Fundraising session at preparation weekend one
Effective preparation is key to making a positive contribution to the Partner Schools overseas, as well as to working through the challenges that the programme presents.
The four month period from February to mid-June forms the Preparation Phase. This involves each volunteer working with their team to ensure that they are sufficiently prepared to offer a quality service to their host organisations overseas.
There are four main components: - Knowledge and Skills Development
- Getting to know your team & colleagues
- Fundraising
- Health & Safety
We understand that volunteers need to balance their commitments to the programme with their other personal and professional commitments. Former volunteers have managed to successfully complete exams and finals, submit their thesis and finish work projects etc.., while also preparing sufficiently for the programme; however it is demanding and requires an up-front commitment from the time they accept a placement.
Preparation Phase: Weekends
The Volunteer Programme Team organises three face-to-face weekends to assist the volunteers with their preparations. Using the PLAN-DO-REVIEW cycle the team supports the volunteers to make the best use of their preparation time. The other aim of the weekends is to give the volunteers an opportunity to get to know their teammates and to learn about the placements from former volunteers.
It's important to note that, while we aim to pack as much into these weekends as possible, time is limited and we can't cover everything. Volunteers are expected to take primary responsibility for their preparations, for example: reading up on the Partner Schools, reviewing reports from previous years, meeting former volunteers, working on the local language with a book or tape, spending a few days in a school and getting advice from a teacher, all can go a long way towards ensuring the overseas experience is as positive and rewarding as possible for all involved.
The responsibility for their preparations is in the hands of the volunteers and their team, and that's part of the challenge!
Click here to download a sample timetable for the Suas Preparation Weekends
Read some of the volunteers' thoughts on the predeparture phase
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1: Understanding the Context
Understanding the needs, challenges, and history of the Partner Schools and their local area, is the first step towards an effective placement. Volunteers are expected to build on the lessons learnt from previous placements by reviewing reports and talking with former volunteers.
Team discussion with past Volunteers
As part of the Global Perspectives theme of the programme, volunteers are also expected to learn about the wider political, historical and social context in which the Partners operate. Finally, as representatives of Suas, volunteers are expected to have an understanding of our programmes and activities.
2: Preparing yourself: Skills Development
Pre-departure, volunteers are expected to develop basic skills in: - Teaching
- Language
- Cross-Cultural Understanding
- Project Planning
- Impact Assessment
- Health & Safety
3: Working with Others: Teamwork & Leadership Development
Learning to work effectively with their team and the Partner staff is an integral part of the programme.
Team Building session
Team placement preparation session
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