internship & VOLUNTEER
Opportunities
Interested in interning or volunteering for Genocide Watch?
Genocide Watch, Inc., the world’s first anti-genocide NGO, and the founder and Chair of the Alliance Against Genocide, offers unpaid staff positions for students and volunteers every Winter/Spring, Summer and Fall. Genocide Watch is currently offering virtual staff positions for the Summer of 2024. The deadline for applications is April 1, 2024. Applications received for our special Summer 2024 internship positions will still be reviewed on a rolling basis after this deadline.
The http://www.genocide-watch.com and http://www.genocidewatch.net archive is the deepest in the field and received over 100 million hits from 2000 through 2023. It is relied on by genocide scholars and activists around the world. Since 2016, Genocide Watch has used its current website, http://www.genocidewatch.com to better connect website users to Genocide Watch’s social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X. The website receives hits from over 60,000 individual users per month. Our Alliance Against Genocide website, against-genocide.org is a connector for over one hundred organizations that belong to the Alliance Against Genocide, the first and largest alliance of anti-genocide organizations in the world.
Volunteer staff and interns work virtually from wherever they live. Genocide Watch currently has staff members from the U.S., Canada, U.K., Nigeria, Kenya, Netherlands, France, Italy, Australia, and India. We especially seek interns and volunteer staff from Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Genocide Watch interns and volunteers will be supervised by the Genocide Watch Management Team, which consists of former Genocide Watch interns now working for several human rights NGOs, and faculty members and students at several graduate schools, and law schools. The Management Team is led by our Chief Operating Officer. Sarah Kane, and by Prof. Gregory Stanton.
All interns report on warning signs of genocidal processes in the five countries they are assigned to monitor. They post relevant news articles on the Genocide Watch website www.genocidewatch.com. Each Intern writes three country reports on countries they monitor.
Research Team interns write special reports about topics of concern to be posted as a Genocide Watch Special Report or as a Blogpost on the GenocideWatchBlog.com website. They update the Ten Stages map and create new country pages.
Podcast Team members create and publish podcasts for our Conversations on Genocide podcasts on Spotify and other platforms. The podcasts are of interviews with experts on genocide, survivors, and members of ethnic and religious groups targeted in past or present genocides.
Advocacy and Alliance interns work with members of the Alliance Against Genocide to compose communications to government and UN officials concerning situations of concern. They recruit new members of the Alliance and maintain communications with Alliance member organizations. They develop contacts with Congressional staff members, State Department and UN personnel, and representatives of other Alliance members.
Communications team members post to X, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram about recent reports by Genocide Watch and notable events in the coming weeks.
Legal team interns must be law school graduates or law students. They work on projects to bring perpetrators to justice, file legal cases against inciters of genocide, and write legal articles and briefs on issues related to genocide and the Genocide Convention.
Internship schedule:
All internships and volunteer positions are virtual. Staff members can work on their local schedules, keeping records of their hours with Clockify, a time-keeping program. Interns and staff volunteers meet weekly at an agreed time with their managers. All staff members meet together weekly at 12:00 PM noon EST on Fridays.
New Volunteer staff must do the full Genocide Watch training in their first week and then devote fifteen to twenty hours per week to the work. After their initial three months, staff may apply to continue working as volunteers for Genocide Watch. If selected, they will be expected to work at least ten hours per week for Genocide Watch.
Student interns are expected to work the number of hours per week required for credit from their academic institutions. During the school year, internships have hours and start dates depending on the intern’s internship program and course schedule.
Application deadlines:
○ Summer (June 1, 2024 – August 2024): April 1, 2024
○ Fall (September 2024– December 2024): July 1, 2024
○ Winter/Spring (January 2025 – May 2025): November 1, 2024
Application Instructions:
To apply, please fill out this form and attach the required documents in ONE PDF.
Required Documents:
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Cover letter explaining why you hope to work for Genocide Watch
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Resumé, including foreign language skills
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Short writing sample (2-3 pages – an excerpt from a longer paper is fine)
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Transcripts (may be unofficial)
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Names and contact information for 2 professional or academic references
Applications must include all the documents above to be considered.
Genocide Watch will contact applicants to schedule Zoom interviews.
Questions may be directed to president@genocidewatch.org.
Interns and volunteer staff are selected based on language and computer skills, work experience, academic performance, and enthusiasm for promoting Genocide Watch’s mission. Interns may apply for one of the accredited internship programs that give academic credit for their work. Genocide Watch will cooperate with colleges, universities, or professional schools for graded academic credit.
Who are we looking for?
You are a champion for human rights and are passionate about genocide prevention. You are a strong independent worker and effective team player who enjoys collaborating with others. You know how to foster relationships. You thrive in fast-paced environments while working on multiple projects at a time. You have excellent research, writing, and analytical skills, in addition to sharp attention to detail. You are a strong communicator who provides constructive feedback to contribute to the team.
Other basic requirements:
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Self-motivated persons who are passionate about genocide prevention;
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Previous experience studying, researching, and writing about genocides;
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Eagerness to get involved in a variety of activities and to learn on the job;
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Fluency in written English;
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Ability to use Microsoft 365 Office Suite;
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Some experience working with X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook;
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Fluency in a second language is a plus;
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Training in the use of Microsoft Teams will be provided;
Compensation
This is an unpaid, virtual internship or volunteer opportunity. Applicants are encouraged to seek outside funding sources, including but not limited to grants, stipends, or fellowships. We will gladly assist with this process as needed. Students may also receive credit for work completed at Genocide Watch through their academic programs.
