Mennonite Central Committee

Types of Assignments

IVEP staff make every effort to match participants with appropriate placements. Participants are encouraged to be open and flexible.

1. Education Assignments
2. Social Services Assignments
3. Library Services
4. Media, Communications, and Computer Services
5. Agriculture Interns
6. Retail Service Training
7. Construction and Building trades

 

1. Education Assignments

   1. Preschool or Daycare Attendant
      All preschool or daycare attendants require a love for young children and some experience in working in a childcare setting. They should have basic English skills. Government regulations require that the attendant come to Canada or the United States with a criminal background check completed. In all situations, attendants will be working with a team of educators, so the ability to work with others is important. The attendant participates with the children in their play and prepares the equipment and materials.
   2. Teacher's Assistants in Schools
      All teacher's assistants usually require a teacher's certificate and experience in an educational setting in their home country. They should have strong English skills. Government regulations require that the assistant come to Canada or the United States with a criminal background check completed. Teacher's assistants work under the supervision of the classroom teacher or a resource teacher. Most teaching assistants begin the year working with individual students as assigned by their cooperating teacher. Government restrictions limit the amount of whole class instruction the teaching assistant can do.
   3. Language Assistants - University
      All language assistants must enjoy working with young adults in a university setting. They require fluent language skills in French, German, or Spanish and the ability to teach basic language concepts. They should have strong English skills. Some experience in using copiers, computes, and CD-ROM materials is an asset. Language assistants are engaged in supervised tutoring of beginning and intermediate level students. They plan lessons and select materials. They may also be required to lead and work with a Language Club. This would involve planning and participating in the club's activities.

    

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2. Social Services Assignments

   1. Activities Assistants at a Nursing Home for the Elderly
      Activities Assistants should have the desire to interact and work with older adults. Some experience working with the elderly is helpful, but usually not necessary. A basic level of English is a minimum requirement. Assistants must be physically capable of pushing wheelchairs and may at times be called on to assist in lifting residents. Government regulations require that the assistant come to Canada or the United States with a criminal background check completed. The focus of the assistant's work will include getting to know the residents and assisting the staff with meeting the physical and mental needs of residents.
   2. Pastoral Care Interns
      Interns must have work experience in a pastoral setting or training in pastoral care. Strong English skills are a requirement. Government regulations require that the intern come to Canada or the United States with a criminal background check completed. There are a limited number of pastoral care positions available. In the past, these positions have included working as an assistant to the chaplain of a nursing home for the elderly and working with young people in a church setting.
   3. Caregiver for Mentally Handicapped Adults
      Caregivers must be willing to work with and learn from mentally handicapped persons. This requires a good sense of humour, and an ability to work with people. Government regulations a criminal background check be completed before coming to the USA or Canada. Caregivers will work in a team setting, assisting in meeting the physical, spiritual, and emotional needs of the mentally handicapped adults.

    

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3. Library Services

   In most of these placements participants need a university education and some library training. Strong English skills are usually a requirement. They are placed in high school or college libraries and work under the supervision of the head librarian. There are a limited number of these placements available each year.

    

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4. Media, Communications, and Computer Services

   Participants working in these placements must have training and experience in computer repair, technical computer support, and graphic or website design. It is common for the sponsoring agency to assess the participants level of knowledge before offering them a placement. These participants work in placements where they can gain further experience in the computer skills they already have.

    

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5. Agriculture Interns

   Agriculture placements are primarily at small market gardening or organic farm operations. Interns would need to be capable of physical work and have sufficient stamina to work long hours occasionally. Interns would be involved in a wide variety of activities such as starting and caring for plants in a green house, preparing field plots for planting (working soil, applying soil amendments, etc.), seeding and transplanting, weeding, cultivating & pest control of growing crops, harvesting, washing and packing of crops, selling at farmers market, feeding of animals, operating some tractors and machinery, handling of livestock, maintenance and repair of buildings, fences and equipment, learning to understand the biological principles underlying organic farming - insect life cycles, soil science, environmental ecology , seasonal cycles, etc.

    

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6. Retail Service Training

   1. Ten Thousand Villages Clerk
      While it is preferred that participants have some retail experience, usually on-the-job training is provided for store clerks. An out-going personality is an asset. Strong English skills are required as clerks need to interact with customers. The participants receive training in the skills associated with running a small store: helping the customer, running the cash register, unpacking, sorting and displaying merchandise. Ten Thousand Villages stores market handicrafts of developing countries.
   2. Thrift Store Clerk
      Thrift stores market used clothes and other items. Many of the staff are volunteers. Profits benefit the work of MCC and other agencies world wide. Participants who work in a thrift store setting require basic English skills and an out-going personality in order to interact with customers. Some store experience is helpful but on-the-job training is provided. Store clerks are exposed to various phases of thrift store operations. This includes sorting incoming products, pricing of merchandise, displaying of goods, store cleaning and cashiering.

    

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7. Construction and Building trades

   Participants who are interested in receiving training in construction usually require some familiarity with construction materials and methods. They also should be prepared for physical work. Some positions involve maintaining and repairing existing structures such as nursing homes and camp buildings. These positions require the participant to be open to learning new skills and taking on a variety of tasks.

    

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