We are looking for people to form a Canary Island volunteer group.
We are all volunteers, so this work is not paid for.
You need no formal qualifications or previous activist experience. If you have some, it’s definitely a great plus.
What our volunteer groups do
Asylum Links is a group of volunteers. We work in solidarity with refugees, migrants, people on the move, and people in need. We have started working with people in Europe and West Asia. We are now also working with people in South America and South Asia.
Asylum Links (AL) publishes accessible and reliable information. It supports people on work, visas, asylum, housing, healthcare, and education.
We share official or trusted documentation. We find local services that can give support. We share with people information on their options, and rights, in a country of interest.
We do individual casework for people that contact us, our clients. We find local services that can consider their case and we make sure that they get in contact with each other. We work online and we also go out and meet people wherever they are. If our clients are not happy with what the qualified person told them, we find somebody else. We also advocate for our clients and witness their living conditions.
We DO NOT give advice on anything. We share information and show all the possible options. And we support finding professional advice.
We need people who are compassionate and have time to listen to our clients. If you are compassionate and have time join our group. It is a very hard job but it will also be very rewarding and it makes a big difference for some of our clients.
What coordinators do
Every volunteer can be a coordinator in rotation with other volunteers. They lead activities in five main areas.
Outreach and dissemination
We distribute information online and offline. Our aim is to disseminate as much shared knowledge as possible. We do different missions in different countries in direct collaboration with local volunteers to understand better what is the situation.
We spend time visiting people in areas where they live to offer support and solidarity and witness their local living conditions.
Casework
For the individual cases that are more complex, we start a conversation about information. We visit people. We are able to give direct support that can enable our clients to access the services they need.
Aid distribution
We share useful resources when we have them. Distributions are a way to meet people.
Research and publishing
We research all possible options and regulations. We try to give a clear account that is translatable in numerous languages. We ask everyone the information they want, and we research and publish. Once it’s published, we test its validity with the experience that people have on the ground. Our website, alinks.org, is growing with information for everyone who’s living abroad. We aim to become a central resource of solidarity among people whether they are destitute or not.
Solidarity and Campaigns
We try to collaborate with other organizations on campaigns.
Fundraising and Grant Writing
Volunteers fundraise collectively or individually for their expenses especially when they are abroad. We apply for funds. We raise funds through the alinks website.
Recruitment
We always need to look for volunteers.
Finance
Every group has a budget that the group itself will manage.
Who are we looking for?
We are currently looking for Interns and activists in the Canary Islands, Spain. You will assist us in different areas: research, outreach, casework, solidarity (advocacy), and some fundraising.
Time engagement: 2 or 3 hours per week or more if you can
Duration: 3 months to
City: the Canary Islands
Person specification
General:
- interest in migration, humanitarian and development work, or human rights
- basic written English
- be able to be online sometimes every week either via computer or via phone
- self-sufficient
- compassionate
- sociable and friendly
- flexible: as a small organization, we occasionally take on responsibilities outside of our main area of work, and you will need to be prepared to help with a wide range of tasks
- motivated and relentless, so you will be able to successfully advocate for people
- effective communicator online and able to distance work
- have time to do this, you will work a minimum of 2-3 hours per week for at least 10-12 weeks, either home-based or abroad. You need to reflect on whether you can combine this with your other commitment. If you work abroad with us, you are strongly advised to work within another organization as well, this is part of our outreach effort.
Desirable:
- some experience in Human Resources or Recruitment or Volunteers Management
- interested in migration or international development or human rights
- some experience of places where our clients live: Spain, Greece, Italy, Lebanon or else
- any language you speak will be very useful
Skills that you will develop
- deep knowledge of migration theory, policy, and practice
- logistics and organization capacity
- strong initiative and ability to manage deadlines and completion of projects
- work proficiently both independently and as part of a team
- strong communication skills in multiple languages
How to apply?
Examples of possible questions
What you will have to think about as a volunteer? some possible questions
- How would you outreach to people with useful information either online or on the ground?
- How would you get from people useful information either online or on the ground?
- How can you find work in the Canary Islands? or Spain? or another country?
- How can you find to study in the Canary Islands? or Spain? or another country?
- How can you find cheap accommodation in the Canary Islands? or Spain or another country?