Human Rights in Barcelona | Barcelona, Spain

Since 2006, our partner company has helped students find career-related internships around the world, across all fields. They will work with you to help define your ideal internship, provide insight into local opportunities and help find a placement that suits your specific skills, experience, and interests. They’ll also help with logistics, including arranging secure, central housing, providing an on-site orientation, and inviting you to local weekly social and cultural events, where you can meet other program participants and experience local culture.

Job responsibilities will vary depending on placement and may include direct client service provision, research, advocacy, grant-writing, teaching, etc.  Please describe in your “Individualized Placement Statement” any specific skills that you would like to learn or apply in your internship.

Human rights is an umbrella term that encapsulates many subfields, including economic, social, cultural, civil, and political rights.  For example, human rights workers may aim to:

• increase an access to resources for vulnerable populations
• lead grassroots educational outreach efforts
• locate and secure funding
• assess equitable access and fair treatment
• raise awareness of issues faced by marginalized populations via outreach efforts and organizing events

Human rights initiatives target specific populations, such as immigrants and refugees, veterans, women, children and teens, the LGBTQ+ community, people of color, the elderly, people with HIV/AIDS or other chronic illnesses, people who are homeless, drug users, sex workers, etc.

Examples of possible human rights placements and tasks include, but are not limited to:

• