 |
 |
| MPI Program Directors
Program Directors live and work on site in Nicaragua or Ecuador for thirteen months with seven to eleven other Program Directors. As a team, they work alongside leaders in the communities of focus to ascertain and meet the community’s specific needs. Program Directors are called upon to use their education, passions, and interests to take the initiative to develop existing community projects and will also have the opportunity to establish new projects. Program Directors are also responsible for facilitating MPI’s Spring Break and Summer Volunteer programs.
Click here for application information.
On this page:
• Program Director Roles
• PD timeline
• Expectations and rules
MPI Program Director Roles
Developing and directing programs
A PD’s primary responsibility is the continuation of MPI’s existing programs and the development of new ones. One of MPI’s fundamental long-term goals is to create sustainable programs, run and operated by local community leaders and institutions.
MPI believes in the initiatives of its program Directors, thereby allotting them with a large amount of responsibility and independence. Working as a team, PDs implement their projects while supporting and holding each other accountable.
Running MPI
In addition to running on-the-ground programs and projects, each PD has the opportunity to play a role in the development of MPI as an organization. From donor relations to publicity to campus chapter creation to financial management, our PDs form the backbone of MPI’s administrative, as well as programmatic, operation.
Raising awareness
Being able to spend a year abroad is a privilege that few people get to experience, and PDs act as a window into the developing world for our friends and donors. Through presentations, slideshows, monthly emails to donors, blog entries (check them out here and here), and online photo publishing, PDs raise awareness of MPI’s mission and the global inequities it challenges.
Hosting short-term volunteers
To further raise awareness of international issues, PDs act as hosts for short-term volunteers in spring and summer. PD help plan and execute group trips, and recruit and manage summer volunteers.
Training Incoming PDs
As part of their thirteen-month commitment, PDs are entrusted with the transition of programs to incoming PDs. Current PDs introduce incoming PDs to community members and train them to operate existing MPI programs.
Each year, all PDs arrive and leave together. Your application timeline, however, will vary according to your application deadline.
|
Application due
|
Round 1: Dec 1, 2008
Round 2: Feb 2, 2009
|
|
Notification of phone interview
|
One week after deadline
|
|
Notification of acceptance
|
One to two weeks
after phone interview
(Approx. three weeks
after deadline)
|
|
Deposit and contract due
|
Three weeks after notice of acceptance
|
Arrive at Miami for PD Orientation
|
July 7, 2009
|
|
Arrive at international site followed
by two to three weeks of language
school and orientation
|
July 11, 2009
|
|
Winter break for personal travel
(Three weeks)
|
Dates vary according to site
|
|
Spring break - Week of vacation
|
April 2010
|
| Departure from international site |
August 13, 2010
|
When applying for the PD position, we ask that you commit to our defined start and end dates so we can provide appropriate orientation and transition. Exceptions to these dates should be presented with your application for approval.
Group living commitment
In both Ecuador and in Nicaragua, all of the PDs (between eight and twelve of them) live together, in houses less than a half hour from our targeted communities. This unique living/working environment demands a lot of patience, but it also has its advantages: First, it allows us to remain connected to a first-world support network. Second, it challenges us to evaluate and appreciate the different motivations and approaches taken to service. Third, living and working with other recent college graduates strengthens the participants’ leadership, cooperative, and relational skills.
Because of our living situation, the amount of cultural immersion that you will experience as a PD depends on you. We don’t live with families, but we organize optional two-week home stays. You will find yourself more than welcome in the communities where we work, and there are endless cultural opportunities to take advantage of. The same goes for personal time: lots of work is done at the MPI house, and each PD works out their own division between work and play.
While Manna Project PDs are privileged to enjoy the incredible,
life-changing experiences that come with serving abroad, applicants
should also consider the commitment that MPI requires of its
volunteers. Spending thirteen months in a developing country inherently
brings its own unique challenges. Additionally, living and working with
a group can at times create a stressful environment. The abilities to
compromise, take responsibility, and effectively resolve differences
are a must for all Program Directors. Some examples of necessary sacrifices include participating in meetings that run late, respecting people with opinions that differ from your own, taking cold showers, and resisting the urge to scream Backstreet Boys' songs at 3:00 in the morning while setting off fireworks in the backyard.
Attitude and Personal Presentation
Every volunteer’s actions and words reflect on our country and on our organization. PDs are expected to be positive and open minded to local cultural norms. That requires flexibility when things are not easy or efficient, as well as enthusiasm for trying different activities and experiences. It also means being respectful of others’ beliefs and values, be they community members or other volunteers.
Work Load
First year MPI PDs focus the majority of their efforts on developing MPI’s programs in our target communities. Additional side projects are encouraged, and are to be pursued on the side.
Second year PDs
PDs who are interested in serving for another year can present a project proposal to MPI’s Board of Directors. Second year PDs will be free to arrange their own housing and pursue their own program ideas.
Lifestyle Habits
MPI participants must abide by all local laws. Additionally, volatile habits such as drug use and excessive drinking are prohibited while working for MPI.
Please note, due to the nature of MPI's structure, the lines between work life and
personal life are often significantly blurred. For this reason,
lifestyle habits such as drug use and excessive drinking not only
impact home and work relationships but they also do harm to the Manna
Project reputation that hundreds of volunteers have worked to establish
in the communities we serve. We ask that you take these points into
consideration while deciding whether or not to apply for a Program Director position.
Couples
Couples are discouraged from applying as PDs, but are welcome to apply as summer volunteers.
PDs raise $575/month in donations to cover their living expenses, on-site administrative costs, and basic program expenses. The breakdown:
Expense
|
Amount (per month) |
| Living Expenses (room & board, transportation, and visas)
|
$420 |
MEDEX International Travel Insurance
|
$30
|
| Personal living stipend*
|
$80*
|
*To give our Program Directors freedom to pay for small living amenities, travel expenses, and occasionally eating out, part of living cost goes to providing a weekly living stipend. That means that of the money you raise, $1040 goes to your personal living stipend.
Fundraising
$575 a month for thirteen months comes to a total of $7,500. That kind of fundraising can be an arduous process but you CAN do it! To help, we offer resources and support to PDs as they seek support. To get started, please download our fundraising materials packet. Please note, a few resources are only available to applicants once they are accepted.
Travel account
In addition to your $7,500 commitment, you can set up a separate account for travel and additional language school. Funds must be specifically donated towards this separate account or be in excess to the $7,500 commitment. A maximum of two roundtrip flights may be reimbursed through this account, not to exceed $2500 total. If PDs need to make additional trips throughout the year (i.e. job interviews, weddings, etc.), they need to plan ahead and set aside the necessary personal funds to cover these flights.
Insurance
MPI's policy with MEDEX is an international travel insurance policy,
and therefore designed to cover emergencies while our volunteers are
living internationally. If you have preexisting health conditions,
please review this policy and its coverage to determine if you
should also keep your current personal insurance or if you need to
purchase additional coverage for your time abroad. To receive a copy of
MPI's insurance policy, or for more information, please contact Lori
Scharffenberg at lori@mannaproject.org.
Other financial stuff
All deductions to MPI are tax-deductible, and strictly confidential between MPI’s administrators and the individual for whom donations are designated or who operates the designated program.
---
Questions, comments , concerns? If so, contact us at (615) 653-4688 or apply@mannaproject.org. If not, read about how to apply.
|
|
