Sending Pre-departure Orientation Coordinator
From AFSWiki
AFS-USA Volunteer Position Description
Sending Pre-Departure Orientation Coordinator
The Pre-Departure Orientation Coordinator is responsible for planning and implementing the mandatory Pre-Departure Orientation for outbound students and providing training for all Pre-Departure Orientation Group Leaders and Volunteers.
Responsible to: Team, District or Chapter Sending and/or Team Orientation Coordinator
Works with: Team, District or Chapter Sending, Support and/or Orientation Coordinators and Sending Pre-departure Orientation Group Leader and Volunteers.
Time Required:
- 3 hours to review the Pre-Departure Orientation Leader’s Guide
- 3-6 hours to recruit Orientation Group Leaders and Volunteers (depending on the number needed)
- 6 hours to plan and implement training for Orientation Group Leaders and Volunteers
- 3-6 hours on logistics related tasks such as making photocopies, arranging for refreshments, sending invitations, etc.
- A minimum of 8 hours on the day of the event to set-up, facilitate and evaluate the orientation
Competencies Required:
- Well organized
- Experience in intercultural setting
- Effective facilitator in small and large group settings
- Excellent relationship and team-building skills (motivating, negotiating, mediating, problem-solving)
- Abilility to train other volunteers
- Effective at task delegation
- Passion for the AFS Mission
- Minimum computer skills such as Word or Excel for data tracking purposes, creation of invitations, simple handouts, etc.
- Physical stamina – ability to put in long hours over a period of 1-2 days
Materials/Resources Provided by AFS:
Responsibilities:
- Review the Pre-Departure Orientation Leader’s Guide and determine the agenda.
- Recruit at least one Orientation Leader for every twelve attendees, at least one Orientation Volunteer per event, and in the event of an overnight, one or more adults who will remain awake during the night to supervise the participant sleeping quarters.
- Locate Pre-Departure Orientation facilities and lodging if applicable
- Communicate with volunteers, natural families and participants in your designated area regarding Pre-Departure Orientation plans.
- Ensure that one or more AFS Returnees (within the last 2-5 years ideally) and natural parents who have had a positive AFS experience attend the event either in the capacity of Orientation Leaders, Volunteers or guest speakers.
- Plan and implement training for Orientation Leaders and Volunteers.
- Serve as main facilitator on the day of the event. (Orientation Coordinators are encouraged to identify and train a co-facilitator for the event as two facilitators are usually more effective than one in large group settings.)
- Collect and analyze feedback from attendees, Orientation Leaders and Volunteers regarding the event and provide this to the Team Orientation Coordinator and other appropriate individuals so that improvements can be made to the orientation in future cycles.
- Communicate attendance list to Regional Support Staff or record in Global Link
- Communicate any concerns about individual attendees to Sending Admissions Staff.
Benefits to Volunteer:
- Develop lifelong relationships with fellow volunteers, staff, and participants
- Develop greater intercultural competence through familiarization with AFS Orientation Framework and related Intercultural Education resources
- Receive training in effective facilitation, team building, and intercultural learning activities
- Contribute to the development of intercultural competence in others
- Opportuntiy to utilise and develop team building, training and facilitation skills
- Play a leading role in developing AFS as a leader in intercultural education in the U.S. and around the world.
