Volunteer: Continuing Promise 2010
Location:
Millwood, VA
Job Description:
Volunteer for the Mission CONTINUING PROMISE 2010 Project HOPE Operations in the Latin America region (July-November 2010)
For many years Project HOPE has provided volunteer opportunities at little or no cost to the volunteer, a very unique benefit among organizations utilizing volunteers in their programs. In order to provide maximum support to our programs around the world, volunteers will be required to self-fund their roundtrip airfare for all 2010 missions.
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Mission.
Project HOPE will participate in a public-private partnership with the US Department of Defense (DoD – Navy, Army and Air Force), regional allies, Inter-Agency and other Non-Governmental Organizations throughout the Latin America region in 2010 in support of the Theater Security Cooperation-Humanitarian Civic Assistance program. The mission is called CONTINUING PROMISE 2010. This will be Project HOPE’s 19th mission in the past five years with DoD. The intent is to strengthen (and in some cases establish) an enduring, persistent presence in the region, assisting our Central and South American allies where needed. The US Southern Command Headquarters will deploy the
USS IWO JIMA
to the Caribbean for four months, engaging eight Caribbean, Central and South American nations. The USS IWO JIMA, a Navy amphibious ship (LHD 4), will depart from Norfolk, VA and sail from July-November, coming to port in Haiti, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama, Guyana, and Suriname. Project HOPE will set the health standard and lead the way for NGOs participating in the partnership, which is designed to either reinforce current country programs or initiate and sustain long-term health programs in these countries.
Rotation 1:
7/18/2010 – 8/17/2010
Cap Haitian, Haiti
Covenas, Colombia
Rotation 2:
8/21/2010 – 9/13/2010
Limon, Costa Rica
Puerto Barrios, Guatemala
Rotation 3:
9/12/2010 – 10/10/2010
Blue Fields, Nicaragua
Boca de Toro, Panama
Rotation 4:
10/17/2010 – 11/5/2010
Georgetown, Guyana
Paramaribo, Suriname
Door to Door mission rotations are all subject to change.
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History.
The US Navy, in the Latin America region, initiated the CONTINUING PROMISE missions in 2007 following the success of the USNS MERCY tsunami relief efforts in SE Asia in 2005 and 2006. Project HOPE joined the first CP 07 mission as the USNS COMFORT (USNS MERCY’s sister ship) deployed for a fourth month, 12 country humanitarian assistance effort. HOPE then participated in CP 08, when two ships, the USS BOXER and USS KEARSARGE, sailed to the region and, once again in 2009, deployed alongside our partners on board the USNS COMFORT during CP 09. Recently, the USNS COMFORT deployed for two months in support of Operation Unified Response-Haiti to assist with the US disaster relief response to the January 2010 earthquake in Port-au-Prince. Project HOPE sent 76 health care providers to augment the ship staffing and, as a result, is currently developing a long-term rehabilitation project in Haiti to help the citizens of this horrific disaster that is marked by large numbers of crush injuries and amputations.
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Operations.
HOPE operations will be ship-based, with the US Navy providing all life support services, to include security, berthing, meals, communications, and transportation. The Teams will perform work ashore and redeploy to the ship for lodging and safety. During the four month sail, the ship will be in port for 10-12 days per country. HOPE will establish four rotations: These rotations will be approximately four weeks in length of two countries each. The mission will be challenging physically and emotionally. A passion for medicine and helping people is a requirement. Being a team member, sometimes leading and sometimes following is a must.
Flexibility toward accommodating change, adaptability, creativity, an adventuresome spirit, and a good attitude is also needed.
The ability to speak Spanish is a plus.
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Funding.
All volunteers participating must pay for any pre-deployment medical costs (vaccines, health exams, malaria prophylaxis); roundtrip airfare; all transportation from their home to the airport and back; any incidental hotels and meals associated with layovers and connections; and must ensure their passports are current and valid for at least six months at the expected date of return. The US Navy and HOPE will provide for all in-country transportation, meals, berthing, credentialing, visa assistance, and a set of mission uniforms while deployed on board the ship at no cost to the volunteer.
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Recruitment.
The following positions are being recruited for the Continuing Promise 2010 mission.
Leadership Team:
HOPE Medical Director:
Act as the Project HOPE team leader of volunteers during the mission; oversee all medical and clinical operations of HOPE volunteers; represent Project HOPE during all media visits, distinguished visitor events, and all ceremonial events and meals; ensure volunteers are well-represented and provided equal and fair treatment throughout deployment, to include workload, berthing, meals, transportation, and health and welfare needs; interface with the ship’s Medical Contingent Commander and Commodore; and reports directly to the Medical Commander and HOPE Mission Coordinator. Prior HOPE and/or US government experience recommended, but not required.
Operations/Logistics Officer:
Manage volunteers’ daily schedules and training activity; supervise and liaise all on-ground activities; coordinate and synchronize HOPE health education sessions; manage all of logistical needs, such as flights in and out of country, luggage issues, IT computer issues, and manifesting volunteers to go ashore and back to the ship; collect patient metric data and writing/submitting the daily report; act as the communication link between the ship and HOPE Headquarters; interfaces with the ship’s Medical Operations Officer; and reports directly to the HOPE Medical Director. Prior HOPE and/or US government experience, or leadership/managerial experience recommended, but not required.
Photojournalist (1 per rotation):
Document outreach mission through use of photography and weblogs; highlight volunteer nursing team and their work throughout the mission; interface with US Navy Public Affairs Officer to share stories and photographs; participate in and record any media and/or ceremonial events.
Primary Care/Education Team:
Physicians (family practice, pediatrics, internal medicine)
Midwives
Pharmacists
Psychologists
Nurses (practitioners, triage, maternal child health, OR)
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Please standby for information from Project HOPE notifying you of selection, deployment instructions or mission changes.
We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V.
