Cultural Support Coach
From AFSWiki
AFS-USA Volunteer Position Description: Cultural Support Coach
Responsible to: Sponsored Programs Department
General Description: The Sponsored Programs cultural support coach will act as a cultural resource in support situations involving students who are experiencing adjustment issues during their exchange. The students may be hosted within AFS or any of the organizations that cooperate with AFS in a consortium. Such cultural and support coaching will be provided over the phone or in person to local coordinators, volunteers or staff (as well as participants directly in some cases).
The Cultural support coach will also work with Sponsored Program Staff and AFS YES overseas partner organizations to improve on or develop culture- and program-specific materials as well as offer articles for inclusion in the quarterly Sponsored Programs newsletter.
Time Required:
• Length of service time : 2 year commitment
• 4 hours per month + annual attendance to SP Spring workshop
Competencies Required:
• Access to a personal email account and internet required and necessary (specifically online services)
• Commitment driven
• Ability to maintain open lines of communication with others (fellow volunteers as well as staff)
• Experience in helping students and host families improve their intercultural interaction
• Country/culture native or experience with one or more of the following countries: Brunei, Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Turkey, and the Deaf culture.
• Knowledge of cultural adaptation issues and if possible theories (adjustment phases, factors in adjustment, cultural dimensions) - i.e.,culture-general knowledge either through academics or personal AFS interaction with the students.
• Willingness to examine own cultural identity and share culture-specific knowledge (U.S. and other cultures).
• Ability to act as link/liaison between the cultural networks (such as Islamic centers, educational institutions and cultural groups) recruited and Sponsored Program Staff.
• Capacity to work in collaborative environment with variety of personalities and cultures
• Detail oriented
• Excellent relationship and team-building skills such as negotiating, mediating, recognizing others, problem-solving, listening, networking.
• Ability to coach other volunteers interested in becoming Cultural Support Coaches.
Training:
• Ongoing support from Sponsored Program or Support Staff (when support situation occurs)
• Peer-to-peer training and/or mentoring available (with other support coaches)
• Country-specific cultural training available through direct email exchange with AFS staff and/or volunteers in other YES countries. (in preparation for the Sponsored Programs Annual workshop in Washington, D.C.)
• Opportunity to join Sponsored Programs annual Spring workshop in Washington, DC
• Intensive training in program and culture-specific information with AFS-USA Sponsored Programs and Training staff.
• Training of Trainers training to take place within the first year of involvement.
• Opportunity to recruit and train 2 fellow volunteers to enlarge the pool of cultural support coaches within two years.
Materials/Resources Provided by AFS:
• Materials developed by Sponsored Programs such as the Cultural Handbook for YES, Tip Sheets for YES, FLEX and CB.
Works with:
• Staff
o Sponsored Programs Specialists
o AFS Support staff
o YES hosting partners staff
o Select AFS staff from YES countries
• Volunteer
o Team Leadership
o Team Support
Responsibilities:
1. Provide training to and serve as advisor to local coordinators and other volunteers when difficult support cases arise.
2. Provide cultural and support coaching over the phone or in person to local coordinators, volunteers or staff (as well as participants directly in some cases) by:
3. Listening to participants’ (students and host families') descriptions of issues and facilitating the recognition of the cultural dimensions involved in support cases
4. In some cases, taking students into one’s home for extensive cultural and adjustment coaching (not more than twice per academic year)
5. Giving staff, local coordinators and volunteers advice on specific cultures to facilitate the positive resolution of support situations (3-5 consultations via phone and email exchanges per academic year)
6. Providing synopses of support cases and their resolution for inclusion in reporting to the program sponsor.
7. Act as link to cultural networks such as Islamic centers, educational institutions, cultural groups and recruit from these institutions/groups one-two people within a two year period whom the Sponsored Programs cultural support coach will train to join the ranks of cultural support coaches.
8. Work closely with AFS YES overseas partner organizations to develop culture- and program-specific support scenarios that will be part of the content of the AFS International Partner’s Session at the annual Sponsored Programs workshop in Washington DC, as well as other training venues.
9. Provide feedback to improve culture, support and program-specific materials and resources
10. Provide three articles over the course of each academic year for inclusion in the quarterly Sponsored Programs newsletter. Articles could focus on a variety of topics including specific cultural communication styles or insights on religious similarities or differences.
Benefits to Volunteer:
• Develop lifelong relationships with volunteers, AFS staff, host and natural families and young people.
• Share the AFS mission with many communities, individuals and families.
• Learn about other cultures and see the American experience from other perspectives.
• Play a lead role in developing AFS as a strong international education organization serving local and regional parts of the country.
• Improve and enhance support, cross-cultural communications and training skills.
• Develop leadership skills.
• Opportunity to work directly with volunteers and staff in YES countries both via email, phone and through an international travel opportunity.
• Travel to DC for the Sponsored Programs Annual workshop.
• Enhanced understanding and insights into the broader international youth exchange community.
