Program Directors

Our Program Directors live and work on site in Nicaragua or Ecuador for thirteen months with seven to eleven other Program Directors. As a team, they work alongside leaders in the communities of focus to ascertain and meet the community’s specific needs. Program Directors are called upon to use their education, passions, and interests to take the initiative to develop existing community projects and also have the opportunity to establish new projects. Program Directors are also responsible for facilitating MPI’s Spring Break and Summer Volunteer programs.  For more information, download our 2010-2011 Program Director Handbook or check out the online version below!

 

2010-2011 Program Director Handbook Online Edition*

On this page you'll find:

Program Director Roles

PD Timeline

Expectations and Rules

Financial Obligations

How to Apply

 

Program Director Roles

Developing and directing programs

MPI believes in the initiatives of its program directors, thereby allotting them with a large amount of responsibility and independence.  While working as a team, program directors implement their projects and hold each other accountable.  Future MPI program directors are responsible for the continuation of all existing programs. Therefore, education, experience and interest in specific program topics are especially useful.  It is also imperative that they have a keen awareness of the background and purpose of each program.  Each new program director has the ability to develop and expand programs throughout the year so that he/she can continue to meet the greatest needs of the community.  Additionally, with a focus on sustainable impact, many of our programs are run hand-in-hand with local community leaders, giving program directors the opportunity to develop cross-cultural professional, as well as personal, relationships.
 

Running MPI

In addition to running on-the-ground programs and projects, each PD has the opportunity to play a role in the development of MPI as an organization. From donor relations to publicity to campus chapter creation to financial management, our PDs form the backbone of MPI’s administrative, as well as programmatic, operation.

Raising awareness

Being able to spend a year abroad is a privilege that few people get to experience, and PDs act as a window into the developing world for our friends and donors. Through presentations, slideshows, monthly emails to donors, blog entries (check them out here and here), and online photo publishing, PDs raise awareness of MPI’s mission and the global inequities it challenges.

Hosting short-term volunteers

To further raise awareness of international issues, PDs act as hosts for short-term volunteers in spring and summer.  PD help plan and execute group trips, and recruit and manage summer volunteers. 

Training Incoming PDs

As part of their thirteen-month commitment, PDs are entrusted with the transition of programs to incoming PDs.  Current PDs introduce incoming PDs to community members and train them to operate existing MPI programs.

 

PD Timeline

Each year, all PDs arrive and leave together. Your application timeline, however, will vary according to your application deadline.

 

Contact Information for References Due	Second round: January 25th, 2010
Applications Due	First round: November 30, 2009 Second round: February 1, 2010  Rolling Admissions Period Begins: April 1, 2010*
Notification of Phone Interview	One to two weeks after deadline
Notification of Acceptance	Two weeks after phone interview (Approx. four weeks after deadline)
Contracts & $250 Deposit	Due 3 weeks following acceptance
Minimum $2500 raised	July 7
Miami Program Director Orientation	July 7-10
International Site Arrival-- followed by two to three weeks of language school and on-site orientation**	July 10
Winter break for personal travel (Three weeks)	December 15–January 5, 2011
$7500 min. Raised/Pledged	February 1, 2011
Group Contract End **	August 8, 2011

 

*Applications received after the second deadline are eligible for consideration on a rolling admissions basis, contingent upon the spaces remaining.  This round of admissions will begin on April 1, 2010.  Once all potential openings have been filled, we will close the application process and will post notification of its closing on this page.

 

**Exceptions to dates must be presented to the MPI office for approval

 

 

Group Living Commitment

While Manna Project PDs are privileged to enjoy the incredible, life-changing experiences that come with serving abroad, applicants should also consider the commitment that MPI requires of its volunteers. Spending thirteen months in a developing country inherently brings its own unique challenges. Additionally, living and working with a group can at times create a stressful environment. The abilities to compromise, take responsibility, and effectively resolve differences are a must for all Program Directors. Some examples of necessary sacrifices include participating in meetings that run late, respecting people with opinions that differ from your own, taking cold showers, and resisting the urge to scream Backstreet Boys' songs at 3:00 in the morning while setting off fireworks in the backyard.

