Community Volunteering for Change – Global
MULT20014/MULT30021
Make a Difference: Work with a Community Organisation in India
Project Dates: 27 June – 24 July 2015
The Faculty of Arts is offering an exciting new international community volunteering opport unity in
partnership with respected volunteering organisation Australian Volunteers International (AVI). AVI works
with individuals, organisations and communities in response to locally identified community priorities.
Students enrolled in this subject will be making a contribution to local communities through project work,
research and engagement with locally run development organisations in India.
Students will be enrolled in the Community Volunteering for Change – Global intensive subject and will be
awarded 12.50 credit points on satisfactory completion. The subject is available to undergraduate
students in their second or third year of study and will be credited towards their breadth studies.
Please note: This subject has a quota and enrolment is not automatic. The subject will incur additional
costs such as travel and accommodation.
About the Project
You will be placed with one of AVI’s partner organisations, in Delhi or Jaipur. Working in small groups you
will be assigned an action research project focussed on building awareness and advocacy of a social
inclusion issue faced by a marginalised group within Indian society. This could include working with
communities excluded because of caste, tribe, religion, gender, disability, geography, vocation, sexuality
or age. You will support local partner organisations who aim to improve the lives of these individuals and
groups, enabling and empowering them to interact freely and productively with others and to participate
actively in the economic, social and political spheres of society.
Inclusions
A project fee will apply and is to be advised (dependant on final student numbers). Included in this will
be basic shared accommodation (separated by gender), most meals, in-country travel required for the
project and all project activities. You will need to organise and pay for your own return airfares, visas,
national police check, TMVC medical check and necessary vaccinations. This will be approximately
AUD1,300 per person.
About the Partners
Each project team will work alongside the staff and volunteers of a locally based partner organisation
to complete an action research piece from start to finish. Some of the partners this project has worked
with in the past include:
Commutiny Youth Collective (CYC), an organisation set up to promote the rights of young people
through participation, development and Leadership. It is a collective of nearly 50 youth led and youth
engaging organisations working together.
Hope Project, which strives to provide people, especially the poor and vulnerable, with opportunities
and resources. The Hope Project currently runs a community health centre, a creche, a non -formal
school, vocational training courses, a thrift and credit program, and a women’s micro -enterprise unit.
Kat-Katha, whose work aims to enable and empower women working in brothels to fulfil aspirations that
give them new avenues of sustenance, personal freedom, self-reliance and acceptance of their work
and themselves.
How to Apply
To be eligible to apply you must be enrolled in the second or third year of an undergraduate program
with the University of Melbourne.
Go the CVC Global page on the Australian Volunteers International website at:
http://www.australianvolunteers.com/programs/university-partnerships/community-volunteering-for-changeglobal/
Download the application form and return the completed Word document, along with your CV, to
CVC_global@australianvolunteers.com
Applications must be submitted no later than midnight, Monday the 23rd of March, 2015.
Short-listed applicants will be required to undertake a formal interview. Selection into the program is
subject to a formal interview, a National Police Check, medical check and satisfactory completion of the
pre-departure program.
Selection Criteria
All applications will be assessed against the Key
Selection Criteria below :
Sound Academic Standing
Motivation & Commitment
Flexibility & Adaptability
Cross-cultural Sensitivity
Ability to work with others
Resilience
Commitment to Child Protection
Principles
Key Dates:
Application Deadline:
Interviews:
Orientation Session &
Welcome Dinner:
Pre-departure Briefing:
Travel Dates:
Re-entry Session:
Class Presentation:
For further information please contact:
Australian Volunteers InternationalAmy Hunter (03) 9279 1781
or
Tory Norris (03) 9279 858
CVC_global@australianvolunteers.com
University of Melbournearts-internships-info@unimelb.edu.au
23 March, 2015 (midnight)
30 March – 02 April, 2015
27 April, 2015
16 May, 2015
27 June – 24 July, 2015
TBC (half day session in week
commencing 27 July)
TBC (full day session in week
commencing 27 July)