Tostan USA

Tostan is a US 501(c)(3) nongovernmental organization dedicated to providing human rights-based education to Africans who have little or no access to formal schooling. Based in the West African country of Senegal , Tostan works in mostly rural regions to increase community engagement in projects related to health, human rights protection, literacy, the environment, child welfare, conflict resolution, and economic development. Tostan is currently implementing its innovative educational program in Djibouti, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Senegal, and Somalia .

Start Date: Applications accepted year-round, but applicants are encourage to apply before December 15 ^th for spring internships, March 15 ^th for summer internships, and July 15 ^th for fall internships

Minimum commitment: A minimum of 12 weeks at part-time (15+ hours/week) during the spring and fall, and a minimum of 10 weeks at full-time (35+ hours/week) during the summer; six-month commitment preferred           

Location: 1301 Clifton Street NW , Washington , DC 20009 (near U Street Metro)

Direct supervisor(s):    Senior Operations Manager

Collaborator(s): Director of External Affairs, and other staff and partners in Africa and around the world                                    

Responsibilities

• Work with staff to produce public relations documents (in English and French when possible), such as newsletters, PowerPoint presentations, brochures, films (if qualified)
• Develop and update Tostan’s website (no technological knowledge required)
• Update and maintain Tostan's profile on social networking websites (i.e. Facebook, MySpace, Change.org, etc.)
• Maintain and further Tostan’s media relations strategy
• Write and edit reports, proposals, articles, etc. for Tostan
• Maintain donor relations as necessary (database entry, written communication, etc.)

• Perform administrative duties as necessary
• Professionally represent Tostan at all times, including during donor and partner visits, with local and national media, in the office space, etc.       

• Electronic copies of all documents produced, edited, etc. to supervisor and incoming volunteer (if applicable)
• Final narrative report of individual activities for internal distribution
• Other activities, as requested by Executive Team, supervisors, and other collaborators

• Bachelors degree or current enrollment in Bachelors program; studies in International Development, Education, Gender Studies, another social sciences, Business, Management, or related field
• Experience working with a non-governmental organization / non-profit  OR prolonged experience in a developing country
• Thorough understanding of Tostan’s programs and methodologies
• Strong written and spoken proficiency in English (writing sample required); proficiency in written and spoken French preferred
• Strong computer skills in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; experience with Access or other database software preferred
• Knowledge of common networking sites (i.e. Facebook, MySpace, etc.) preferred ; Knowledge of Gmail, Google Groups, Google Documents, Google Calendars, and other Internet programs preferred
• Project management experience preferred
• Ability to work independently, self-motivate, and to manage multiple tasks at once
• Strong communication and organizational skills
• Flexible to adapt to a multicultural environment, to work in varied conditions, to be considerate of limited resources, and to adapt work priorities to the immediate needs of the project or donor

Benefits

• Hands on experience with an internationally recognized NGO
• Development of curriculum vitae/resume
• Opportunity to develop highly sought-after skills in project management, training, and written and oral communication in a multicultural, multilingual environment    

• Fundraising database
• Website editing software
• Other training, as deemed necessary and appropriate by supervisors

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