Creating a healthier and safer world for children through the power of sport and playfeatured title

Step 1: Is Right To Play right for you?

Right To Play may offer the international volunteer opportunity for you. If the following sections describe you, click on Step 2 to find out how you can apply.

Exhibit a passion for sport and belief in the power of Sport for Development. Right To Play volunteers advance our commitment to Sport for Development, which evolved out of the evidence that strengthening the right of children to play enhances holistic child development and builds stronger communities. While volunteers do not need to be elite athletes, they do need to demonstrate a belief in the best values of sport.

Available for a twelve-month period. This reflects the time necessary to adjust and become effective in a new community, given the degree of responsibility that volunteers are expected to assume within a project, and to build strong community relationships that provide continuity between volunteer project teams.

Able to live and work effectively as a team. The hours may be long and the living conditions basic, offering little privacy. Flexibility, tolerance for differences and strong interpersonal skills are essential. Volunteers must have the ability and willingness to interact with people of all nationalities and cultures and the compassion to put those around them and the project first. 

Intercultural or community development experience. An ability to manage individual and community relationships should be demonstrated. Diplomacy and professionalism are necessary in maintaining relationships with government officials, partner organizations, refugee leaders, trained coaches and children. Supporting community empowerment involves building upon past initiatives and transferring responsibilities to strengthen key leaders, coaches and community structures. Volunteers work for the community and the project, and should consider themselves part of both.

Direct experience in coaching and facilitation of training. Coaching and training, sport-related or other, provides a foundation for the capacity-building role of the Right To Play volunteer. A background in training coaches or in the training of trainers is a strong asset. The knowledge and skills used in developing training content, creating lesson plans and delivering workshops are very relevant to the Right To Play volunteer position.

Role of the International Volunteer

International Volunteers support the delivery of projects that are implementing either the Right To Play SportWorks or SportHealth Programs.  International Volunteers generally work in teams of 2 or 3. The key responsibilities and tasks are determined by the objectives of the project plan. Projects are typically managed by International Volunteers for three to five years and eventually phased over to the leadership of the local community. Individual project timelines may vary as a result of specific project conditions. Each project has a multi-year project plan.

Project teams will be briefed during Volunteer Training on the status of the project and the priorities of their team. Volunteers complete monthly reporting requirements using Right To Play reporting templates to respond to specific project objectives and outcomes. Reports are reviewed by program staff and feedback is provided. Regular email and phone communication supports the in-field teams as well as field visits to project sites by Right To Play program staff. Teams work within the context of Right To Play Country Operations.  They are attached to a Country Office and have an immediate supervisor within the Country Office staff.

Right To Play has sent International Volunteers to the following countries:  Azerbaijan, Benin, Chad, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Indonesia, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Pakistan, Palestinian Territories, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, and Zambia. Click here to view a map of the world showing countries with Right To Play projects.

For an overview of Right To Play programs, click here.  For information on core training modules, click here. 

Skills, Qualifications and Experience Right To Play Looks For
Please see the Opportunities page and links bellow for a general overview of skills and attributes we look for in International Volunteers. Below are sample descriptions of positions. Position descriptions will be more specific and tailored to individual project needs.

Volunteer Package

To learn what expenese are covered and what is included in Right To Play's International Volunteer Package, click here.  

 Step Two: How to Apply to become an International Volunteer

Back to the main Volunteering page 

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