Musana Jewelry is a non-profit social enterprise selling jewelry in the United States handcrafted by female artisans in Lugazi, Uganda. We are a young, vibrant and expanding grassroots organization making an important impact on our community, and we are looking for creative, adventurous, highly-motivated and hard-working interns to join our Ugandan team this fall. If you are interested in an experience in social entrepreneurship or women's empowerment and really want to get involved with a life-changing project this fall, then we want to hear from you!
Primary responsibilities:
- Design 5-10 jewelry pieces for the Spring 2014 line. Work closely with US Director to develop pieces in line with Musana's vision.
- Make samples of each piece for Spring 2014 line and implement any training or preparations for production to begin in the fall
- Collaborate with US Director on items for a subscription line of products
- Host a craft night once a month with artisans to encourage creativity and design experimentation
- Potentially collaborate with an intern from a local university on sourcing materials and incorporating traditional crafting techniques into designs
- Write weekly post for Musana's blog
- Other projects as required
The ideal candidate will have the following qualifications:
- interest or background in non-profit work and/or social enterprise development
- strong commitment to Musana's mission
- ability to work independently as well as part of a small and diverse team
- experience in jewelry design and production
- experience or interest in leatherwork a plus
- interest in exploring new design mediums for Musana, such as fabric and weaving
- additional crafting skills, such as sewing or soap-making, a plus
Important qualities:
- Innovation, self-motivation, sense of humor, and flexibility.
- Ability to work across cultures.
- A knack for adventure, an open mind, and curiosity for discovering new cultures.
Primarily, Musana wants to work with dedicated and dynamic people, so if you think you would be a great addition to the team but don't fit all of the qualifications, send us a cover letter explaining how you would uniquely contribute to the organization.
Logistical details:
Musana will have four interns sharing housing in Lugazi, Uganda for the fall 2013 semester. Each intern will be focused on a specific project, but there will be opportunity for collaboration and contributing to each other's work. The program fee covers room and board in a two-bedroom house in a small compound with friendly neighbors and a 10-minute walk to Musana's workshop. You will benefit from a flushing toilet, internet access, and a cook for breakfast and dinner five days a week. The fee also covers internship facilitation and transport to and from the airport. The fee does not include weekend meals or lunches, the latter which can be bought for less than $1 a day in the town.
Price: $2,000 plus your plane ticket. Musana Jewelry is a 501(c)3 organization, so you can fundraise the funds!
Dates: Dates are flexible according to your semester schedule.
Talk to your department if you are interested in college credit.
