Position Type: Volunteer (Pro Bono), Part-Time
Languages: Fluent in English and French (spoken and written)
Audience: High school students (ages 12–17), levels 2nd, 1ere and Tle
Start Date: Ongoing
Duration: Minimum 1 year preferred (renewable by mutual agreement)
Reports to: Program Director / Executive Team
Position Summary
The Volunteer Psychologist serves as the mental health and well-being coordinator for FAE Foundation students. The role mirrors that of a university student counselor or clinical psychologist, offering confidential support, emotional development, and crisis intervention for high school-aged learners preparing for higher education. You will create a safe space for students to express themselves, process challenges, and build emotional resilience—critical for both academic success and personal growth.
Key Objectives
- Promote mental wellness, emotional literacy, and psychosocial safety among students.
- Provide confidential counseling and crisis support.
- Lead workshops on topics such as stress management, identity, motivation, and peer dynamics.
- Collaborate with lecturers and staff to ensure a student-centered, psychologically safe environment.
Core Responsibilities
Individual & Group Counseling
- Offer confidential, short-term counseling sessions to students facing emotional, behavioral, academic, or family difficulties.
- Use culturally sensitive, age-appropriate methods to support students.
- Maintain strict confidentiality and ethical boundaries in all sessions.
Crisis Intervention & Mental Health Triage
- Identify early signs of psychological distress or mental health risks.
- Respond to student crises (e.g., anxiety, depression, bullying, family trauma) with care
and urgency. - Refer students to external professionals or clinics when needed, with follow-up.
Psychosocial Education & Workshops
- Design and deliver interactive workshops on:
- Emotional intelligence
- Self-esteem and body image
- Stress, burnout, and exam anxiety
- Conflict resolution and communication
- Gender-based violence and healthy relationships
- Use case studies, role play, and guided reflection to deepen understanding.
Wellbeing Advocacy & Safe Space Facilitation
- Serve as a visible mental health advocate within the Foundation.
- Create and manage “well-being corners” or support groups (e.g., peer listening clubs).
- Encourage positive coping mechanisms and mental wellness habits.
Program Strategy & Collaboration
- Advise the Program Director on how to make teaching environments more student-
centered and trauma-informed. - Train lecturers and staff in basic mental health awareness and student support strategies.
- Develop protocols for managing high-risk cases (safeguarding, parental involvement,
follow-up).
Monitoring & Reporting
- Keep non-identifiable records of student issues and referrals for internal analysis.
- Prepare monthly summaries on mental health trends and recommend program improvements.
- Support grant-writing or program evaluation with psychosocial impact data when required.
Candidate Profile
Required Qualifications:
- Master’s degree or higher in Psychology, Counseling, Clinical Social Work, or Mental Health fields.
- Licensed or certified psychologist, counselor, or therapist (eligible to practice in Côte d’Ivoire).
- Bilingual in French and English.
- Minimum 2 years of clinical or school-based counseling experience.
Preferred Attributes:
- Familiarity with adolescent development and educational psychology.
- Deep empathy, emotional intelligence, and cultural sensitivity.
- Experience working in schools, universities, NGOs, or community-based settings.
- Committed to holistic youth empowerment, beyond traditional therapy.
- Ability to work independently and in team settings.
What You Gain
- The opportunity to impact hundreds of young lives through care and empathy.
- A platform to practice culturally meaningful, school-based mental health support.
- Experience building mental health infrastructure within a nonprofit education model.
- Certificate of service and reference letter upon request.
- Recognition as a foundational voice in student well-being at FAE Foundation.