Youth Co- Care Worker at SOS Children's Villages

Key Responsibilities: 

Act as a Role Model for the Youth 

• Follow the rules and regulations of the youth homes and live as a fully contributing member,  participating in day-to-day chores and activities. 
• Behave in an exemplary manner at all times so that the youth may have a model from which they  may learn how to live successful lives
• Strive to be exemplary in all spheres of own life at all times. 
• Live in the youth home and be present at all times in order to guide the youth. Be accessible to the  youth at all times – weekdays, evenings, weekends. 
• Build relationships with the youth that are based on mutual respect for each other. • Have informal and formal forums on a regular basis, which allow the youth to be free to open up to  the youth leaders. Be able to win and keep the confidence of the youth. 

Guide the Personal Development of the Youth 

• Develop and maintain up-to-date and in-depth Individual Development Plans of each of the youth  which have developed with input from the youth in relation to his/her capabilities – academic and  non – academic input from the SOS Children’s Villages Kenya care givers, ACC and Programme  Educator. 
• Monitor each youth’s personal development to observe social, physical or other changes, which may  indicate a need for counselling  
• Assist the youth in addressing any personal or social problems they may face, supporting them and  guiding them through difficult times. 

Provide Educational and Career Guidance for Youth 

• Develop a clear understanding of each youth’s skills, abilities, future prospects and aspirations, in  order to provide meaningful guidance.  
• Provide young adults and children with ongoing career counselling and job orientation. Encourage  youth to take initiatives in researching career opportunities. 
• Keep up-to-date with available vocational training and educational opportunities. • Get the youth into colleges that will best bring out the youths’ potential academic and non – academic 
• Provide the youth with information that will help them to make informed choices in terms of career  choices, Reproductive health, relationships, HIV/AIDS, Drugs and substance abuse etc. • Conduct business management courses for aspiring youth so that they are able to make informed  proposals for their business ventures, including detailed research or feasibility study. • Put in place business monitoring tool with proper documentation. Encourage the youth to form  business groupings where possible. 

Encourage Youth to take Responsibility for Themselves. 

• Assist the youth living within the youth home and community to manage the household  themselves and to live effectively with others. This includes facilitating the establishment of youth  homes rules and regulations in consultation with the youth. 
• Ensure the youth report any maintenance required in the youth home, and that they carry our  simple maintenance work. 

Promote Community Service and integration 

• Identify and promote clearly mapped out community service programme with proper checks and  balances. 
• Identify and promote community service opportunities among the youth. Administer the  placement of youth in short or long-term programmes.  
• Encourage youth to take advantage of opportunities which integrate them with the surrounding  community, and which expose them to life outside SOS Children’s Villages, such as clubs etc.
• Assist with the integration of youth into the community. Develop consistent and effective  community service programmes in the youth facilities. 
• Involve the youth in service in their immediate community – this will be done for the youth in the  youth home and the village with the hope of creating in them a sense of wanting to give back to  the community.  
• Work out a way to enable the youth use some of the allowances that they get in community  service. 
• Form networks and relationships with Community Based Organisations and Charitable  Organisations, which would help SOS Children’s Villages Kenya identify the areas in which the  youth’s services would be best situated. 
• Work in close consultation with SOS Children’s Villages Kenya staff to involve the children in the  village in community service that is undertaken by the youth. 
• Encourage the youth to be proactive in the socio-political and socio-economic affairs that are  affecting the country. 

Create & Maintain Links with the SOS Children’s Village 

• Participate in annual planning of activities  
• Ensure youth living in the Youth Home maintain close contact with their SOS Mothers and families. This includes participating in special family events and supporting their SOS Mothers.
• Involve the SOS Mothers in the youth activities. Consult SOS Mothers on major decisions affecting  the youth’s future, e.g., a transfer to the youth home or to a different school. 
• Develop a close interaction between youth within the Village and those living in the Youth home or  to a different school. Interact with the children in the villages so as to create awareness and a  sense of responsibility to enable them take an active role in their family houses. 
• Assist the Alternative Care Coordinator and SOS Mothers in identifying teenagers for admission into  the youth homes, and help those newly admitted to adjust to their new life and home.
• Create a database of all the youth in the youth facilities, giving details of where they stay, and the  activities they are involved in. 

General 

• Seek avenues to increase own knowledge and understanding of youth and youth issues.

Required Qualifications/Abilities 

1. A Degree in Social Sciences and any other related courses in youth development programs 
2. Skills and knowledge in Youth Entrepreneurship development will be an added advantage. 
3. Must be computer literate. 
4. Experience working with youth-focused organization/s for a minimum of 3 years