AMIDEAST/Yemen International Education Internship Program Description

I. About AMIDEAST
AMIDEAST (www.amideast.org) is a private, nonprofit organization that strengthens mutual understanding and cooperation between Americans and the peoples of the Middle East and North Africa. Every year, AMIDEAST provides appropriate English language skills training, educational advising, and testing services to hundreds of thousands of students and professionals in the Middle East and North Africa; supports numerous institutional development projects in the region; and administers academic exchange programs. Founded in 1951, AMIDEAST is headquartered in Washington, DC, with a network of field offices in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, West Bank/Gaza, and Yemen. AMIDEAST administers scholarship programs for various sponsors in the United States and the Middle East, including government agencies, private companies, and individuals. AMIDEAST manages both undergraduate and graduate level programs and supports high school exchange programs. Additionally, AMIDEAST provides a number of scholarship services, including academic placement; pre-departure orientations; monitoring of student performance; and reporting of academic, financial, and project information to the programs sponsor. Alongside these services, AMIDEAST strives to provide accurate, comprehensive, current, and unbiased information on educational opportunities and scholarships in the U.S. AMIDEAST/Yemen is part of the EducationUSA network of approximately 450 advising centers worldwide affiliated with the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The center promotes U.S. education by offering guidance on how best to access educational opportunities and by arranging appropriate tests. AMIDEAST/Yemens International Education Intern works with the scholarships staff affiliated with the EducationUSA center, and interacts directly with visitors, students, other AMIDEAST staff, educators, and other educational officials.

II. Intern Responsibilities

The International Education Intern administers the EducationUSA Advising Center. Duties include, but are not limited to, informing individuals about opportunities for higher study in the U.S.; conducting pre-departure orientations for grantees and other students; working with high school exchange students; supporting alumni associations of U.S. graduates; conducting outreaches to local schools and universities; delivering presentations; and conducting research on specific topics related to study in the U.S. for use within the advising center. The International Education Intern is supported by two, full-time program assistants.

III. Application Deadline and Program Schedules

The application deadline for this eight-month internship is November 30, 2012. The intern is expected to work a minimum of three to six hours per day. At times, interns may be requested to work longer hours, but not to exceed a regular, U.S. full-time (40-hour) work week. Interns must agree to a commitment of service in order to complete the full program length as specified on their application. Special note: AMIDEAST reserves the right to terminate the internship program of any individual prior to completion according to their judgment regarding the performance of the Intern or for any other reasons including, but not limited to, the political situation within the country.

IV. Program Eligibility

Minimum Requirements:
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 Currently enrolled in, or a graduate of a U.S. institution of higher education (it is not required that interns be U.S. citizens but interns must have studied in the U.S., not via an online program); The ability to communicate competently in English; Personal maturity, self-direction, presentation skills, and the ability to work with a small international team; Flexibility in terms of working environment (must feel comfortable working in a public office space and with groups of all ages and backgrounds); and Proficiency in MS software applications: PowerPoint, Word, and Excel. Preferred Skills and Experience: Bachelors degree in any field related to the Middle East or education; Previous participation in a study-abroad program or other significant international experience; Professional experience in working (volunteer or paid) with high school or college students; Demonstrated interest in international education and the Middle East, and in Yemen in particular; and Proficiency with Microsoft Access.

V. Intern Benefits
A. AMIDEAST provides a monthly maintenance allowance, shared accommodations, transport within Yemen (when required for project purposes), travelers health coverage (if the intern does not have his/her own health insurance), emergency evacuation coverage, and visa and residency permit processing. Upon successful completion of the program, AMIDEAST reimburses the intern for round-trip air transport to Yemen. Interns are expected to cover their daily incidentals. Training: All AMIDEAST/Yemen International Education Interns will receive an orientation during the first week in Yemen, as well as training throughout the assignment. At the beginning, training entails learning about the many functions of AMIDEAST/Yemen, its personnel, and specific information regarding international education. As the initial training serves as a general overview of the functions of AMIDEAST, it is supplemented by preparation for the other internship responsibilities. A certifiable volunteer experience working overseas in the field of International Education!

B.

C.

NB: Interns who have a TEFL or CELTA degree may teach EFL classes and be separately compensated for those teaching hours.

