RDIC: Water Filter Production Assistant

Posted by Kim Axworthy to South East Asia, 8th August 2010, 11:22pm
Location: , Cambodia Link to google map
Applications close 6th September 2010

Partner Description:

RDI work to help reduce poverty by developing and implementing unique resources and appropriate technologies to empower communities towards sustainable change.

RDI has a broad range of current projects, including:

• Manufacture and distribution of water storage (tanks), treatment (ceramic water filters) and handling (rope and treadle pumps) technologies.
• A comprehensive multimedia recording studio. RDI produces original TV shows, public service announcements, dubbed cartoons, and educational materials to support RDI’s other projects.
• Education programs. RDI uses creative education techniques (e.g. puppetry, animation, karaoke vans) to deliver education programs on issues such as water quality, disease elimination, health and hygiene, AIDS, bird flu etc.
• Water testing laboratory. A sophisticated laboratory supports research into issues such as water filter performance, ground water contamination by arsenic, agricultural pesticide run-off, human health in villages etc.
• Building and construction. RDI works with and in communities to develop essential infrastructure such as bathrooms, hand washing stations and rainwater catchments systems for schools.
• Health. A small clinic operated by RDI’s western and Khmer staff works on improving village health, including providing education and appropriate Western or traditional medicines. Rural villagers are also taught traditional medicine made from locally available sources.
• Innovative farming. RDI has a farming program that tests and implements a wide range of projects which are aimed at empowering villages to raise their own food for nutritional and financial independence, including crops, livestock, and animal waste handling methods.
• Storying. Social and personal values can be explained with culturally relevant illustrated books.  RDI is responsible for producing some of the first illustrated stories designed specifically for Khmer culture.
• Trade skills. RDI has developed inexpensive soap that both treats lice and scabies. They also teach pottery and various other skills to give rural families an additional source of income. 

 

   

 

Project Background:

RDIC has a ceramic water filter production factory that provides a low-cost and locally made option for household level water treatment in Cambodia. EWB has been working with RDIC for a number of years, assisting them with their filter design, production methods and factory management, as well as documenting the whole process and disseminating this information to other interested organisations around the world.

The next stages in this project are in the field of ceramic water filter products and production techniques, including the day-to-day operational requirements and practical advice for partners.

The Field Volunteer will also assist in the continued documentation and dissemination of ceramic water filter technology and knowledge. This volunteer position would greatly enhance the existing partnership and results that can be achieved by EWB, and allow RDIC to be more proactive, rather than reactive, in the ceramic filter project

 

   

 

 

 

Role Required:

The Field Volunteer will work with RDIC’s staff to help them achieve the following goals:

• Training and technical consulting for filter production and distribution;
• Further improve the filter production and distribution process;
• Review and expand documentation of filter production and distribution;
• Expand networks and information sharing possibilities; and
• Develop and implement a strategy for capacity building within RDIC to enable local staff to fill the role and run the filter factory in future.

 

Timing:

The role consists of three important phases beginning October 2010, including a 12 month field placement in Cambodia commencing in January 2011.

 

Phase 1: Pre-departure – October 2010

• Pre-departure preparation (medical clearances, training, administrative)
• Linking with the Australian based EWB project team if required for the project
• Linking with a local EWB chapter to enhance your resources and support networks and create opportunities for sharing your experience with members
• Identifying additional resources and support for the project
• Communicating with the Partner Organisation to discuss and clarify the project and role requirements

 

Phase 2: Field operations – January 2011

• Departure to host country and partner organisations
• Working alongside your counterpart within the partner organisation to meet your position objectives and build organisational and technical capacity
• Linking with EWB Field Officers to develop appropriate ‘Learning & Change’ materials to share with EWB members and partner organisations

 

Phase 3: Post field alumni – 2012

• Return to Australia to collaborate with the project team, knowledge hub (if relevant) and with an EWB chapter for a minimum period of 12 months  - this is on a casual volunteer basis – e.g. one evening a fortnight
• Participate in various EWB events including the National Conference and intake presentation evenings
• Participate in the development and dissemination of ‘Learning & Change’ materials within the EWB community
• Mentor future field volunteers preparing to work with the partner organisation

 

To fulfill this role, the volunteer will receive an allowance for living and basic accommodation while overseas, airfares to your host country at the commencement and completion of the placement, travel and emergency evacuation insurance, technical and personal support from EWB staff and chapters.

 

Applications

Please complete the volunteer application form and attach a statement addressing how you meet the essential and desirable selection criteria. We cannot assess applications that do not address the selection criteria.

