INTERNATIONAL CITIZEN SERVICE (ICS) APPLICATION

FORM
Closing date:
19th August, 2016
Interview date: 22nd 26th August, 2016
Duration of project: 3 months
The International Citizen Service (ICS) youth programme is an initiative supported by the
Department for International Development (DFID) to provide young adults from Kenya and the
UK with an opportunity to volunteer alongside each other and join the fght against poverty.
The scheme combines the power of volunteering with youth participation in development.
The project will be implemented in partnership with the Kenya Red Cross, I Choose Life, United
Disabled Persons of Laikipia (UDPL), and Illaramatak Le Mpusel.
We are seeking applications from Kenyan youth to join the ICS project. This is a 3-month
project starting 22nd September, 2016. The successful applicants will be expected to spend 3
months volunteering alongside youth from the UK in volunteer placements in Machakos,
Loitokitok, Nanyuki and Taita Taveta.
The successful applicant will be:
A Kenyan citizen
Between the ages of 18-25 years
Able to commit themselves to a full-time 3-month volunteering project away from their
home town
Have leadership ability demonstrated through their participation in community
initiatives
Have the ability to communicate clearly in English
Have a passion for volunteering
Able to submit originals and copies of their Kenyan Identity card, Certifcate of Good
Conduct and academic certifcates when required

To apply download the application form from http://bit.ly/2aOQM6E and send the completed
form to vsokenya.youthexchange@vsoint.org .
Applications not accompanied by a duly completed application will not be accepted.
***Please quote the reference number ICSVOL05/16 on the EMAIL SUBJECT LINE
VSO Kenya, an equal opportunity organisation, values inclusion and seeks to have a diverse
workforce. We welcome applications from all sections of the community.
VSO Kenya does not charge application fees for positions advertised.

Introductory
Information
Please read before completing the application form
What
is
the
Programme?
ICS is a Department for International Development (DFID) initiative that will give
youth from Kenya and the UK the opportunity to volunteer alongside each other and
join the fight against poverty. The scheme combines the power of volunteering with
youth participation in development.
How Does It
Work?
You
will:
Be part of a team of 20 people, half from Kenya, half from the UK
Be paired up with a counterpart from the UK
Live and volunteer for 3 months in a community in Kenya
Volunteer with community-based organisations
What
Are
the
Benefts?
Becoming a volunteer will give you the
opportunity to:
Learn more about how other people live and about yourself
Gain experience and skills which will enhance your employability/
entrepreneurship potential
Do work which is of practical value to people in Kenya
Develop skills, knowledge and attitudes which will enable you to play a
positive role in your own society
Can I Take
Part?
ICS is committed to including people from diverse backgrounds, in terms of
geography, social and ethnic background, disability and gender.
To become a volunteer with ICS you must:

Be Kenyan
Be between 18-25 years old
Be able to commit yourself to a full-time 3 month programme
Participate in a VSO Selection/Assessment process and be selected

Demonstrated leadership ability clearly shown through your

participation in community initiatives

When
will
the
programme begin?
We are currently recruiting for volunteers for the programme that will begin on 22nd
September, 2016 and end on 10th December, 2016

How Will I Be Selected?

On receiving your completed Application Form, we will call shortlisted applicants to
attend a VSO Selection process. The selection process will be in the form of an
Assessment Day, and will consist of an individual interview and group activities. The
aim of the day is help us learn more about you and for you to learn more about the
programme.
The Assessment
following:

Day

looks

at

the

Building and sustaining working relationships - ability to build and actively maintain
working relations that foster teamwork
Open minded and respectful - A non-judgmental approach which values other
people and culture
Seeking and sharing knowing - ability to recognize learning is a two way process
Facilitating positive change - ability to analyze problems and
develop lasting solutions
Adaptability - ability to adapt in different situations
Resilience - self-confdence needed to work with a variety of situations, diverse
people and ambiguity.

