2016 Graduate student Wu Chen interviews Chief Rwot of the Acholi tribe as part of a documentary project in Uganda.
NOTE: Due to COVID-19 outbreak, the Student Volunteer Program will be held remotely. Please refer to the opportunities on this page for more information on relevant application deadlines and how to apply.
The Institute for the Study of Human Rights (ISHR) invites advanced undergraduate and graduate human rights students throughout Columbia to apply for an eight-week summer internship with alumni of the Human Rights Advocates Program (HRAP). Students selected to participate in the Student Volunteers Program (SVP) will receive a grant of $2,000 from ISHR.
SVP enables students to expand their own professional skills and human rights knowledge and experience through fieldwork with participating grassroots human rights organizations.
Application Details
To apply, students should email a cover letter and resume to ishr@columbia.edu with the subject line “SVP application - [Name of Organization].” Please submit your application as soon as possible but no later than April 11, 2022. Please indicate the organization(s) that you are interested in working with, and the relevance of this work to your studies. Applications and interview results will then be sent to the hosting organizations, which may request interviews. Final decisions will be announced by end of May.
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In 2015, graduate student Margo Goll volunteered with the Hope Development Initiative in Uganda.
Please note that the disbursement of the $2,000 stipend may take 4-6 weeks. There is no way to expedite this so you should have funds available to move forward if chosen. Students are solely responsible for arranging and purchasing their own plane tickets, accommodation, and other expenses incurred during their internship. Students are solely responsible for identifying their own accommodations, although some organizations may assist students in finding housing options. Students are solely responsible for obtaining a visa if one is necessary.
Please make sure to read each internship description carefully and to review each organization’s website. If selected for an interview with the host organization, be sure to identify questions in advance regarding both the internship itself and accommodation options.
Students coordinate the exact start and end dates of their internship directly with the hosting organization prior to their departure, but must commit to volunteering for a minimum of 8 weeks.
Preference is given to advanced undergraduates and first-year graduate students who are current students and expect to continue their studies at Columbia University in the fall, unless otherwise specified in the posting. Upon their return, students will be expected to discuss their volunteer experience at brown bags sponsored by ISHR as well as a written report to ISHR about their volunteer experience. We encourage participants to contribute an analytical article to ISHR's human rights blog, RightsViews, based on their experience as well. Please review the RightsViews submission process and policies if you are interested in contributing.
Please contact ishr@columbia.edu with any questions. Please do not directly contact the organizations or their affiliated personnel.
