Internship

KISEDET INTERNSHIP POLICY

Introduction

This internship policy sets out the terms on which the interested students, graduates, interns and field students should commit to open, honest, regular communications (as necessary) over the duration of the stay in order to optimize the impact of internship period.

Background information

Kigwe social economic Development Training (KISEDET) is an organization based in the city of Dodoma in The United Republic of Tanzania. It currently has operations both in Dodoma and Singida regions. KISEDET started their activities in 1998 in Kigwe village, and the organization was formally registered on 18th February 1999 under the Trustees Incorporation Ordinance (Cap 375) as a non-governmental, non-profit-making and non-political organization. KISEDET afterwards widened its social-economic interventions including the Dodoma region districts – Dodoma city, Bahi, Chamwino and to Singida region specifically in Itigi. On January 2006 the KISEDET constitution was changed and registered as an NGO which is now known as Kigwe Social Economic Development Training since 2007.  By September 2018, KISEDET marked its 20th anniversary.

The organization assists vulnerable children and families through integrated development initiatives. It facilitates the rehabilitation of Children and Youth who live and work in the street and other abused or neglected children living in difficult circumstances and environments by encouraging close links between Organization’s projects.  Multifaceted activities combine child rehabilitation centres with community development initiatives such as;  

  1. Economic empowerment of youth and parents through VSLA (Village savings and loans associations);
  2. Rehabilitation and Transformation of Children and Youth who live and work in the street (CYLWS) and empowering youth through youth association model;
  3. Reintegration of children with their families through family therapeutic model; 
  4. Advocacy campaigns on Family health and HIV/AIDS, children rights, domestic violence and substance abuse among children, youths and caregivers.
  5. Supporting refurbishment and renovation of community facilities such as schools, community/local owned vocational training colleges (VTC) and health facilities.

To enhance positive development and transformation among key beneficiaries in the society, KISEDET always implements a participatory approach when carrying out their activities.

KISEDET is the most active player in dealing with matters affecting children, youth and families through stopping harmful drug addiction, counselling, rescue interventions, advocacy on child rights, and provision of residential care to vulnerable children, vocational training and education within Dodoma and Singida regions.

VISION STATEMENT

“A just, socially and economically empowered community for a dignified life.”

MISSION STATEMENT

“To uplift the socio-economic and other human conditions of vulnerable communities by facilitating them to realize their potentials.”

OVERALL GOAL

“A community where vulnerable groups are enjoying their basic rights and leading a dignified life by 2023.”

CORE VALUES

  1. Participatory development: We believe all stakeholders need to be involved in the development process.
  2. Justice and services to all people without any form of discrimination: We are committed in serving all peoples regardless of their political affiliation, religion, sex, age, ethnicity, race, colour, or education.
  3. Gender equity: Both women and men must be involved in development as equal partners and more specifically in equal representation.
  4. Transparency and Accountability: We provide a democratic space that promotes open and systematic management procedures. We are also accountable to all stakeholders.
  5. Responsive: We believe in adaptability since the world is dynamic and we constantly review our programs and management systems.
  6. Sustainability: We believe that the community comprises people who are able to realize their potential and be active movers of their own destiny
  7. Networking and partnership: We believe in maintaining and building relationship with all the stakeholders in order to provide comprehensive services.
  8. Motivated and committed workforce: KISEDET’s workforce is its most precious asset and every person is an inseparable part of the organization’s happy family. KISEDET strives to maintain a highly committed and motivated workforce that functions with minimum supervision.

Internship Programme

KISEDET, after being contacted several times by young students, has implemented an internship program for those who are looking for an experience abroad to improve, learn, question themselves, and relate to a culture different from their own.

Objectives of the Policy

KISEDET is committed to engage volunteers as part of its commitment to develop young professionals and others in preparing them for possible future careers in the endeavour to serve the common good and transformation of the society at large.

Specifically, we are committed to involve interns in:

  • Providing opportunities for students and young graduates to apply their knowledge, skills and acquire practical insights as they develop into professionals that is Career development;
  • Create a group of experienced individuals desiring to work with NGOs in serving the common good.
  • Try to introduce a different method of cooperation, mainly focused on the awareness of being able to receive more than what you have to offer. To cooperate in the true sense of the word: to work with and not for.

