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Come join the Buddy Team at SVSG who will contribute to the difference we are making in the lives of the children victims of sexual crimes sheltered at the House of Hope and educated at the School of Hope, abused and malnutrition babies at the Nursery Home, abandoned disability children at the Disability Home, women survivors of violence in the villages, the elderly and the disheartened in the Samoan community.
Five months is the minimum requirement of the commitment duration we ask of you. A guaranteed experience of a life time as you will become that added ray of hope to the victims of crimes and the underprivileged people here in paradise, our Home.
The SVSG Buddy Program is a non-paid, service from the heart program, basic food and accommodation however are provided. You are aware that you will be working in a tropical island where most parts depend on subsistence living, however, you are comfortable with these challenges. The work isn’t easy but that’s okay, you are optimistic and exude a ‘can do’ mentality.
Five months is the minimum requirement of the commitment duration we ask of you. A guaranteed experience of a life time as you will become that added ray of hope to the victims of crimes and the underprivileged people here in paradise, our Home.
The SVSG Buddy Program is a non-paid, service from the heart program, basic food and accommodation however are provided. You are aware that you will be working in a tropical island where most parts depend on subsistence living, however, you are comfortable with these challenges. The work isn’t easy but that’s okay, you are optimistic and exude a ‘can do’ mentality.
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The Basics: You are at least 21 years of age and speak English fluently. You are able to commit to the SVSG Buddy program for a minimum of 5 months. You are able to live and work in a tropical island, eat what we eat and sleep in a mosquito net, sometimes without a mattress but make do with a sleeping mat. When visiting the villages, you respect our culture. You are physically and emotionally healthy and require no special medical treatment. You will pay for your own travel and visa costs. You are willing to sign our Confidentiality Agreement.
Flexibility: As a SVSG Buddy, you will be placed in work environment very different from your usual place of work. Being able to let go of expectations and being flexible will help you face the challenges associated with SVSG’s support services. For instance, in serving the village communities, you will be required to stay overnight (if need be), and in some villages, water is ration, there is limited modern sanitation and the food is basic. Open houses are safe but also basic.
Adaptability: Being able to adjust and adapt to your new working environment forms part of the unique experience as an SVSG Buddy. Your ability to adjust will allow you to be responsive to the children and people of Samoa you will live with and serve. Your life will be much less private compared to what you are used to back home. Samoa is a very small place that nearly everyone knows everyone else.
Patience: This is a 24/7 support service. We eat and sleep at very odd hours. Sometimes we don’t see the sun set during working days and are often called upon late nights or early hours of the morning to attend to a sick child, a pregnant girl ready to go to labor or to evacuate a women survivor of violence and children requiring shelter assistance.
Self-Reliance: Samoa is renowned for its friendliness. As such, there are times that you feel like you are never alone. Initially, you will face a language barrier and dealing with things as simple as learning local’s names can be challenging. However, having a strong sense of self reliance, you will overcome these minor obstacles.
Positive Attitude: Your buddy arrangement and the actual work can sometimes be less defined than what you normally experience at home. Sometimes, you are all over the place doing ten things at once, other times, you may feel that there is not enough work. That is alright, a positive attitude would enable you to journey through the transition well.
Resourcefulness: Adjusting to a home and work environment with very different culture from your own can be stressful: you might feel homesick, lonely and at times, question your commitment to be a buddy. Your resourcefulness would assist you to keep an open mind about the whole experience and enables you to overcome these human feelings and enjoy the saving lives nature of our work.
Initiator: As an SVSG buddy, you are proactive. You initiate things based on the identified need for it. There is no time to sit back and relax; there is always something to do so that SVSG buddies are always one step ahead of what the Samoan people expects. Remember, we are doers. We make things happen.
Flexibility: As a SVSG Buddy, you will be placed in work environment very different from your usual place of work. Being able to let go of expectations and being flexible will help you face the challenges associated with SVSG’s support services. For instance, in serving the village communities, you will be required to stay overnight (if need be), and in some villages, water is ration, there is limited modern sanitation and the food is basic. Open houses are safe but also basic.
Adaptability: Being able to adjust and adapt to your new working environment forms part of the unique experience as an SVSG Buddy. Your ability to adjust will allow you to be responsive to the children and people of Samoa you will live with and serve. Your life will be much less private compared to what you are used to back home. Samoa is a very small place that nearly everyone knows everyone else.
Patience: This is a 24/7 support service. We eat and sleep at very odd hours. Sometimes we don’t see the sun set during working days and are often called upon late nights or early hours of the morning to attend to a sick child, a pregnant girl ready to go to labor or to evacuate a women survivor of violence and children requiring shelter assistance.
Self-Reliance: Samoa is renowned for its friendliness. As such, there are times that you feel like you are never alone. Initially, you will face a language barrier and dealing with things as simple as learning local’s names can be challenging. However, having a strong sense of self reliance, you will overcome these minor obstacles.
