INTERNSHIPS
NGO & Institutes
Location (s):
- Switzerland
Geneva
Overview
Passionate about women’s rights and global change? Apply for a one-year or short term-internship with the World YWCA in Geneva. Every year, the World YWCA offers two or more one-year internships and two short-term internships for young women from the movement. The internships provide unique opportunities for young women from our movement to work as part of the World YWCA staff and volunteer team in Geneva. This includes opportunities to develop skills in advocacy through communications, programmes and movement building on the priority themes of violence against women, sexual and reproductive health and rights and HIV, and young women’s leadership.
Details
The World YWCA established its Internship Programme to enhance and further develop young women's leadership. The World YWCA advocacy internships offer the opportunity for a minimum of two young women from YWCAs to develop their skills and knowledge on advocacy and activism through training and exposure to the work and mechanisms of the UN system. This typically includes participation in one UN or international event such as the annual UN Commission on the Status of Women or one of the sessions of the CEDAW Committee or UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. The internship provides opportunities to develop expertise on global issues particularly in the World YWCA priority areas of young women’s leadership, sexual and reproductive health and rights, HIV and violence against women. As part of the World Office team in Geneva, Switzerland, the internship provides opportunities to develop expertise on global issues particularly in the World YWCA’s global focus areas of:
• Transformative young women and girls’ leadership
• Violence against women and girls
• Child, early and forced marriage
• Peace and justice
• Sexual reproductive health and rights
• Economic empowerment and information and communication technology
• Social, economic and environmental justice and faith and culture
In October 2015, the World YWCA celebrated a landmark movement during its World Council meeting when members unanimously adopted a common Envisioning 2035 ‘BOLD AND TRANSFORMATIVE GOAL’: “By 2035, 100 million young women and girls transform power structures to create justice, gender equality and a world without violence and war; leading a sustainable YWCA movement, inclusive of all women.”
Over the next four years 2016 – 2019, as the organisation moves toward this goal, the YWCA is committed to implementing a Strategic Framework which focuses on the following key strategic priorities:
• Strengthening Young Women and Girls Transformative Leadership,
• Realising Human Rights, and
• Sustaining the YWCA Movement.
Programme Objectives
- To mobilise young women as advocates, champions and leaders on priority issues.
- To develop skills, experience and knowledge in advocacy and representation among young women in YWCAs through active participation in the United Nation's mechanisms for the protection of human rights.
Opportunity is About:
Description of Ideal Candidate:
Criteria for Selection
- Successful candidates must be actively involved in their YWCA, either as a volunteer or staff member and demonstrate strong interest and enthusiasm in the World YWCA movement.
- Generally applicants should have a minimum of two years active involvement with their YWCA.
- Successful candidates must commit to sharing the experience gained with their YWCA and region following the internship, and their association must commit to integrating their leadership into the association upon their return.
- A strong commitment to women's rights and leadership.
- Previous experience in advocacy and/or activism on women’s rights is an asset.
- A good working knowledge of English, both oral and written, is essential.
- Applicants must be between 22 and 30 years of age.
- Independent and self-reliant, willing to take initiative, creative, hard-working, and flexible.
- Each candidate’s participation must be endorsed by her National Association.
Dates:
Deadline: November 30, 2017
Cost/funding for participants:
Travel
Participants must possess a valid passport. The World YWCA will assist with letters of invitation and advice to facilitate the visa process, however it is the responsibility of the intern and her national association to obtain a visa for the country concerned.
The World YWCA will cover the most economical and direct route airfare from and to the home country of the participant. Any additional contributions by the national association to the travel and accommodation costs would be greatly appreciated as funding for this programme must be continuously sought.
Accommodation and Health Care
The World YWCA is responsible for the accommodation, basic food allowance, local transport and health insurance.
More information:http://www.worldywca.org/ywca_ressources/world-ywca-opens-call-for-2018-internship-programme/
