The Midwest Regional Office (MWRO) of Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) in Chicago, IL offers exciting internship opportunities for the spring (January to mid-May), summer (early June to mid-August), and fall (late August to mid-December). Internships are granted for at least a 12-week period; spring and fall interns are required to work a minimum of 16 hours a week, and summer interns are required to work a minimum of 25 hours a week. All internships are unpaid. Located in downtown Chicago, the MWRO is accessible by public transportation. Although our business hours are 9 am to 5:30 pm, Monday through Friday, our internship program offers flexible hours to accommodate class and work schedules. We encourage all who are interested to apply.

The MWRO offers a unique internship experience. Our office supports AIUSA local groups, student groups, volunteer leaders, and the public in 13 states (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North and South Dakota, Ohio, and Wisconsin) through grassroots organizing, campaigns to advance human rights goals, education, events, public speaking, media, and outreach. Our interns are considered a vital part of our team in everything we do. Although the administrative side of our work is heavy at times, we are committed to providing interns with a range of substantive experiences, as well as the opportunity to take initiative and suggest new directions and projects. We are especially looking for candidates who stand out in their desire to do whatever it takes to help Amnesty's work move forward.

Interns will be assigned 1-3 of the 13 Midwest states and will also assist in the work of MWRO in the Chicagoland area. Intern projects will be focused in a variety of skill sets including direct grassroots activism and organizing, research, graphic design, social media and blogging, journalism/newsletter production, event coordination and planning, database upkeep, and human rights violation inquiry response. During some sessions, there will also be opportunities for interns to specialize in development work with Major Gifts staff or in campaign planning and implementation with the Campaigns Unit staff.

Interns assist in the facilitation and organization of projects through their positions and are offered many learning opportunities throughout their involvement with the MWRO. One such opportunity is the Human Rights Seminar series where AIUSA interns have the opportunity to learn from Amnesty staff and guest speakers and to discuss various human rights issues. AIUSA also offers career and professional development workshops targeted towards young professionals starting a career in human rights. These discussions and similar events further enrich the internship experience.

AIUSA seeks interns who:

• Are committed to and interested in human rights
• Are familiar with AIUSA's human rights concerns
• Possess strong written and verbal communication skills, as well as computer skills
• Are well-organized, dependable, and responsible
• Work well as part of a team, as well as independently
• Are able to multitask and pay strict attention to detail
• Have a willingness to learn from the internship experience and apply what they learn to their work

What AIUSA expects from its interns:

• Work at least 16 hours a week in the fall or spring or at least 25 hours a week in the summer
• Adhere to office policies and procedures and follow office etiquette
• Contact supervisor or Internship Coordinator when unable to report to the office or when arriving late
• Seek feedback from supervisors on assignments and look for ways to improve
• Participate in Human Rights and Life Seminars. Attendance is important!
• Volunteer for at least 3 evening/weekend Amnesty events
• Ask questions!

Those who do not meet these requirements are welcome to volunteer and/or attend workshops outside the formal internship program. Amnesty International is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and minorities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Application Instructions:

Application Deadlines

Fall 2012: June 19, 2012
Spring 2013: October 31, 2012
Summer 2013: February 26, 2013

We will begin processing applications after the listed deadline. Please note that we will not accept any applications beyond these deadlines.

To apply for an internship in the Midwest Regional Office, please email the following materials to aiusamw@aiusa.org by the deadline. If you plan to mail in your materials, please note that all materials must be received (not postmarked) by the listed deadline. Application materials include:

Completed Application
Cover Letter
Resume
One Letter of Recommendation (Can Be Mailed Separately by Recommender)

Please review all application instructions carefully, as applications submitted incorrectly will not be considered.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q. I am not a U.S. Citizen, am I still eligible to apply for an internship?
A. Yes, we encourage all who are interested to apply regardless of nationality. However, please be advised that each individual is responsible for obtaining proper documentation to stay in the United States for the duration of their internship.

Q. May I apply to more than one internship position?
A. Yes, you may apply for more than one internship position. Please send a separate email with the appropriate documents for each position to which you are applying.

Q. I applied for an internship position a few months ago and I haven't received a response letting me know if I have been selected for an interview.
A. Please be advised that after the application deadline has passed, we will contact only the most qualified candidates for interviews. We regret that due to the number of applications we receive, we are unable to respond to individual requests regarding the status of applications.

Q. I applied for an internship at Amnesty International USA last semester but I was not selected. May I reapply for this semester?
A. Yes, you may reapply.