Vacancy announcements
Country Director, Africa & Middle East Refugee Assistance, Egypt
Africa & Middle East Refugee Assistance (AMERA) seeks a Country Director to provide strategic direction and leadership to AMERA-Egypt. Working with the support of the Director of AMERA-UK, the Country Director will be responsible for providing strategic leadership as well as managing staff, finances, programme development and the implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting of all AMERA services provided to asylum seekers and refugees in Egypt. Key responsibilities of the Country Director include representing AMERA at public forums at national and international institutions, ensuring the sustainability of service provision to refugees in Egypt through advocacy, resource mobilisation, and influencing policy and practice. This position will also be responsible for the day-to-day management of AMERA-Egypt, including staff and financial management as well as programmatic and organisational development in line with identified needs. Application packs for this position may be requested by email. The closing date for applications is 30 April 2012.
Staff Attorney for the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights
The Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights at the University of Chicago invites applications for the position of Staff Attorney. The primary responsibility of this post will be to supervise law student and community volunteers serving as Child Advocates in Chicago, Illinois, Harlingen, Texas and other sites around the country. The Staff Attorney will be expected to travel at least one week every two months to Harlingen, Texas and other locations; conduct trainings in Harlingen and Chicago; accompany children to immigration court as well as state juvenile and family court; draft best interests briefs; co-teach the seminar that accompanies the Young Center clinic at the University of Chicago Law School as well as supervise law students in their work; and participate in fundraising, grant-writing and related activities as required.
Salary and benefits will be commensurate with experience. Review of candidates will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. To view the full job posting, including a full list of requirements, click here. Please email or fax (+1 773-702-2063) a cover letter, resume and at least three references to Alexandra Laguna, Administrative Assistant.
Volunteer Child Advocate
The Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights at the University of Chicago runs a Child Advocate programme. A Child Advocate is an adult (at least 21 years old) who volunteers to spend time with and advocate on behalf of an individual unaccompanied immigrant child while s/he is subject to immigration proceedings. Volunteers from all cultures, professions, races, ethnicities and social backgrounds are welcome. The programme has a particular need for bilingual volunteers who speak Spanish, Mandarin, Arabic, Hindi or Gujarati.
Before being assigned, Advocates are required to complete a two-day training session on child development, communicating with children, US immigration law and issues facing unaccompanied immigrant children. Once assigned to an individual child, each Advocate receives continuing training, support, and supervision.
As a Child Advocate, you will: visit with the child each week; help the child think through options and decisions; accompany the child to court hearings and other important meetings and interviews; conduct research on the child’s situation in his or her home country; draft a written report regarding best interest recommendations; maintain communication with the Young Center staff, the child’s Case Manager at the shelter and the child’s attorney; and advocate for the best interest of the child.
If you are interested in volunteering to be a Child Advocate, please complete and return the application, or contact the centre via email, phone (+1 773 702-9560) or fax (+1 773 702-2063).
