Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community - Internationally

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community – Internationally

The three international organizations that appealed to me are Save the Children, FHI360, and UNICEF. They appealed to me because of what they do for children throughout the world through education, protection, or research, or combinations of the three.

“Save the Children gives children in the United States and around the world what every child deserves – a healthy start, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. When disaster strikes, we put children's needs first. We advocate for and achieve large-scale change for children. We save children's lives” (http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6115947/k.8D6E/Official_Site.html). They offer services and resources around the globe in the areas of child protection, education, emergency response, health and nutrition, hunger and livelihoods, and HIV and AIDS. I would be honored to work for Save the Children because of their amazing impact that they have had for so many children and families all over the world. They have several career opportunities that appeal to me, however many of them would be unrealistic for my personal situations and family commitments. Two of them that I would seriously consider would be that of a Program Specialist: Early Steps to School Success, and Specialist: Early Childhood Development. “The Program Specialist, ESSS is the on-the-ground Save the Children (SC) staff member providing technical and management assistance to partners in area to ensure the effective coordination, implementation and monitoring of early childhood education programming” (http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6115947/k.8D6E/Official_Site.html). The requirements of this position is a college degree in early childhood education or a related field that includes birth to three training, a minimum of three years of relevant work experience, and a valid drivers license. The Specialist: Early Childhood Development position is part of the International Program Department of Education and Child Development team with a central focus in the area of early childhood care and development. “The Early Childhood Development (ECD) Specialist will provide technical support to country offices in the design, implementation and monitoring of ECD programs” (http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6115947/k.8D6E/Official_Site.htm). The requirements for this position are a Masters degree in early childhood development or education, a minimum of three years early childhood development program design and implementation, experience in developing countries, excellent communication skills in English, fluency in Spanish, and a willingness to travel 30% - 40% of the time.

“UNICEF was created with this purpose in mind – to work with others to overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease and discrimination place in a child’s path” (http://www.unicef.org/about/who/index_introduction.html). Some of their focus areas are in child survival and development, basic education and gender equality, HIV/AIDS and children, child protection, and policy advocacy and partnerships. UNICEF also has several career opportunities that appeal to me, however the majority of them are unrealistic for myself. The one that interests me the most would be the Education Specialist. The Education Specialist is “Accountable for formulation, design, planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluation of Education programme(s) to ensure overall efficiency and effectiveness of the programme management, delivery and accomplishment of programme goals and objectives” (). For this position you should have an advanced university degree in education or social sciences, as well as eight or more years of professional work experience at national and international levels in fields relevant to education programs, the ability to identify and monitor gender inequality and equality issues, and fluency in English and a second UN language.

“FHI 360 is a nonprofit human development organization dedicated to improving lives in lasting ways by advancing integrated, locally driven solutions” (http://www.fhi360.org). FHI360 is grounded in research and science, strengthened by partnerships and focused on building the capacity of individuals, communities and countries to succeed. A career opportunity that greatly interests me in this organization is the ECE Specialist. The ECE Specialist provides technical assistance and training to Head Start Grantees in areas related to school readiness, training and career needs of Grantee staff, and collaboration activities. The requirements for this position are a minimum of a BA or BS degree in Early Childhood Education, a minimum of 5 years experience in programs serving young children, the ability to train and provide presentations to individuals as well as small or large groups, ability to prioritize and meet deadlines, and ability to travel 50% or more of the time.

Reference

Save the Children. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6115947/k.8D6E/Official_Site.htm

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). (n.d.). Retrieved November 28, 2011, from http://www.unicef.org/

Academy for Educational Development. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.aed.org/en/index.htm