General Application Questions
Q: What are Grassroot Soccer Interns?
A: GRS Interns are typically recent college graduates who have a strong passion for youth development through sport (particularly soccer), education, and/or global health. GRS Interns are willing to make a commitment to provide a full year of their time in volunteer service to Grassroot Soccer. GRS Interns are creative, hard-working, independent, culturally sensitive, open-minded and responsible people who have demonstrated a desire to make a difference in the greatest public health crisis of our lifetime. Grassroot Soccer Interns play a crucial role in the successful delivery of the GRS Program in a number of Africa countries.
Q: I am about to graduate high school, can I become a GRS Intern?
No. All GRS Interns must have graduated college and be at least 21 years old prior to their deployment as interns. A number of our interns come to us having completed graduate degrees and.or having several years post-college employment experience.
Q: How do I apply to be a 2010-2011 GRS Intern?
A: Interested candidates can obtain application documents and instructions from the Grassroot Soccer website at www.grassrootsoccer.org. From the tool bar at the top of the website, go to “Join-the-Team” then “Become a GRS Intern”. Click on the “Application Materials and Instructions”. Applications are now being accepted on a rolling basis.
Q: I am not an American/Canadian, can I still apply to become an Intern?
A: Yes. If you live in South Africa or another African country, please contact Ryan Janks of Grassroot Soccer at rjanks@grassrootsoccer.org to begin the application process. If you are from another part of the world, please follow the steps outlined above to begin the application process.
Q: What does GRS look for in an Intern?
- Ideal Intern candidates are genuinely and wholeheartedly committed to Grassroot Soccer’s mission and methods. These candidates will be creative, courageous, passionate, hard working, independent, culturally sensitive, open-minded, insightful, intellectually mature, and responsible. Additionally, they will possess and demonstrate:
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
- Enthusiasm for and experience working with young people
- Passion for international health, education, and/or sport-for-development
- Excellent computer skills
- Practical leadership experience
- Commitment to social justice and genuine desire to make a difference
Commitment and Fundraising:
Q: How long is the Internship requirement?
A: We expect Interns to commit to and to fulfill a full 12 months of volunteer service, beginning August 1st and ending July 31st. American/Canadian Interns are also expected to attend a pre-departure orientation in Norwich, Vermont during the summer before they leave. We may have the availability of February – August internships, but these will be on a limited basis if at all.
Q: How much money will I need to support myself for a 12-month internship?
A: We recommend that Interns raise about $10,000 to support themselves for a full year in Africa. Some Interns have gotten by with less, and some have needed more, as costs depend on lifestyle. While GRS covers the cost of housing and all work related transportation, Interns are expected to cover all transportation costs to and from Africa and their own living expenses – including food and local transportation not related to work and everyday necessities such as insurance, etc.
Q: How have other interns raised the funds to participate?
A: In the past, Interns have raised funds through grants from their colleges or universities, letter writing campaigns, fundraising events (e.g. charity soccer tournaments), online fundraising widgets, and a number of other methods. Upon your acceptance of a GRS Internship offer, GRS will provide information to you to assist in your fundraising.
Roles/Responsibilities
Q: What are the activities and responsibilities of a GRS Intern?
A: Activities and duties of GRS Intern include but are not limited to:
- Assisting in planning and implementing of youth-targeted, HIV prevention education programs;
- Networking with community organizations to develop relationships and promote GRS products, programs and services;
- Planning and coordinating community events such as Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) soccer tournaments;
- Building capacity of GRS field staff and local GRS coaches;
- Assisting with program monitoring and evaluation;
- Recruiting community-based volunteers;
- Assisting in curriculum or business development
Q: Do all Interns have the same roles and responsibilities?
A: No. Interns will be deployed to various sites in Southern Africa and be assigned a specific role to fulfill within that site. Placements will be made, based on GRS’ needs and the Intern’s skills and interests, to jobs within 5 areas:
- Programs
- Business Development
- Curriculum Development / Monitoring & Evaluation
- Operations
- Research and Advocacy
The majority of interns will work in the Programs Department. For more information on each of these departments and the roles within them, please please go to Intern Job Descriptions.
Q: Do GRS Interns teach the Grassroot Soccer curriculum to kids?