Principles of engaging interns

  • In trying to engage Interns, KISEDET will involve them in its range of projects
  • Will ensure that the tasks performed by Interns is clearly defined so that they are sure of their respective roles and responsibilities
  • Make sure that all interns are supervised by the person in charge who will be working with them (at all times) and will not resist if they are told not to exceed a certain limit.
  • During the assignment, the Interns will remain on the terms and conditions applied immediately when joining even if amended from time to time.  
  • It is responsibility of the Interns to find out and fulfil visa and complete this process according to country/local rules and laws. Obviously KISEDET will be able to assist the intern in obtaining it.

Induction and Training

Interns will be oriented to KISEDET in general including its core business, structure, vision, mission and values. Interns will also be oriented to KISEDET policies, rules and regulations. They will be given an information pack including general information about the organization.

Interns supervision

  • Each trainee will have to report to the LCO (local country operator), who will assist her/him in orientation, will give her/him support, will make her/him familiar with customs and traditions, and will provide her/him with training and tutoring.
  • The supervisor(s)/PLO will be responsible for assessing the Intern’s performance on a regular basis.
  • At all times, the volunteer will comply with the child protection policy, procedures, rules and working practices of KISEDET and general Code of Conduct and Standards of Conduct policies to the greatest extent that they are applicable.
  • At the end of the internship the Intern will conduct a final review in writing which will be delivered to the Director of KISEDET.
  • The intern will not be allowed to leave the site (i.e. spend the weekend somewhere else), unless the intern has discussed and agreed with the supervisor first.

Support

  • KISEDET does not commit to provide any financial support to volunteers. It is the responsibility of the Intern to cover all his/her costs during volunteering period including the cost for transport, meals, accommodation, health insurance, visa, ticket, and any other related cost for the entire period of the volunteering/learning period.
  • A contribution for food and accommodation is requested (see the table below).

Records

Minimum details to be kept on volunteers file will include the Curriculum Vitae, Application letter, copy of relevant certificates, letter of introduction from the University which the candidate comes from, and any other relevant information in accordance with KISEDET staff records and confidentiality policy. Volunteer’s file will also contain all necessary contacts of close relatives or referees to be used in case of any emergencies.

Confidentiality

Interns will be bound by the same requirements as KISEDET staff. They shall not at any time communicate to any unauthorized person or entity any confidential information about KISEDET and their own clients, which they got to know during their time at KISEDET.

Responsibility

  • KISEDET will not be held responsible for any damages and/or offenses caused by the intern or those committed against them.
  • Respect the time commitments and standards assumed, except in exceptional circumstances, and provide a reasonable notice so that alternative arrangements can be made.
  • Stick to the rules, procedures and standards of KISEDET and refer to your supervisor.

Occupations

  • The intern/student is not an employee of KISEDET
  • The intern/student will not receive any kind of benefit that are made to employees including salary, and/or the TFR.

Jurisdiction

  • All the legal proceedings that could result from this agreement with the volunteer will remain in the jurisdiction of KISEDET (Dodoma, Tanzania).
  • The intern/student will agree that in case of legal proceedings, he/she will cooperate with KISEDET and the agents of KISEDET.
  • The intern/student agrees to provide a written notification of KISEDET in the event that an accident occurs while he/she is performing their functions.

Term

  • This intern/student agreement shall begin on ………………. and will end on …………………………
  • The intern/student has agreed to provide total ………hours per week.

Termination

  • Because the intern/student is not an active employee, they may terminate this volunteer agreement at any time for any reason that seems necessary.
  • KISEDET may withdraw from this contract anytime, without forewarning in the case where the intern/student, did not respect one of the points mentioned in this contract, and/or has had a behavior that does not comply with the Child Protection Guidance and will arrange for the intern to leave the office immediately.

Emergency

  • In the event that emergency should occur while volunteer is providing services, the following contact should be notified immediately.

            Contact Name……………………………………….

            Contact Phone……………………………………….

This agreement is binding only in honour and gentleman ship, not intended as a legally binding agreement between us and can be cancelled at any moment at discretion of any part of this contract. None of us intend to create any employment relationship, not now nor in the future.

Costs:

KISEDET charges fair rates for accommodation and food. If there will be a little profit, it’ll go to support KISEDET’s projects.

Costs:

The principle is that all people that come to stay with us, pay for their own costs for travel and stay. Remember: the amounts below are calculated based on minimalist approach – that covers the direct related living costs with little margin to support KISEDET’s Homes.

2 weeks (exchange programs)Euro 25 per day
3-4 weeks volunteering/intern/studyEuro 15,50 per day
5-8 weeks volunteering/intern/studyEuro 12 for all days after 4 weeks
More than 8 weeksEuro 10 for all days after 8 weeks

* Price per person per night – level Jan 2022; change of prices due to various reasons possible

Included: accommodation, three meals a day (lunch and dinner will be the same; it will be possible to have dinner out at your own expense), drinking water.