VI. The Application Process

Application Documents: Eligible candidates interested in the AMIDEAST/Yemen International Education Internship Program should apply online at www.yemenjobs.org. The following documents must be uploaded by the aforementioned deadlines: Updated Resume/C.V. A statement of interest of up to 500 words describing why you would like to participate in the International Education Internship Program, what you hope to learn, and why you think you are qualified for this opportunity; Two professional letters of reference, preferably from a professor and employer, with at least one letter from an academic reference; and Official college/university transcripts. (These documents are required to process the Yemeni residency application for Interns.) Short-Listed Interviews: AMIDEAST/Yemen will only consider applications completed with all required and supplementary materials. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted via e-mail to schedule a telephone interview. Candidates who are interviewed by phone will be notified of their results within two weeks. Finalist Notification:
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Upon notification, a candidate must confirm his/her participation in the internship program within one week. For interviewed candidates who were not selected, AMIDEAST invites re-applications with updated materials.

VII. Destination Information Know Before You Go!

Maps of Sanaa and Aden: Check out http://maps.google.com/. Transportation in Sanaa and Aden: Moving around Sanaa and Aden is possible through the large number of available taxis and shared mini-buses. Three companies (Raha, Marhaba, and Carwa) in Sanaa offer metered taxis, two companies (Raha and Hala) have metered taxis in Aden, and in all locales private taxis (marked with yellow plates) are negotiable. Mini buses run set routes in urban areas and are also very inexpensive. Reading List: A short list includes a travel guide: Lonely Planet Guide to Yemen; a history: Paul Dresch, A History of Modern Yemen; first-person travel accounts: Eric Hansen, Motoring with Mohammed and Tim MacIntosh-Smith, Yemen: The Unknown Arabia; and a photographic essay: Sarah Searight, Yemen: Land and People.

VIII. FAQs
1. On what basis is an intern applicant selected? The International Education Intern is selected based on his/her academic preparation as well as previous work experience and how it relates to the needs of the office. Letters of reference and the phone interview play important roles in the final selection. 2. Are the starting and closing dates of the internship program flexible? AMIDEAST prefers to have interns start and complete their internship program on the established dates; however we understand that these dates may not correspond directly with some academic calendars. When filling out your application, please specify your available dates. 3. Can I choose which project I would like to gain more experience with while interning at AMIDEAST/Yemen? The primary focus of these internships is to implement educational exchange and scholarship programs; however, on your application, you may list an activity or project which you think you may take part in. 4. Do I need to speak some Arabic? Can I study Arabic in Yemen? No. However, it is helpful to have some Arabic language skills in order to travel in Yemen (when travel is possible). If you are interested in learning or enhancing your Arabic language skills, Yemen is a great place to do this. Language study is readily available, and daily life affords language learners with myriad opportunities for practicing and improving their Arabic. 5. Can I extend my internship program beyond one academic year? Yes, internships can be extended once for a second, three-month (summer) or nine-month (academic) period. 6. Are there shorter internships that correspond with my academic program? Yes, shorter internships are possible on a case-by-case basis and by prior arrangement; however AMIDEAST does not provide any benefits for individuals on shorter programs. 7. Will I be able to travel while interning with AMIDEAST? The International Education Intern will be working directly with AMIDEAST in Yemen. The head office is in Sanaa and some activities may require that interns travel to various cities in Yemen. AMIDEAST makes those

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arrangements on a case-by-case basis and depending upon internal travel restrictions. Travel outside of Yemen is not supported by AMIDEAST offices. 8. Do I need a visa to come to Yemen? Yes, at the time of this notice, you must obtain a business visa prior to arrival into Yemen. You can do this by mail with the Yemeni Embassy in Washington, DC. If you are selected as an intern, AMIDEAST will send you a letter of introduction so that you can obtain the necessary visa. Once in Yemen, AMIDEAST will process the visa into the required Yemeni residency permit. This process requires having 10 passport photos as well as an HIV-test at the Yemen Ministry of Health. Kindly note that visa requirements are subject to change. 9. What about health insurance? Effective this academic year, AMIDEAST provides travelers health coverage for summer or one-year interns through World Nomads. However, this insurance is limited in its scope and has a number of exclusions, including pre-existing conditions and mental illness. Further, it necessitates payment up front, with reimbursement requests later. It is best for dealing with short-term trauma or sudden illnesses, and is not suitable for chronic conditions. Thus, if you have your own health insurance, we recommend that you utilize your own pre-arranged coverage rather than the travelers insurance. If you have your own plan, kindly note that the plan takes precedence over the travelers health program. In all cases, keep in mind that any medical expenses will have to be covered up front by you in Yemen, and that you will need to request compensation for your expenses on your own, following your submission of bills and invoices to the companies. 10. Can I apply to become an EL teacher with AMIDEAST? Yes, as noted above, we expect that our teachers have at a minimum TEFL/CELTA certification. Additionally, all of our instructors must undergo training in our Aden office. If you are interested in teaching in the future, we recommend that you also look into certification. You can also contact our EL Center in Aden for more information. EL interns are provided with a similar benefits package, although there is additional compensation based on the number of classes taught.

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