A: No. Effective HIV prevention programs must be locally driven. While Programs Interns assist with all aspects of program management, kids respond better to local role models who speak their language, share their culture, and truly understand their reality. For the most part, none of the GRS American staff are involved in directly teaching kids in Africa. Nearly all of the teaching is carried out by local African staff and volunteers. Since students’ English language skills often vary widely across program sites, the curriculum is typically taught in a combination of English and local languages. It would be both ineffective and culturally inappropriate to have Americans involved in the direct implementation of the curriculum.
Q: As a GRS Intern, will I have interaction with kids?
A: This depends in large part on the position you are assigned to as a GRS Intern. Programs Interns will spend a significant amount of time in the ‘field,’ interacting both with GRS facilitators as well as participating youth. Many Programs Interns will be required to conduct site visits to evaluate the programs being delivered by GRS staff and volunteers. Programs Interns may also assist in the implementation of soccer leagues and tournaments, in which they work closely with local African staff as well as kids. Operations and Business/Curriculum Development Interns typically have more office responsibilities, though all Interns have the opportunity to visit programs and interact with local staff as well as kids.
Location and Placement
Q: Do all Interns live and work in the same place?
A: No. Placements vary year to year. Interns are assigned to GRS offices in South Africa, Zambia, and other countries where GRS is expanding. Additionally, staff and program needs may require that interns move to several different sites during their year long internship.
Q: Can I choose the location of my internship?
A: While Interns may submit preferences, GRS makes deployments based on its needs first as well as on each Intern’s skill-set. Generally, current and past Interns have been satisfied with their placements.
Logistics
Q: What kind of training will be offered?
A: Upon acceptance, all incoming American/Canadian Interns will be asked to attend an orientation in Hanover, NH over a long weekend in mid-July . This orientation is focused on preparing interns for departure, providing an opportunity to meet the rest of the Intern class and the US staff and to introduce the interns to basic GRS policy and procedures. In addition, all Interns will begin their year’s volunteer service to Africa by participating in a training program in Cape Town, South Africa prior to their specific site deployment.
Q: What kind of housing does Grassroot Soccer provide for Interns in Africa?
A: Interns stay together (with other Interns working at their sites). Interns are provided with either a house or apartment in which they will be safe and comfortable; there are no host family assignments. All Intern housing is provided by GRS.
Q: Am I able to obtain medical insurance through Grassroot Soccer?
A: GRS does not provide medical insurance for Interns. Interns are required to be covered by some form of medical insurance–either from their parents’ policies or their own. GRS provides all Interns with Emergency Referral Assistance through a provider such as Medex.
Q: Will there be employment opportunities with Grassroot Soccer after my internship is completed?
A: Quite possibly. Though it is impossible to make guarantees, several current full-time staff began their GRS careers as unpaid, volunteer interns. Jobs will be offered to interested interns depending on the organization’s needs at the time and your skills/qualifications as a potential employee.
Q: Will I have vacation opportunities to travel in Africa?
A: Yes. In the past, Interns have made the most of down time and holidays to see other parts of Africa. While Interns are Volunteers, they are expected to fulfill all duties in the same manner as is expected of GRS employees, there will be opportunities to take personal time to travel. . The holidays in particular are an excellent time to have family visit, or to hop on a bus or plane and make the most of a once in a lifetime opportunity on a beautiful continent. You will be expected to schedule your “time away” with your on-site supervisor.
Soccer
Q: Do I need to have played college soccer to be a GRS Intern?
A: No! Though many Interns both past and present are former soccer players, participation in soccer (or any sport) is not a prerequisite. While soccer continues to lie at the heart of the GRS vision, soccer skills are not essential to joining the GRS team.
Q: Can I play professional soccer as a part of my Internship?
A: While most Interns do not play professional soccer in Africa, if you are interested there may be an opportunity to do so. Please let us know as soon as you start the application process that you are interested in playing for a professional team in Africa, so that we can make sure it’s a good fit for us, the club, and for you. Building connections to local players and teams adds a great deal of value to our work.
Q: Will there be opportunities to play soccer while working as a GRS Intern?
A: Yes! Whether it’s in a weekly staff game, pick up, or as part of a local futsal team, you will have ample opportunity to play soccer during your internship.
For answers to your questions which are not included here, please send an email to david@grassrootsoccer.org.
