College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences > Academics > Refugee & Forced Migration Studies > Student Resources > Internships

Internships

Listed below are the organizations at which RFMS students may complete their practicums. Most of these internships are organized through partnerships that DePaul has cultivated with an organization while others are publicly listed internships that the program accepts as credit-bearing. Working with these organizations is competitive and students will have to apply to them to be accepted. In rare cases, students can choose to intern at other organizations of their choice after approval from the Director.

International Internships:

Where do political candidates stand on migration issues? What are they proposing to implement if elected? Are their proposals realistic? These are a few of the questions that Migration Voter analyses, by country and by election cycle. They also provide background to give an idea of how the election process works and what interests stand behind the candidates, as well as a calendar with key dates for upcoming migration-centric elections and referendums. Finally, they provide analysis aimed at synthesizing and demystifying election messages on migration.

This internship is especially suitable if you would like to work in policy, reasearch and communication. Visit their website to find out more.
This education-focused organization has grown exponentially through the past few years. Kiron’s team is made up of over 70 employees and a pool of 200 volunteers from across the world, with diverse backgrounds and united by the vision to create a world in which everyone has the same chance to access and succeed in higher education. They are looking for self-starters and authentic individuals who want to contribute their strengths, values and passion to our mission to help refugees gain access to higher education and successful learning through digital solutions.

This is a dynamic organization, suitable for students who want to work with refugee youth. Visit their website to find out more.
Singa's mission is to bring locals and people from migrant and refugee backgrounds together to engage collaboratively in social, professional and entrepreneurial projects. By creating spaces that enable a mutual exchange of ideas, experiences and knowledge amongst equals Singa aims to redefine the current language and practice of integration. These spaces become labs in which innovative solutions to societal challenges are developed together.

This organization is especially suitable if you are interested in working with adults across different integration-related projects. Find out more by visiting their website.
**German language prerequisite**

Caritas Friedland is the oldest reception camp in Germany. Integrated into the nationwide network of Caritas Migration Services, it offers initial reception and orientation training, which contributes to a successful resettlement in Germany. For new immigrants, Caritas Friedland offers counseling services through the Migration First Advice, the Youth Migration Service and the Asylum Procedures Advice service. Furthermore, they offer various education, care and leisure facilities for young people and adults.

This placement is good if you are willing to work in a small team. Their website is in German, but you can contact Dr. Shailja Sharma for detailed information.
Save the Children is the largest independent children rights organization in the world. Save the Children is committed to a world that respects children's rights. A world in which all children can live healthy and safe and grow up free and self-determined.

The placement is in the advocacy wing of the organization. For more information, visit their international website or contact Dr. Shailja Sharma for specific information.
Universidad de Tijuana has a newly established partnership with Refugee and Forced Migration Studies, which will allow students to work in close contact with displaced people who are in need and who are taken care of by the local Tijuana NGOs.

For detailed information, please contact Dr. Shailja Sharma or cohordinator Esther Quintero .


Domestic Internships:

The Red Cross mission statement:
"The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors."
The Chicago Red Cross works in advocacy and family reunification. Join one of the largest humanitarian relief organizations  in the world through this internship. Visit: the Red Cross webiste.
 
The Ethiopian Community Association of Chicago(ECAC) is a not-for-profit, non-political, tax-exempt organization committed to serving the educational, cultural, psychological, and socio-economic needs of Ethiopians and other refugees in Chicagoland and the surrounding areas. ECAC also responds to the needs of other similarly situated groups who might seek its services.  ECAC endeavors to facilitate the overall adjustment, stability, growth and development of its constituency.

Visit their website or contact internship cohordinator Michael Krepps.

GirlForward supports refugee girls through three core programs:

  • The Mentoring Program pairs girls with mentors to engage in "4W" activities (Wellness, Wisdom, Wallet and World) in order to explore their passions and graduate from high school. 
  • Camp GirlForward provides a space for girls to simultaneously build their English skills while exploring their identities and learning about the world around them. 
  • The Safe Spaces Program provides safe spaces for girls to explore their identities, connect with other girls, and access the resources they need. 

This placement is excellent for students who want to work with teenagers and young adults in a small-scale educational setting. Visit their website at: https://www.girlforward.org/

 
 
Heartland Alliance, one of the world’s leading anti-poverty organizations, works in refugee and non-refugee communities in the U.S. and abroad to serve those who are homeless, living in poverty, or seeking safety. It provides a comprehensive array of services in the areas of health, housing, jobs and justice – and leads state and national policy efforts, which target lasting change for individuals and society.

This placement is organized and large, a great pre-professional experience. Visit their website or contact program cohordinator Emma Stensvaag.

With the implementation of contextual learning programs geared towards refugee youth, REACH helps integrate newcomers into the fabric of the areas in which they are being resettled. Our work focuses on developing social capital, which helps shift the marginal status that is often held by refugee youth and their families.

This is a good Spring - Summer placement if you want to work with young boys in an outdoors environment. Vist their website or contact program cohordinator Shana Wills.

Syria is considered by the United Nations as the worst humanitarian crisis of our lifetime, with over 6 million refugees worldwide and over 3 million people internally displaced. In 2013, the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugee, and Migration announced that Syrian refugees will be resettled in the United States. Upon hearing that announcement, SCN Founder Suzanne Akhras put out a call to action to her community and started to bring awareness about what refugee resettlement entails in the United States. The first refugee family arrived in Chicago in January of 2015 and the Syrian Community Network was born. In September of 2016, SCN established chapters in San Diego, Phoenix, and Atlanta. From May 2016 to March 2017, SCN grew exponentially and is now serving over 3,000 people nationally.  


Visit their website or contact Suzanne Akhras Sahloul.

Under the care of our dedicated case workers, RefugeeOne provides all refugees with a furnished apartment, as well as cultural orientation and comprehensive family adjustment services. They help them learn English, prepare for the American workforce, and find jobs. The ultimate goal of their programs is to help refugees become self-sufficient within 6 to 9 months.

This is a good placement for those interested in the refugee resettlement process in the United States. Visit their website.
Since 1996, the Asylum & Immigration Law Clinic (AILC) has continually expanded to better serve the needs of students, the community, and indigent immigrants and refugees. Today, the clinic offers two clinics, serves thousands of refugees and immigrants working on more than 800 cases each year, and partners with 26 community-based organizations to improve access to justice for low-income foreign-born clients. The clinic also receives support and assistance from immigration practitioners throughout Chicago. Many clinic alumni are leaders in the field of immigration law and contribute to public interest practices across the country.

Learn more by visiting their page or contact professor Sioban Albiol.
RefuSHE specializes in identifying and protecting unaccompanied and separated refugee children and youth, especially girls, young women, and their children living in Kenya. The shelter, education, and community outreach services, coupled with local resources and the refugee community, empower this population to live healthy lives. By providing resources for long-term support, refugee girls and young women become catalysts for strengthening networks creating sustainable change within the local and global communities.

Visit their website or contact Ariana Erickson.
"Karam House is a community innovation workspace where Syrian refugee youth turn their passions and ideas into realities. It is a place where they can build strong relationships with peers and mentors. It is a place where they can learn competitive skills in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics that are essential to advancing their educations and futures. Most of all, Karam House is an inspiring, safe, and healing space for Syrian teenagers – who have lost so much through the trauma of displacement and war – to be teenagers."
This is an excellent, education-focused NGO that works in Illinois and Turkey with Syrian Youth. Visit their website or contact Lina Sergie Attar.
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