7th Batch African Union Youth Volunteer Corps: Call for 2017 applications

The African Union Youth Volunteers Corps (AU-YVC) is one of African Union’s initiatives for promoting youth participation, capacity building and empowerment through service and skills exchange, driven by the philosophy of Pan-Africanism and Youth Leadership. The Program is in line with the African Youth Charter and Assembly Decision by AU Heads of State and Government (Assembly/AU/Dec.274 (XVI)) to launch a continental Youth volunteer initiative. AU-YVC was officially launched on the 3rd December 2010 in Abuja, Nigeria.

AU-YVC promotes volunteerism to deepen the status of young people in Africa as key actors in Africa’s development targets and goals, enhancing their participation in policy development as well as design and implementation of relevant interventions towards the AU Agenda2063 – ‘The Africa We Want’. It brings people together to share skills, knowledge, creativity and learning to build a more integrated, prosperous and peaceful Continent driven by its citizens.

AU-YVC recruits and works with young professionals age 18-35 from across the Continent and the Diaspora, to serve for a period of 12 months in their respective fields of expertise in an AU Member States other than their own. Priority areas of deployment of the AU-YVC include: education, youth entrepreneurship, agriculture, health (access to youth friendly health services), institutional capacity building, youth mainstreaming, information and communication, post conflict reconstruction and peace building.

AU-YVC Objectives

1.    Achieve the vision of the African Union of “An integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in global arena” through volunteerism and free movement of African youth.

2.    To contribute to Africa’s human development in line with AU’s Mission and Vision through effective youth participation in Africa’s Development process which includes youth as key beneficiaries.

3.     To actualize the emergence of empowered youth who will direct their energy and creativity towards their own growth and enrichment through pan African orientation and spirit of service.

4.    To initiate re-affirmation of Africa’s commitment to actualize the African Youth Charter as an instrument to make youth participation the critical value driver and architect for sustainable human development in Africa.

Eligibility Criteria

1.       Citizen of AU Member State or African Diaspora;

2.      Aged between 18 and 33 years;

3.       Have at least a post-secondary education certified training and qualifications, from the equivalent of a Bachelor’s degree

4.      Available to dedicate 12 (twelve) months for volunteer work;

5.      Willing to live and work in another AU Member State;

6.      Be proficient in at least one official AU language (Arabic, English, French, Portuguese);

7.       Have at least one year verifiable experience as a volunteer and or one year of professional work experience

The Ideal Candidate

·         Is change driven and has passion for Africa’s development;

·         Embraces Pan-Africanist ideals of solidarity, peace and unity in diversity;

·         Self-motivated and has interest in volunteer work;

·         Appreciates and respects other languages, cultures, religious and social norms;

·         Has great deal of leadership skills and can guide others;

·         Remains productive under pressure and in challenging environments;

·         Has a great deal of social networking skills;

Follow link to apply: http://auyvc.africa-youth.org/become-au-yvc/