Career Development for returning JOCV volunteers working in the field of Environmental Education

1
Career Development for returning JOCV volunteers
working in the field of Environmental Education

• 20 January 2006
• Keiko Okabe
• Career Counselor
• JOCV Tokyo

2
Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers

• 78 countries
• 2,500 present
• Over 28,000 since 1965 (40th)
• Over 70 job types
• 30-50 Environmental Education and related posts

3
OtherEnvironment-related job types

• Forestry, City planning, Water treatment, Wild
  life research, Alternative agriculture, Fishery,
  Community Development, Ground water and Soil
  management, Youth activities, Cultural Heritage,
  Public Health and Hygiene, Horticulture, Waste
  water piping, Eco-Tourism, Nature conservation
  etc.

4
(No Transcript)
5
JOCV

• 70days training (local language, health studies,
  strengthening physical fitness, first aid,
• regional and country studies, up-grade
  skills)
• Two years assignment
• Bilateral government agreement
• On-request recruitment
• Some to local NGOs
• Age 20 to 39 (average 27)
• Focused on Technical Cooperation

6
Asia and Pacific Region

• Cambodia
• Mongol
• Vietnam
• Micronesia
• Papua New Guinea
• Palau
• Marshal
• Vanuatu
• Samoa
• Tonga
• Fiji

• China
• Bhutan
• Nepal
• Bangladesh
• Laos
• Thailand
• Sri Lanka
• Malaysia
• Indonesia
• Philippines
• Maldives

7
(No Transcript)
8
CambodiaEnvironmental Education

• Ministry of Environment, Siemriap regional office
• Educational program for elementary school
  children
• Planning, preparation of texts
• Organize promotion activities
• Focused on Garbage and Water issue

9
Vietnam Eco-tourism

• Nature Conservation NGO
• Promotion of Eco-tourism activities
• Tourism route development
• Plan PR activities for community
• Research existing tourism problems
• Organize workshop and seminars

10
MongolEnvironmental Education

• Ulaanbaatar
• City Planning division environment management
  office
• Design programs for Elementary school
• Teachers training for Middle school
• Give lectures at High school
• Community champagne activities

11
Marshal Island
12
Marshal Island
13
Kenya
14
Career Development

• JOCV (Forestry)? NGO(Environment)
• JOCV(Environment)?MSc.(Australia.)
• JOCV(Eco Tourism)? Dev.Consultant
• JOCV(Env.Education)? UNV
• JOCV(Env.Educaiton)? JICA Jr.Expart
• JOCV(Env.Education)? M.A.(Economics)
• JOCV(Env.Research) ? phD (Env.Protection)

15
What is the problem?

• Originally, most posts are for technical
  specialists with working experiences such as
  nurse, agriculturist, engineer, teacher,
  researcher
• BUT, recent increase in the interest for young
  non-specialists with backgrounds in social
  sciences, humanities, art, language, sports etc.
• Very high competition for non-specialists
• 600 800 applicants for limited posts in
  community development work, youth activities,
  social promotion activities

16
Over 1200 returning annually

• Need for Career advise
• Some has no previous working experience
  before
• Hard to see the reality of the AID business world
• (International Organizations, Japanese ODA,
  Development Consultants, NGOs, Educational
  Institutions, Media etc.)
• Wish to continue work in the same field
• Strong desire to become Development worker on
  sight
• Not enough postsmay be 1-2 can find suitable
  permanent jobs in development, others fixed term,
  temporary jobs, if lucky
• Approx. ½ Hope to study more
• To become Professional Development Workers need 5
  -10 years (vacuumed period ?)

17
What happens to them?

• Change in values
• Interest in global issues
• Notice negative effect of over development
• Interest in social damage
• Appreciate slow natural way of life
• Change in Life style
• Participate in various local activities to make
  the world a better place

18
What is needed?

• More financial support needed for further
  education (Only a few available)
• Need to collect practical information for career
  development
• More job opportunity needed as a next step after
  volunteer
• Need to have more access for relevant information
  (educational institutions, research institute,
  books, NGOs, seminars, symposium, activities
  etc.)

19
Any Suggestions?

• Welcome
• and
• Thank you
• Keiko Okabe
• keiko_at_s05.itscom.net