Global Studies

January 9, 2015, Filed Under: Internship

Summer Positions with Seeds of Peace

Seeds of Peace brings together young leaders from regions of conflict each summer at our Camp in Maine. As a counselor at this Camp, you will supervise sports, waterfront, or arts activities, live in a bunk with eight to 10 teenagers, and preside over lively meal tables.

However, these duties are only secondary to your most important responsibility at Camp: to become a friend, parent, sibling, teacher, and role model to the most intelligent, energetic and passionate teenagers you will ever meet. As the campers balance the excitement of camp with the challenges of addressing their regional and community conflicts, they look to their counselors for support, mentorship, and encouragement.

The uniqueness of Seeds of Peace requires counselors to create a safe and comforting environment while encouraging and challenging the campers to address their personal and political beliefs and issues with their conflicts. Serving as a counselor at Seeds of Peace demands far more commitment, energy, and emotion than any other camp, but it is these demands that produce rewarding relationships and positive transformations.

Seeds of Peace hires 40-45 counselors each summer, about half of whom are returning staff from previous years. We assemble a unique and talented group of individuals. Counselors must be team players as working together with the other staff is essential for the success of the program. On a daily basis, counselors will supervise life in the bunk, instruct an activity, eat all meals with an assigned table and engage in the other daily programs. Through these activities, the counselors help to create an unparalleled experience.

Each summer, Seeds of Peace runs a week-long staff orientation followed by two three-week sessions. This summer, Seeds of Peace will have one domestic session with youth from Maine and Syracuse. This program focuses on building bridges and developing strong relationships between immigrant and refugee students and American-born students in order to decrease bullying and prejudice and promote religious and intercultural understanding in their schools and communities.

Second session will be an international session, hosting youth from the Middle East, South Asia, and United States. Campers will have the opportunity to explore competing historical narratives and share their personal experiences of their conflict, confronting their prejudices as they tackle the issues that fuel violence, hatred and oppression at home.

While each program has its own particular dynamic and set of issues, your job as a counselor does not change, and we expect all new staff to work both sessions, with a week-long break in between. Additionally, staff is given time off during each session.

Dates for 2015 Summer Camp positions

Staff Orientation: June 22–June 28
Session One: June 29–July 15
Intersession: July 15–July 18
Staff Orientation: July 19–July 20
Session Two: July 21–August 13

Counselors receive a nominal salary, and all room and board expenses are covered by Seeds of Peace. Applicants are welcome from all over the world, however a valid work visa will be required. Please note that the hiring process at Seeds of Peace is an extremely competitive one, as we receive hundreds of applications each year and maintain at least a 50 percent returning staff rate.

See more at: http://www.seedsofpeace.org/counselors#sthash.nQeQ1Why.dpuf

Please note that the deadline to apply is Sunday, January 18, 2015.

December 17, 2014, Filed Under: Internship

Spring 2015 Internships available with Ten Thousand Villages of Austin

Ten Thousand Villages of Austin is a 501(c)(3) fair trade retailer of artisan-crafted works from across the globe. A founding member of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), Ten Thousand Villages sees fair trade as an alternative approach to conventional international trade. We establish long-term relationships in places where skilled artisans are under- or unemployed, and lack other opportunities for income.

Featuring products from more than 130 artisan groups in 38 countries, we are part of a network of over 70+ retail outlets throughout the United States selling Ten Thousand Villages products. As one of the world’s oldest and largest fair trade organizations, Ten Thousand Villages has spent more than 60 years cultivating trading relationships in which artisans receive a fair price for their work and consumers have access to distinctive handcrafted items.

Event Planning Internship

We are currently looking for an Intern who is passionate about Fair Trade, our mission, and is interested in helping our Austin store reach “the next level”! This person will help us with our events big and small, by completing tasks associated with our events; increasing their scope in the Austin community; polishing and streamlining events to make them more effective; and seeking out new opportunities to expand our events.

This position is perfect for any student looking to gain more hands-on experience in event planning, marketing and fundraising, or desiring insight into non-profit management!

Intern Responsibilities

Volunteer 15 hours per week (up to 20 hours/week around key event dates)
Be an assertive advocate for Ten Thousand Villages of Austin
Assist with the planning and strategizing of our store’s fair trade events, with a major focus on our International Women’s Day celebration in early March
Help to develop a new series of in-store community events, known as Village Collectives
Foster relationships with past and future participants and partners through several channels
Be proactive in updating, communicating and completing tasks associated with events
Create e-mailouts, signage, and forms related to events
Follow checklists and ensure tasks are completed on time
Participate in event team meetings, and work collaboratively to achieve goals
Occasional customer service in store when needed, and any networking related to event

Preferred Skills

Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Proficiency using Google Drive, Mail and Calendar apps, and able to learn new software quickly
Enjoys using and understands Social Media.
Graphic design experience a plus, but not essential
Assertive, proactive, and able to take initiative and step outside comfort zone to learn new skills
Highly organized and cooperative work style

Internship Perks

20% off all purchases at Ten Thousand Villages of Austin
Positive, innovative, and fun work environment at an organization that has been named as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies 6 years in a row by the Ethisphere Institute
Opportunities to network with like-minded community members
Professional development through Ten Thousand Villages staff evaluations and training sessions

Interested applicants should submit brief letter of interest and resume to the Volunteer Coordinator, Alex Peters (volunteers.austin@tenthousandvillages.com). Internship begins in early January 2015.

Social Media Marketing Intern

We are currently seeking an Intern who is passionate about Fair Trade, our mission, and is interested in helping our Austin store reach “the next level”! Social Media sites are an invaluable marketing tool for reaching a larger audience and increasing buzz about our store. This position is perfect for any student looking to gain more hands-on experience in social media marketing or desiring insight into how a non-profit organization is managed!

Internship Responsibilities:

Social Media (50%)

Work with the Marketing Committee to manage TTV-Austin’s social media presence, using organizational tools such as Google Calendar and Hootsuite to post items about our store, Fair Trade, and events
Create social media reports and monitor activity and impact of posts
Develop and implement creative techniques to increase audience and engagement
Create and implement innovative ways to utilize social media as a means to attract potential customers and volunteers, and as an educational tool to inform the public on Fair Trade
Attend and cover local Fair Trade events using social media outlets

Customer Service (15%)

Spend 1-2 hours a week on our sales floor, engaging customers and familiarizing yourself with TTV products
Watch the “New Item Videos” every month
Verbally market upcoming events to customers

Marketing (35%)

Create and post fliers about major events
Create event pages on Facebook, Do512, and other online calendars; promote events through social media
Research and write about artisan groups that TTV works with on social media outlets
Assist with planning and promoting of Fair Trade events in Austin and surrounding communities
Develop partnerships with other entities that enhance our sales, and review pop-up sale opportunities

Preferred Skills

Excellent communication skills (verbal, written, electronic)
Enjoys using Social Media – Facebook and Twitter experience essential; Instagram and Pinterest desirable
Marketing and/or Customer Service experience preferred
Graphic Design experience a plus (not required)
Able to take initiative and step outside comfort zone to learn

Internship Perks

20% off all purchases at Ten Thousand Villages of Austin (!)
Positive, creative, and fun work environment at one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies (*Ethisphere Institute)
Opportunities to network with like-minded community members
Professional development through Ten Thousand Villages staff evaluations and relevant training sessions

Interested applicants should submit brief letter of interest and resume to the Volunteer Coordinator, Alex Peters, at volunteers.austin@tenthousandvillages.com. Internship requires 15 hours per week based in our new location at 4803 Burnet Rd (some hours can be completed remotely) and will begin in early January 2015.