 

Attitude and Personal Presentation

Every volunteer’s actions and words reflect on our country and on our organization.  PDs are expected to be positive and open minded to local cultural norms.  That requires flexibility when things are not easy or efficient, as well as enthusiasm for trying different activities and experiences.  It also means being respectful of others’ beliefs and values, be they community members or other volunteers.

Work Load

First year MPI PDs focus the majority of their efforts on developing MPI’s programs in our target communities.  Additional side projects are encouraged, and are to be pursued on the side. 

Second year PDs

PDs who are interested in serving for another year can present a project proposal to MPI’s Board of Directors. Second year PDs will be free to arrange their own housing and pursue their own program ideas. 

 

Lifestyle Habits

MPI participants must abide by all local laws. Additionally, volatile habits such as drug use and excessive drinking are prohibited while working for MPI.

 

Please note, due to the nature of MPI's structure, the lines between work life and personal life are often significantly blurred. For this reason, lifestyle habits such as  drug use and excessive drinking not only impact home and work relationships but they also do harm to the Manna Project reputation that hundreds of volunteers have worked to establish in the communities we serve. We ask that you take these points into consideration while deciding whether or not to apply for a Program Director position.

 

Couples

Couples are discouraged from applying as PDs, but are welcome to apply as summer volunteers.

Finances

PDs raise $575/month in donations to cover their living expenses, on-site administrative costs, and basic program expenses. The breakdown:

 

Expense

Amount (per month)

Living Expenses (room & board, transportation, and visas)

$420

MEDEX International Travel Insurance

$30

Staff Development

$20

Operating Expenses

$25

Personal living stipend*

$80*

Total

$575

 

 

*To give our Program Directors freedom to pay for small living amenities, travel expenses, and occasionally eating out, part of living cost goes to providing a weekly living stipend. That means that of the money you raise, $1040 goes to your personal living stipend.

 

Fundraising

$575 a month for thirteen months comes to a total of $7,500. That kind of fundraising can be an arduous process but you CAN do it! To help, we offer resources and support to PDs as they seek support.  Once accepted, PDs receive a fundraising kit, which includes letter campaign templates, commitment cards, and other tools to help them achieve their fundraising goals.

Travel & Language School Account (optional): max of $3000

A separate account designated specifically for a program director’s travel and additional language school is available for each participant. Funds must be specifically donated towards this separate account or must be in excess to the required annual financial commitment, and may only be accessed by the participant on the basis of a reimbursement. To receive a reimbursement from this account receipts must be presented to the designated administrative figure with a description of the expense. Travel expenses will only be granted if the travel is MPI-related, with a maximum of two roundtrip flights not exceeding $2500 total. MPI related travel includes traveling to and from your respective site at the beginning and end of the 13 months as well as one additional “wellness” trip during winter break or another approved vacation time. For all other travel program directors need to plan ahead and set aside the necessary personal funds in order to buy airfare (i.e. job interviews, weddings, etc.). If a participant fails to raise enough money for their living expenses, money from this separate account will be automatically transferred to cover them. Unused money in this account will go toward the Manna general fund unless specified by the participant.

Insurance

MPI's policy with MEDEX is an international travel insurance policy, and therefore designed to cover emergencies while our volunteers are living internationally. If you have preexisting health conditions, please review this policy and its coverage to determine if you should also keep your current personal insurance or if you need to purchase additional coverage for your time abroad. To receive a copy of MPI's insurance policy, or for more information, please contact Lori Scharffenberg at lori@mannaproject.org.
Other financial stuff
All deductions to MPI are tax-deductible, and strictly confidential between MPI’s administrators and the individual for whom donations are designated or who operates the designated program.

 

Apply

Interested in applying to be a 2010-2011 Program Director?  Click here for more information on the application process.

 

*Note, the online edition of the 2010-2011 Program Director Handbook is abridged in order to create a more user-friendly interface.  For the complete edition, please refer to the PDF version.

 

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Questions, comments , concerns? If so, contact us at (615) 653-4688 or apply@mannaproject.org.