Volunteer with VSA

Kia ora, Halo and warm Pacific greetings
  
Te Whāinga | Our Purpose is:

Te Hono Tangata - Te Huringa Ora.  

Ka hono a Te Tūao Tāwāhi i ngā tūao pūkenga ki ngā whakahaere me ngā hapori i te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa me tua atu, hei tautoko i ngā wawata kua tautuhia ā-rohe, ā, kia tutuki ai te panoni toitū. 

Connecting People – Transforming Lives. 

Volunteer Service Abroad connects skilled volunteers with organisations and communities in the Pacific and beyond to support locally identified aspirations and achieve sustainable change.  

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About the role:

This is your opportunity to become a VSA Volunteer to share your experience, skills and knowledge to serve and build capacity in the Solomon Islands. By working alongside the Solomon Islands Deaf Association (SIDA) to plan and create a brighter future for all.
  
For this assignment we are looking for an experienced Sign language interpreter or someone with the right level of transferrable skills, who understands and shares the spirit of volunteering, with a keen interest in building capability in the Pacific. A volunteer on this assignment will need a high degree of experience using sign language and the willingness to learn and sign in Solomon Islands Pidgin.

This will be a 12 month assignment based in and around Honiara. The volunteer on this assignment will be working closely with another volunteer deployed as an Organisational Development Advisor with SIDA.

Please note that the VSA will support you by funding and organizing your flights, visas, insurances, accommodation, living allowance and utilities while you are on assignment.
  
Ngā tino Pūkenga/Wheako – Essential skills/experiences for the role:

If you are interested in this opportunity, below are some of the key skills and experiences that we’re looking for.

• At least three years’ experience as an interpreter
• Excellent listening, interpretation, and communication skills
• Flexibility to accommodate and adapt to short notice schedule changes throughout the workday
• Prior experience providing sign language interpretation training

Our Partner Organisation – Solomon Islands Deaf Association (SIDA):
 
SIDA is an organisation that works with deaf people in Solomon Islands. The goal of the organisation is to support deaf people to participate in community life as best they can. The association has worked alongside other organisations and government agencies to ensure that there is better understanding, on the part of deaf people of their rights, and to create awareness on the needs and aspirations of deaf people. a key part of the work SIDA does is trying to ensure deaf people are able to communicate effectively with others.

The Assignment:
 
The volunteer on this assignment will be working alongside staff at SIDA and with another VSA volunteer an Organisational Development Advisor. A volunteer working on this assignment will primarily serve as their interpreter. But there would be opportunities for a volunteer to work alongside deaf community in Honiara to support capacity development in sign language interpreting.
  
The Country – The Solomon Islands:
 
The Solomon Islands has over 900 islands, 5,000 rural villages and 550,000 people. Between 1999 and 2003 it experienced a period of conflict which took a heavy toll on the country and left a need for reconciliation and on-going peace and security measures.

A request for assistance by the government in 2003 led Australia, New Zealand and other Pacific Island countries to form the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) which restored peace and security. The VSA has established a strong presence in Solomon Islands through its ongoing partnerships with multiple in-country partners, including strong relationships with Solomon Islands Government. 

Me pēhea te tuku tono| How to apply:

Please apply for this opportunity through our website. For more information or if you have any questions on this assignment, you are welcome to email our recruitment team at: volunteer@vsa.org.nz. Noting that due to our VSA funding requirements, our volunteers must be a NZ citizen or NZ Permanent Resident to progress further in our recruitment process.

We are looking for a volunteer with:

• 12 Month Volunteer Assignment with the VSA in Solomon Islands
• Flights, accommodation and other living expenses funded by VSA
• Transforming lives by empowering communities with shared skills and knowledge