Volunteer Community Empowerment Advocate – Asylum Access Malaysia

Asylum Access Malaysia (AAM) is actively seeking applications from individuals passionate about social justice and refugee rights, and who are driven to make a positive impact in the lives of refugees living in Malaysia.
Volunteers will commit to between 3 – 6 months in Malaysia where they will play a crucial role in supporting the Community Outreach Coordinator.
Following an intensive training program, VCEA will play a key role in executing AAM’s Community Legal Empowerment tools by participating in and developing community legal empowerment initiatives, materials for Know-Your-Options workshops [focusing on aspects of health, livelihoods, education & general protection (arrest & detention, gender based violence etc.)] and handouts for refugee community members, and participate in other activities to reach and empower refugees where they are.
AAM fosters a collaborative team environment, to which all Volunteers will contribute. Volunteers help to support the full management of the office, which includes participating in direct office administration essential to the successful running of AAM operations. Volunteers may be also expected to facilitate community activities, present information about Asylum Access and refugee rights at community events, and organize conferences and meetings.

Program Highlights
Refugee Rights Training and Professional Development – Throughout VCEAs work with AAM, the organization will support VCEAs with a series of tools to maximize their programmatic work and their understanding of refugee empowerment. Regular training and debriefing sessions will offer VCEAs the chance to enhance and process their experience and share insight about cross-cultural issues.
Programmatic Work – Upon joining the team, VCEAs will be largely responsible for their own tasks. Throughout their time at AAM, they will receive support and mentorship from AAM’s leadership team. This will give VCEAs the practical experience of working directly with communities and seeing through projects from development and implementation and evaluation projects.
Joining our Network – After working with Asylum Access, VCEAs will be connected with an ever-growing network of refugee advocates around the world, which circulates job openings, research opportunities, refugee news, and more. VCEAs will have access to the mentorship of AAM’s leadership team.

Position Responsibilities
VCEAs will be supporting the Community Outreach Coordinator for the following duties but not limited to:
• Developing and implementing community outreach and empowerment programs;
• Developing tailored needs assessment and monitoring and evaluation tools;
• Conducting needs assessments with refugee communities and evaluation for current initiatives;
• Developing materials for Know-Your-Options workshops for refugees, work with interpreter to adapt materials, and train and/or participate in the workshops;
• Conducting research on best practices for community empowerment and outreach initiatives;
• Supporting and facilitating refugee-led initiatives to access their human rights ;
• Developing and executing client outreach strategy in collaboration with the AAM team;
• Supporting the interpreter training program including assisting with recruitment, training and continuing professional development and well-being; AND
• Assisting with the general administrative duties of the office, including helping to build administrative capacity within the office to meet demand as AAM grows.
Preferred Qualifications:
• Ability to commit to at least 3 months of full-time service-work;
• University Degree (preferable specialization in Social Work or International Development);
• Experience working in community empowerment work, ideally with asylum seekers or in human rights, as well as a strong passion for social justice work;
• Experience working with vulnerable populations and/or survivors of trauma;
• Community organizing experience an asset;
• Experience working in a non-profit or legal aid setting with limited resources, ideally in the global south;
• Experience living and working cross-culturally, preferably in Southeast Asia or other areas with large refugee populations;
• Aptitude to successfully complete assigned tasks with minimal oversight while serving clients with the highest ethical standards;
• Understanding of the importance of working as part of a team and the ability to follow the direction of AAM management staff;
• An enthusiastic, positive and easy-going personality with demonstrated capacity to handle living and working in an ad-hoc environment where difficult situations and crisis can develop at a moment’s notice; AND
• Professional written and verbal English is required, knowledge of other languages (Burmese, Arabic, Tamil, Urdu, Somali, Farsi) will be very helpful.**

HOW TO APPLY:
1.Please send a cover letter, resume, and a writing sample (between 2 – 3 pages) to apply@asylumaccess.org with the subject line “VCEA Application – Malaysia”. Please specify what makes you uniquely qualified to be a VCEA with AAM and how volunteering with AAM fits into your career plans. Also, state your expected date of availability.
2.Applicants interested in the Oct/Nov 2017 intake, should apply as soon as possible. Applications received before Aug 31,2017 will be given preference.
Asylum Access takes protection & safeguarding extremely seriously. Employment is subject to our Child & Vulnerable Adult Protection standards including where possible, background checks. Adherence to our Safeguarding Policy is mandatory for all staff, volunteers, and interns.
Asylum Access is an equal opportunity employer**