The AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) is seeking a responsible, motivated, and passionate individual to intern in its Policy Department as a Female Condom Program and Advocacy intern. This is an incredible opportunity to learn and do cutting-edge, meaningful work for a nationally-renowned non-profit AIDS organization. Our interns play a vital role in our organizational success, and can anticipate a challenging but rewarding experience.
The Female Condom Program and Advocacy intern will gain hands-on experience with the non-profit sector and learn about effective advocacy and organizing strategies, coalition building, and program development and implementation. This internship will include collaboration and networking with other HIV, reproductive health and justice, youth, LGBT, and other ally advocacy and community-based organizations.
This internship is designed to be both educational and practical. In this position, the intern will learn how to take skills she or he may have acquired in school related to his or her particular areas of interest, and apply them in a professional setting. He or she will gain a better understanding of the role played by non-profit organizations with prevention advocacy and programming, and be better prepared to work in the arena of HIV/AIDS, reproductive health and justice, public health, or advocacy. The candidate will also have opportunities to network with staff from other departments and the broader community.
The Female Condom Program and Advocacy Intern will:
- Learn effective community engagement and mobilization strategies to build community support for critical HIV prevention options;
- Gain understanding of essential elements of comprehensive female condom advocacy, education, and distribution programs;
- Increase knowledge of diverse and effective methods of community education, mobilization, coalition building, and advocacy;
- Learn how to equip service providers with the skills and knowledge necessary for increasing acceptance of female condoms;
- Support recruitment and logistics required for Chicago Female Condom Campaign trainings;
- Work on the team that develops and implements plans for Global Female Condom Day; and
- Support the day-to-day activities of AFC's Chicago Female Condom Campaign and National Female Condom Coalition.
Qualifications:
- Current enrollment or recent graduate in a graduate or undergraduate degree program with an interest and aptitude to work in advocacy, organizing, public health, HIV, reproductive health and justice or related fields;
- Exceptional writing ability;
- Strong public speaking skills;
- Ability to work in a group setting;
- Desire to learn;
- Ability to prioritize tasks and handle numerous assignments simultaneously;
- Proficient in Microsoft Office, online research, Facebook, Twitter, and internet other social media applications;
- Passion for social justice issues and the fight against HIV/AIDS;
- Previous experience in HIV/AIDS, community mobilization, advocacy, organizing, education, and/or training is preferred;
- Volunteer experience or familiarity with non-profit organizations preferred;
- Able to commit a minimum 5 months for the internship.
This internship is unpaid (stipend available), however AFC can help interns obtain college credit for their internship where available. The intern will receive necessary training and staff supervision. We require a minimum of 15 hours/week for a minimum of 5 months (though longer internships are preferred). Public policy, public health, and government majors, graduates and masters students are encouraged to apply.
