Volunteer Application Form

Project Mercy’s Mission Statement Project Mercy is a not-for-profit Relief and Development Agency providing aid, comfort and support in the name of Jesus Christ to alleviate human suffering and overcome systemic poverty in Ethiopia and beyond. Project Mercy’s Major Objectives 1. To make the American people aware of specific Ethiopian and other selected African development needs. 2. To assist Ethiopian and other selected African countries with development programs. 3. To encourage the development of infrastructure, health care, educational, agricultural and economic opportunities offering spiritual hope in the name of Jesus Christ. 4. To safeguard the interests of vulnerable children, especially orphans, to provide for their well-being and to facilitate adoptions into permanent and loving families. 5. To assist African refugees in resettlement and host countries providing temporary sanctuary for African refugees. 6. To be prepared with emergency relief aid anywhere in the world. Project Mercy Program Overview Project Mercy® is an international community development and emergency relief agency. As a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Project Mercy®, under the leadership of a board of directors, has taken a vested interest in a community development project in Yetebon, a rural area of 70,000 people in south central Ethiopia, approximately 90 miles south of Addis Ababa. Project Mercy’s main objective is to improve adverse living conditions in the target community through the development of social and economic infrastructures with active participation on behalf of the community. Project Mercy is working to strengthen community and alleviate systemic poverty through education, skills training, health care, nutrition, agriculture, orphan care, infrastructure, and spiritual formation.

Project Mercy Volunteer Program

Step 1 Volunteers have made invaluable contributions to the programs and services we have offered to the communities in Ethiopia since 1993. Those of us at Project Mercy are pleased that you are considering volunteering with us, and we thank you for your interest. The service, enthusiasm and love shared by our volunteers have had a profound effect on the lives of the people we serve, and we continue to need the support of volunteers! 1 Please keep in mind that the application process is thorough. The following are the steps that will be followed prior to receiving approval and, if accepted, the steps that will follow in helping to prepare you for your volunteer experience.

APPROVAL PROCESS

SHORT AND LONG TERM VOLUNTEERS:  Applicant completes and returns Project Mercy Application for Volunteer Service (Step 1) - The application will be reviewed to determine desired length of service (long term or short term).

LONG TERM VOLUNTEERS: - Upon completing Step 1, the Fort Wayne office will then review the application and a phone interview will be set up with applicant.

LONG & SHORT TERM VOLUNTEERS:  Applicant will be notified of decision via email. Upon approval, (short and long term applicants) the following forms will emailed to the applicant to complete and return to the Fort Wayne office: - Release of Liability Form - Project Mercy Information Sheet - Copy of passport photo page  Applicant will need to apply for Tourist or Business Visa from Ethiopian Embassy in DC (applicant will be notified by PM office as to which one to apply for given the type of service they will be providing) - For a Business Visa, Project Mercy will provide a Letter of Invitation that will need to be included with the application  An invoice for the Room and Board and transportation will be emailed to applicant.  All forms and invoice charge will need to be received by the PM office two weeks before departure.

Please be patient and feel free to call with questions or concerns. Let’s begin!

Please mark the appropriate spaces: ___ I am open to serving at Project Mercy, where I will be a guest or volunteer to work under and submit to the directions and instructions provided by Project Mercy.

Recommended Terms of Service ___Long-Term Volunteers: I am committed to at least 4 months of service and am at least 18 years old. I understand I must have a personal interview prior to receiving a service placement.

___Short-Term Volunteers: I am committed to less than 4 months of service and am at least 18 years old. Project Mercy Application for Volunteer Service

Step 1

Instructions: Please fill out this application as carefully and as completely as possible. This application, with its supporting materials, may also be reviewed by the program manager of the program for which you are being considered. Type or print in blue or black ink.

2 “Volunteers who are approved for service with Project Mercy in Ethiopia may be reinstated upon completion of one year of service but only by invitation from the In-Country Representative for Project Mercy in Ethiopia. A reapplication process must then be done by the volunteer each year thereafter and be approved by the Project Mercy office in the U.S. An opportunity will only be available for the volunteer upon invitation from Project Mercy after an evaluation of need and fit.”

Full Name (as it appears on your passport/birth certificate)______Name you prefer to be called______Date of Birth ______(day/month/year) ___ Male ___ Female Marital status______

Date available to begin volunteer service ____/____/____ Length of commitment ____weeks ____months

Permanent address Street______City______State______Zip______Telephone (____)______(____)______(_____)______(Day) (Evening) (Cell) E-mail address______

Current address (if different from permanent address) until ____/____/____ Street______City______State______Zip______

Telephone (____)______(____)______(_____)______(Day) (Evening) (Cell) E-mail address______

Emergency Contacts 1. Name______Relationship______Street______

3 City______State______Zip______Telephone (____)______(____)______(_____)______(Day) (Evening) (Cell)

Emergency Contacts 2. Name______

Relationship______

Street______

City______State______Zip______

Telephone (____)______(____)______(____)______(Day) (Evening) (Cell)

Have you been a Project Mercy volunteer/visitor before? ___ Yes ___ No Date of service(s)______Project(s)served ______

Has anyone in your family been a Project Mercy volunteer/visitor? ___ Yes ___ No Date of service(s)______Project(s)served ______

How and when did you find out about Project Mercy? Please be as specific as possible ______

Your religious affiliation? ______

Are you 18 years of age or older? ___Yes ___ No If not, when will you be 18? _____/_____/_____ (If you are under 18 years of age, Project Mercy would require an adult to accompany and supervise you)

Education

Dates Name of Institution Major (s) Graduate? Degree Attended

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Work History Dates Address Employed Employer Phone Position Description of Duties (mm/dd/yyyy number )

Health Information Allergies? ______Special Diet?______Is there anything else Project Mercy should know about your health?______

Community Involvement

5 Brief Response - Please answer the following questions as completely as possible. (Attach additional pages if necessary).

What significant interaction(s) have you had with people of nationalities and cultures other than your own and how you feel they could benefit the work and ministry of Project Mercy? Please explain.

List your skills or experiences that might be useful and valuable to Project Mercy projects or programs?

What motivates you to volunteer with Project Mercy?

What inspired you to pursue this means of service to Project Mercy?

Have you been to our website and seen the rural, farming area where our Yetebon compound is located? There is very little infrastructure surrounding our project area (mostly farm land) which does not afford our guests and/or volunteers much opportunity to get to the nearest town due to lack of transportation. Will this create a challenge for you?

List any other service organizations where you have applied?______

If yes, the status of your application______

Have you ever been denied by another service organization? If yes, please explain:______

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