Internship Description: The Development and Outreach Department of Human Rights Watch ("HRW") is seeking a student to intern with the Director of the New York Committee. Internship responsibilities include, but are not limited to, assistance with New York outreach events such as the 2013 New York Film Festival; writing acknowledgment letters and other correspondence; coordination of donor communication; and research for development and outreach projects.
This internship is best suited for those individuals interested in gaining experience in a large, well-organized, international non-profit organization. Interns will learn about the organization's priority human rights issues and gain research, event management, and fundraising skills. In order to provide a valuable and well-rounded internship experience, interns will attend planning and department meetings with staff and will have the opportunity to take advantage of in-house trainings and briefings.
This position begins in January and will last until June 2013. The position may have flexible hours within the 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM weekday office hours for a minimum of 25 hours/week and 3-4 days/week.
Internships are unpaid. Students are often able to arrange academic credit, as HRW internships offer direct exposure to the workings of an international human rights organization, close supervision by the HRW staff, interaction with other US and international organizations and foreign and domestic government officials, and opportunities to attend lectures, trainings, and special events relating to human rights. Students should check with their individual academic institutions for requirements.
Qualifications: Applicants should be detail-oriented, well-organized, self-motivated, and reliable with a strong interest in international human rights. Excellent written and oral communication skills in English are required. Internet research skills and familiarity with MS Office programs, such as Word and Excel, are a must. Data entry experience and familiarity with Raiser's Edge or other databases are desirable. Relevant coursework is highly desirable. Candidates should have a strong interest in human rights and should be an enrolled undergraduate or graduate student for the duration of the internship.
Applicants who are offered an internship, but who are not US permanent residents, US citizens, or in possession of a valid student visa, must apply for a J-1 visa through a sponsoring organization. This process can take several weeks and applicants will have to incur their own costs.
