GET YOUR PERIODICALLY
GET YOUR PERIODICALLY
Dream Corps is recruiting 25 volunteers to participate in its Summer Volunteer Program (SVP).
Volunteers establish libraries and develop reading-related projects in 4 villages across rural China for 4 to 5 weeks*.
*Including the time for traveling to the sites and training
THE PROGRAM STRIVES AIMS TO ACHIEVE THE FOLLOWING:
1.
Address inequality of resources between rural and urban areas by providing a rich variety of high quality books to underprivileged children.
2.
Create sustained impact by directly working with local school teachers and residents on issues of reading, education, and beyond.
3.
Strive for unprejudiced mutual understanding and intercultural exchange through full immersion.
VOLUNTEERS WILL TAKE PART IN ACTIVITIES THAT INCLUDE:
1.
Establishing and developing libraries: decorations, cataloging books, setting up the electronic cataloging system, and working with students and teachers to establish library policies.
2.
Reading programs: Library Month, Reading Aloud, Science and Reading, English Reading, and crafts.
3.
Understanding and learning from locals:Communicating with the local teachers, Visiting student homes, Promoting reading in the community
May 19, 2023 – June 18, 2023
The program consists of 4 online training sessions in April (3 hours per session every week),
3 days of training in Beijing, 4 weeks of volunteer work on sites, and 2 days of concluding forum in Beijing.
For more details, please check the important dates below.
WHY SHOULD YOU VOLUNTEER WITH DREAM CORPS
1. Gain first-hand understanding of rural China through experiential learning.
2. Work with a team of brilliant volunteers from diverse backgrounds and build long-lasting friendships.
3. Become part of the dynamic Dream Corps community and contribute to its sustained efforts to advance educational equality.
4. Practice social and civic responsibility through community service.
5. Explore issues of education in the context of China's political structure, historical background, and socioeconomic developments.
WHO SHOULD APPLY
ARE YOU
• Mature, curious, and open-minded?
• A strategic thinker and/or an active doer with a passion for development, education, and the non-profit sector in China?
• Hardworking, self-motivated, and able to adapt to new and possibly harsh environments?
DO YOU BELIEVE IN
• Diversity, understanding, and intercultural exchange?
• Empowerment through learning?
• Effecting change not by simply delivering goods but by investing in people?
If your answers are YES, then we strongly encourage you to apply.
IMPORTANT DATES
January 29Online application opens
March 19Online Application closes
By April 1Official acceptance letters are sent out
April 15Online training begins (including 4 sessions, 3 hours each)
May 19Beijing check-in
May 19 - 21Beijing training
May 21 Volunteers leave for sites
May 21 - June 15Working on sites
June 16Volunteers come back to Beijing
June 17 - 18Concluding forum
2023 SITES INFORMATION
The 4 sites for 2023 SVP are located in Guizhou, Gansu, and Henan. Applicants can indicate preferences, but preferences cannot always be prioritized. More information about the sites will be provided during online training.
QUALIFICATIONS
• Interested in international development, rural education, and the non-profit sector in China.
• Participate proactively in all activities and immerse in the local environment.
• Respectful of local rural customs, habits, and culture and willing to humbly listen to the views of local teachers, leaders, and parents.
• Able to adapt to rural accommodations, environment, and eating conditions.
• Able to communicate and work effectively and respectfully with people from different cultural backgrounds. Team-oriented and tolerant of diversity.
• Responsible, well-organized, and creative.
• Willing to promote the importance of reading to locals through various activities.
• Experience with volunteering and community service is strongly preferred but not required.
• Ability to speak Mandarin Chinese is mandatory.
Please read the important dates and make sure you are able to participate in the entire program.
Attendance in the entire program is absolutely required.
EXPENSES
Volunteers pay their own airfare to Beijing. Besides airfare, each volunteer should prepare minimum 3,000RMB for basic logistics. This cost will be collected by Dream Corps upfront on the first day of on-site training to support each volunteer for the whole program. At the end of the program, expenditure details and leftover expenses, should there be any, will be returned to each volunteer. The basic personal cost covers the cost of accommodations during training and the concluding forum, transportation to and from the program sites, lodging at the sites, travel health insurance, and training package. Dream Corps will be responsible for the costs of the library and reading programs (i.e. costs for books, other equipment, and librarian training).
NoteVolunteers who confirm to participate in the program must pay 500RMB (or equivalent amount of other currency) deposit. If volunteers complete the program, deposit will be counted as part of 3,000RMB for basic logistics; if volunteers drop out of the program for personal reasons, 500RMB will not be returned but instead will be used to buy books for children at our volunteer sites.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
If you have any more questions regarding our program, please visit Dream Corps official website
www.dreamcorps.org
If you have any questions regarding the application and volunteer selection process, please contact
volunteer@dreamcorps.org
Our WeChat Official Account Page
Dreamcorps
COMPLETE ONLINE APPLICATION
There is no application fee.
Personal Information
CV/Resume
Personal Statement (Please see the personal statement guideline for details)
One recommendation letter from a friend (not required but encouraged)
INTERVIEW
Qualified applicants will be interviewed via WeChat/Zoom. The length of the interview is about one hour.
Interviewee will be interviewed by 2 interviewers per round. You may be required to participate in a second-round interview.
Note 1：WeChat/Zoom interview will be short-noticed.
Note 2： Interviews will be scheduled on a rolling basis.
NOTIFICATION OF DECISION
Feb 10, 2023 – Mar 25, 2023: Those selected for an interview will be notified.
Feb 11, 2023 – Mar 26, 2023: Interviews will be scheduled by email by the interviewers.
By April 1: Final acceptance letter will be sent out before this date.
PERSONAL STATEMENT GUIDELINES
Please refer to the latest Personal Statement guidelines: HERE
ONLINE APPLICATION
Please click HERE for our online application.
RECOMMENDATION LETTER
Please refer to the online application for recommendation invitations. If you experience any difficulties with the application please contact volunteer@dreamcorps.org.