to race, religion, gender, physical disability, or any other basis protected by Rwandan law

Benefits

• In compensation for service rendered, BENIMPUHWE will offer a monthly salary, health & maternity insurance and pension savings insurance;
• All staff benefit from different training organized by the project
• All staff also benefit from collaboration and coaching discussions with international colleagues whom we meet through our US-based partners