Internships
The Freedom Project is dedicated to the actualization of freedom in the U.S. and abroad. As such, we partner with various foundations and non-governmental organizations to provide students with real world experience putting their knowledge into practice. Following are the current organizations the Freedom Project collaborates with for the internship program.
The Freedom Project has confirmed with Wellesley Career Education that these opportunities are eligible for the Summer Internship Credit and its accompanying resources, including pre-departure and ongoing summer support. The presence of this non-academic transcript credit signals to future employers and institutions that your experience meets distinct institutional standards for internships. Once selected for placement, students will be asked to confirm their placements through the summer credit approval process. Please visit the Career Education website for more information. Due to travel restrictions this year, the internship opportunities will be remote for the summer of 2021. The internships are a paid opportunity by The Freedom Project.
Index on Censorship
The Freedom Project is offering up to two remote internships with Index on Censorship, a non-profit organization that is based in London.
Index on Censorship is at the center of the global movement to protect freedom of expression. Its flagship publication has been a major medium for the publication of dissident voices and coverage of violations of freedom of expression around the world. Index on Censorship Magazine has published Margaret Atwood, Mario Vargas Llosa, Samuel Beckett, Kurt Vonnegut, and Umberto Eco, among others.
The internship is for up to a ten-week period between June -mid August. The duties are variable, but will include: researching freedom of expression trends and violations globally; attending and taking notes at virtual events relating to freedom of expression around the world; participating in meetings with the Index team and providing an insight into freedom of expression issues from your perspective; writing short pieces of analysis, including for the website. If you speak additional language(s), you may also have the opportunity to use them as part of your day-to-day work.
The internship will cover round-trip airfare as well as a stipend to cover basic living expenses (food, lodging, and local transportation). Interns will be responsible for finding their own accommodations for the ten-week period.
The internship is open to all first-years, sophomore and junior students. Graduating seniors, unfortunately, are not eligible. The internship requires excellent writing and communications skills, organizational capability, and a high level of maturity and responsibility.
The application consists:
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An essay which details your reason for pursuing the internship – including a statement why you think you would fit in with the principles and goals of Index on Censorship.
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A resume and include any relevant experience and/or coursework (including any language skills that might be pertinent).
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A writing sample that reflects your academic, analytic and writing abilities.
The application should be consolidated into one PDF file and sent to: freedomproject@wellesley.edu, by March 15. Interviews with a short list of candidates will be held soon thereafter and final decisions will be made.
Oslo Scholars Program
The Freedom Project is pleased to announce up to three upcoming internship opportunities with the Oslo Scholars Program (OSP). The program was established by the Human Rights Foundation, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that promotes and protects human rights globally, as a way to engage a new generation of human rights defenders.
Established in 2010, OSP offers undergraduates with a demonstrated interest in human rights and international political issues, the opportunity to spend their summer working with some of the world’s leading human rights defenders and activists. OSP strives to provide students with invaluable networking and learning opportunities, while enabling a practical, hands-on approach to human rights activism and advocacy work. Selected candidates will also have the opportunity to attend HRF’s flagship event, the Oslo Freedom Forum (OFF), in Norway.
Oslo Scholars are selected based on their working knowledge of human rights, language abilities, and long-term career and professional goals. The term of the OSP internship typically extends over the summer season, lasting roughly eight to ten weeks between May and September. Scholars are thus encouraged to travel to the location where their mentor is based for the duration of the internship, contingent on unforeseen circumstances such as: prohibited travel issued by government officials for safety concerns, visa matters, etc. Nevertheless, remote work is very much a possibility for OSP internships, where conditions apply.
OSP internship opportunities vary each academic year and are often shaped by the participating mentors. Past internships have included: researching nonviolent protest strategies in Serbia; raising the awareness of Bangladeshi artists and writers at risk in Norway; remotely conducting research on torture and rehabilitation; assisting with event coordination for activists in South Korea; and performing translation for on-ground activists in numerous locations around the world.
Interested students are invited to submit a personal statement and resume by March 15 to: freedomproject@wellesley.edu.
Oslo Freedom Forum Research Intern
DESCRIPTION
Overview of the Human Rights Foundation: HRF is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that promotes and protects human rights globally, with a focus on closed societies. Our work includes effective campaigns to free political prisoners and world-class events such as the Oslo Freedom Forum that publicize human rights violators and directly support dissidents and human rights defenders at risk.