 

Selection Criteria

We are looking for people who want to make a difference through a challenging cross-cultural experience, who are committed to having positive impact in overseas communities through all aspects of their placement, and who are willing to share their experiences with others to create change within the engineering sector in Australia

It is important that our volunteers understand that they will be working to build local capacity, rather than manage and deliver a project themselves, and this should always be their key focus.

 

For this particular role, it is essential that the candidate has:

• Practical-minded and pragmatic – able to improvise to find appropriate solutions.
• Flexibility – able to prioritise and be responsive to project needs.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate well with colleagues on site, as well as direct/manage local staff.
• Affinity with hands-on technical work, and able to work in difficult conditions (climatic, cultural, etc).

 

The ideal candidate would also have meeting the following desirable criteria:

• Knowledge of ceramics and ceramics production processes
• Knowledge of water, sanitation, and health in the developing world and approaches to their improvement
• Experience with tinkering with machines (mechanical and electrical)
• Graphical presentation skills, for example with graphical/engineering design/CAD software
• Experience in project management

 

Our field volunteers are expected to demonstrate the following personal attributes:

• Humility
• Cross-cultural communication skills
• Empathy and caring for others
• Enthusiasm and passion
• Creativity
• Willingness to learn
• Adaptability and ability to deal with ambiguity
• Good understanding of capacity development and current development issues
• Leadership skills and experience in a leadership role
• Ruggedness and ability to live in harsh conditions

 

Additional Information

Confirmation of secondment is subject to:

• Formal approval from EWB and the partner organisation.
• Procurement of visa and work permits.
• Satisfactory completion of a first aid certificate.
• Satisfactory participation in a pre-departure briefing run by EWB in November 2010.
• A satisfactory medical examination of the applicant.
• A satisfactory criminal record check of the applicant and accompanying adults by the Australian Police.

 

EWB adheres to statutory laws in Australia and foreign countries regarding child exploitation, child pornography and the abuse of children. We are committed to the protection of children from all forms of harm.

Applications close on Monday 6^th September.

Please complete and return applications to k.axworthy@ewb.org.au with “RDIC” as the subject title.

Or post to the EWB Perth Office:
c/o The University of Western Australia
School of Environmental Systems Engineering
M015
Stirling Highway
Crawley 6009
WA

Please DO NOT attach CVs, references or any other documentation.

For more information contact Kim Axworthy – South East Asia Program Coordinator:

Email: k.axworthy@ewb.org.au
Ph: +618 6488 8039

RDIC: Water Filter Production Assistant

Posted by Kim Axworthy to South East Asia, 8th August 2010, 11:22pm
Location: , Cambodia Link to google map
Applications close 6th September 2010

Partner Description:

RDI work to help reduce poverty by developing and implementing unique resources and appropriate technologies to empower communities towards sustainable change.

RDI has a broad range of current projects, including:

• Manufacture and distribution of water storage (tanks), treatment (ceramic water filters) and handling (rope and treadle pumps) technologies.
• A comprehensive multimedia recording studio. RDI produces original TV shows, public service announcements, dubbed cartoons, and educational materials to support RDI’s other projects.
• Education programs. RDI uses creative education techniques (e.g. puppetry, animation, karaoke vans) to deliver education programs on issues such as water quality, disease elimination, health and hygiene, AIDS, bird flu etc.
• Water testing laboratory. A sophisticated laboratory supports research into issues such as water filter performance, ground water contamination by arsenic, agricultural pesticide run-off, human health in villages etc.
• Building and construction. RDI works with and in communities to develop essential infrastructure such as bathrooms, hand washing stations and rainwater catchments systems for schools.
• Health. A small clinic operated by RDI’s western and Khmer staff works on improving village health, including providing education and appropriate Western or traditional medicines. Rural villagers are also taught traditional medicine made from locally available sources.
• Innovative farming. RDI has a farming program that tests and implements a wide range of projects which are aimed at empowering villages to raise their own food for nutritional and financial independence, including crops, livestock, and animal waste handling methods.
• Storying. Social and personal values can be explained with culturally relevant illustrated books.  RDI is responsible for producing some of the first illustrated stories designed specifically for Khmer culture.
• Trade skills. RDI has developed inexpensive soap that both treats lice and scabies. They also teach pottery and various other skills to give rural families an additional source of income. 

 

   

 

Project Background:

RDIC has a ceramic water filter production factory that provides a low-cost and locally made option for household level water treatment in Cambodia. EWB has been working with RDIC for a number of years, assisting them with their filter design, production methods and factory management, as well as documenting the whole process and disseminating this information to other interested organisations around the world.

The next stages in this project are in the field of ceramic water filter products and production techniques, including the day-to-day operational requirements and practical advice for partners.

