Open Position at YEE: Project team member

Length of engagement: mid-July 2021 – October 2021

Timeline of engagement: 

• July – September 2021: Regular online meetings and independent work, approximately 3-4 hours/ week (The hours might be distributed unevenly throughout the duration of the project.)
• 30th of July – 1st of August 2021: Project team Immersion Weekend
• 17th-19th and 24th-26th of September 2021: Training courses days (The training courses will last a total of 3 days distributed between 2 weekends)

Compensation: 600 EURO (for the total duration of the project)

Application deadline: 28 June 2021 – midnight CEST

Interviews for this position will be conducted on the 30th of June and the 1st of July.

Context of the Project

Pollinators are essential for healthy ecosystems that both animals and humans depend on for food and shelter. However, pollinators have been declining at unprecedented rates. Appreciating the severity of the decline in wild pollinators, the European Commission has adopted an EU wide Initiative in order to tackle it. The initiative sets long-term strategic objectives towards 2030, and short-term actions to put the EU on the right path towards reversing its decline. In this regard, The Joint Research Centre (JRC) supports DG Environment through the STING (Science and Technology for pollinating insects) project aiming to increase collaboration in reversing the decline of pollinators. Understanding the importance and potential of youth involvement in biodiversity matters, the JRC has decided to support youth initiatives in fostering engagement in the conservation of wild pollinators. 

The training courses will complement citizen engagement activities under the STING project by:

identifying potential multipliers for youth engagement (such as youth organisations and networks) on the conservation of wild pollinators, and organising two virtual courses to motivate, train and educate them with a view of scaling up youth engagement on this topic. The planned training courses aim to provide youth groups with the knowledge and know-how to engage and mobilise others in the conservation of pollinators. 

About the Training course

The training course will focus on Advocacy for the protection of Pollinators. It aims to empower youth to become involved in the governance of pollinators as training citizens in advocacy is a powerful bottom-up approach to influencing top-down systems of governance.  

The aims and objectives of the training are the following:

• Participants will gain an understanding of:
  • Pollinators ecology and their importance in ecosystem functioning
  • Main threats to pollinators 
  • The regulatory framework governing pollinators conservation status
• Participants will better appreciate the different levels of decision-making processes in relation to pollinators conservation and will identify ways to be involved
• A community of young people and youth groups interested in pollinators from diverse groups will be created 

The entire training is based on Experiential Learning and non-formal education and will include a wide array of activities in the virtual space. The training also aims to create a diverse community of young people and youth groups interested in pollinators’ conservation.

Role specifications

Key responsibilities

Each team member would be involved in the following activities:

• Designing the training course
  • Work with the trainer to design the full learning journey as well as the individual sessions you will deliver
  • Prepare sessions and create support materials (visual PowerPoint templates, accompanying applications, handouts, etc.)
• Assist in promoting  the training and selecting the participants
  • Share the calls through your networks and social media to recruit motivated applicants
  • Assist in identifying and reaching out to potential participants
  • Assist in selecting successful applicants
• Delivering the training course
  • Facilitate agreed-upon training sessions (Facilitation training will be provided)
  • Provide any technical or facilitation support during sessions of other  team members
  • Be present for the entire duration of the course 
• Contribute to the writing of final reports required by the funders during and after the delivery of the training
• Attend regular team meetings between July and September 2021 
  • It is obligatory for all project team members to attend the following dates:
    • July – September 2021: Regular online meetings and independent work, approximately 3-4 hours/ week (The hours might be distributed unevenly throughout the duration of the project)
    • 30th of July – 1st of August 2021: Project team Immersion weekend
    • 17th-19th and 24th-26th of September 2021: Training course Days (The training course will last a total of 3 days distributed between 2 weekends)
• Assist with any other duties that might arise for the successful implementation of the training.

All of the above will be undertaken collectively by the entire Project team and you will be supported by the Project Leader so fear not!

Requirements

• Must be 18-30 years old 
• Ability to commit to the project between July and September 2021
• Applicants must be available during the specified dates for preparation  and delivery of the training course
• Applicants must be available for additional meetings and have the capacity to take on independent work. The requirement is a minimum of 3 hours/ week for the months of August and September
• Fluency in English
• Have previous experience designing and implementing trainings and workshops in the online space
• A strong interest and a working knowledge of the topics of the training: Biodiversity Conservation, Pollinators conservation, Youth Engagement, and Advocacy
• Strong communication and teamwork skills
• Self-motivated, Organised, and dependable
• Able to work independently and stick to deadlines

Assets (Optional)

• A background in education and/or the environment sector
• Previous experience with involvement in pollinators conservation
• Experience in working in youth networks and organisations

About the Project Lead

This project is led by Venetia Galanaki. Venetia is a young conservationist from Greece who has been active in the youth environmental movement. She currently serves as the Biodiversity Working Group Coordinator at Generation Climate Europe and a Pollinators Project Lead at Youth and Environment Europe. In both organisations her role is to open up space for youth voices to be brought to decision-makers. 

APPLY HERE before 28 June 2021 – midnight CEST

For any further questions or clarifications please email Venetia Galanaki (Project Lead) at venetia.galanaki@yeenet.eu We are looking forward to receiving your applications, good luck! 

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