Vacancies

Click here for details of any current vacancies

Current COPA volunteers in the Dominican Republic

Project Director: Connie Di Leo

Assistant Project Director: position currently vacant

Education Adviser: Verona Smith and Olivia Hill

Health Adviser: Amy Edelstein. New volunteer required from 1st February 2010.

Project Trust volunteers: 2009-2010:

The Project Trust volunteers for this year are Sophie Allen and Emma Coulson, both working in La Hoya School, Alexandra Shepherd who is working in the Partnership School and Iman Amrani and Sinead Kemple who are working in the Bombita School. They will be teaching English and Art and assisting with many other activities.

Click to download an application form.

Sponsor a child

COPA is funded through a sponsorship scheme. For less than £1 .50 a week (£6 per calendar month) you can either sponsor a child or class at school. You will receive a photograph of your child(ren), plus letters, pircures or drawings and newsletters during the year. If you pay tax you can Gift Aid your contributions. COPA will then receive extra funds from the Government at no extra cost to you.

If you would like information on how to sponsor a child please contact Sandra Samways (UK) or Margaret Keeling (Guernsey) or download an Application Form from the link opposite.

Volunteering in the UK and Guernsey

There are a number of ways to volunteer for COPA, which include:

• Joining the Executive Committee in the UK or Guernsey

• Giving presentations to local groups

• Arranging fundraising events

• Offering expertise e.g. translation, administration, publicity

To find out more about volunteering from the UK and Guernsey please contact Roger Tovey (Chairperson, COPA UK) or Jenny Benjamin (Chairperson, COPA Guernsey).

Volunteering in the Dominican Republic

COPA relies on the commitment and skills of its volunteers to support the education and health care provision in La Hoya and Bombita. COPA recruits volunteers on a short (several weeks or months) and long term (2 year contract) basis. Volunteers who are recruited on a two year contract are paid a local wage and the costs of airfare and health insurance are covered by COPA.

Long term volunteers form a core team across the two communities. This team includes the Project Director, Assistant Project Director, Education and Health Advisers. Each year this team is supplemented by a number of Project Trust volunteers who are undertaking a gap year before starting university.

Short term volunteers become involved with COPA to assist with specific projects or activities. For example, a medical student has undertaken an Intern at the clinic in Bombita. Engineers and construction workers from the UK and USA have worked and helped train local people during the construction of all of the COPA buildings.

To find out more about the opportunities with COPA, please contact Chris Courth at copahr@gmail.com