Communications Intern in Tanzania

The Mission of Nurturing Minds is to support quality education, life skills, and entrepreneurship to help girls in Tanzania become leaders in their communities. Currently, Nurturing Minds achieves this through the development and support of the SEGA Girls’ School (SEGA), a dynamic girl boarding school in Tanzania serving over 280 girls per year who otherwise would not have access to quality secondary education.

In addition to academics, the school provides programs in life skills, entrepreneurship, environmental stewardship, leadership training, and career development; and supports its graduates with continuing education scholarships. SEGA also runs a SEGA Lodge for visitors and supporters and has recently developed a cultural exchange program where students and staff organize interesting culturally stimulating activities for visitors at the school and nearby communities. The purpose of this program is to provide students with real skills which they can apply to their own cultural tourism businesses after graduating from high school and earn money to support the school.

 

SEGA is seeking an intern who will work for 3 months with the SEGA Girls’ School in Morogoro, Tanzania.

 

The intern will be a self-starter with strong organizational skills, pay great attention to detail, and be passionate about making a difference. The intern will work with a creative, hard-working team of committed volunteers and staff.

 

The position is 40 hours/week. There is a $300/month stipend. 

 

 

Flexible Dates for at least a 3-month period 

 

When working with SEGA, the intern will work closely with the Director, Head of School, and the Communications Coordinator, and remotely with Nurturing Minds staff to support the smooth running of cultural exchange programs within the school, and to support the school’s public relations and communications efforts. SEGA's Communications team is responsible for coordinating all cultural exchanges between the US and SEGA campus; this includes two-way written communications as well as hosting visitors from the US.

 

In addition to communications activities, the intern will assist the Education for Life (EFL) and Entrepreneurship departments to update and clarify documentation of the student training programs conducted by the respective departments.

 

Lastly, the intern includes working with Form 1 (first-year) students to improve their English language comprehension and conversation skills. 

 

SEGA seeks a dynamic self-starter, well versed in development issues, as well as US culture, who can assist with planning to ensure that these groups and their peer students at SEGA have a mutually beneficial, fulfilling exchange.

 

Responsibilities

R1. Communications between SEGA and Nurturing Minds organization and benefactors

As requested by Communications Coordinator: 

• Coordinate communication with US-based student scholarship supporters:

• Student Letters -- Support students to write and edit letters to their US-based friends.

• Check student scholarship supporter email inbox -- download, record, and edit letters.

• Assist Communications Coordinator to document special events taking place on-campus and off-campus, and to communicate with relevant stakeholders.

• Build staff capacity to take high-quality photos for inclusion in school publications.

• Review and assist with the preparation of written reports from SEGA to Nurturing Minds.

 

R2. Support Form 1 English Language Fluency Workshops

• At the direction of the Academic department, support the extracurricular English lessons for Form 1 through practical conversation between students and native English language speakers. Lessons may include leading the entire workshop, facilitating small group work, and/or one-on-one assistance. Topic areas for instruction and proficiency targets will be provided by the Academic department.

• As time allows, provide one-on-one English tutoring after formal class hours for weaker students in Form 1, as identified by the Academic Mistress. 

 

R3. Visitor Engagement & Cultural Exchange Programs

• Plan with Communications Coordinator and school administration all activities to take place during the visit, using past visits' documentation as a guide.

• Develop and document agreed-upon schedules in writing, and facilitate a mutual agreement between visiting group coordinators and the Head of School, Academic Mistress, and other relevant staff at SEGA. 

• With Communications Coordinator, ensure that logistics are fully arranged prior to the visit. 

• Communicate clearly via email to visiting groups and, within SEGA, to relevant staff to ensure all are fully aware of their responsibilities.

• Work with SEGA administration to identify an appropriate group of students to be “hosts” of each visit. Inform students in advance of what is expected of them.

• Work with Communications Coordinator to help in preparing SEGA graduates who are chosen for a visit to the United States by finalizing required documentation, securing visas and passports, and preparing graduates for cultural exchanges and presentations in the US prior to their departure. 

 

R4. Education for Life (EFL) and Entrepreneurship Department support 

• Attend weekly scheduled events to take photos, document the activities, and include them in weekly updates.

• Work closely with the Heads of the Departments of EFL and Entrepreneurship to learn programs. 

• Take the lead role in updating any requested required documentation.

 

Work Environment with SEGA

• Must be able to work and live on campus in Morogoro, Tanzania. 

• Must be physically and mentally capable of performing multiple tasks and able to function in a culturally diverse, fast-paced environment.

• Must be adaptable to work and living conditions that may be quite different than those found in North America.

• Must be at least 21 years of age. 

• It is a plus if you are passionate about our program mission! 

 

Position Details

Provided by SEGA Girls’ School and Nurturing Minds 

• $300 USD/month stipend paid in Tanzanian shillings 

• Reimbursement of Business visa ($250 USD) in Tanzanian shillings upon arrival at SEGA Girls’ School

• Housing at the SEGA Girls’ School in our Volunteer Apartment that include: water, wifi, and electricity

• 3 meals a day at the school OR option to arrange transportation to Morogoro to purchase groceries to cook on own

• Transportation to and from Dar es Salaam, Julius Nyerere International Airport 

• Hotel in Dar es Salaam (If required based on your flight schedule)

 

Responsibility of Intern prior to arrival

• Round trip flight to Dar es Salaam 

• Obtain a Tanzanian Business Visa ($250 USD) 

• Obtain travel medical insurance that includes medical evacuation 

• A passport valid for a minimum of six months beyond visa issuance and/or date of entry, and at least one blank visa page, is required 

• Register with the US Embassy in Tanzania STEP Program 

• Obtain any needed medications/vaccinations prior to travel 

*all visitors to the SEGA Girls’ School must be vaccinated against COVID-19*

• Sign the Nurturing Minds Child Protection Policy and Release of Waiver and Liability 

 

Orientation

Prior to traveling and working with SEGA Girls’ School, there will be a series of Zoom orientation calls and emails to help prepare you for your destination and job responsibilities. 

 

Prior to traveling: 

• We will have an orientation to discuss all travel, living, health, and safety logistics and questions. 

• We will have a discussion on cultural humility, Tanzanian culture, and what it means to be a foreign intern in Tanzania. 

• You will have an opportunity to meet with SEGA’s Communication Coordinator and Hospitality Coordinator, who will help you get settled in once you arrive, prior to arriving. 

• We share with you via email visiting manuals, emergency contact lists, COVID-19 protocols, and more. 

Arriving at SEGA: 

 

• Once you arrive at SEGA the Communications and Hospitality Coordinators will greet you and help you get settled into your new home. They will discuss safety, transportation, ways to explore Morogoro and Tanzania, culture, food, and health, and give you a tour of SEGA’s Campus. They will help introduce and welcome you to SEGA’s staff and students. 

• They will also join you at the supermarket or open-air market in Morogoro Town to purchase food items, water, toiletries, and other household essentials you may require during your stay. 

• They can also give you a tour of Morogoro Town so you know where essential locations are.

Interested applicants should send a resume and cover letter to [email protected]