Excluded: visa, drinks, translators and other local workers, Swahili lessons, costs for materials and local transport.

N.B: The costs of the accommodation when visiting our projects outside Dodoma are also excluded from the costs.
 www.kisedet.org;

KISEDET’s belief and visionary on Internship (…and volunteering)

Kindly take a few minutes for a self-reflections which can lead you into making a concrete decision on your intentions to join us:

• Are you among those who think they only have to give, or do you think you should also receive from an experience like this?

• Are you looking for a strong experience to share with friends and / or relatives when you go home and share over dinner?

• Are you among those affected by the “white servant complex?”

• Are you among those who blindly believe in: “Let’s help them in their Countries?”

• Do you think you are coming to Tanzania to save Africa?

• Do you think you have to “sacrifice” your holidays to come and help African children?

• Are you among those who believe that punctuality is an advantage?

• Do you panic when faced with an unexpected situation?

• Do you panic if there is no light, if there is little water, and especially if there is no Wi-Fi and sometimes not even phone service?

• Do you think lounging around is a bad thing?

• Do you have a low spirit of adaptation?

Then KISEDET is not for you, and we explain the reasons:

We want to avoid that guests, even if in good faith, can take away the work from the local population. For example, the locals know perfectly well how to build a classroom, but are happy to learn new construction techniques from an architect and the Western architect can learn from the local one. So if you have some skill or knowledge and are willing to exchange, share your knowledge with the villagers, we are very happy to work with you.

You will need to be willing to open up to an experience where what you will receive will be greater than what you have to offer the local population.

You will have to leave home prejudices and all the clichés that up to now you have heard about Africa (remember: Africa is a continent made up of 54 countries, and you will only be staying for a short time in one of these, so we ask you to be humble) and to be willing to face daily hardships and inconveniences; you will often be without light, without water, and you will have to learn not to waste anything and you will soon realize how precious water is! You will have to share a room with someone else, sometimes you will have to take a shower with a basin and jug, and you will travel on very rough roads and dry your hair in the sun. Sometimes you will eat with your hands, and often you will eat what the children eat.

You will not arrive in a place where because of the living conditions, you will be welcomed with open arms only because you come from the West, and above all you are not and will never be indispensable.

You will not be able to win the affection of the little ones with sweets and gifts, and you will not be allowed either. Everything will have to go through KISEDET, so even if you want to give gifts to the children, you will always have to ask  first and above all, the gifts will be delivered to a KISEDET operator who will distribute them to the children (of course it will be our pleasure to inform them, that gifts come from you).

Remember that knowledge of the Swahili language plays a decisive role in being able to settle in and try to understand (in part) the place that will be your home for a few months.

For the first period, you will probably be more of a hindrance than support.

You will have to be patient and take time to observe and understand, only then can you begin to gradually enter one of the KISEDET projects and understand if our approach and our way of working are really right for you.

KISEDET works with Tanzanians and not for Tanzanians and if and when you understand this concept, then you will be well under way. KISEDET believes in cooperation, reciprocal exchange and not a one-way street.

Our projects do not fall from the sky, and are not written in Italy, but arise from constant dialogue with the population. You will have to forget the preconceptions linked to the belief that there are underdeveloped countries that need help and open yourself to a reality in which the parties collaborate equally to achieve goals that have a positive impact on the community.

You don’t have to be a victim of the “white servant complex”.

Direct care, for example the care of the sick, of children, etc., is not your job, but rather a responsibility of the community. Being in daily contact, in a morbid way, with a child who has already experienced abandonment, can be very harmful for him, because you will not be here forever, and when you leave, you will make him relive that negative experience.

People of all educational levels are involved in the projects. Men, women and children of all ages. However, in all cases there is a local structure such as a school, microcredit cooperatives, etc. Do not think you are the only one who has a degree (maybe you haven’t discussed your thesis yet) Infact, you will often find yourself working with local people with multiple degrees or masters.

One quality that is needed to work with us is: HUMBLENESS.

We can offer you a unique experience, where you will understand that you are not indispensable, and where you will receive enrichment that you did not even think you could receive.

You will learn to adapt to any situation, and that time is relative.

You will always learn to appreciate the glass half full and not half empty.

You will realize that you can be a pawn within the ongoing project, without which, however, the project will continue either way.

You will learn to respect the local culture, and not to consider yours the “right and unquestionable one.”