Upcoming travel, intern and volunteer opportunities with CRISPAZ!

In this Bulletin:
1) CRISPAZ Women to Women Encounter
2) Jesuit University Student Delegation
3) Internships with CRISPAZ
4) Summer Internship Program
5) Longterm Volunteer Opportunities

Women to Women Encounter
Former volunteer, Jennifer Collins is working with CRISPAZ to organize an educational seminar to El Salvador in from June 29 to July 7, 2007. We are designing the delegation to focus on important themes related to women and youth in El Salvador. The interfaith delegation will be comprised of women spanning different generations.

The cost of the Encounter is $760 which includes ground transportation, room and board, interpretation/translation and accompaniment by a CRISPAZ staff member. Airfare is not included. A $50 deposit per person is required to officially reserve your place on the Encounter and is due March 29, 2007.

Please contact Jennifer at 210-771-8919 or jenniferecollins@gmail.com if you have any questions or would like to participate and pass this along to any other individuals or groups you think would be interested. We need a minimum of 7 women for the delegation to take place and can accept a maximum of 15, so call or email as soon as possible to reserve your participation.

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Jesuit University Student Delegation
This is a unique opportunity for students involved in fair trade, labor and sweat-free movements on their campus to explore the issues of economic justice in El Salvador. Through offering this travel seminar from July 23 to August 1, 2007, CRISPAZ aims to motivate and strengthen student movements and organizations on Jesuit university campuses by bringing students from different Jesuit universities across the US together and facilitating exchanges and encounters with union leaders, factory workers, coffee cooperative members, artisans and Salvadoran university students.

We encourage students to seek university sponsorship from Campus Ministry, the offices of the President and Provost, the Jesuits, academic departments, and other related groups, centers, or projects on campus to finance their participation in the delegation. We also encourage university departments to commit to funding and finding a student to attend the delegation. In this way, the students are empowered to attend as a representative of her/his university and return to campus to work directly with fellow students and university administrators on important issues of labor and economic justice.

Program fees are $855 (not including airfare). Register as soon as possible to reserve your place on the delegation, a $50 deposit is due March 23, 2007. For more information, ideas for securing university sponsorship, or to confirm your interest in sending a student, please contact Marielle Murphy at encounter@crispaz.org <mailto:encounter@crispaz.org>.

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Internships with CRISPAZ
We are offering two internships with a high level of responsibility in our El Salvador Encounter (ESE) program starting January 2 and ending August 31 and September 14, 2007. Candidates should demonstrate a commitment to our organizational values of peace, justice, empowerment, accompaniment, liberation, mutuality and solidarity as well as a commitment to simple living in community with other interns and volunteers. The internship is based in San Salvador, El Salvador.

The El Salvador Encounter Intern (“ESE Intern”) will plan, interpret for, accompany, lead and facilitate all aspects of the El Salvador Encounter delegations while the groups they are assigned to are in El Salvador. In addition, the ESE Intern will meet regularly with her or his supervisor, El Salvador Encounter staff and the staff of CRISPAZ to prepare for and review all aspects related to delegation work, to report on the experience at the end of the delegation and to organize, maintain and promote all aspects of the El Salvador Encounter program. The ESE Intern will play an active role on the CRISPAZ team and provide support for other CRISPAZ programs.

Application deadline: October 9, 2006. Internship runs from January 2 to August 31 and September 14, 2007 with possibility of extending.

For more information or to request an application and complete job description, write to Tedde Simon (include ESE Intern in subject line) or call/fax at 617-567-2900.

Requirements:

• Fluency in Spanish and English.
• Experience in spoken interpretation and written translation.
• Experience in popular and / or adult education.
• Experience working on a team and with consensus decision-making models.
• Ability to plan, organize and implement the delegation activities.
• Ability to lead groups and facilitate group dynamic in a cross-cultural context.
• Ability to work effectively with staff and volunteers.
• Organizational skills and experience including computer skills, basic accounting and attention to detail.
• Knowledge of political, social and current situation in El Salvador.
• Understanding of Salvadoran and North American culture and a demonstrated ability to function well in both and between the two.
• Good sense of networking and maintaining contacts.
• Interest in longer-term commitment a plus

Compensation:
· Monthly stipend
· Housing
· Health insurance
· Being part of the CRISPAZ community in El Salvador

Spend next summer in El Salvador as a summer intern with CRISPAZ!
Our Summer Immersion Program (SIP) is an intensive learning and service experience in a poor, rural community in El Salvador. Living with Salvadorans and accompanying them in their daily life and work, you will have the opportunity to contribute your skills to the community and learn and grow in the process. CRISPAZ will provide orientation and project placement, and our staff facilitates times of reflection, analysis, and evaluation throughout the course of the program.

The 2007 program will run from the last week in May to mid August.

The program fee of $1,700 covers all in country transportation, housing, food, orientation, and spiritual and logistical support (airfare not included). CRISPAZ can assist you in developing a fundraising plan. Contact Tedde Simon at volunteer@crispaz.org for more information and an application.

Long-term Volunteering in El Salvador
Long term volunteers work alongside Salvadoran organizations and communities as they create alternatives for sustainable living and build a culture of peace in El Salvador. Volunteers are placed by CRISPAZ staff in one of our four focus areas where they can contribute toward effective change during their time of service. Volunteers accompany and complement the work of CRISPAZ and our partners, where they might:

• Contribute to sustainable community development and organization by accompanying a rural community.

• Encourage economic justice and strengthen fair trade practices by working with artisans to develop, market, and sell their products.

• Help improve conditions for maquila workers by working with labor education and organizing campaigns.

• Educate people from the U.S. about Salvadoran reality and build links of solidarity by accompanying our El Salvador Encounter delegation trips.

• Create viable alternatives for youth in high risk situations by accompanying gang members in prison or in youth projects.

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