Initiatives of Change - Caux Interns

Caux Interns Leadership Programme 2009

(please note that applications for 2008 are now closed)

Wanted: Energetic, self-starting young adults seeking experience leading international work teams of volunteers during the summer .

Caux terrace (Photo: John Munro)

Venue: The international conference centre of Initiatives of Change, above Montreux, Lake Geneva, at 1000m above sea level.

Timing: Interns will be expected for courses of 3 to 4 weeks during July and August.

Training: All interns participate in a series of seminars on leadership and personal skills development training. The programme includes participation and note taking in some of the conference sessions and workshops, from which they report to the rest of the Interns group.

Interested...?
The Caux summer conferences attract hundreds of people from all over the world. Keenness to work sensitively with mixed cultural groups of all ages is essential. As part of the community-building process all day-to-day practical work of the centre is done by conference delegates, led by Caux Interns, who have a unique opportunity to develop skills and get training in leading international teams. Completion certificates are given.

Caux delegates on an outing to the Dent de Jaman (Photo: Daniele de Lutzel)

Applicants must be at least 18 years old by July 2009 but no more than 30 years, and with a good command of English and preferably another language. French is especially useful. Previous leadership and organizational experience is an advantage, as are skills related to the areas of service, which include: Kitchen, Dining room service, Housekeeping, Kindergarten, Technical, Administrative, including secretariat, reception, telephone, and others. Interns may be moved to different work areas depending on the needs at the centre.

Interns are expected to fund their travel costs to and from Caux, and can expect to have the cost of their stay fully funded. As the Caux centre is charitably funded through the contributions of many volunteers' time, talents and money, any financial contribution you are able to raise for your stay will be greatly appreciated.

FAQs about the Program

Hospitality is one of the most important ways of caring for people. It is a core value of the Caux conferences and of the intern program. The spirit in which we welcome people from all corners of the world, make them feel at home and include them in hosting the house, is an important part of our conferences.

This "community in service" is the place where we put into practice the values we talk about – teamwork, trust-building, inclusion, and multiculturalism, community-building. Here we experience it by becoming aware of the behaviour and skills needed to create authentic communities.

Each part of the dynamic is critically important to experience the community of Caux. For more information about each of the different tasks and their job descriptions please click here >>. In order to allow the best possible atmosphere during these 'conferences in community' all participants are given a welcome leaflet with information about the house on their arrival. This includes a few simple house rules: please find these in the following paragraph as the interns are part of the hosting team of the house by the time the participants arrive.

Mountain House is an international, multi-cultural community, which requires sensitivity to the presence of other cultures and generations. All are expected to respect the following:

Caux House Rules

1. NO smoking anywhere in the house or on the balconies
2. Alcohol is not allowed in private rooms, nor is it served in Mountain House.Quiet in the conference centre and gardens after 22:30 hrs
3. Bed rooms are private to their allocated occupants
4. Illegal and non medical drugs are strictly forbidden
5. Special sensitivity is requested in the area of dress
6. Out of sensitivity to others the curfew for noise is 22.30hrs. This is especially important in the garden area, including the lower terrace, and the back of the house as noise in these areas is greatly amplified and carries long distances.

Applications for 2009 Course will open January 2009.