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General Information |
How to Apply | Other Opportunities with GAA
Global Action on Aging appreciates internship applications from graduate and undergraduate students and those in between degrees. We welcome students with an background in the aging field and international affairs, but we consider specialized academic training less important than dedication, intelligence and enthusiasm for learning.
Global Action on Aging seeks only highly motivated interns, with a commitment to social justice. We look for people who have solid organizational experience, good writing, researching and web skills.
General
Information
Our Internship program provides an
supportive intern environment. All interns receive a thorough orientation and are closely supervised
during their internship. They are part of a team and enjoy substantial responsibilities and
independence in their areas of focus. The Global Action on Aging office, directly overlooking the United Nations, provides a pleasant
environment equipped with a high-speed computer network running current technology. It is an atmosphere low on stress and high on accomplishment and serious purpose.
In the building, a community of many NGOs often cooperate and socialize
together. Interns can network with these and other NGOs, as well as
UN and mission staff. Interns have lunch and organize events together. In
addition, GAA interns are often invited to cultural events in New York
City by GAA friends.
Upon completion of their internships GAA interns stay in close touch and
use the networking opportunities they were given at GAA for future employment and
academic goals. GAA's President Susanne Paul has written recommendations
for job or graduate schools for many of GAA's alumni.
Duties
and Expectations
Interns are responsible to develop and update one or
more of our web based programs. Currently our programs consist of Elder
Rights, Health, Pension
Watch, Rural Aging, Older Persons Caught
in Armed Conflict and Aging Watch at
the UN. Interns dedicate most of their time to their educational program
area, functioning somewhat like a newspaper editor -- finding, selecting and posting information to the site. This
intense learning experience, involves web research and contacts
with a variety of UN and private sources.
Interns also help with regular office tasks and GAA's external activities.
They see how an organization operates
and manages its programs and outreach. These tasks may include preparing mailings, helping
organize meetings, giving presentations, ordering supplies, keeping the plants watered
or the printer stocked with paper.
Interns have opportunities to meet diplomats, UN staff, researchers,
policy experts and citizen organization leaders. In addition they attend
United Nations conferences, meetings, as well as General Assembly and Security
Council sessions. All
interns greatly expand their knowledge of the UN and its agencies and
learn about critical issues in the aging field.
Depending on GAA's priorities and the intern's capabilities, interns may
also take on special projects in addition to their assigned tasks. Two
previous interns, for example, expanded our capacity to reach out to more subscribers of our
electronic newsletter. Others got more involved in GAA's external
activities and prepared and presented materials for GAA events.
What We are Looking
For
When we look over an application,
we try to fit people's background with our programs. We choose those who we believe to be the most suitable candidates, based
on their language abilities, studies, extracurricular activities, and experience
through travel or voluntary work. From previous experience, however, we
have learned that those with little or no experience in the aging field but with a great deal of commitment and willingness to learn have
also had
successful internships. We look for those who are highly talented and able to
do serious thinking but who are also ready to do more ordinary tasks with
a spirit of enthusiasm and cooperation. We look for those who question received ideas and
who look critically at dominant institutions. We search for signs of
independence, initiative, inquisitiveness, and energy. While we honor
passion and commitment, we also hold curiosity and skepticism in high
regard.
Time Commitment, Costs, Credit
GAA expects an intern to stay a minimum of three months. Those that stay
for longer periods of time learn more and have a richer overall
experience. We can provide out-of-town candidates with information about
inexpensive and comfortable lodging and board opportunities. We estimate
that monthly subsistence expenses (lodging, transport and food) run about
$1,200-$1,500. In addition, some provision ($200) should probably be
allowed for miscellaneous expenses, including entertainment. Interns on a
very low budget have managed on as little as $800 per month. Those who are
lucky enough to find lodging with friends or family can get by on still
less.
GAA internships are unpaid. Some interns arrange for
subsistence funding from their universities. Some interns raise money from
multiple sources by asking local people and institutions for support. Some
rely on personal savings and family help. University
credit can also sometimes be arranged.
In addition to its full-time program, GAA also offers part-time internships. We expect part-timers to work at least 2
days and a half per week and to devote a full week to training at the start of the
internship. Here, too, academic credit is sometimes possible.
Application
To apply, please send the following to GAA's Program Coordinator,
Magali Girod at mgirod@globalaging.org
and
CC GAA's President Susanne Paul at s.paul@globalaging.org
Please remember to start every item on a separate sheet of paper and to
add your name on top of each sheet.
(1) a letter describing why you are interested in interning
with GAA and what special skills or experience you have that would fit
with GAA programs
(2) a page describing the proposed starting and ending dates of
your internship, the number of hours per week you would be available, the
exact days and hours you would be available (if other than standard 9-5), and whether your internship is contingent on your
obtaining funds such as competitive scholarships
(3) a resume showing academic accomplishments, work experience,
language fluency (written and spoken), volunteer experience etc. Please include email address.
(4) the names, phone numbers, and email addresses of two
references (one academic and one work-related preferred). Please include
the title and organization of the referees and a few words indicating the
context of your work with them.
(5) a writing sample (e.g. academic course paper) showing your writing
skills (2 pages minimum and 8 pages maximum) in English and any other
official UN language (French, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic and Russian).
Other Opportunities with Global Action on Aging
If you want to know more about other opportunities with GAA or if
you have other ideas or suggestions, please don't hesitate to contact
us.
Volunteer
with GAA
·
Advise
GAA about specific emerging topics affecting the elderly
·
Send
GAA articles that you recommend to our readership
·
Publicize
GAA's website and newsletter to interested friends and others
·
Help
inform and build links to related organizations about GAA's work
Support GAA Financially
·
Suggest potential donors
·
Locate institutional
sponsors for GAA activities
·
Become a GAA donor
yourself
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