Genocide Watch is committed to equal opportunity and promotes equity and transparency as core values. Genocide Watch practices inclusiveness in decision-making through the use of consultation with employees throughout the organization. Genocide Watch does not discriminate against any person on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, ability, gender, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, arrest record, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. Applicants committed to equity from all backgrounds, experiences, abilities, and identities are encouraged to apply.
Genocide Watch offers five special internships for Summer 2024
In addition to memberships on our five main Teams, Genocide Watch is offering several special internships for Summer 2024 .
These are unpaid internship positions for Summer 2024, with a commitment of 15-20 hours per week. The internship will be conducted remotely, with regular communication and virtual meetings with the team. Applicants may work from anywhere in the world but must be fluent in English. Internships are for volunteers and are unpaid. All are virtual/remote. Please note in your cover letter and resume if you are fluent in any additional languages.
To apply, please fill out the intern application form with your resume, cover letter, writing sample, reference information, academic transcript (unofficial will be accepted) in ONE PDF. Begin with your name and your preferences for the internship(s) you are applying to.
Podcast Specialist Intern
As a Podcast Specialist Intern, you will work with our Podcast Team to create engaging and informative podcasts about genocide prevention. You will conduct research, identify interviewees, draft interview questions, contact, schedule, and conduct interviews, and edit audio content for production.
Responsibilities:
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Conduct research on current events and topics related to genocide prevention.
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Collaborate with team members to brainstorm new podcast ideas and develop content.
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Identify experts who would give good podcast interviews on those topics.
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Develop interview questions and scripts for podcast episodes.
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Invite, schedule, and conduct interviews with experts in the field.
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Edit and produce audio content using podcast software.
Requirements:
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Strong interest in human rights, genocide prevention, and public communication.
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Excellent research and writing skills.
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Ability to conduct lively dialogues with interviewees.
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Self-motivation, ability to work independently, and as a member of a team.
Preferred qualifications:
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While experience with sound editing software is not required, it would be a plus for candidates applying for this job. Any experience in planning, recording, or editing podcasts should be highlighted.
Website Design Intern
As a Website Design Intern, you will work closely with our Management Team to enhance the organization's websites, which are built on the Wix platform. This will involve assessing the current websites' design and functionality, identifying areas for improvement, and implementing changes to enhance user experience and promote the organization's mission.
Responsibilities:
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With the Management Team, assess our current websites' design, content, and functionality.
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Identify potential improvements, including website structure, navigation, and user experience.
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Develop and implement improvements in website performance and search engine optimization (SEO).
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Collaborate with team members to create new website content and improve existing content.
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Update and maintain the website's content management system (CMS) using Wix.
Qualifications:
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Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
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Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
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Strong written and verbal communication skills.
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Proficiency with Wix is preferred but not required.
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Familiarity with website design and development principles is also preferred.
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Knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript is preferred but not required.
Fundraising and Development Intern
Genocide Watch is currently seeking a Fundraising and Development Intern for the Summer of 2024. This is an unpaid internship that will provide valuable experience in nonprofit fundraising and development. The successful candidate will work closely with our Founding President to assist with fundraising initiatives and donor outreach.
Responsibilities:
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Assist with donor research and outreach
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Draft fundraising communications and marketing materials
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Maintain accurate records of donor information and contributions
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Assist with other development-related tasks as needed
Qualifications:
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Strong interest in nonprofit fundraising and development
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Excellent written and verbal communication skills
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Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills
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Ability to work independently and as part of a team
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Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Suite
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Experience in fundraising for other organizations is a plus
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Familiarity with fundraising software is a plus
Legislative Intern
Genocide Watch is currently seeking a Legislative Intern for the Summer of 2024. This is an unpaid internship that will provide valuable experience in researching and analyzing legislative initiatives related to genocide prevention.
Responsibilities:
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Conduct research on relevant congressional committees, legislation, and hearings related to genocide prevention
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Monitor legislative updates and news related to genocide prevention and provide summaries to the team
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Draft reports, policy briefs, and other written materials related to legislative initiatives
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Lead advocacy related to legislative initiatives, including drafting letters to Congress.
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Participate in meetings with congressional staff and policymakers.
Qualifications:
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Strong interest in international human rights, genocide prevention, and US foreign policy
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Excellent research, writing, and analytical skills
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Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills
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Ability to work independently and as part of a team
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Familiarity with the US legislative process and congressional committees
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Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Suite
Mapping Intern
Genocide Watch is currently seeking a Mapping Intern for the Summer of 2024. This is an unpaid internship that will provide valuable experience in using mapping technologies to analyze and visualize data related to genocide prevention.
Responsibilities:
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Assist with the creation and maintenance of maps and other visualizations using ArcGIS, Tableau, ACLED, and other software
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Conduct research and gather data related to genocide prevention and human rights violations
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Use ArcGIS software to analyze data and create visualizations related to genocide prevention and human rights violations
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Collaborate with other team members to develop and refine maps and visualizations to support advocacy and awareness-raising efforts
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Assist with other research and mapping-related tasks as needed
Qualifications:
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Strong interest in human rights, genocide prevention, and the use of mapping technologies for social justice work
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Experience using ArcGIS or other software to create maps and visualizations
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Ability to conduct research and gather data related to genocide prevention and human rights violations
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Strong attention to detail and organizational skills
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Ability to work independently and as part of a team
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Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Suite