Intern

**All internships will be remote for Fall of 2020**

WOLA’s Sally Yudelman Internship Program seeks to give interns hands-on experience and broad exposure to human rights advocacy and the foreign policy-making process. WOLA has hosted interns since the late 1980’s, and today our former interns can be found around the world working as human rights advocates, congressional aides, lawyers, journalists, professors, and even as members of WOLA’s senior staff.

Every semester WOLA’s new interns are paired with staff mentors and absorbed into the work of the organization. They collaborate on a mix of research, analytical, and administrative work, and they are encouraged to get involved in the day-to-day activities of their teams. WOLA selects seven undergraduate interns per semester, and each intern is assigned to a different program area—communications, fundraising, or one of many policy areas. Interns also get involved in the behind-the-scenes work of running a non-profit organization, including helping with technology, media, finance, and event planning.

For a look at former Yudelman interns’ experience at and reflections on their internship at WOLA, check out WOLA’s Intern Blog and Intern Twitter.

Fundraising interns assist with various aspects of fundraising and institutional development, including event planning, donor cultivation and stewardship, database management, direct mail and email campaigns, prospect research, grant writing, and other responsibilities as part of the fundraising team. The position provides a hands-on experience in development and assures broad exposure to each of WOLA’s different program areas. Development internships will give students experience in the art of communicating WOLA’s mission and work to our broad base of supporters, and are ideally suited for students interested in non-profit management or philanthropy—in addition to human rights and Latin America. Experience with event planning, fundraising, or database management is a plus.

Communications interns assist with social media, WOLA’s website, content development, press relationships, video filming and editing, and a variety of other responsibilities as a part of the communications team. The position provides a unique look at the intersection of strategic communications, social media, press work, and the promotion of human rights in Latin America. Communications internships will give students experience helping to turn compelling stories into action by articulating WOLA’s mission and work for different target audiences, and are ideally suited for students interested in journalism, content production, strategic communications, or marketing—in addition to human rights and Latin America. Experience with technical software, press work, or multimedia is a plus.

Policy interns are each assigned to a specific programmatic area (or a mixture of 2) at WOLA including; Colombia, Cuba, Citizen Security, Defense Oversight, Mexico, Venezuela, Drug Policy, and Women's Incarceration. The position includes immersion into one of WOLA’s program teams, and offers students first-hand experience in the research, strategy, and development of human rights advocacy. Policy interns are ideally suited for students interested in international relations, foreign policy, or political science—in addition to human rights and Latin America. Experience with translation, technical writing, and research is a plus.

Interested applicants should have a demonstrated interest in human rights, democracy, and social justice in Latin America; initiative and flexibility; the ability to work in a fast-paced environment; good organizational skills; follow-through and attention to detail. Motivated, self-starting interns excel at WOLA. A minimum of intermediate-advanced Spanish proficiency is required. Technical skills are highly desired.

In general, the Internship Program is not open to students who have passed beyond their undergraduate studies due to its significant administrative component. WOLA does not sponsor visas for students outside of the United States.