Running Across Borders Oxford Chapter Director and Member Volunteers
Posted 21 February, 2009
Closing Date 9 May, 2009
Are you a student or student-athlete with a busy schedule, but want to make a direct difference? Want to use sport as a direct way to serve the needs of developing countries? Want to travel and gain VIP access to elite running races? Want to play a central role in a rapidly developing and expanding charity?
Running Across Borders is a non-profit organization dedicated to expanding economic opportunities available to East African youth through long-distance running. International-level sport bears significant economic potential, even by developed-world standards. Thus East African countries, which have the world's best runners but some of its poorest economies, have great potential to develop through sport. The potential opportunities for the youth of East Africa include the possibility of becoming world-class athletes, as well as the possibility of working in running-related professions.
You can volunteer for RAB's Oxford Chapter from just one hour per week. That will make a difference because RAB is less than one year old and the Oxford Chapter is just forming at this time! So your work will not just sustain status quo activities; rather it will have an impact on the expansion of the organization, and the cause will be directly furthered because of the time you put in.
The main activities will be awareness- and fund-raising on campus, but as an organization member you'll be welcome to participate in activities in Europe, Ethiopia, or Kenya as well. The hours and commitment for volunteering are flexible. However somebody able to invest significant time in the project can apply for the role of Oxford Chapter Director.
The main role of the Oxford Chapter is to facilitate a link between Running Across Borders, an organization focused on ground-level work in East Africa, and Oxford University. There are several specific reasons why this is important:
1)
Thanks to efforts of the Oxford Hub and its member organizations, the university is a place where innovative charities and social entrepreneurial ventures have great opportunities to network with each other and find ways to work together. The Oxford Chapter will provide a vital link to this network.
Thanks to efforts of the Oxford Hub and its member organizations, the university is a place where innovative charities and social entrepreneurial ventures have great opportunities to network with each other and find ways to work together. The Oxford Chapter will provide a vital link to this network. 2)In any charitable venture some of the most effective fund-raising and awareness-raising can happen through the efforts of university students.
In any charitable venture some of the most effective fund-raising and awareness-raising can happen through the efforts of university students.3)Running Across Borders focuses on economic opportunities for youth in East Africa, but many of these opportunities come about through cultural exchange between these beneficiaries and youth in developed-world countries. Such exchanges often require the work of dedicated volunteers to liaise with youth of the developed world.
Running Across Borders focuses on economic opportunities for youth in East Africa, but many of these opportunities come about through cultural exchange between these beneficiaries and youth in developed-world countries. Such exchanges often require the work of dedicated volunteers to liaise with youth of the developed world. One prominent example of beneficial cultural exchange is our ‘Training in Ethiopia’ program, which allows athletics competitors from outside East Africa travel to Ethiopia and experience the unique combination of training groups, natural training surfaces, agricultural diet, and altitude that make its native athletes the best in the world. Part of the arrangement is that these athletes contribute donations in return for the hospitality of their East African hosts, and this money feeds into supplying the East Africans with much-needed resources.
4)Oxford provides opportunities to connect not only with other charities and entrepreneurial ventures, but also with a variety of other individuals. For example, Hilary Term 2008 has included campus events featuring the owner of a prominent athletics equipment company, the editor of a major athletics magazine, a famous professional athlete, a prominent academic in the area of socioeconomic development of Africa, and representatives of several major charities and fund-raising events. It is critical that we have representatives on campus to attend these events, learn any information communicated, and ideally form personal network connections with these individuals.
Oxford provides opportunities to connect not only with other charities and entrepreneurial ventures, but also with a variety of other individuals. For example, Hilary Term 2008 has included campus events featuring the owner of a prominent athletics equipment company, the editor of a major athletics magazine, a famous professional athlete, a prominent academic in the area of socioeconomic development of Africa, and representatives of several major charities and fund-raising events. It is critical that we have representatives on campus to attend these events, learn any information communicated, and ideally form personal network connections with these individuals.In view of these objectives, the Oxford Chapter volunteers of Running Across Borders will be expected to:
a)Work together and make sure at least one person attends all lectures, conferences, and events within Oxford that are relevant to the work of Running Across Borders. Subject to travel funding and time, volunteers may be encouraged to attend other events in the region or even in Europe. In particular, our athletes and administrators often attend races in Italy and other continental countries.
Work together and make sure at least one person attends all lectures, conferences, and events within Oxford that are relevant to the work of Running Across Borders. Subject to travel funding and time, volunteers may be encouraged to attend other events in the region or even in Europe. In particular, our athletes and administrators often attend races in Italy and other continental countries.b)Attend social events organized by OXHUB, and keep us informed and connected with the activities of other groups in the community
Attend social events organized by OXHUB, and keep us informed and connected with the activities of other groups in the communityc)As a group organize one fund-raising event per term. They may also contribute on behalf of Running Across Borders to a second fund-raising event per term.
As a group organize one fund-raising event per term. They may also contribute on behalf of Running Across Borders to a second fund-raising event per term. d)Continually promote awareness of Running Across Borders to the Oxford University student community, particularly to those individuals interested in athletics and/or social development.
Continually promote awareness of Running Across Borders to the Oxford University student community, particularly to those individuals interested in athletics and/or social development.Benefits
-You will be recognized as not only Oxford Chapter Volunteers but also as valuable overall partners in this young and rapidly-growing organization. In particular, somebody assuming the role of Oxford Chapter Director will have a very central position.
-When necessary and available, Running Across Borders will fund volunteers' travel expenses to events outside of Oxford and in some cases ones in Europe, for those who have the time and interest to attend.
-Representatives of our organization are often asked to attend European competitions to escort our Ethiopian beneficiary athletes. These trips include VIP accommodation in official race hotels, and special access to the race, press conference, banquets, and other publicity events.
-You will have a great time!
Application
Please submit a CV and a brief statement of interest to: Garrett.Ash@runningacrossborders.org
Please indicate whether you would like to be an associate volunteer, or if you would like to be considered for the Chapter Director Position.
Applications close on 9 May, 2009
Volunteer Positions Available