The Field Volunteer will also assist in the continued documentation and dissemination of ceramic water filter technology and knowledge. This volunteer position would greatly enhance the existing partnership and results that can be achieved by EWB, and allow RDIC to be more proactive, rather than reactive, in the ceramic filter project

 

   

 

 

 

Role Required:

The Field Volunteer will work with RDIC’s staff to help them achieve the following goals:

• Training and technical consulting for filter production and distribution;
• Further improve the filter production and distribution process;
• Review and expand documentation of filter production and distribution;
• Expand networks and information sharing possibilities; and
• Develop and implement a strategy for capacity building within RDIC to enable local staff to fill the role and run the filter factory in future.

 

Timing:

The role consists of three important phases beginning October 2010, including a 12 month field placement in Cambodia commencing in January 2011.

 

Phase 1: Pre-departure – October 2010

• Pre-departure preparation (medical clearances, training, administrative)
• Linking with the Australian based EWB project team if required for the project
• Linking with a local EWB chapter to enhance your resources and support networks and create opportunities for sharing your experience with members
• Identifying additional resources and support for the project
• Communicating with the Partner Organisation to discuss and clarify the project and role requirements

 

Phase 2: Field operations – January 2011

• Departure to host country and partner organisations
• Working alongside your counterpart within the partner organisation to meet your position objectives and build organisational and technical capacity
• Linking with EWB Field Officers to develop appropriate ‘Learning & Change’ materials to share with EWB members and partner organisations

 

Phase 3: Post field alumni – 2012

• Return to Australia to collaborate with the project team, knowledge hub (if relevant) and with an EWB chapter for a minimum period of 12 months  - this is on a casual volunteer basis – e.g. one evening a fortnight
• Participate in various EWB events including the National Conference and intake presentation evenings
• Participate in the development and dissemination of ‘Learning & Change’ materials within the EWB community
• Mentor future field volunteers preparing to work with the partner organisation

 

To fulfill this role, the volunteer will receive an allowance for living and basic accommodation while overseas, airfares to your host country at the commencement and completion of the placement, travel and emergency evacuation insurance, technical and personal support from EWB staff and chapters.

 

Applications

Please complete the volunteer application form and attach a statement addressing how you meet the essential and desirable selection criteria. We cannot assess applications that do not address the selection criteria.

 

Selection Criteria

We are looking for people who want to make a difference through a challenging cross-cultural experience, who are committed to having positive impact in overseas communities through all aspects of their placement, and who are willing to share their experiences with others to create change within the engineering sector in Australia

It is important that our volunteers understand that they will be working to build local capacity, rather than manage and deliver a project themselves, and this should always be their key focus.

 

For this particular role, it is essential that the candidate has:

• Practical-minded and pragmatic – able to improvise to find appropriate solutions.
• Flexibility – able to prioritise and be responsive to project needs.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate well with colleagues on site, as well as direct/manage local staff.
• Affinity with hands-on technical work, and able to work in difficult conditions (climatic, cultural, etc).

 

The ideal candidate would also have meeting the following desirable criteria:

• Knowledge of ceramics and ceramics production processes
• Knowledge of water, sanitation, and health in the developing world and approaches to their improvement
• Experience with tinkering with machines (mechanical and electrical)
• Graphical presentation skills, for example with graphical/engineering design/CAD software
• Experience in project management

 

Our field volunteers are expected to demonstrate the following personal attributes:

• Humility
• Cross-cultural communication skills
• Empathy and caring for others
• Enthusiasm and passion
• Creativity
• Willingness to learn
• Adaptability and ability to deal with ambiguity
• Good understanding of capacity development and current development issues
• Leadership skills and experience in a leadership role
• Ruggedness and ability to live in harsh conditions

 

Additional Information

Confirmation of secondment is subject to:

• Formal approval from EWB and the partner organisation.
• Procurement of visa and work permits.
• Satisfactory completion of a first aid certificate.
• Satisfactory participation in a pre-departure briefing run by EWB in November 2010.
• A satisfactory medical examination of the applicant.
• A satisfactory criminal record check of the applicant and accompanying adults by the Australian Police.

 

EWB adheres to statutory laws in Australia and foreign countries regarding child exploitation, child pornography and the abuse of children. We are committed to the protection of children from all forms of harm.

Applications close on Monday 6^th September.

Please complete and return applications to k.axworthy@ewb.org.au with “RDIC” as the subject title.

Or post to the EWB Perth Office:
c/o The University of Western Australia
School of Environmental Systems Engineering
M015
Stirling Highway
Crawley 6009
WA

Please DO NOT attach CVs, references or any other documentation.

For more information contact Kim Axworthy – South East Asia Program Coordinator:

Email: k.axworthy@ewb.org.au
Ph: +618 6488 8039

Please log in to post a comment