International Communities of Practice

International Communities of Practice

The three international organizations I chose to examine are:

UNICEF – http://www.unicef.org/index.php

Here is their mission statement:

UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential.

UNICEF is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child and strives to establish children's rights as enduring ethical principles and international standards of behaviour towards children.

UNICEF insists that the survival, protection and development of children are universal development imperatives that are integral to human progress.

UNICEF mobilizes political will and material resources to help countries, particularly developing countries, ensure a "first call for children" and to build their capacity to form appropriate policies and deliver services for children and their families.

UNICEF is committed to ensuring special protection for the most disadvantaged children - victims of war, disasters, extreme poverty, all forms of violence and exploitation and those with disabilities.

UNICEF responds in emergencies to protect the rights of children. In coordination with United Nations partners and humanitarian agencies, UNICEF makes its unique facilities for rapid response available to its partners to relieve the suffering of children and those who provide their care.

UNICEF is non-partisan and its cooperation is free of discrimination. In everything it does, the most disadvantaged children and the countries in greatest need have priority.

UNICEF aims, through its country programmes, to promote the equal rights of women and girls and to support their full participation in the political, social, and economic development of their communities.

UNICEF works with all its partners towards the attainment of the sustainable human development goals adopted by the world community and the realization of the vision of peace and social progress enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.

This organization does amazing work in all areas of the world.  I am so interested in exploring opportunities that will take me to different parts of the world because I love to travel.  If I can combine my two greatest passions (children and travel), I will feel incredibly accomplished!  The job opportunities in the UNICEF organization range from nutrition to communications to policy development and so much more.  The skills that one would need to work for this organization would include passion for the mission, a willingness to venture to unknown circumstances, and an open mind to accept what might come your way.

Save the Children – http://www.savethechildren.org

Save the Children is the leading independent organization creating lasting change in the lives of children in need in the United States and around the world. Recognized for our commitment to accountability, innovation and collaboration, our work takes us into the heart of communities, where we help children and families help themselves. We work with other organizations, governments, non-profits and a variety of local partners while maintaining our own independence without political agenda or religious orientation.

When disaster strikes around the world, Save the Children is there to save lives with food, medical care and education and remains to help communities rebuild through long-term recovery programs. As quickly and as effectively as Save the Children responds to tsunamis and civil conflict, it works to resolve the ongoing struggles children face every day — poverty, hunger, illiteracy and disease — and replaces them with hope for the future.

This organization focuses on issues and policies related to the well-being of young children and families, specifically poverty.  They have initiatives in all parts of the world, serving 120 countries.  The employment opportunities ranged from Head Start positions in the U.S. to an Emergency Child Protection Advisor in Mali which is a very tumultuous part of the world.  In these positions, a candidate must have a passion for the success of young children and most international positions have a requirement for fluency in a second language.  I better get to work on that!  These opportunities are so exciting for me and reinforce the reason I entered in to this master’s degree program.

The Academy for Educational Development - http://www.fhi360.org/en/index.htm

Vision
FHI 360 envisions a world in which all individuals and communities have the opportunity to reach their highest potential.

Mission
To improve lives in lasting ways by advancing integrated, locally driven solutions for human development.

We believe…

…a 360-degree perspective is required to address complex human development needs.

…sustainability comes from building the capacity of individuals, communities and countries to address their needs.

…the key to improving lives is in generating, sharing and applying knowledge.

….partnering with governments, civil society organizations, the private sector and communities leads to success.

Our Values…

• Innovation to meet the evolving needs of our beneficiaries, funders and partners.
• Mutual Respect for diversity and cultural differences.
• Passion driven by a personal commitment to make a positive difference.
• Accountability for our work, measuring, reporting and continually improving all that we do.
• Commitment to Excellence assured by the highest ethical, quality, operational performance and scientific standards.
• Teamwork across disciplines and geographies, within the organization and with our partners.

I was not familiar with this organization.  The work that they do extends beyond education and programming for children and families.   Some of the job opportunities include program development based out of Washington D.C. and a literacy specialist in Nigeria.  As with other international organizations, most of the job opportunities encourage the fluency in the nation’s home language.  Again, I am so encouraged by all of these opportunities.  I had no idea how many opportunities were out there before this program.  For that I am grateful!

Resources:

http://www.unicef.org/index.php

http://www.savethechildren.org

http://www.fhi360.org/en/index.htm