The Student Task Force (“STF”) is a Human Rights Watch (“HRW”) sponsored youth leadership-training program that brings together high school students from all over Los Angeles and empowers them to advocate for the rights of children. HRW interns and STF teachers partner together to mentor students in leadership skills and activism, fostering confidence and maturity among students and enabling them to become effective voices for change and social justice within their communities. For more information on the Human Rights Watch Student Task Force, please visit www.hrwstf.org.
The Los Angeles office is currently seeking STF interns for the summer of 2018. Ideally, selected candidates will be available for a minimum of 12 hours per week beginning late May/early June 2018 through August 2018. The internship may have flexible hours within the 9 am to 6 pm weekday office hours.
The STF internship offers a substantive learning opportunity for the selected candidates. The STF internship may include the following projects:
- Creating and organizing advocacy opportunities for the STF campaigns that focus on children’s rights issues and human rights education;
- Liaising with local student leaders and faculty advisors;
- Researching and organizing human rights education resources and materials;
- Researching and implementing strategies and tools to equip students to be knowledgeable and effective human rights activists; and
- Contributing to some office-related tasks.
This internship is unpaid. Students are often able to arrange academic credit, as Human Rights Watch internships offer direct exposure to the workings of an international human rights organization, close supervision by the HRW staff, interaction with other U.S. 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.
- Applicants should be well-organized, attentive to detail, self-motivated, and reliable, with a strong interest in children’s human rights and/or human rights education.
- Experience with advocacy and liaising with volunteers is highly desirable. Relevant coursework in political science, international studies, or global studies is a plus.
- Computer skills (i.e. Microsoft Word and Excel, and internet applications) are required. Experience with graphic design, web design, social media, and online communication tools are preferred.
- This internship involves travel to and from the high schools (travel reimbursements will be provided for internship-related travel).