What Support is
provided?
Training - You will receive 3 days training before the start of the programme and
further training at the start of the programme. This will give you the opportunity to
understand the ICS Programme better and to begin developing the necessary skills
to take part in the programme. You will also begin to look at cross cultural issues and
team building.
Facilitation - There will be one Project Coordinator with you during the programme,
and two Team Leaders, one from Kenya and one from the UK. The Project

Coordinator and Team Leaders will provide training, mentoring and medical support
if needed.
The programme embraces diversity and promotes inclusion. We will work with and
on behalf of volunteers to overcome any social and/or physical barriers to inclusion.

What
Must
I
Provide?
Commitment to take a full and active part in the training activities before the
programme, and the full three months of the programme.
An agreement to abide by the Programme Standards of Behaviour throughout
the three month programme.
A certificate of good conduct

APPLICATION
Complete and return this form to: vsokenya.youthexchange@vsoint.org

Completing and returning this form does not commit you to taking part in the ICS
programme.
Make sure you have read through all of the enclosed information on ICS
before completing this form.

ENSURE YOU ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS. INCOMPLETE FORMS

WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
1. PERSONAL DETAILS
First Name(s):
Surname: Date of Birth:
/Month
/Year
Age:
Sex:
Nationality:

Date

Which town do you live in?

Physical Address to your home:

ID No:

Mailing Address:

Telephone Mobile:

Email:

NEXT OF KIN DETAILS

First Name(s):

Surname:

Mailing Address:
Telephone Mobile:

Email:

EMERGENCY CONTACT DETAILS (These should be the details of the person we will

contact in case of an emergency. Please note that they should either be your family
members or guardian. Give two contact details.
1. First Name(s):
Surname: Relationship:
Mailing Address:
Telephone Mobile:

2. First Name (s):

Relationship:

Email:

Surname:

Mailing address:
Telephone Mobile:

Email:

2. KINDLY GIVE 3 REASONS WHY YOU ARE INTERESTED IN TAKING PART IN

THE ICS PROGRAMME?

3. PLEASE GIVE DETAILS OF WHAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY DOING

(Include name and location of organisation if you are with an
organisation/company)

4. ARE YOU INVOLVED IN VOLUNTEERING WORK IN THE COMMUNITY?

HOW OFTEN? PLEASE GIVE A BRIEF ON WHERE YOU VOLUNTEER, YOUR
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
(Please continue on separate sheet if necessary)
Volunteer
Dat

Key responsibilities

5. PLEASE GIVE BRIEF DETAILS OF YOUR EDUCATION BACKGROUND (Please

continue on separate sheet if necessary)
School
Dates
Area of Study

6. PLEASE GIVE BRIEF DETAILS OF YOUR EMPLOYMENT HISTORY.

(Please continue on separate sheet if necessary)
Employment
Date
s

Key responsibilities

7. SUPPORT/ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
ICS is an inclusive programme committed to increasing participation of
young people of all abilities.
Do you consider yourself to be a person with disability? (If yes, please indicate
the type of disability and any adjustments you would like ICS to make for you
according to the type of disability you have)

10. REFEREES
Please give the names and addresses of two referees.
The first referee should be able to comment on your skills and should be someone
who has studied, worked, volunteered or trained with you. The second should be
someone who has known you well for at least two years, such as a friend. Your
referees should not be related to you.
FIRST REFEREE- Professional
First Name:
Surname: Email:
Telephone:
SECOND REFEREE Personal
First Name:
Surname: Email:
Telephone:

11. DECLARATION:
Signing this does not commit you to take part.
It shows that the information is correct and that you would like to be considered
for a place on an
Assessment Day.
All of the above information is, to my knowledge, true and accurate.
Signed

Date

VSO will store and process your data in accordance with the requirements of its Data Protection Policy and
in keeping with the Data
Protection Act
1998. VSO may use your details to send you further information relating to their
international development work.