Outreach for Young Adults - Professionals Exposure Program (PEP!)

Background information

PEP! is an advanced training program offered by Mission 21 that consists of three parts: preparation course, deployment in a project, and evaluation and follow-up after return.

Preparation and follow-up in Switzerland are important components of the program, as is support during the assignment. In this context, further training means that the participants' task in the project is related to their profession or education. They are responsible for their own area of responsibility within an existing project, thereby deepening their specialist knowledge and acquiring intercultural social skills.

One PEPer who is doing her assignment in refugee counseling in Hong Kong says of her assignment, "There is too much misery in the world today. I'm not saying I can change that. I'm just saying that I want to at least help some people who have to witness this misery, as much as it's in my hands."

Project goals

• Participants take on a task of their own related to their education or professional experience.
• The partner church/organization and the project management define the assignment positions with the requirement profile. The project receives a qualified specialist who makes an active contribution to the project.
• The assignment gives participants professional experience in a different cultural and religious environment. In addition, they gain a deeper insight into the everyday life of the host country. They acquire or deepen intercultural skills.
• Sustainable outreach: The returnees bring their experiences into their personal environment and into the work of Mission 21 and thus act as multipliers in the North-South dialogue.

Target group

PEP! participants are qualified young professionals (22-30 years old) who have completed vocational training or a university degree. They want to take a gap year for personal development or are interested in development cooperation and would like to do a "trial assignment". They have a great interest in intercultural issues and are motivated to work for a mission organization.

Activities

Outreach with the following partners is under consideration for 2022/2023:

• Hong Kong: Christian Action
• Tanzania: Moravian Church in Tanzania South West Province
• Chile: SEDEC (Servicio para el Desarrollo y la Educación Comunitaria)
• Costa Rica: DEI (Departamento Ecuménico de Investigaciones) and UBL (Universidad Bíblica Latinoamericana)

The application situation depends on the development of the current Corona pandemic. The positions are advertised in response to applications from the partner organizations and the participants are carefully recruited. The preparation and follow-up as well as the monitoring during the assignments are important components for all participants and the success of the program.

Project progress

PEP! is based on the current standards of Personnel Development Cooperation (PEZA). Thus, current developments and guidelines are incorporated and adapted to create sustainable assignments for participants and local partners. PEP! follows the guidelines developed by Unité for the PEZA deployment of young adults (18 to 30 years old).

The transfer of knowledge and the integration of the PEPers after their assignment are an important part of the program and are covered by further offers for young adults by Mission 21.

Reactivating the program after the COVID19 pandemic is challenging. There are also unstable situations in various countries of operation that do not allow deployments at this time.