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General Information |
How
to Apply | Other
Opportunities with GAA
Watch the
Internship Introduction Video
  
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 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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