Spring 2025: Microenterprise Intern (Unpaid)

International Rescue Committee
United States, California, San Diego
Dec 22, 2024
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future. Please note: this is an unpaid internship IRC BACKGROUND: Founded in 1933, the IRC is a leading organization providing relief, protection, and resettlement services for refugees and victims of oppression throughout the U.S. IRC in San Diego has resettled over 31,000 refugees to San Diego County over the past 48 years and provides numerous program services. In San Diego, the IRC opened its doors in 1975 and has grown to serve approximately 7,000 refugee and immigrant individuals from 115 countries of origin each year through 5 different departments. SCOPE OF INTERN WORK: As part of the Microenterprise program, IRC's In-Home Childcare Licensing Program offers refugees the opportunity to become a licensed in-home family service provider. Through a three-week comprehensive program, participants gain the necessary knowledge and skills in order to become licensed and start a family childcare business. Participants learn about business basics such as book keeping, financial management and marketing, how to submit the license, as well as health, nutrition, and other childcare topics. The Microenterprise Program Intern will provide both administrative and direct service support to the in-home childcare licensing program. RESPONSIBILITIES: Assist with intake and support of walk-in clients. Provide assistance in completing business plan for in-home child care entrepreneurs. Support the business counselor in the preparation of applications for the childcare license. Assist with flyer and/or business plan, in general in enhance marketing strategies. Conduct quality assurance tasks including self-audits. Provide assistance monitoring the childcare program by conducting follow up assessments and gathering data on outcomes. Enter data and track outcomes through the IRC's Efforts to Outcomes (ETO) and Neoserra database. Provide support facilitating and coordination trainings. Conduct outreach and participate in public events as needed. LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 1. Gain insight into the implementation of a microenterprise program and the workings of serving in-home family childcare providers (FCP). 2. Learn about the needs of refugee childcare entrepreneurs. 3. Learn how microenterprise programs track outcomes and measure success. Minimum Qualifications: REQUIREMENTS: Currently enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate, or certificate program Bachelor's degree in a related discipline (business, economics, finance, social sciences or outstanding current undergraduate pursuing a relevant degree.) Experience with both administrative work and direct service with diverse populations Excellent organization skills, strong communication and interpersonal skills, and ability to effectively collaborate English fluency required, proficiency in a refugee language (Arabic, Farsi, Swahili) a plus This position reports to the Microenterprise Program Supervisor. Compensation: This is an unpaid internship opportunity. Working Environment: The Microenterprise Internship is hybrid; remote with possible in-person hours at the San Diego office. Required Weekly Hours: 10-20 Hours. Selected interns may choose their hours between Monday-Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm PST. Standard of Professional Conduct:The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way - our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality. Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: The IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of the IRC persons in any work setting. We aim to increase the representation of women, people that are from country and communities we serve, and people who identify as races and ethnicities that are under-represented in global power structures.