HABITAT FOR HUMANITY INTERNATIONAL (HFHI) is looking for a passionate volunteer to serve for 12 months as a Communications Volunteer in its Europe/Middle East/Africa (EMEA) regional office The volunteer will serve under the supervision of the PR and Media Manager and be based in our regional office in Bratislava, Slovakia.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Internal Communications:
* Collect field data and information and help develop content for a variety of HFHI publications to promote Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) programs throughout the wider Habitat network.
* Handle incoming communications requests from WE (fundraising countries), HQ and National Organizations, provide EMEA programs with available materials and resources as needed.
* Check and update content for general EMEA publications (country profiles, brochures, slideshows, etc.).
* Maintain and write family stories using available resources from the countries, keep track of the used stories.
* Maintain and update monthly editorial calendar for internal publications.
 
External communications:
* Coordinate, collect and develop content for strategic external media outlets as identified by the PR and Media Manager.
* Send out relevant information to EMEA programs for identified coordinated media outreach.
* Help maintain and add information to a list of major European media outlets.
* Make introductory and follow up phone calls to journalists (names and contact details) covering housing, development and social issues as specified by the PR and Media Manager.
* Maintain and sort out the EMEA database and housing research, if necessary conduct small research assignments.
 
Web Communications:
* Develop and update stories on the Habitat EMEA website, write biweekly/weekly updates to the homepage, press release posts and other stories as needed.
* Check and update content on other specialized pages on the Habitat EMEA website.
* Develop updates and content for the EMEA Housing Forum site (new articles, materials and pictures).
* Develop materials and collect articles from relevant specialist for the monthly EMEA newsletter.
* In consultations with the supervisor and marketing specialists propose and develop themes for EMEA mailings.
 
Social Media:
* Develop content for the existing social media channels used by EMEA, respond to comments and feedback on the pages.
* Suggest ideas for additional content, work with PR & Media Manager and marketing specialist to replenish social media content.
* Create scripts for picture slideshows or video clips.
 
Conferences/Events:
* Coordination based on communications requests; prepare communications plans, timelines and schedules.
* Develop conference materials in coordination with PR & Media Manager and Marketing Specialist.

ABOUT THE AREA: Slovakia is a landlocked country in Central Europe with a population of over five million and an area of about 49,000 square kilometers (almost 19,000 square miles). The Slovak Republic borders the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south. The largest city is its capital, Bratislava. Slovakia is a member state of the European Union, NATO, OECD, WTO, and other international organizations.

The majority of the inhabitants of Slovakia are ethnically Slovak (85.8%). Hungarians are the largest ethnic minority (9.7%). Other ethnic groups, as of the 2001 census, include Roma with 1.7%, Ruthenians or Ukrainians with 1%, and other or unspecified, 1.8%.
The official state language is Slovak, a member of the Slavic Language Family, but Hungarian is also widely spoken in the south of the country and enjoys a co-official status in some municipalities, and many people also speak Czech.

The Slovak constitution guarantees freedom of religion. The majority of Slovak citizens (68.9 %) identify themselves with Roman Catholicism (although church attendance is lower); the second-largest group are people without confession (13%). About 6.93% belong to Lutheranism, 4.1% are Greek Catholic, Calvinism has 2.0%, other and non-registered churches 1.1% and some (0.9%) are Eastern Orthodox. About 2,300 Jews remain of the large estimated pre-WWII population of 90,000.

Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of 425,000, the country's largest city. Bratislava is in the south-west of Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two other countries.

Bratislava is the political, cultural, and economic center of Slovakia. It is the seat of the Slovak presidency, the parliament, and the government, and is home to several universities, museums, theatres, galleries and other important economic, cultural, and educational institutions. The headquarters of many of Slovakia's large businesses and financial institutions are in Bratislava.

Banking system in Bratislava is well developed, ATMs are available in numerous places in the city and around the country. Medical services is well developed, secured and English speaker doctors are available.  For more information, please visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bratislava

SUPPORT PROVIDED BY THE HFHI AREA OFFICE:
Housing: $400/month
Transportation: $30/month
Language studies: 10-hour course on the Slovak language
Other: Registration costs with the local police department
Office-related: laptop, desk, office space

ANTICIPATED COSTS TO THE VOLUNTEER:
Monthly estimate for a single individual is given below. (All figures are in USD.)

Housing: $400
Utilities: $50
Food: $250
Transportation to/from the assignment: $0
Other (personal/recreation expenses): $100
TOTAL: $800