Kurdish women organisation looks for Counselors / Legal advisers
Posted on 19. Mar, 2010 by Janroj in Campaigns, Community
There are currently four volunteer positions available at Roj Women’s Association.
Volunteer Titles: Counsellor / Adviser
Project – Professional advice and counselling services for Kurdish women facing gender or honour-based violence
FEMALE APPLICANTS ONLY. Section 7 (2) of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 applies to all these posts.
Roj Women’s Association provides culturally sensitive advice as well as individual psychological support for Kurdish women who face gender and honour-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 counselling while focusing solely on women’s issues. Another singularity is the fact that our advisesr and counselors are fluent speakers in languages relevant to Kurdish women such as Kurdish dialects – Kurmanci, Zazaki and Sorani –,or Turkish, as well as English speakers, which allows 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 counsellor, 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:
The volunteer will gain free training and career development with the support of a training analyst, an experienced counsellor.
The training, that would comprise three courses for each volunteer will provide volunteers with specialized tools and knowledge to work with victims of domestic violence and in particular with victims of honour-based violence and forced marriage. A training analyst will follow up on volunteers’ 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 counselling and advising victims of violence against women;
- Excellent spoken and written Kurdish (any dialect) 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.
To apply for this position, please submit CV and cover letter by 5pm on Wednesday 5th January 2011 to rojwomen@gmail.com.
