The Performers Without Borders organization is looking for volunteers to set on an adventurous journey through India or Nicaraguea. Participants need to have experience in volunteer work and experience teaching circus and theater workshops for various social groups. The English language is a must. The original text of the call for volunteers follows.
Call for volunteers
Location: India Or Nicaragua
Duration: 3 – 4 Months (India 4, Nicaragua 3)
Dates: Start Jan – April 2014, exact dates TBC
Job Description
We are looking for experienced and adventurous volunteers who can perform and teach a range of performance skills totravel to either India or Nicaragua on a 3 or 4 month PWB tour. Volunteers will be spending up to a month at a time with various groups of disadvantaged children in one of these countries, teaching the children and performing in the local area with various partner organisations.
About The Organisation
Performers Without Borders (PWB) is a volunteer run charity that believes in the transforming power of learning and performing the arts. We have been running tours of India annually since 2007, and ran our first tour of Nicaragua in 2013.
PWB works towards giving vulnerable children the opportunity to explore their potential. We understand that, through teaching performance skills an individual’s learning, creativity and team working skills are developed. Further, it helps to build confidence, develop empowerment and overcome social barriers. PWB’s methodology of following the tradition of travelling show, and the principle of fostering long-term relationships, is ideal in not only engaging children, but also ensuring community trust in the project.
PWB envisages a world where all children are able to realise their full potential, and have an understanding of different cultures, the complexity of development issues and the importance of personal action.
PWB will work with partners who engage with vulnerable children in their community to develop centres of performing arts around the world. These centres will act as a means by which international development issues are explored and cross cultural understanding is promoted.
A PWB Project
We give volunteers from around the world the opportunity to come together and work for 3 – 4 months with groups of deprived young people in developing countries. We give these young people the chance to learn performance skills, and through this develop their own show to be performed at the end of the month visit.
We aim to build long lasting relationships with the organisations we work with and in the communities we work. We do this through regular visits and on-going work in these groups
A tour consists of:
- A 1-2 week training camp in country to allow you to get acclimatised, put together a show, and finalise the curriculum you will be teaching.
- 2 or 3 projects with one of our key partners, approx. one month each project. These are organisations that work to support some of the most vulnerable children and young people in the countries we work.
- Regular out-reach projects. These are performances and workshops that last just one or two days.
About The Opportunity
A single tour last 3 to 4 months, but your commitment to PWB begins at the assessment. We ask volunteers to be actively involved in fundraising and promoting PWB’s work before and after the tour. As a volunteer you will be responsible for fundraising the cost of your tour, putting together a show with the rest of the volunteers and planning a teaching curriculum around your unique skills.
As a group you will also have further responsibilities whilst on tour. These include:
- Finding external groups and organising shows/workshops
- Documenting and reporting back on the tour thorough newsletters and videos
- Managing Budgets
- Buying and cooking your own food
- Managing transport logistics
- Supporting the development of your team mates
- Organising ‚rest‘ days and activities
- Ensuring the health and well-being of other team members
- Reviewing your daily / monthly activities
All accommodation on your tour will be organised centrally by PWB. Costs for meals, accommodation and transport will be covered by your initial contribution to PWB, but it will be up to you as a team to manage these budgets whilst on-tour, following the PWB guidelines.
Auditions and Training
Auditions will be held on 27th July, and will run from 12 – 5pm.
PWB will be running two separate training weekends for the 2014 tours. These are on the 31st August/1st September and 7th/8th September
Tour Dates
Tours begin in the first week of January, and last until the end of April at the latest.
About You
PWB candidates must demonstrate the following;
Essential
- A mid to high level of skill in one or more circus skill or performance art
- Experience teaching to mixed groups of children and young people
- Experience of creating and performing shows
Desirable
- Experience living/volunteering overseas
- Experience of working in a team/touring
- Experience of coordinating travel logistics
- Experience of creating/editing short videos
- Experience writing blogs/social media
- Mid to high level skills in 3 or more circus / performance arts.
- Experience in working with multiple partner organisations.
To Apply
All candidates must fill out an online application form for this role.
Please visit http://performerswithoutborders.org.uk/volunteer for more information and to apply.