- Can I decide which country to work in as a Development Instructor (DI)?
Yes – and no. In the beginning of the programme, you and your team mates will form small groups of 3 – Trios – that will stick together during the different periods. You go together with your trio to work at one of the projects available at the time of your training. It will be in a country in Africa or in India. - How is it decided at which project I will be working?
The starting point is that the projects that need the DI’s will get the Trio who fits the best for the tasks. Therefore you need to be flexible about getting your job. It can easily happen that your Trio will not get the job of your first choice, but that you have to take the job of your second or third choice .
Within the first 2 months of the training the projects send the job descriptions to the school. The team will go through them together with the teacher and decide according to the wishes and the strengths and weaknesses of the different Trios, which placement will be good for which Trio. So the team decides together who will work with which job. - What subjects will I be studying during the training?
You will study many different subjects during your training, which all focus on preparing you for your job at the project. Through studies and courses you learn about and discuss the situation in the world and development in theory and practice. Another part of the studies is the language training. At the school, it is first of all learning the major languages – Portuguese or English. But there will also be a possibility to get knowledge of the local languages spoken – Hindi, Chichewa, Oshivambo etc.
An important part of the studies concentrate on the variety of skills and knowledge needed in order to fill the specific position at the project. Some skills are similar for all the projects – like good knowledge about HIV/AIDS - and some are very specific and different for everybody.
Personal fitness is also part of the studies as fitness is essential to stay healthy during the project period.
If you want more details, you can see the latest team programme on this web site. You can also request a copy of our curriculum. - What does DmM stand for?
DmM is an abbreviation of the Determination of Modern Methods. It is a modern method of instruction aimed at creating extraordinary learning opportunities through emphasis on the student's responsibility for his or her own education. The method is used at all DRH Movement Schools.
The DmM is a computer-based system of education. All study tasks, materials and courses are uploaded on our Moodle, and you work from your computer connected with your team and the teachers. If you don't have your own computer, you can use one of the school's.
Click here to read about our Pedagogical Principles - What happens if I have not reached the targets I need before I go to one of the projects after the training period?
You will need to postpone you departure. This is a bad situation, both for you and for the project.
You and your Trio and teacher will keep track of your results and adjust your plans. Mostly the Trios can support each other so that all will reach your goal on time. - How can I prepare to organise events during the training?
During the training there are many opportunities for you to organise and be in charge of a smaller or bigger event. Below you find some examples - but the great thing is that you can invent new ones!
- All our teams participate in and co-organise a very big event, often in co-operation with our Scandinavian sister schools. Depending on which team you enrol for, it can be an all-day concert, a theatre festival, a Peace Conference or events for the public such as World AIDS Day and Humana People to People Day.
- You can put yourself forward as group leader in your team.
- You can organise a weekend survival trip for the whole school.
- You can organise a culture evening at the school to celebrate all the different nationalities that are always here
- You can put yourself in charge of a building weekend for the whole school.
The education at CICD is very practical and you will be in many situations where you will organise small and big events together with the other people in the team. - Which skills do you need to be a good Development Instructor?
Here are some good examples of skills that you need to have to do a good job at the project. The list is illustrative - but not complete.
You need to .....
- Be able to make a plan and implement it
- Be able to evaluate an action
- Know how to make a report
- Have knowledge about how to express yourself both orally and in writing
- Be able to communicate precise instructions
- Have the ability to organise people in such a way that they take responsibility
- Be able to speak the official language of the country you will work in
- Have the ability to handle money with budgets and accounts
- Be able to make a speech
- Know how to stay healthy and avoid getting sick.
- Know the importance of keeping the “No alcohol and no drugs” policy and the consequences if you don’t.
- Know the structure and organisation of your project
- Know the background and the history of Humana People to People
- Have excellent knowledge of the global situation on HIV & AIDS
- Know the theory of nutrition.
- Be able to speak about opportunistic infections
- Know the principles of a micro credit schemeAnd here are some attitudes that you need to have to be able to do a good job at the project:
- Want to be part of solving problems
- Are flexible and open to change
- Are ready for all tasks
- Are solidaric
- Are personally fit - Do I have to pass an exam?
You don’t need to pass any exam to qualify for working as a Development Instructor in Africa or India. But you need to learn a lot of theoretical, practical and organisational skills, to qualify for the work at the projects. - Do you have an entry test?
No, not a test. For you to enroll in a programme we need to meet you and you need to meet the organisation and the programme. You qualify for the programme by participating in an information meeting in your country or alternatively a phone or Skype meeting with one of our promoters, or you can come to a meeting here at the College.
You cannot enroll without a meeting. - Do I need special qualifications to participate in the programme?
No. You don't need any special qualifications to enroll at CICD - but you need to have a warm heart for people, be hardworking, flexible and ready for big challenges. You also need to be in agreement with, and ready to keep, our no drugs and no alcohol policy.
