National Protection Officer

VOLUNTEER REQUEST INFORMATION.

· Are you an individual, group or institution willing to offer 2-5 hrs a week to contribute in breaking the vicious cycle of child poverty; child abuse and gross ignorance on the rights if the child?
· Do you believe in building a culture of rights and responsibilities by empowering tomorrows adults in rights based approach today so they will respect rights at adulthood tomorrow?
· Do you have experience you can use for charity to positively change lives and our world?
· Are you passionate for the welfare of children and marginalized young people at risk?
· Would you be willing to mix beautiful touristic attractions, pleasure and work?
Then you can do this by supporting and volunteering for Child Protection and Adolescent Development in Cameroon where child abuse is generally condoned.

1 Name and address of requesting organization:
Global Welfare Association (GLOWA)
Apt 214 NWCA Building
P. O. Box 13 Bamenda
North Wets Province
Republic of Cameroon.
Tel: (237) 99 57 10 72
E-mail: glowa21@gmail.com/glowa_cameroon@yahoo.co.uk

2 Volunteer Place of Work:
Bamenda, with frequent travels other cities to rural communities in Cameroon for the purpose of work.

3 Name of Volunteer’s Supervisor
Jamils Richard Achunji Anguaseh

4 Brief Description of the organization’s Program
Global Welfare Association (GLOWA) is a registered Charitable Non-Governmental Organization in Cameroon since 2004. During her five years of promoting and protecting the rights of the child and the development of young people, GLOWA has made the following observations, which are at the basis of its present approach to building a culture of rights and responsibilities:
- Children and young people in Cameroon have very limited opportunities for the development of potentials and life skills
- They live in a situation of inadequacy in information due to inadequate communication channels and selective information by public authorities.
- Child abuse is greatly influenced by traditional practices and customs
- Children and young people are looked upon and unfinished humans and therefore needs the strong hand of the adult for control
- There is generalized ignorance in the notion of the rights of the child
- Controversy exists between child labour and child work and accounts for the high prevalence of trafficking in children in Cameroon especially the North West province where GLOWA is located. Cameroon serves both as transit and reception ground for trafficked children from West and Central Africa. Its relative peace and stability makes it even more open to this form co contemporary slavery.
- There is limited legislation to protect children and young people from abuse within the home, school and community. Cameroon does not have a family and child protection codes. Corporal punishment is permitted in schools and institutions.
- Most abuses suffered by children within the home, school and community are due largely to limited knowledge in abusive practices. Perpetrators can hardly differentiate abuse from correction and/or training.
- There is limited knowledge in alternative methods of discipline
- Traditional parenting based on discriminative gender socialisation and other abusive practices continue to dominate child upbringing. There is need for a family life education program to strengthen parenting capacities especially to young couples.
Because of the issues mentioned above, GLOWA is refocusing in the protection of children and development of young people through A Child Protection and Adolescent Livelihood Program.
This is the first of such initiatives in Cameroon so there is very little to learn locally. We have the additional task of building this initiative and adapting it to local context. GLOWA shall be please to collaborate and receive support in designing and managing the program, which needs volunteers in the following positions:
a. Resource Mobilisation Assistants
b. Organisational Development Expects
c. National Protection Officer

5 Volunteer Job Position
National Protection Officer: The Program shall need the service of a National protection officer who shall be in charge of coordinating the protection and promotional activities within the project

6 Duration of Volunteer Period
6 Months minimum. Preferred One year.

7 Job Summery
The National Protection Officer shall work in close collaboration with the program manager and shall assist in coordinating and running the protection program. S/he shall perform interventions on behalf of abused children and youths and interface with authorities.
He shall be lead policy advocacy in favour of children and young people. Design advocacy gadgets and plan activities.

8 Required Qualification
A University Degree or equivalents preferably in the Social Sciences.
Ability to work in English Language and/or French
A good knowledge of Lobbying and Advocacy

9 Other Qualities
- Be highly inspired
- Excellent communication skills
- Be a good lobbyist
- Desire for social development of children and marginalized young people

10 Professional Support Available
· Working directly with children and marginalised youths
· Practice child protection within the Cameroonian legal system.
· Mainstreaming child protection into development work
· Collaborate in the development of child protection policies for sister NGOs and service providers.
· Inter-facing with parents and elected officials in issues of interest to children.
· Opportunity to Work with a network of human rights and development organisations in Cameroon. GLOWA is a member of the Union of North West Human Rights Organisation (UNOWHURO) and Cameroon Alliance of Voluntary Organisations for Development (CAVOD).
· The program has strong links with UNICEF Cameroon Country Office and the Cameroon National Commission of Human Rights and Freedoms
· GLOWA Board of Director will be available to offer support.

11 Resources and Equipment Available
Volunteer Accommodation: GLOWA shall provide furnished accommodation in Bamenda with adequate security to the volunteer. S/he might live with a family or independently.
Office Space: Adequate office space available for independent and/or sharing with colleagues.
Transport: Transportation is by paid public means.

Interested volunteers should send a motivation letter and CV to: glowa21@gmail.com or glowa_cameroon@yahoo.co.uk

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