Volunteer Counselor / Adviser for women survivors of violence – Roj Women – 5th January 2011
FEMALE APPLICANTS ONLY. Section 7 (2) of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 applies these posts.
The organization and the project
Roj Women is a small charity based in Hackney, London that works for Kurdish women’s rights both in London and overseas. Our role is to provide ways for Kurdish women to recognize their needs and rights and to empower them to fulfill them. We are currently providing culturally sensitive advice as well as individual psychological support for Kurdish women who face gender and honor based violence.
The uniqueness of this project resides in the integral nature of the services provided which unite advice and casework as well as psychological counseling while focusing solely on women’s issues. Another singularity is the fact that our advisers and counselors are fluent speakers in languages that are relevant to Kurdish women such as Kurdish dialects -Kurmanci, Zazaki and Sorani-, and Turkish, which allow us to break through user’s isolation.
Time commitment
Three hours per week (Monday to Friday) / 12 months
Description of the post
We are recruiting four female volunteers to work with us in providing culturally sensitive advice and psychological support for Kurdish women who face violence.
As an advice worker you will provide impartial and confidential advice to our clients on a wide range of issues (debt, housing, employment, welfare, immigration) including violence against women. You will research individual cases, assess problems and identify possible courses of action, guide clients to decide on the best course of action, mediate on their behalf, refer clients to other sources of help and keep up to date with appropriate legislation and policies.
As a counselor you will help users to explore feelings and emotions related to their experiences with violence. You will establish a relationship of trust and respect with clients, helping them towards a deeper understanding of their problems and to make choices regarding possible ways forward.
What you will be gaining from this position
Volunteers will gain free training and career development with the support of a training analyst: an experience counselor.
The training, that would comprise three courses for each volunteer aims to provide the students with specialized tools and knowledge to work with victims of domestic violence and in particular with victims of gender and honor based violence. A training analyst will follow up on the volunteer’s work and will act as a mentor.
We can provide valuable working experience that will improve your chances of getting a job and you will receive a letter of recommendation on completion of your volunteering. Voluntary work is unpaid, although travel and lunch expenses are provided.
Essential Skills
* Interest and commitment to women’s rights;
* Willing to gain experience in counseling and advising victims of violence against women;
* Excellent spoken and written Kurdish (any dialect) or Turkish, and fluent English;
* Graduate or student in final year of Counseling / Psychology Degree (applicable to Counselor Volunteer Post)
* Graduate or student in final year of Law / Advice Studies (applicable to Advice Volunteer Post)
* Excellent interpersonal communication skills;
* A caring, sympathetic and sensitive manner and a non judgmental attitude;
* Ability to cope with stress and emotionally-charged issues;
* Tact and diplomacy to deal with sensitive and confidential information;
* Ability to liaise with other professionals and organizations.
Closing Date
Please submit CV and cover letter by 5pm on Wednesday 5th January 2011 to rojwomen@gmail.com.
Interviews will take place on Monday 10th January.
