Do you want to help survivors rebuild their lives in the United States? Through our various programs, we offer a number of enriching volunteer and internship opportunities for members of the DC Metro community.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Career Development Volunteers
Full Description
Schedule: Regular business hours
Time Commitment: Based on your availability
Tasks: Work one-on-one with survivors to develop resumes and conduct job searches
Location: Virtual and/or On-Site in our DC or Maryland offices
Professional Mentors
Full Description
Schedule: Based on your and the survivor's availability
Time Commitment: Based on your availability
Tasks: Work one-on-one with survivors to develop a strategic approach to networking and finding work in their desired profession
Location: Virtual and/or On-Site in our DC or Maryland offices
Life Skills Workshop Facilitators
full description
Schedule: Regular business hours
Time Commitment: A couple of hours for one workshop, plus prep time
Tasks: Work with a group of participants to teach a particular life skill, such as banking or nutrition
Location: Virtual and/or On-Site in our DC or Maryland office
Advocacy Internship
Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition (TASSC)
Summer 2024
TASSC is a small non-profit whose mission is to end torture throughout the world and empower torture survivors living in the United States. It provides direct services to survivors in the Washington DC metropolitan area, mostly from Africa, and advocacy training to survivors nationwide. The advocacy program focuses on torture and other human rights abuses, especially in in Africa, and “Asylum Justice” for survivors waiting over five years for an interview with USCIS, the US Asylum Agency, which has refused to interview them.
The intern will work closely with the Advocacy Program Manager to plan Advocacy Day for June Survivors Week (June 24-30 2024) and increase the organization’s visibility. In June, the intern will set up congressional meetings for survivors and learn about the issues we will cover on Advocacy Days. The intern will also carry out research on Congress Members interested in global human rights, and who may sympathize with asylum seekers who entered the U.S. legally with visas (did not cross the U.S.-Mexican border). The intern will also have the opportunity to interact directly with survivors at TASSC and in Congress. During the latter part of the internship, the intern may choose independent projects related to TASSC’s Advocacy issues. This internship is 32 hours a week, with extra hours on evenings and weekends during the last two weeks of June.
The intern will receive a small stipend of $400 for the summer.
Responsibilities: • Set up congressional meetings for survivors and TASSC supporters on Advocacy Days in Congress —June 26 and June 27-- and follow-up visits in July. • Research on USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services), the US asylum agency which has a policy to not interview survivors and other asylum applicants who have waited 5, 6, 7 or even 8 years for an interview with an asylum officer.
• Research positions of U.S. policymakers on torture and human rights abuse in countries survivors have fled from, mostly Ethiopia, Cameroon, Eritrea and Sudan.
• Lead a delegation of survivors and TASSC supporters on Advocacy Days in Congress • Write articles on “Asylum Justice” (the USCIS problem) and human rights issues, especially in Africa, for the TASSC website in July • In June, work 7-8 hours a week with the Executive Director on planning activities for June Survivors Week
Qualifications: • Experience working on federal or state legislation, or strong willingness to learn how the U.S. Congress functions, and the roles of various congressional committees. Experience in student political campaigns a plus.
• Willingness to learn about TASSC’s Campaign for “Asylum Justice” for torture survivors who entered the US legally with visas and did not cross the US-Mexican border. Interest in learning about torture and other human rights, especially in Ethiopia, Cameroon, Eritrea and Sudan.
• Ability to relate well with immigrant populations, work collaboratively and multi-task in a fast-paced environment
• Willingness to work evenings and weekends during the last two weeks of June, with several days off in July. This is a requirement.
• Preference is for students earning college credit for their internship
Corporate Volunteer Opportunities
Full Description
Schedule: Varies
Time Commitment: Based on your team's availability
Tasks: Work one-on-one or in groups with survivors on a topic of your choosing
Location: Virtual and/or On-Site in our DC or Maryland offices
Please note TASSC is not accepting clinical mental health interns for Master’s and PhD programs at this time.
INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
“My internship at TASSC gave me the opportunity to grow as an ally and advocate for multicultural clients, exercising my educational program’s emphasis on cultural humility and social justice. I was treated as a full member of the interdisciplinary team, which gave me so many more opportunities to utilize my skills as a therapist.”
Legal Intern
Legal Services Program (LSP) Intern
The Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition (TASSC) International is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that provides services to survivors of torture. TASSC recognizes the psychological effects of torture and assists survivors with their immediate medical, legal, housing, and employment needs. TASSC’s wraparound services are designed to encourage and supplement the efforts of survivors who come to us seeking independence, self-sufficiency, and healthy futures. Four programs are the cornerstones of our work and address the main areas of concern for many survivors: social, psychological, legal, and advocacy. All members of TASSC are eligible for services that are provided with personalized and purposeful support.
Job Description
The Torture Abolition Survivors Support Coalition (TASSC) is looking for rising second or third-year law students to join the Legal Services Program (LSP). Interns will work with the TASSC legal team to prepare asylum and other immigration applications. They will also collaborate with social and health services staff as part of an interdisciplinary and trauma-informed model. Responsibilities will include conducting legal research, drafting legal arguments, researching country conditions, meeting with clients, compiling evidence, maintaining case files, and other duties as assigned.
Applicants must have a demonstrated interest in asylum law, excellent research and writing skills, and a commitment to working with survivors of torture and supporting TASSC's mission. Strong preference will be given to applicants with prior work/internship/clinic experience in immigration law. Prior coursework in immigration law and proficiency in a second language (Amharic, French, or Spanish) is also helpful.
The internship is unpaid, but we are glad to assist with obtaining external funding or academic credit.
Time Commitment: Interns should be available for 20 hours/week for a minimum of 8 weeks during the summer. Students looking for internships during the school year must be available 10 hours per week for a minimum of 12 weeks.
Additional Requirements
• Flexibility
• Sincerity
• Resourcefulness
• Personal integrity in handling ethically complex and confidential situations
• Self-motivated and comfortable working in stressful situations
• Awareness of trauma-informed listening strategies
• Strong cross-cultural understanding and communication skills.
• Persons with lived experiences and/or persons from socially disadvantaged and underrepresented groupare encouraged to apply.
How to Apply: Please send a cover letter and resume to rachel@tassc.org. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
Human Rights and Advocacy Intern
Coming soon
Social Service Intern
Coming soon