International Organizations

Since I was a little girl, I've always had an interest in homeless children. From seeing the commercials on television to my mother telling me after I wasted food at my meal that "a homeless child could've eaten that and here you are wasting food." The organizations I chose all have something to with giving children healthier starts and for homeless children. The three I chose are Save the Children, United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), and Homeless International.
UNICEF is an organization that fights for the rights of children. They focus on four areas in child development: child survival and development, education and gender equality, child protection and social inclusion, and HIV/AIDS and emergencies. One job opening I found at UNICEF was an Education Specialist (Early Childhood Development). The job requires me to be

Accountable for  planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluation of Education programme(s) to ensure overall efficiency and effectiveness of the programme management, delivery and accomplishment of programme goals and objectives. Across the Education programme(s), accountable for identifying gender inequalities in education, and for developing innovative approaches and programmes to eliminating these inequalities. Collaborates across the programme(s) to ensure gender mainstreaming. Ensures that monitoring mechanisms are in place to track progress towards disparity reduction goals and targets in Education. It is required to have 5 years experience at a national or international field program relative to education. Fluency in English and one more UN language and this is one I would have to learn! and an advanced degree in Education.

Save the Children is similar to UNICEF, its focus is giving children the healthy start that they deserve. They have the same focuses as UNICEF does. They have an Advisor in Child Health job opening. Reponsibilities include:

Strategic vision, leadership, and operational planning,

Technical leadership and support for quality Child Health programs,

Promote program learning and innovation, advocacy,  Resource Mobilization from public and private sources, and manage program/projects.

Requirements include:  

• Minimum 7 years of field experience in international public health programming in developing countries, with emphasis on child health
• Minimum 10 years total US-based and field-based experience, including experience managing staff, grants, and health programs
• Academic qualifications include MD/MPH, DrPH, or PhD (health sciences)
• First author of recent peer-reviewed publication(s) on relevant topics. 
• Ability to travel 25-35% of time
• Familiarity with USAID policies, strategies, and program priorities, preferably at both the global and country level
• Prior experience delivering technical assistance, especially in developing country settings, desirable.
• Advanced experience in proposal development, program design especially community-based approaches to child health and survival.
• Strong experience in malaria program design and implementation preferred
• Must speak English fluently, and ideally, speak either French, Spanish, or Portuguese. 

Traveling is something I've always wanted to do and if involved helping children that would be amazing!!! Of course the other requirements I haven't reached yet, but I could work in a lower level organization to meet those requirements.

The last organization I looked at was Homeless International. "Our vision is a world in which all people can exercise their right to land, basic services and shelter.  Shelter is more than a house:  it is a space for privacy, economic activity, social care and personal fulfilment.   We help communities transform slums by supporting them to work together to secure land, build homes, access safe water and sanitation, and negotiate with governments – ensuring that they have a voice that gets heard" (Homeless International).

References

Homeless International. Retrieved from http://www.homeless-international.org/home

Save the Children. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6115947/k.8D6E/Official_Site.htm

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). (n.d.). Retrieved April 9, 2014 from http://www.unicef.org/