Internship Details: Full-time or part-time interns considered for internship running from June through August, with possibility of extension.
Responsibilities: The Oslo Freedom Forum research intern will work closely with the legal & policy team on the speaker selection process for the 2021 Oslo Freedom Forum in Norway. Main tasks will include conducting research on potential speakers, identifying topics for discussion at the Oslo Freedom Forum, and other tasks related to the Forum.
Requirements: The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented, organized self-starter with the capacity to work well under pressure. Candidates should be passionate about promoting human rights in closed societies and gaining experience in the content production of the Oslo Freedom Forum. The Oslo Freedom Forum is a truly exceptional conference and as such, sound judgment, attention to detail, an ability to work under pressure, and a sense of humor are imperative. Fluency in Arabic, Chinese, French, Spanish, Norwegian, or Russian is a plus.
BENEFITS
$1,000/month for full-time availability. We are looking to fill a full-time internship, but if you are a great fit and can only do part-time work because of class commitments, you will be considered.
HOW TO APPLY
Please email intern@hrf.org with your resume and cover letter using “Oslo Freedom Forum Research Intern - Freedom Project - Application” as the subject line. Interested students should apply by March 15.
The Pioneer Institute
The Freedom Project is offering one internship at the influential state-based organization, Pioneer Institute, in Boston.
Pioneer Institute is an independent non-partisan privately funded research organization that seeks to improve the quality of life in Massachusetts through civic discourse and intellectually rigorous, data-driven public policy solutions based on free market principles, individual liberty and responsibility, and the ideal of effective, limited and accountable government. Their main policy focuses are education, healthcare, better government and economic opportunity, and their mission is based on the principles of economic mobility and fair play. Pioneer is a resource for the public, legislators on Beacon Hill and staff in the State’s executive offices and attract more media coverage than any other research institute in Massachusetts.
Government Transparency Internship
In this role, the intern will learn about and be trained to use Pioneer’s Transparency Tools (MassOpenBooks.org, MassReport
· Reviewing and evaluating data in order to identify pertinent facts and details based on templates and topics selected by staff
· Writing and editing findings in Pioneer’s format for blog or social media posting;
Requirements:
Applications are accepted from a college junior or senior majoring in political science, journalism, economics or communications. The following characteristics will help the intern maximize his or her educational experience at Pioneer Institute:
· Exceptional writing skills;
· Knowledge of MS Word, Excel and Outlook;
· Experience using large datasets, including cleaning, filtering, and creating charts and other graphics
· Graphic design skills a plus;
· Ability to work closely with staff and receive constructive feedback;
· High motivation and superior problem-solving;
The internship is for the summer semester, starting in mid-late May and ending in August. It is a 32-hour per week (4 full-time work days) commitment and the specific days/times would be worked out between you and the Pioneer Institute. Interns will support Pioneer staff working on a number of projects that include communications and marketing- oriented components as well as more policy-focused initiatives. The role would be writing intensive with opportunities for blogging on a range of policy-related subjects and would also include some administrative support on fundraising and events.
Students will receive a stipend to cover transportation and costs of living.
Applications are due on March 15 and can be sent to freedomproject@wellesley.edu. Please submit a resume, cover letter and two writing samples. The Pioneer Institute will then set up an interview for the final selection.
Scholars at Risk
Another institutional partner of the Freedom Project is Scholars at Risk, which is an international network of institutions and individuals whose mission it is to protect scholars and promote academic freedom. By arranging temporary academic positions at member universities and colleges, Scholars at Risk offers safety to scholars facing grave threats, so scholars’ ideas are not lost and they can keep working until conditions improve and they are able to return to their home countries.
Scholars at Risk also provides advisory services for scholars and hosts, campaigns for scholars who are imprisoned or silenced in their home countries, monitoring of attacks on higher education communities worldwide, and leadership in deploying new tools and strategies for promoting academic freedom and improving respect for university values everywhere.
The Freedom Project at Wellesley College is actively working with Scholars at Risk, providing shelter for academics and intellectuals who would be in serious danger in their home countries merely for their principled defense of human rights.