Village Educator

Key performance areas and main responsibilities:

1.    Assists the Mothers to Create a Stimulating Learning Environment

a)   Encourages SOS Mothers to play a significant role in their children’s education, stimulating their interest in learning within the home. Mothers must be guided to take a particular interest in the progress and achievements of the children at school.

b)   Provides advice, guidance and support to Mothers on educational issues. SOS children must be made to see learning as a worthwhile, interesting and enjoyable activity.

c)   Encourages and assists Mothers to improve their own educational skills so that they are able to provide greater educational support to their children. This includes the development and implementation of programmes to raise the educational level of Mothers.

d)   Organises educational activities which the children will find interesting and enjoyable.

e)   Assists with Village holiday programmes and activities, providing input as to possible educational activities.

2.    Ensures Open Communication with Teachers and Schools

a)   Acts as liaison between the Village children and the schools they are attending. This involves maintaining contact with teachers and other school staff as necessary.

b)   Ensures that all teachers / trainers involved with SOS children are informed of how SOS operates. Encourages teachers to visit the Children’s Village to gain a deeper understanding of the children and their educational needs.

c)   Attends Parent-Teacher Association meetings of all schools in which SOS children are enrolled, together with the Village Father and relevant SOS Mothers.

3.    Keeps Informed of each Child’s Educational Development

a)   Maintains active files on all Village children (including youth). Ensures such files contain all documentation relevant to each child’s academic progress, including reports and performance evaluations. Regularly updates such files.

b)   Conducts regular reviews (at least half-yearly) of each child’s educational progress, together with the FLC Leader and relevant SOS Mother, in order to assess educational development and needs.

4.    Addresses the Educational Needs of Each Child

a)   Arranges additional educational support to meet the needs of individual children. This may include individual tutoring, after-school, summer school or holiday remedial classes.

b)   Develops and coordinates a study programme for all Village children (e.g. guided home-work sessions) highlighting study methods and providing support in the children’s weaker areas, in order to improve academic performance.

c)   Support children and caregivers during the online sessions

d)   Identifies alternative educational / vocational skills training opportunities for those children who are not progressing in community schools

5.    Provides Educational and Career Guidance

a)   Develops a clear understanding of each child’s skills, abilities, potential, future prospects, and aspirations.

b)   Provides children with ongoing career counselling and job orientation designed to prepare them for their eventual independence.

c)   Keeps informed of available vocational training and educational opportunities, including those offered by SOS locally and in other countries.

d)   Facilitate and follow up the implementation of career activities and sessions for children and youth.

e)   Works in close cooperation with the Youth Leaders and YouthCan coordinator, where applicable.

6.    General

a)   Attends management meetings as a part of the Village management team, and assists with general managerial duties as required.

b)   Carries out all duties in an exemplary manner and provides a good role model for the children.

c)   Handles all SOS property appropriately, including the financial resources of the organisation.

d)   Performs any other reasonable duties as assigned by the immediate supervisor.

Child Safeguarding (CS)

• Responsible to raise awareness of the SOS Child Protection Policy principles and to protect children from all forms of abuse, abandonment, exploitation, violence and discrimination
• Supports NPDM, CVPD and Programme units’ managers in organising relevant preventive actions addressing existing and possible CS risks as identified by the CS risk assessment.
• Responsible to report any CS suspicion, concern, allegation or incident immediately, following Child Safeguarding reporting procedures. CS reports should be made to the national CS focal person or any other member of the national CS team and/or to respective line manager.