The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

BACKGROUND: Founded in 1933, the IRC is a leading organization providing relief, protection, and resettlement services for refugees and victims of oppression throughout the U.S. IRC in San Diego has resettled over 31,000 refugees to San Diego County over the past 50 years and provides numerous program services. In San Diego, the IRC opened its doors in 1975 and has grown to serve approximately 7,000 refugee and immigrant individuals from 115 countries of origin each year through 5 different departments.     

The Women's Resilience Center (WRC) is a safe, collaborative space where the diverse needs of all women+ are respected and where they can seek, share, and obtain information about their rights and their inherent potential for safety, health, education, economic wellbeing, and power. It is a responsive, creative space that engages women+ as co-creators and encourages expression, enhanced wellbeing, and community connectedness. (When we use the term women+, this includes women of all ages, all abilities, diverse ethnic and religious affiliation and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities.) 

SCOPE OF WOMEN’S RESILIENCE CENTER INTERN WORK: In this internship, students will have the opportunity to contribute to the WRC through community engagement and outreach as well as by supporting the facilitation of programming.  

RESPONSIBILITIES: Based on intern skills and experience, responsibilities may include a combination of program support, administrative/data support, and direct service: 

• Support with outreach to women+ in the IRC community about WRC programs 

• Co-facilitate orientations to new WRC members 

• Co-facilitate wellness workshops and presentations 

• Support our 'Safe Spaces' work to make the WRC a more inclusive place for women+ 

• Collaborate with interns, staff, other departments at IRC, and community partners 

• Facilitate internal referrals to other IRC programs 

• Provide WRC members information about community resources 

• Contribute to data monitoring and evaluation of WRC programs 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 

• Intern will have the opportunity to enhance their facilitation skills 

• Intern will expand their experience providing healing centered and culturally humble services 

• Intern will participate in weekly Safety & Wellness intern group supervision to enhance collaborative learning 

REQUIREMENTS:  

• Must be currently enrolled (or a recent graduate) in an Associate’s, Bachelor’s or Master’s program focused on Women’s/Gender Studies, Public Health, Social Work, Art Therapy, Expressive Arts Therapy or a related field. 

• Must have driver’s license and reliable transportation  

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills 

• Excellent organization and time-management skills 

• Proactive, motivated, and flexible; able to remain calm and adapt within a fast-paced, sometimes unpredictable work environment 

• Demonstrated success working and communicating with people of varied English-speaking abilities strongly preferred  

• Experience with direct service strongly preferred 

• Proficiency in Farsi, Dari, Arabic, Haitian Creole, Pashto, Ukrainian, or Russian preferred  

This position reports to the Women’s Protection and Empowerment Supervisor. 

Compensation: This is an unpaid internship opportunity. 

Working Environment:  

• The Women’s Resilience Center Internship is in-person at the El Cajon office, remote interns may be considered 

• San Diego Office hours are scheduled Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5:00pm PST. Selected interns can choose their hours based on this window of availability.  

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

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US Benefits: We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days depending on role and tenure, medical insurance starting at $143 per month, dental starting at $6.50 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching, disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles. 

Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.