Global Perspectives Teacher At Village Health Works

Organization Background:

Village Health Works (VHW) is a 501(c)(3) corporation. It is a social justice organization founded on the belief that health equity is not a commodity but a right. Founded in partnership with the communities we currently serve, VHW’s mission is to provide the neediest high quality, compassionate health care and education based on critical thinking in a dignified environment. VHW’s holistic approach integrates clinical services with education, food security, economic development, environmental protection, music and the arts. In the context of where we currently work, this is the only way we can sustainably end the extreme, multigenerational scarcity in a way that uplifts and engages communities with dignity and in their own context. We believe that the lack of access to quality healthcare and education is the biggest threat to development and world peace.

VHW established Kigutu International Academy, a grade 9-12 boarding school to equip young minds with an education based on critical thinking to prepare them to become the leaders we wish their country and the continent to have for a better future. KIA is a secondary boarding school created to educate a new generation of ethical and entrepreneurial young leaders in Burundi.

The students are at the core of their own transformative education at KIA. The school recruits, identifies, and selects the most promising students throughout all of Burundi. Those selected

have demonstrated not only success academically but have also shown leadership and commitment to improving their schools and their communities. KIA brings together this cohort of students from a diverse range of backgrounds for a powerful educational and leadership journey over four years. Competencies and skills such as critical thinking and character development are intentionally folded into a sustained high level of academic achievement. KIA helps these young students to reinvent what is possible in a progressive and intentional sequence throughout their four years of secondary school and their further careers.

One of KIA’s missions is to serve as a model school to help reinforce and enrich the Burundian educational system. In doing so it also prepares the KIA graduates for success in universities within the East African community, within Africa, and internationally.

Our core values are as follows:

• Every member of VHW’s team must value the dignity inherent in each individual, aspire to excellence in all we do, proceed with boldness and perseverance.
• Compassion and justice must be at the heart of our organization.
• To accomplish the mission of our organization we all must be accountable to each other and to our community.

At KIA, all staff members will work to ensure that the learners (students) are provided with a safe environment of learning enable students to flourish academically, physically, and emotionally.

For more information, please visit: www.kigutuinternationalacademy.org

Position Overview

The Global Perspectives Teacher will serve as a member of our core staff at KIA, and will be highly engaged in the KIA community of students, teachers, and staff. Their primary responsibility will be the planning and implementation of KIA’s signature International Program courses, Global Perspectives.

KIA’s mission is to develop critical thinkers and ethical leaders, and the Global Perspectives Teacher will be essential to this mission. Global Perspectives serves to complement KIA’s language- and science-heavy curriculum as a broad humanities course. In the Global Perspectives course, students will explore regions and countries around the world and several fields, including current events, history, politics, economics, culture, arts, ethics, religion, and more. Students will develop research skills, oral and written communication skills, critical thinking, and creativity through interdisciplinary, project-based, student-led studies.

As an international school, KIA aims to train global citizens with an understanding of international affairs. As such, the Global Perspectives Teacher will provide a vital international mindset and will mentor and support students both inside and outside of the classroom.

This position will report to the Head of School.

Qualifications

Required qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in international studies, history, or related fields.
• Understanding of interdisciplinary humanities topics and general interest in and understanding of world affairs.
• Ability to teach learners of all ages, backgrounds, and needs.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Fluent/native English speaker. Knowledge of French is an advantage.
• 2 years of professional experience in schools or educational programs is desirable, fresh graduates are encouraged to apply.
• Self-motivated and able to meet deadlines.
• Dynamic, creative, and energetic individual who will bring these characteristics to the classroom as well as being eager and willing to jump into extracurricular and ad hoc projects and responsibilities.
• Strong interpersonal skills alongside a commitment to and appreciation for diversity and working in a multicultural environment.
• Commitment to VHW and KIA’s mission and values.

Preferred qualifications:

• International education experience
• Experience teaching research and communication skills
• Familiarity with East Africa and/or Burundi

Duties and Responsibilities

• Planning and implementation of the Global Perspectives course for grades 10-12 at KIA as the sole teacher, including all in-classroom instruction, grading, reports, and supplemental support of students as needed.
• Following the written Global Perspectives curriculum while adapting to learners’ needs and preparing engaging daily lesson plans.
• Creating a supportive and positive classroom environment and collaborate with colleagues to provide an overall positive learning experience for all students.
• Contributing to the growth of KIA’s extracurricular student activities, including but not limited to the Model United Nations club.
• Performing general duties as a member of the KIA staff, including student supervision and relevant administrative tasks.
• Performing other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the KIA HoS