Positive Attitude: Your buddy arrangement and the actual work can sometimes be less defined than what you normally experience at home. Sometimes, you are all over the place doing ten things at once, other times, you may feel that there is not enough work. That is alright, a positive attitude would enable you to journey through the transition well.
Resourcefulness: Adjusting to a home and work environment with very different culture from your own can be stressful: you might feel homesick, lonely and at times, question your commitment to be a buddy. Your resourcefulness would assist you to keep an open mind about the whole experience and enables you to overcome these human feelings and enjoy the saving lives nature of our work.
Initiator: As an SVSG buddy, you are proactive. You initiate things based on the identified need for it. There is no time to sit back and relax; there is always something to do so that SVSG buddies are always one step ahead of what the Samoan people expects. Remember, we are doers. We make things happen.
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Buddy RequirementsSVSG have identified the areas of need in its support services and is putting up this ‘Call for Help’ through recruiting individuals with distinctive experience and expertise in these areas. The SVSG Buddy positions required for the upcoming Buddy calendar are:
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The Nursery Shelter BuddyThe Nursery Shelter Buddy serves as the Nursery Nanny’s right hand in caring for new born, toddlers and babies up to 18 months. You will be bathing, feeding, playing and put babies to sleep. You have an incredible amount of stamina and are able to work late nights and early mornings. When they are teething or sick, you are patient and hygienic. You sing them lullabies and assist with bedtime. Overall, you convey kindness and share warmth to these precious lives.
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The Additional Needs Shelter BuddyThe Additional Needs Shelter Buddy works closely with our volunteer mothers tending to the special needs children and girls. You are patient and can cope with different personalities. You assist the volunteer mothers in bathing, feeding and playing with and exercising the additional needs children. You initiate programs for the older girls with disabilities, programs that increase their self esteem and improve their sense of self worth. You love children and do not require a ton of personal space.
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The School of Hope BuddyThe School of Hope Buddy joins the teaching staff at our school, teaching basic reading and writing skills to illiterate children and girls up to 16 years old who have no formal education. You will be teaching Social Studies, Science, Mathematics and English to girls aged 8 – 18 who have had their education disrupted due to cases of sexual and domestic violence committed against them. You are therefore patient and inspiring with an encouraging attitude that makes students feel confident, competent, and excited to learn. You can bring your own teaching resources or can make do with the limited resources that we have at the school.
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The Mental Health BuddyThe Mental Health Buddy will be attached to the Special Needs Shelter. Your time will be spent caring for and supporting the emotional and psychological needs of the mentally disabled and traumatized children. You may be a social worker, a counsellor or psychologist, most importantly, you can work with children who have experienced emotional trauma as victims of sexual and physical violence. You are resourceful and slow to anger even in the most
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The Women Survivor BuddyThe Women Survivor Buddy can be a counselor, a mentor, a trainer or a friend to the increasing number of women survivors of violence in seeking assistance with Samoa Victim Support Group. You are compassionate with a friendly and inspiring spirit. You are not easily discouraged by the bruises on their faces or the ugliness of their stories. You instead instill hope and assist in improving their self esteem and their sense of self worth. You teach them the skills to sew, stitch, cook, and other income generating opportunities. Remember, you are a doer and an initiator with a ‘can do’ mentality. As such, you believe in change and will ensure that change will happen in the lives of the women survivors of violence in Samoa.
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The Office Buddy
The Office Buddy is a handy buddy to have around our very humble but busy office. There are no air conditions so fresh air is a bonus. You are an IT person that can assist with the basic internet, skype, website and facebook log on. You can tend to virus scan for office second hand computers, retrieve files from hard drives of computers that suddenly break down or connect printers without proper software.
You are good at filing and record keeping, assisting not only the Cases Section but most importantly, the Administration and Accounts in maintaining proper records. You initiate systems and processes that would work well for our support services and ensuring confidentiality of information is maintained. You can accompany our sick children to hospital during working hours or to the Attorney General’s office for interview. During court cases of the sheltered children, you are the girl’s buddy in court, walking with them in court and counseling them before and after a court case. You are resourceful and bold, and are able to work through a language barrier. You are a doer with a ‘can do’ mentality. As such, you can work with the minimum resources that we have, but producing a quality service for the people of Samoa. If you love challenges, then you are SVSG’s office buddy |
APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2017/2018 SVSG Buddy Program
Want to join the Buddy Program
Please complete the Buddy Program Application. Please take the time to answer the questions thoughtfully, with enough detail to help us understand who you are. Please limit all your responses to 200 words (maximum) for each question.
Please submit the following three attachments in one email to: svsginsamoa@gmail.com
Your completed Buddy Program application with your full name
Your resume (curriculum vitae) with your full name
A recent photo of yourself with your full name
Want to join the Buddy Program
Please complete the Buddy Program Application. Please take the time to answer the questions thoughtfully, with enough detail to help us understand who you are. Please limit all your responses to 200 words (maximum) for each question.
Please submit the following three attachments in one email to: svsginsamoa@gmail.com
Your completed Buddy Program application with your full name
Your resume (curriculum vitae) with your full name
A recent photo of yourself with your full name