World YWCA Paid Internship Program for Young Women 2018

Application Deadlines:

• One-year Internship: 31st August, 2017
• Short-term Internship: 30th November, 2017

Offered annually? Yes

Eligible Countries: All

To be taken at (country): Geneva, Switzerland

About the Award: 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.

These experiences are truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for young women to grow and develop their leadership. Not only will they benefit personally, but the internship programme is intended to increase the number of globally experienced and trained young leaders who will return to their associations to share what they have learned and to pass on their skills.

Field of Internship: 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.

Offered Since: 2016

Type: Internship

Eligibility:

Short Term Internship:

• 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.\

One Year Internship:

• The ability to be flexible, independent and creative with a desire to learn and a willingness to take initiative and to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Generally applicants should have a minimum of two years active involvement with their YWCA.
• A strong commitment and passion in achieving women’s rights and leadership.
• A good working knowledge of English, both oral and written, is essential. Knowledge of French and/or Spanish is appreciated.
• Information Communication and technology competencies related skills.
• Programme development and implementation knowledge and experience.
• Applicants must be between 22 and 30 years of age.
• A willingness to be independent, hardworking, flexible, creative and take initiative.
• Previous experience and/or knowledge in advocacy and/or activism on women’s rights.
• A commitment to sharing the experience gained with their YWCA following the internship, and their association must commit to integrating their leadership/experience into the association upon the return home.
• Each candidate’s participation must be endorsed by her Member YWCA.

Number of Awardees: 4. 2 for each program (short term and one year internships)

Value of Programs: The YWCA will provide the following for candidates of the two different programs:

• Costs and Provisions
• 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.

Duration of Programs:

• Short Term Internship:
  • UN Commission on the Status of Women (New York) – March 2018
  • UN Human Rights Council (Geneva) – June 2018
  • Committee on the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) – One of the sessions in February, July or October 2018 (Geneva)
• One Year Internship: The one-year internship begins 5 February 2018 and ends 14 December 2018

How to Apply:

• Interested candidates are encouraged to fill in the application form below, send their CV, Endorsement form signed by the national association, a short essay and one reference letter by email to the Human Resources Officer at: hresources@worldywca.org.
• All applicants need to have been active members of a local YWCA for at least two years.
• This application form must be typed or handwritten in capital letters and completed in full. Personal information is needed for Swiss work permit.

Visit Programme Webpage for more details

Award Provider: Young Womens Christian Association