Training Centre Development in Sri Lanka

WHERE:   Kegalle*, Sri Lanka with frequent travel to Trincomalee, Colombo and Galle
LENGTH:  One (1) year
DEPART:  By December 1, 2010 (negotiable)
APPLICATION PROCESS:  Please send letter of intent and resumé to sarah.feldberg@coopscanada.coop by September 27, 2010.. 
 
This is a voluntary assignment. Domestic and international airfare, ground transport, visa, travel insurance, out of country accommodation, and a monthly meal/incidental allowance will be covered by CCA as per CCA guidelines. 
 
*The main campus is situated in a 50 acre former rubber estate in Paragammana, 4km away from Kegalle.  Kegalle is a town located about 75kms to the east of Colombo and 24km west of Kandy on the Colombo - Kandy main highway with good bus connections to Colombo as well as Kandy. Kegalle is a busy city with all facilities available.  Weekends and holidays will allow the successful candidate to travel and explore the country.

There are a lot of interesting opportunities for exploration in the area but the campus is quite remote so the successful volunteer can expect quiet evenings.  Those interested in personal exploration through meditation, bird-watching and other quiet activities will flourish in this environment.  Due to the nature and length of the posting, a spouse or partner may accompany the volunteer for all or part of the posting.  We suggest that they be willing to volunteer their time while in country. CCA will work with the successful candidate's spouse or partner to create a posting that will work for their skills and interests

The Canadian Co-operative Association
The Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA) is a national association for co-operatives in Canada, representing more than nine million co-operative and credit union members from over 2,000 organizations.  On behalf of its members, CCA works to support developing co-operatives in Asia, Africa and the Americas in their efforts to find co-operative solutions to poverty. Visit www.coopscananda.coop for more information.

SANASA Education Campus
The SANASA Movement is the leading collective of community-based organizations in Sri Lanka with a network of 8,400 primary thrift and credit societies in rural and urban districts across the country; a group of companies providing services to the primary societies and the Sri Lankan public; and a national federation.  SANASA encourages its approximately one million members (17% of Sri Lanka's population) to "establish a new social order based on co-operative principles and values".

The Canadian Co-operative Association has been working with the SANASA movement for more than 20 years, and is currently implementing the, "Rebuilding and Strengthening Livelihoods in Post-Tsunami Sri Lanka" project focused on micro-finance and on building / re-building livelihoods. Implementation of the project has depended to a great extent on one of the SANASA group of companies, SANASA Campus Ltd, and at the same time the project has been developing the capacity and physical facilities of SANASA Campus Ltd.

SANASA Campus Ltd. was established in 1986 as the training arm of the SANASA Federation and is owned by shareholders (SANASA Federation, District Unions, Primary Societies, SICL, SDBL, SANEEPA, and Individuals) who elect a board of directors.  In 2008, SCL established regional training centres at Galle in the South and at Trincomalee in the East.

The Kegalle facilities include classrooms that can together accommodate 220 learners, an auditorium, hostels / accommodation for 100 persons, a new commercial-style cafeteria, post office, grocery / convenience store, a model agricultural facility, a functioning farm and plantation, and model pre-school.  The Campus administration facilities include appropriate computer equipment and internet connections.  A new training and administration centre is in the final stages of completion, and plans are being developed to add a hostel/kitchen facility.  The Trincomalee and Galle facilities do not have hostel capacity, although a hostel is planned for Galle.

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The Project:

This position is ideal for a flexible, adaptable education administrator who wants to help the existing professional team realize the dream of developing and growing the campus into the first private university in the country. 

The opportunity to facilitate change is great but this is a challenging posting.  SANASA is looking for a volunteer willing to help with strategic and managerial decisions that will help the Education Centre grow into its full potential.  With a deep history of successful training and the demand for expansion and curriculum development growing, the successful candidate will work closely with the managerial and administrative team to help to put SANASA on the right path.

Your Role as CCA Volunteer:
Assist the Director General in the organization and facilitation of "campus days". 2 - 3 day college and campus meetings to discuss planning, up-dates, professional development;
Organize teaching method workshops at Kegalle campus and the regional training centers;
Training needs assessment for trainers as well as for primary societies;
Review of all courses and campus programs to determine their relevance to the movement and to clients;

Review cost and price calculations in the context of sustainability for the college and affordability for clients;
Assist in the development of a long term strategy, including collaboration with other training institutes, NGO's and the government for and possible partnerships & long term sustainability;
Contribute to the development of a registration database;
Contribute to the development of a marketing plan for each of the colleges; and

It may also be necessary for the specialist to travel to and spend some time at the regional training centers.

The qualified volunteer will have practical hands-on experience and/or educational knowledge in:
Degree in Education;
5 years experience in adult education;
Experience in training administration;
Facilitation experience an asset;

International work experience is an asset; and

Flexibility and adaptability in a team environment is a must.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN CCA'S VOLUNTEER PROGRAM