The OFI Communications Volunteer is a position well-suited to energetic and innovative individuals. OFI has a long and established history as a research, conservation and education organization. It is vitally important that this work continues to be brought to the attention of the public, and the friends and donors involved with OFI. Communication Volunteers gain experience and insight, and contribute fresh thinking into a critically important aspect of conservation: involvement of the international public.
Job Description:
The volunteer is based in the Orangutan Care Centre in Kalimantan Tengah (Central Borneo, Indonesia). As the point person on the ground, Communications Volunteers are an integral part of OFI’s team. Communications Volunteers are given the opportunity to witness OFI’s field activities first-hand and to generate creative, exciting content to translate the action to a public presentation for the global community. This requires correct interpretation of events and engaging, appropriate presentation through various forms of communication media.
Work Plan:
- Connect OFI donors who have adopted orangutans to their adoptees by getting to know the orangutans in the Care Centre, observing the behavior and personalities, communicating with the stuff for unique stories and quirks, photographing the orangutans; subsequently, compiling the information and presenting it in attractive format for the bi-annual updates.
- Participate in production of monthly eNewsletter. Specifically: write articles and collect other written and visual material, etc.
- Contribute material to OFI’s main website by writing diverse articles on events and news, as well as day-to-day points of interest, about work in the Care Centre. Articles are meant to be multi-faceted and diverse so as to appeal to the wide range of visitors to the website.
- Supply content to help keep OFI’s other communication channels (Facebook, etc.) updated and current with material suitable to the channel’s audience (e.g. new arrivals to the centre, Photo of the Week).
- Photograph significant events, orangutans, OFI staff, jungle flora and fauna, and other subjects as needed by the OFI team. At the end of the tenure, submit non-personal photography for OFI’s educational and marketing use and reference.
- Develop innovative ways to facilitate connections via creative journaling, YouTube video, and other means.
- Understand and promote OFI policies.
- Complete other tasks for OFI as needed.
- Provide updates and feedback through weekly progress reports and a final end-of-tenure report within one month of returning.
The tasks outlined above are only the standard responsibility of Communications Volunteers. Every tenure will also involve one or more special projects which will address the communication, outreach and fundraising needs of OFI on and off the field at the time.
Qualifications/Experience
Job-Specific Requirements:
- Excellent writing skills
- Photography and/or film experience (must own equipment and be able to bring to the field)
- Dedication and proven to working in remote field conditions
- Ability to keep timely and professional correspondence with remote work partners
- Experience in working with teams of people of very diverse backgrounds and personalities
- Indonesian-language ability at basic or conversational level; willingness to learn daily throughout the volunteer tenure
- Background in environmental sciences preferred
General Skills and Characteristics:
- Strong interest in orangutans and other endangered wildlife
- Experience traveling, working or volunteering in developing, tropical nations
- Cultural sensitivity, understanding, and adaptability
- High degree of flexibility, open-mindedness, creativity and optimism
- Ability and commitment to fundraise for the trip
Position Duration: Six months.
Application Deadline: Rolling
Volunteering with Orangutan Foundation International (OFI)
Orangutan Foundation International protects 6,000 wild orangutans in Tanjung Puting National Park, in Kalimantan, Indonesia. Facilities include 16 guard posts throughout the park and numerous staffed feeding stations in addition to the Orangutan Care Center, which rehabilitates 330 young orangutans and prepares them for return to the wild. The majority of individuals are under 10 years old. The Centre consists of a central clinic and units housing the older individuals, while the outlying juvenile units and the medical quarantine facility are set in the surrounding 80 hectare forest. Most of the orangutans are very well-habituated to humans. They arrive in the OCCQ by confiscation from homes, black markets, entertainment industry, and abusive zoos.
Volunteering for OFI can have a big impact on your life and on the lives of the thousands of orangutans we fight to protect. Each year, OFI is grateful to receive many kind inquiries from volunteers willing to spend weeks, months, even years in Kalimantan, helping in the Orangutan Care Centre or in Tanjung Puting National Park.For our successful long-term volunteers, OFI is pleased to be able to offer letters of reference that will serve as testimony of their dedication to our organization and the quality of the contribution they have made to our cause. Volunteers are expected to submit a final report on what they have learned, experienced, and accomplished during their tenure with OFI.
Life at the OCC&Q:
The OCCQ is situated in the village of Pasir Panjang, a 15 minute drive from the small city of Pangkalan Bun. This city has an airport and is situated in the south of the province of Kalimantan Tengah, Borneo, Indonesia. Volunteers work on a daily basis in the Orangutan Care Centre and Quarantine in Pasir Panjang. Most of the locals speak rudimentary or no English. Languages are Indonesian and local Dayak dialect. The staff working hours are 8:00 to 16:00, with a lunch break at around noon. If desired, the volunteer may take one day off a week.
Living arrangements are typically with a local family homestay. Living conditions are basic, with limited running water, no landlines or Internet (although internet is available a 10 minute ride away in the town). The quality of care in the homes varies, from simple room accommodation to cooking and laundry. OFI makes an effort to arrange homestays for all its interns and volunteers, but there is an element of unpredictability in any such arrangements. In case of emergency, hotel/motel accommodations are present in Pangkalan Bun and even closer to Pasir Panjang
Program Costs and Requirements:
Volunteers will be expected to cover International flights to Jakarta Indonesia as well as domestic flights to Pangkalan Bun, Kalimantan Tengah. 2 500 000 IDR per month in rent in Pasir Panjang: includes three basic meals a day, electricity, and accommodation. Additional funds should be budgeted for miscellaneous personal expenses. (There are small local shops nearby.) Volunteers will also be responsible for the cost of initial visa which OFI will help you acquire, as well as renewals 3 times during the 6 months. (approx. 1 000 000 IDR average each trip). Volunteers are responsible for basic field equipment.
The following documents are required from all volunteers prior to departure:
- Proof of vaccinations
- Negative tests results from the following diseases:
- Hepatitis
- Tuberculosis
- Proof of travel & medical insurance
- Signed work contract
- Signed confidentiality agreement
How to Apply: Admission to the volunteer program is competitive. To apply, please follow these steps:
- All applicants must be members in good standing of OFI. To join OFI, please visit: http://orangutan.org/products-page/membership/membership/. The fee is $35 for a student or senior membership.
- Download and fill out the long-term volunteer application form here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1yQznomOYsgOedXpVajL4BJW2QCPgU7C5EFp3qZ3heUk/viewform?embedded=true&formkey=dHY3eWNsNnI4UGZZQ2tJTGszb3lURmc6MQ
- Submit the following documents to ofivolunteer@gmail.com
- Proof of OFI membership
- Cover letter
- Resume
- Two references
Applicants will receive a return reply from one of our volunteer coordinators within two weeks. Please note that all of our volunteer coordinators are themselves volunteers, so please be patient if there is an occasional communications delay.
