position title

Kesho Leo Infrastructure volunteer

when

Full time volunteer position. Positions available NOW.

location

Arusha region, Tanzania, East Africa

position purpose

To work with Tanzanian staff to ensure general building maintenance, maintenance of vehicles and small motors and maintenance of all infrastructure systems on the Kesho Leo site and on the Kesho Leo volunteer village.

The position will have responsibility and reporting to fws Australia on a regular basis.  

responsibilities

• To lead and model training initiatives with staff in all areas of maintenance.
• To promote community education around systems and building methods implemented at Kesho Leo
• To maintain gates, security fences an alarm systems of all fws properties (liaise with local installers).
• To maintain the building structures on all fws properties. This will require basic carpentry, welding, concreting and plumbing skills.
  
• To maintain all roof and guttering systems and tanks.
  To maintain solar energy systems and electrical safety (liaise with local installers).
• To maintain Kesho Leo vehicles and actively pursue the conversion of vehicles to bio-diesel.
• To service and securely store all electrical and hand tools.
• To maintain and account for other building materials and general equipment kept in the Kesho Leo storage (shipping container) and in the storeroom at the volunteer village.
• Ensure materials and resources are used in a conservative manner with waste minimisation and re-use in mind.
• Model best practice to Tanzanian staff to ensure the development of preventative maintenance, problem solving and re-use where applicable.
• Promote current health and safety practices especially in regard to fire safety.
• Liaise with local fundis (skilled workers such as electricians, carpenters, steel workers) and maintain already established relationships with the Kesho Leo community. E.g. original building crew all live locally and are to be priority for employment as it arises.
  Maintain positive relationships already established with hardware stores, timber yards, furniture builders and other businesses in Arusha town.
• Provide a fortnightly report on systems maintained or systems in need of maintenance to fws architect/infrastructure manager
  Meet financial reporting requirements and adhere to infrastructure budget.
• Develop building or small project initiatives as they arise and present as a potential ‘program proposals’ to infrastructure manager.
  Be conscious of security requirements in a developing environment and maintain established security routines at Kesho Leo and the volunteer village.
• Provide good news articles (e.g. newly acquired skills acquired by staff), updates to the gimme shelter Editor to use in the monthly fws newsletter and maintain/participate in the fws team blog site.
  

key performance indicators

• Success in maintaining and managing the water systems and plumbing by all staff at Kesho Leo.
• Success in maintaining and managing bio gas systems kitchen gas outlets by the Kesho Leo grounds staff.
• Success in maintaining and managing solar power systems and electrical systems.
• Successful promotion within the community of preventative maintenance of all systems and buildings.
• Safe use of all tools and electrical equipment by all Tanzanian staff.
  Regular planned updates to Australian management regarding the maintenance of Kesho Leo and the volunteer village.
• Positive feedback from the local community regarding their ability to fix and maintain the Kesho Leo tools and systems.
  

liaise with

• fws Kesho Leo Project Manager 
• Kesho Leo Manager
• Kesho Leo employees
• fws Infrastructure Manager (Australia)

report to

• fws Kesho Leo Manager 
• fws Infrastructure Manager Australia

pre-package

• Free accommodation (on-site)
• Monthly stipend
• Priceless memories

skills & requirements

• Experience is a variety of infrastructure areas
  
• Knowledge of small motors and mechanics
  
• Knowledge and experience in solar energy systems
  
• Basic plumbing
  
• Basic carpentry (including the repair of fiberglass)
• Knowledge of working with mains electricity safely
• Engineering knowledge an advantage
• Experience working in a developing country an advantage
• Innovation in preventative maintenance
• Team player
• International Driver’s License and willingness to drive a 4WD vehicle.
• Truck license an advantage.
• Current First Aid Certificate
• Computer efficiency in the Internet, Microsoft Word
  
• A willingness to seek fluency in Swahili
  

Enquiries

Email osvolunteer@foodwatershelter.org.au or complete our Volunteer Placement Form.