Internship Ideas
You are encouraged to do this service internship overseas. It would be easiest to do it during a study abroad experience. Or, you can look for short summer or winter overseas internships.
If you must do it locally, you should try to work with a non-majority culture.
Below are ideas listed in three sections:
- Overseas
- Local / Non-spanish speaking
- Local / Spanish speaking
Overseas
Portals to many overseas internships/volunteer programs:
- The International partnership for Service Learning and Leadership
- Volunteer Work Programs in Africa
- Intern.Study Abroad
- Cross Cultural Solutions
- Global Routes
- Visions in Action
- World Teach
- Intern Abroad
- Volunteer Abroad
- American Friends Service Committee
- Peace Brigades International
- Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
- People to People International
- Adelphi-Civitas Summer Professional Internship Program in Warsaw, Poland
- International Partners in Mission
- Global Urban Trek
- Youth with a Mission
- Global Vision International
- Global Youth Connect
Local / Non-Spanish Speaking
- Cary Olin and Dan Kahane
- 404 Aviation Blvd.
- Santa Rosa CA 95403
- 707-521-6211
- Jenna Brager and Nicole Allen
- Know Your Neighbor Program
- Santa Rosa, CA 95404
- (707) 571-8868
- jenna@conservationaction.org nicole@conservationaction.org
- 2017 Mission St.
- San Francisco
- Barbara Lesch McCaffry
- Carson 38
- SSU
- 835D Piner Rd
- Santa Rosa, CA 95403
- Carolyn Johnson
- 1360 N. Dutton Avenue, Suite C
- Santa Rosa, CA 95401
- 707-571-8131
Sonoma County
Various internships throughout the county
Sonoma County Water Agency
Water Education Intern
Teach water education curriculum in school classrooms. Prepare teaching materials. Align grade-specific lesson plans to science standards. Assist staff in presenting water education in their field study program
Sonoma County Conservation Action
Community Organizer -- View ESSAY from a former student
Contribute to local environmental initiatives, political campaigns related to environmental issues and the Know Your Neighbor Program.
Global Exchange
Reality Tours Assistant
General organization, web page management, and event coordinator for reality tours in foreign countries
Valley of the Moon Children's Home
Intern
Volunteer interns to work at the Children's Home, a division of the Sonoma County Department of Human Services. The home provides temporary care for children from ages newborn to 18 years who are victims of abuse or are faced with other unfortunate conditions. The Children's Home seeks volunteers to be a part of these children's lives in some positive way, whether that be going on outings and fieldtrips with them, assisting in their daily needs, conducting arts and crafts or other fun activities, performing after school tutoring, supervising children in foster care, and most importantly, being a role model for the children.
Volunteers are asked to work at least two hours a week and to extend a six-month commitment to the program. Three to four hours of training is provided and a supervisor is always on hand.
Friends Outside
Intern
Interns provide services to inmates and their families. Friends Outside seeks people who can facilitate Creative Conflict Resolution training, who can participate in fundraising projects, who can assist at children's events and holiday affairs, who can provide transportation for child/parent visits, and/or who can be a mentor for inmates' children and/or inmates.
CalSERVS
Volunteer Position Descriptions
One-On-One Reading tutor Assistant: As a One-On-One Tutor Assistant, you will serve as a tutor to your students. You will work one on one with students in grades 1-6 who are struggling in reading. The tutoring model is intensive, utilizing a focused lesson plan of activities designed to assist students in learning to read. As a tutor and role model, you have the chance to make an impact with your tutee.
One-On-One Homework Assistant: As a One-On-One Homework Assistant, you will work with an individually assigned student during “homework time” to aid the student’s understanding of their homework. You will be encouraged to guide the student to correct answers and help foster effective problem solving skills.
Translator: As a translator, you will be a necessary part of the CalSERVES team. You will aid the communication both verbally and in writing between the students, their families and us.
Presenter: As a Presenter, you will introduce and involve the students in an interesting topic that you are passionate about. Presenter’s can share their careers, community resources and interests/hobbies with the students.
Clubs Presenter: As a Clubs; Presenter you will involve the students in weekly “clubs” activity for approximately 1 hour on a Friday. This is a great opportunity for you to share your talent or passion with the students.
Field Trip Assistant: As a Field Trip Helper, you will provide assistance and support during the field trip.
Event Assistant: As a Event Assistant, you will be helping to contribute and support school site events and National Days of Service.
Social Advocates for Youth
Intern
This organization offers a variety of programs in Sonoma County, covering areas such as family advocacy, youth diversion, counseling, tutoring and other mentoring and drug and alcohol abuse prevention services.
Catholic Charities
Intern
This organization operates the homeless shelter near the Santa Rosa Plaza shopping center and also provides aid to immigrants.
JUMP (Join Us Making Progress)
Intern
JUMP is a non-profit organization through Sonoma State University. There are many different volunteer programs, including the "Adopt a Grandparent" program where students go to convalescent homes to spend time with the elderly, helping them to cope with things such as memory loss. Other programs include soup kitchens and aid to the homeless.
Associated Students, SSU
Alliance for Studies of the Holocaust
Intern
Assist in acquiring and editing survivor biographies.
United Against Sexual Assault
Crisis Line Reference Counselor
Answer calls and assist victims of violence in finding the most appropriate help.
Jewish Family and Children's Services / IRS
Tax Preparer for low-income / fixed income families
Provide free basic tax preparation assistance for low income / fixed income individuals and families. Offer financial planning assistance.
Local / Spanish speaking
- Shelly Rieman
- (707) 938-5153
Job Link
Intern
Students work in the resource room of Job Link, helping Spanish-speaking customers in the search for a job. Interns use the internet as well as other available resources to facilitate the search. Interns also help customers in filling out job applications and resumes.
La Luz Bilingual Center
Intern
Office volunteers for this position perform many duties including: being the front-desk person (greeting and assisting clients), answering phone calls, organizing and hosting events, and being an individual Spanish-speaking reference for clientele in the search for jobs. Interns also communicate with lawyers, social workers, and medical services. Conducting special, cultural events is also an option for interns.
Vinyard Workers Services
Intern
This organization provides various services, including:
Community Resource Access: Assists farmworkers and their families in locating, applying for, and securing housing. We also provide translation assistance, emergency transportation, and referrals to such services as health care, legal expertise, job training, and immigration specialists.
La Casa de La Amistad (House of Friendship): This is a program Vineyard Workers Services has been putting on for the past 9 years during Harvest season in the Sonoma Valley. This program supplies community connections and free services to farm workers in the form of meals, medical help, clothing, sleeping bags, and necessary information and referrals. La Casa is held every Monday and Wednesday nights from 6pm to 8pm in Booker Hall at the La Luz Bilingual Center in Boyes Hot Springs.