Greece: Early Childhood Intern

Location: Ritsona/Athens

Start date: January 2023

Duration: 3-6 months (1 month probation period)

Context

Lighthouse Relief fills the support gaps for people seeking international protection in Greece, so they can meet their survival needs and build a foundation for a secure future. Since our early days of running a shoreline response on the Aegean island of Lesvos, we have evolved to meet the shifting needs and circumstances. Today, we provide resources to help refugees and asylum seekers cover their immediate needs, acclimate to new surroundings, and open pathways to integration. We currently operate in the Athens area and Ritsona accommodation centre.

Areas of Work:

1. Survival needs (Food, NFIs and shelter)
2. Social services
3. Psychosocial well-being (MHPSS)
4. Integration support
5. Advocacy

Lighthouse Relief is a nonprofit humanitarian organisation registered in Sweden and Greece with no political or religious affiliation. We make it a priority to include people who share our values from all stakeholder communities in our decision-making and activities.

Position Summary

We have been providing psychosocial support in Ritsona long term accommodation centre since 2016 through safe spaces for children, youth and women as well as sports activities with a particular focus on promoting residents’ psychosocial wellbeing and regaining a sense of normality in the midst of difficult circumstances. The position holder will work in our Child-Friendly Space by providing children aged 3-10, with a secure space where they are able to play, socialise, learn and express themselves in a structured and free-flowing environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Support in the implementation of activities in the field, under the supervision and guidance of the Programme Manager;
• Contribute to the development of pedagogical material and planning of daily activities;
• Ensure that safeguarding standards, Child Protection principles as well as health & safety protocols are understood, met and properly reported;
• Responsible for tracking the attendance of children and following monitoring & evaluation procedures;
• Assist in community outreach activities under the supervision of the Programme Manager;
• Support the field team with recruitment, induction and training of volunteers, ensuring that LHR’s Code of Conduct is adhered to;
• Collaborate with the rest of the team to exchange information and ensure that LHR programmes are responding to the evolving needs of target population;
• Maintain effective working relationships with relevant stakeholders including referral organisations, community groups and other implementing partners.

Reports to: Programme Manager

Staff Management:

• Directly: None
• Indirectly: Incoming & Community Volunteers

Collaborations:

• Internal: MHPSS
• External: close collaboration with other humanitarian actors, local NGOs, and government service providers

Requirements

• Minimum age of 23 years old;
• Minimum commitment of at least 3 months (ideal commitment of 6 months);
• Professional fluency in English is essential;
• Basic knowledge of Greek and/or Arabic, Farsi, French, Urdu, Lingala, Somali is a distinct advantage;
• Experience in working with children;
• Experience in teaching, preferably in early childhood education and/or working with an NGO is considered an advantage;
• Proven ability to work in a highly volatile environment;
• Awareness and interest in migration issues and sensitivity to work with vulnerable communities;
• Ability to adapt to a culturally diverse context, work collaboratively and cross-linguistically;
• Excellent interpersonal and organisational skills;
• Valid work visa for the Schengen area;
• Criminal Background Check.

Terms and Conditions

• Fixed-term volunteer contract with 40 hours weekly working schedule;
• Reimbursement of personal expenses of up to €200 is an option dependent on funding;
• Shared transportation to/from camp is provided.

As the responsibilities listed here cannot be exhaustive, the position holder may be required to undertake other duties that are broadly in line with the above key responsibilities.

How to apply

If you are interested in applying, please send your CV along with a motivation letter in English at fc.ritsona@lighthouserelief.org with the subject line “MHPSS Early Childhood Intern” by 31st December 2022.

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview. LHR reserves the right to complete the process as soon as the suitable candidate has been identified.

As an equal opportunity employer, LHR strongly encourages persons with disabilities and from vulnerable and disadvantaged groups to apply. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.