INFORMATION BOOKLET Challenge yourself by volunteering abroad for a social cause to impact communities.
About AIESEC SMU We are the AIESEC chapter at Singapore Management University, part of AIESEC Singapore. AIESEC is the global youth network impacting the world through leadership development experiences. For over 67 years, we have been developing a global learning environment with over 86,000 members and 1,000,000 alumni across 126 countries & territories, AIESEC is the world’s largest youth-run organisation. As a platform for leadership development, AIESEC offers youth the opportunity to participate in Global Leader program to take part in team and leadership experiences and participate in a global learning environment. AIESEC has been supported by and been operating from SMU for 7 years. We have been present in Singapore for 34 years, with branches also in NUS, NTU and SIM.
What is
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! The Global Citizen Program provides students with the opportunity to volunteer overseas from 6 to 8 weeks for a challenging learning and crosscultural experience. ! ! International volunteering opportunities are the most intense learning experiences that connect the global network with AIESEC SMU.! ! This program unites cross-cultural positive impact with working abroad for social and community development projects.! ! In this program members are offered the opportunity to develop personal skills and competences through multiculturalism and social responsibility. AIESEC provides a variety of projects, which will be thoroughly explained further in the booklet. !
Key features of ! • Duration: 6-8 weeks ! • Cost: $515 programme fee, flight expenses, travel insurance, and any vaccinations. Personal expenses to be spent overseas. Food and accommodation may be provided depending on individual projects • Period: Winter or Summer break (The exact time period will depend on individual projects) ! • Partnering countries (for winter)*: ! – Cambodia! – Vietnam! – Philippines! – Taiwan! *Number of partner countries to be updated!
WHY By undertaking the Global Citizen Program with AIESEC, you will become more globally-minded and develop leadership skills, self awareness, and empowerment of others: ! ! ü ü ü ü
Long duration of cultural immersion! Expose to an extensive global youth network Take advantage of the relations you make with people from other cultures ! Contribute to others’ development by sharing your experience and knowledge ! ü Adapt to different situations and people ! ü Experience unique AIESEC culture ü Performance increasing by finding solutions easily ü Get involved and make an impact in different issues of social concern ! ü Implement your own ideas ! ü Able to exhibit leadership “Live unique experience - projects within the program are never the same”
What to expect from ! ü International work experience ! ü Solving community problems ! ü Theoretical and practical knowledge ! ü Personal and professional development ! ü New multicultural perspectives ! ü New international relations in your network ! ü Friends from all around the world ! ü Free access to different trainings and preparation seminars !
Testimonials Q: How did you develop yourself personally through your Global Citizen journey? A: Since I lived in the dormitories with all the other interns from all over the world, I was completely overwhelmed with all the cultural diversity around me and I think it helps you to develop a respect and understanding about things in life. Teamwork was also an essential learning experience for me. Surviving alone helps you to know more about yourself and your character, so it’s also a personal journey.! Sripriya Iyengar Srivatsa, AIESEC Global Citizen Participant
Q: How did experiencing a different culture change you as a person? A: It exposed me to the differences in our cultures and emphasised the need for me to respect these differences, and be aware of them in conversation and behaviour. However, in the process of getting to know another culture you also unwittingly find similarities, and somewhere along the way everyone meshes together as a team. Another thing that I did bring away was being reminded of how glad I am to be in Singapore, even though I sometimes think otherwise.! ! Chua Min Fang, AIESEC Global Citizen Participant
Q: What was the impact which you created during your Global Citizen journey? A: In my kindergarten, some of the children had special needs. I think one of the greatest impact was actually befriending these children and putting a smile on their faces. I also shared about my own culture to the teachers and even the children's parents. I also taught English to the children and also helped out with the other work of the kindergarten.! Nicole Yee, AIESEC Global Citizen Participant
Projects Our projects are subdivided into 3 segments. ! ! Some raises awareness about a particular social issue through! educational workshops, conferences, road shows or NGO work.! The issues targeted by AIESEC revolves around community development. Further, you may be involved in sharing and teaching others about your culture through workshops and events in schools, orphanages, conferences and different forms of media. There may be an opportunity for you to teach a particular subject or to empower the community through teaching them a particular skills. Of course, your exact role and work will be dependent on the project you choose. ! !
What are these?
Sub-issues Culture
Education
Social entrepreneurship
“Develop a global mindset, share your culture abroad.”
“Mould the minds of future leaders “
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“Innovate in a global setting, get to know foreign markets, startups and NGOs.”!
! Very much centered around social impact, cultural experience & Community improvement. Develop activities and events to showcase your culture and promote cross-cultural understanding in communities abroad. Become a Global Citizen by being an ambassador of your country and learning about the culture of your host country.!
! Empower a nation’s next generation of leaders by improving their literacy and cultural understanding. Provide children, teenagers, and young adults with access to basic education through language education, skills development and youth empowerment.! !
