An internship at City of Refuge is designed to provide students an opportunity to serve the refugee population in Columbia, MO, while providing experience in an area of interest in a non-for-profit. The internship will involve day-to-day activities that help our nonprofit run, but also will have an emphasis they can choose to specialize in. For the upcoming semester we have the following emphases available to intern in (to view job descriptions, click on each emphases):

• Media (Perfect for Journalism, Digital Media, Communication, Art, etc… programs)
• Information Technology (Great for Comp. Science, IT, etc…)
• Refugee Care Coordination: (Perfect fit for Social Work, Counseling and Psychology, or somebody looking to grow in the behavioral sciences)
• Non-Profit Fundraising and Business: (Think Business, Communication, Management, Marketing) 
• Refugee Health Advocacy: (Great for Health Science, Medical Students, Nursing Students, PT/OT, Biology, etc…)
• Education: (Perfect for Education majors, or grad students/fellows/post docs wanting to end up teaching in their field) 
• Non-Profit Operations and Management: (Great for somebody who wants an all around management experience, Engineering, Hospitality, Events, Business, etc…) 

Lastly, we also offer youth programs that tutor and mentor refugee K-12 children on Wednesday and/or Thursday nights and is an incredible way to invest in a younger generation! This is an elective add-on that can be paired with one of the above emphases, but requires up to 4 hours in the office during the week so we can continue to properly supervise the internship.  

You don’t have to choose what you are majoring/specializing in; maybe it’s to broaden your horizons! Regardless, if you are looking for class credit or a way to get plugged into the community, this unpaid internship is a great opportunity to make a difference!

How/Where to Apply:

The fastest and easiest way to apply is through this link below:

APPLY NOW

Our internships and the job descriptions are also posted on Handshake, should you wish to have your internship linked through your university (MU, Columbia College, William Woods, Central Methodist University). 

Dates and Commitments:

Spring Dates: Session full 

Summer: Taking applications from March 8th – May 17th. Internship Dates: May 24th – August 11th, 2023

Orientation Commitment: Must be available on Tuesday, May 23rd 6:00-8:30pm. 

Weekly Commitments: A minimum of 8 hours per week is required, with individual shifts lasting at least 2 hours. Scheduling will be discussed during the hiring process.

Goals:

1. Gain understanding and knowledge of how a non-profit operates
2. Empower interns to use the gifts and knowledge they have to add value toCOR
3. Exposure to and interactions with a multiethnic environment
4. Gain understanding of the Refugee Process from start to finish
5. Create opportunities to impact and serve the refugee youth
6. Experience growth in skills and abilities 

Qualifications:

• Self-Starter
• Dependable
• Flexible 
• Creative
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office & research
• No experience necessary but a desire to work with people from different cultural backgrounds
• Passionate about learning how to serve the refugee population
• Must pass criminal background check (offers will be sent ahead of time, but the check will be conducted right before internship starts)

What do the Interns have to say?

“I’ve only been at City of Refuge for a short time, but I’ve already learned so much about our mission and community. Interacting with refugees from all over the world on a regular basis is an experience that not many students get to have, and I know that the skills I build through this internship will be valuable in my professional and personal life alike. I really value the opportunities that City of Refuge has given me, and I’m excited to be a part of the team!” – Gracie 

“City of Refuge has impacted me by exposing me to refugee experiences, and cultures. City of Refuge is a great Organization to intern for because it has taught me the ins and outs of the nonprofit sector. I have learned about how nonprofits can most effectively help their clientele.” – Ben

“Through my internship with City of Refuge my eyes have been opened to a new perspective on service and advocacy. There is an unity of mind amongst the team to fulfill their mission and reach the needs of refugees. I have seen that unified mindset overflow onto the interns and volunteers and I feel privileged to share in the work they’re doing. I have learned much about non-profit organizations, the refugee population in Columbia, and the minutiae of providing true care for people. I have developed relationships with refugees and have gained invaluable experience through the internship. I feel an overall sense of gratitude towards City of Refuge and its team.” -JJ