Special call: 2020 summer projects

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The corona pandemic is hitting Lebanon hard. On top of the economic crisis, the total shutdown of the country has ripped many families off their income. Nobody can predict how long the crisis will last. But one thing is certain: we will stand our ground in solidarity with the most vulnerable amongst Syrian refugees and affected Lebanese in the Akkar region.

Our preparations for the 2020 summer programme are continuing. After months of quarantine, it will be all the more needed to show solidarity with the communities we serve, both Syrians and Lebanese. Besides the regular volunteer opportunities, described below, we are glad to publish a special call to join the team at our Peace Centre for one of the following projects during the 2020 summer term.
9 to 16 July: West-Eastern Composition Workshop. For those who play an instrument and wish to join musicians from Lebanon, Syria and abroad for a week-long composition workshop... At the R&R Peace Centre, in Tripoli and Beirut, we will dare to fuse Oriental scales with contemporary classics, jazz and other tunes from around the world.

20 to 31 July: The 5th Summer Mountain Camp. For experienced youth animators or musicians who want to help with the preparation and implementation of a summer camp on top of the Akkar mountains... Like in previous years, Lebanese and Syrian children of different communities will sing and play together for peace in Muslim and Christian areas.

3 to 30 August: French Intensive Language Classes. For those who speak some Arabic and have experience in teaching French as a foreign language... At the Peace Centre and different other locations in Akkar, we will provide daily catch-up classes for Syrian refugee kids who are struggling with the Lebanese school curriculum, mainly taught in French.

31 August to 12 September: Summer School of Spiritual Solidarity. For the 4th time, we are inviting academics from around the world to join us for 2 weeks at the Peace Centre to reflect about the concept of "spiritual solidarity" in the context of the Syrian crisis. Further details and a special call for applications will be published in the coming weeks.
On top of the list to your right, you will find the file with the specifications for the 2020 summer projects ("Special Volunteers") as well as the application form. You can apply for one or several of the listed projects in the same form.

You can also submit your application for a position as long-term Volunteer Assistant, described below, if you wish to stay with us throughout the 3 months of the summer term. And of course, you can always propose a project on your own, as specified below.

Regular volunteer positions in Lebanon

Throughout the year, we are inviting dedicated men and women to gain a unique experience in the field. Besides the special summer projects, described above, we are recruiting international and local volunteers for the following two categories:

  1. Long-term Volunteer Assistants: if you speak already some Arabic and if you are willing to commit for 3 months at least. We are looking for experienced and dedicated men and women who are willing to assist in the fields of foreign language teaching (French and English), project development and communication.
  2. Short-term Project Volunteers: if you are a group or an individual who has special skills to offer for workshops of 2 to 6 weeks. Such projects may include but are not limited to: recreational activities (sport tournaments, mountain trails, etc.), artistic workshops (photography, music, theatre, etc.) or skills training (IT, film, etc.)

Living and working at our Peace Centre in the North of Lebanon, 12 km from the Syrian border, volunteers are directly involved in implementing an innovative approach to assisting the Syrian refugee crisis in Lebanon. As part of our ethos to bring people from different backgrounds together, our international volunteers combine forces with local teachers in organising and implementing educational and recreational activities for children and adolescents of Syrian refugee and Lebanese host communities.

For further details, please have a look at the call for applications to your right. Please download the respective form for submitting your application or your proposal. All further steps are indicated in the forms.

Volunteer with us from home

We ask for your understanding that we have to stick to a couple of criteria for the selection of our volunteers at the R&R Peace Centre in Lebanon. Most notably, we have to insist on the minimum age and on some experience in the work we do. However, even if you do not fulfil the criteria to be selected as a volunteer at the R&R Peace Centre, you can support our mission from home by becoming an Associate Member of R&R International.

We do not have any overhead staff. All those supporting our work abroad are volunteer members. Also your help is needed. Here some ideas of what you can do:

  • Spread the word about our methodology in your home community
  • Organise a screening of the documentary film about our work or a discussion
  • Organise a fundraising event like a dinner, sponsored walk or any other collect
  • Help us with the design of communication materials: flyers, brochures, websites, etc.
  • Meet with other members and friends in your home country and connect

For joining R&R International as Associate Member, please fill out the contact form on this website and please tick the box to accept our values and norms. We will try to reply to your application within a couple of weeks.

Testimonials on our volunteer blog

Since our establishment in 2013, more than 150 international volunteers have lived and worked at our Peace Centre in the North of Lebanon. They joined forces with local volunteers from all communities and with our Lebanese or Syrian teachers.

You can find some of their testimonials on the blog space that is managed alone by our volunteers. Read some unfiltered voices from the humanitarian front:
r2volunteers.wordpress.com

How to apply?

Please download below the terms of reference and the application form for one of the volunteer categories we are currently recruiting. All further steps are indicated in the forms.
Summer 2020
Special Volunteers
for one or several of the advertised projects:
Long-term
Volunteer Assistants
for 3 months renewable in fixed annual terms:
Call Volunteer Assistants.pdf
File Size: 221 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
Form Volunteer Assistants.docx
File Size: 38 kb
File Type: docx
Download File
Short-term
Project Volunteers
between 2 and 6 weeks at any time of the year
Call Project Volunteers.pdf
File Size: 100 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
Form Project Volunteers.docx
File Size: 33 kb
File Type: docx
Download File
Our first Peace Centre in Bkarzla, Lebanon, is the place of residence for international volunteers.
Beautifully situated in a Christian village midst in a mixed area that has not seen open violence in the past decades.

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