Gain practical experience by applying business knowledge to address issues faced by NGOs and start-ups around the world. Get involved in organizational development, social business and microfinance. Work on marketing and fundraising strategies, and educate young people on entrepreneurship skills.!
AIESEC is a not-for-proďŹ t organization. This fee is taken to cover our administrative processes to keep us ďŹ nancially sustainable so we can continue to provide high-quality leadership experiences. Programme fee: SGD515 What does it cover?! ! 1. Preparation & support Preparation seminars and workshops ! Individualized support before, during and after exchange ! ! 2. Logistical Assistance Accommodation (homestay) is usually provided ! Airport pickup is usually provided ! Assistance with getting appropriate visa, vaccinations and travel insurance ! 3. Expanding network Bonding events with other exchange participants from around Singapore ! Interactive events with AIESEC Singapore ! Other costs to consider: Flights
Travel insurance
Visa Fees
Vaccinations
Living expenses
FAQ Q: “Where can I go for the Global Citizen Programme? Is it available in all countries that AIESEC is present in?” ! Currently, we are partners with numerous AIESEC entities and we strongly encourage all programme participants to select projects in these countries for! ! ü ü ü
Faster matching process! Quality assurance of exchange experience! More detailed information available from past exchange participants to better prepare you for your volunteer experience abroad!
Notice: Partner countries in Winter 2015 are Cambodia, Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan. Q: What extra expenses that I will need to cover for? ! Expenses vary from countries to countries. ! Logistic expenses include flight tickets, visa, travel insurance and vaccinations.! Living Expenses include accommodation, food, transport, telecommunication pack.! !
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Rough estimate of expenditure during 6 weeks:! Southeast Asia: $1,500! Latin America/Africa: $2,500 - $3,000! (Prices include air fare, insurance, visa, meals & daily expenses)!
Q: What quality control system and safety management are provided for exchange participants? ! Education and expectation setting are provided through AIESEC SMU to ensure all exchange participants are made aware of the channels available for help when any issues arise. ! ! All exchange participants are allocated an Exchange Participant Manager (EPM) who acts as their consultant and first person of contact before, during and after their exchange. ! ! Crisis Management Process ! ! – – – –
Contact exchange participants immediately ! Ensure hosting AIESEC entity is assisting our exchange participants ! Communication for future action ! Cost on immediate leaving due to major crisis will be covered by their travel insurance!
! Exchange Program Polices (XPP) is a document that governs AIESEC’s exchange operations internationally. Its purpose is to have a standardized set of policies to protect the rights of exchange participants and that outlines the responsibilities of various parties. ! ! Net promoter score (NPS) is used to measure the quality of its program. ! !
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The International Control Board (ICB) is a process of arbitration and similar to court proceedings. It is to ensure that exchange participants are given the right to receive compensation if they believe that they were severely mistreated by an AIESEC entity during their exchange. !
Q: What happens if I don’t get matched to a project? ! You have 1 year to get matched to a project before you contract expires. If you are unable to get matched to a project for various reasons within this time, you can apply for an extension. Almost all exchange participants who actively look for projects get matched within one to two months after signing the contract so your proactivity will ensure that you find a suitable project. ! ! Q: Are there any selection criteria for the application selection process? ü Be available to attend workshops (after passing our interview) and willing to fill in surveys while on exchange ! • EP Induction (September)! • EP Outing (October)! • National Exchange Preparation Seminar (November)! • Reintegration Seminar (January)! ü Be motivated to actively look and apply for projects (with the assistance of your exchange buddy) ! ü Willing to be challenged and demonstrate a desire to overcome struggles ! ü Respect other cultures and people ! ü Be open-minded about trying new things ! ü Thirst to explore the world !
Timeline Sign up to indicate interest at http://aiesec.org.sg/sign-up/ Receive an unique application link through a follow up email.! Take part in a selection interview conducted by AIESEC SMU. In the meantime, you could refer to the sample list of opportunities provided by our partner countries.! If you are accepted, pay the programme fee of $515 to AIESEC SMU to continue the matching process! View available opportunities, while your designated EP Managers will assist you to be matched with projects you are interested in. Prepare to go for your life-changing experience with the support from AIESEC Singapore, through events such as EP Induction, EP Outing and the Outgoing Preparation Seminar (OPS). Time to embark on exchange! ! Re-integrate back to Singapore to close your wonderful experience, reflect on your personal development, learn how you can best showcase this valuable experience, and give back to the society with the new skills you have gained!!
Hundreds of SMU students went on their
You can be one of them too. So what are you waiting for? SIGN UP NOW: www.aiesec.org.sg
Contact us If you have any queries or would like to find out more about AIESEC, please feel free to contact: Joanne Tan, International Youth Programme Manager yongying.tan@aiesec.net OR Find us at https://www.facebook.com/aiesecsmu Aiesecsmu.wix.com/aiesecsmu