Child Friendly Space (CFS) Assistant

Introduction

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfillment of the wish to return home.

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956 and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 8,000 employees and also 8,000 volunteers, while managing a turnover of over 400 million Euro. Based in Copenhagen (Denmark) and present in forty countries, the Danish Refugee Council is a non-profit-making, politically independent, non-governmental and non-denominational relief organization. The Danish Refugee Council is Denmark’s largest humanitarian NGO and has been ranked the 3rd best NGO in the world in 2018 (for six consecutive years, the organization is among the top five of the NGO Advisor Annual List).

Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced. All our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

Background

The Danish Refugee Council initiated its activities in the island of Lesvos in November 2015 due to the unprecedented influx of asylum seekers. Following new political developments and displacement dynamics in early 2016, DRC expanded its activities to the mainland to support the people living in several sites across the country. With offices in Athens, Larissa and Thessaloniki, it currently implements a wide range of activities, including Site Management Support, legal assistance, identification of individual needs and protection of highly vulnerable persons, access to services within and outside the hosting sites through cultural mediation, and non-formal education. DRC works closely with the refugee communities, the Greek authorities and other humanitarian actors to ensure a protective environment for refugees and asylum seekers in Greece.  

Purpose

Under the supervision of Child Friendly Space (CFS) Team Leader and in close coordination with other DRC field units, the CFS Assistant will support the daily operations of the CFS for asylum seekers. S/he will be assisting in managing the development and implementation of quality programs and activities inside the CFS, providing on-going support for those working with children, and ensuring the child safeguarding and participation policies of DRC are strictly adhered to.

Duties and Responsibilities

Responsibilities will include, but not necessarily be limited, to the following:

• Define psychosocial activities to be implemented according to the children’s ages and situation and contribute to the development of a child friendly space curriculum.
• Prepare and implement recreational activities for targeted children (large events or small groups)
• Always act in the best interest of the child
• Identify within the activities the children in need of further assistance or special needs. follow up on individual child participation.
• Promote, ensure, and establish the child as a central actor in the activities and as the main actors in their own development and encourage them in decision making of matters that affects them.
• Communicate with children in a protective manner ensuring the respect of their rights.
• Create a positive and trustful atmosphere while interacting with children encouraging them to express their needs and feelings and ensuring their feeling of safety.
• Report any observed problem of a child to the CFS Officer or CFS Team Leader for necessary support or referral to other supportive network.
• Ensure that a child is always not alone in the center/location of activity.
• Identify materials required for activities preferred by children and request for procurement.
• Actively attend supportive trainings and participate in staff meetings.
• Accomplish individual and collective assignments given by her/his supervisors.
• Accomplish her/his duty of care protecting children from any form of maltreatment/abuse.
• Reports to the CFS Officer or CFS Team Leader as soon as she/he suspect or observe or informed a child or children are at risk of abuse or being mistreated.
• Closely supervise young children during group plays and avoid harmful exercises.
• Ensure activities are appropriate for the physical and mental capacity of children.
• Assist in the delivery of Child Protection awareness raising activities.
• Assist in organizing joint events with children from the local communities.
• Any other duties as may be assigned by the CFS Team Leader or Field Protection Manager, relevant to the achievement of Protection objectives.

Collaboration

• Report any major issues to the protection management.
• Collaborate with DRC colleagues to resolve problems and issues as they arise.
• Ensure the observance of the DRC Code of Conduct at all times.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of one (1) year experience working with children.
• Proven experience (including volunteer) working with refugees and asylum seekers.
• Strong experience in providing recreational activities to children (drama, play, games, circus, sport, storytelling, drawing/painting, artistic activities, music, dancing)
• Experience of community-based or community mobilization work in a humanitarian context is a strong advantage.
• Ability to work with refugees in underprivileged settings.
• Excellent creativity skills.
• Excellent communication skills especially with children.
• Computer skills are an added value.
• High professional ethics.
• Advanced interpersonal and teamwork skills, working with different groups, partners, and nationalities.
• Flexible, enthusiastic, and willing to learn from others.
• Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships in a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary environment.
• University degree in Psychology, Education, social sciences, Refuge and Migrant studies or any other relevant field is highly appreciated.
• Advanced verbal and written English skills.
• Working knowledge of Arabic, Farsi, French, Kurdish (Kurmanji or Sorani) is a strong advantage.

Required Skills & Qualities

•  Core Competencies of DRC:
    Striving for excellence
    Collaboration
    Taking the lead
    Communication
    Demonstrating Integrity
•  Ability to work in a multinational and multicultural environment.
• Proactivity, with a sound commitment to teamwork and with a spirit of genuine collaboration
• Strong initiative and self-motivated, with a strong commitment to humanitarian principle and high sense of ethics
• Excellent communication skills, as well as patience and politeness, are needed.
• Ability to cope with high workload and stress and identify priority activities and assignments, and adjust priorities as required.
• Multitasking and organizational skills are a must, and a good sense of humor.

Terms & Conditions

• The contract will be under the Greek Labor Law (this is a national position)
• All allowances will be provided to the employees (Christmas, Easter, Vacation bonus)
• DRC provides training opportunities to develop and strengthen the quality of its services as well as its staff members’
  professional and personal development.
• The position will be based in Attika (Greece) .

Application Process

Are you interested? Then apply for this position on line: www.drc.dk/about-drc/vacancies/currentvacancies . All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages). Both must be in English.

DRC provides equal opportunity in employment and prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability. DRC encourages all applicants to apply and does not practice any discrimination in any recruitment process. However, applicants must be aware that DRC cannot systemically sponsor non-EU citizen or non-Greek resident for all the steps of legal process to get a work permit and/or a residency permit in Greece.

Applications close on the 5th of March 2021. Applications submitted after this date will not be considered.

Due to the urgency of the position, DRC has the right to recruit a candidate who matches the required profile before the above deadline.