Summer 2024: Women’s Economic Empowerment Specialist Intern (Unpaid) – IRC jobs in the USA

• Location: USA
• Vacancy No: N/A 
• Salary: N/A
• Organization: IRC
• Gender: Both
• Deadline: 2024-05-01

Job Description

*Please note: this is an unpaid internship. The anticipated start date is May 2024.*

IRC IN SAN DIEGO 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 48 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. 

SCOPE OF INTERN WORK: The Women’s Economic Empowerment Specialist (WEES) Intern will work alongside the WEES Program Specialist to support women who are facing economic barriers through offering financial capabilities training and coaching, employment navigation, and driving for equity transportation workshops and simulated lessons.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Support the Women’s Economic Empowerment Specialist in providing financial literacy workshops and 1:1 individual coaching sessions for clients
• Assess clients’ needs and determine if they are eligible for low-income loans or any other IRC’s Economic Empowerment resources
• Provide driving lessons or guided practice to clients using IRC’s in-house driving simulator
• Assist with client data entry, outreach for economic empowerment programs, resource management, and follow-up calls

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

The Women’s Economic Empowerment Specialist Intern will develop skills in gender equity awareness and mitigation, intercultural communication, and trauma-informed survivor-centered programming. Please see below for the learning objectives of this internship:

• The intern will develop a detailed understanding of the gender-related barriers hindering women from achieving self-sufficiency. They will explore factors such as socio-economic disparities, cultural norms, and systemic biases. Through hands-on experience the intern will identify strategies and resources to mitigate these barriers effectively.

• The intern will cultivate strong intercultural communication skills and competency necessary for effective interaction in diverse settings. Through immersive experiences and guided practice sessions, the intern will develop sensitivity to cultural nuances, communication styles, and social norms across different cultural contexts. They will engage in activities such as role-playing, and cross-cultural dialogues to enhance their ability to navigate intercultural communication challenges confidently.

• The intern will acquire a foundational understanding of survivor-centered programming with a trauma-informed approach. Through a combination of theoretical learning and practical application, the intern will explore principles of trauma sensitivity, empowerment, and holistic support frameworks for survivors of various forms of trauma.

Qualifications

REQUIREMENTS:

• Applicants must live in San Diego County
  
• Educational background in social work or equivalent work experience serving low-to-moderate income immigrant populations (including refugees, asylum seekers, etc.) and/or teaching financial literacy preferred
  
• Availability on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 12 – 4 PM to support in-person programming for a minimum of 12 hours per week
  
• Duration: 4-6 months
  
• Experienced working with diverse populations preferred
  
• Fluency in English is required. Proficiency in a refugee language strongly preferred (esp. Arabic, Dari, Farsi)
  
• Successful background check

This position reports directly to the Senior Women’s Economic Empowerment Specialist.

Compensation: This is an unpaid internship opportunity.

Working Environment:

• The Women’s Economic Empowerment Specialist Internship is in-person at the San Diego (El Cajon) office.
• San Diego Office hours are scheduled Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5:00pm PST. This internship takes place on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 12:00-4:00pm PST (12 hours per week). 

Standard of Professional Conduct: The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.

Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: The IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of the IRC persons in any work setting. We aim to increase the representation of women, people that are from country and communities we serve, and people who identify as races and ethnicities that are under-represented in global power structures. 

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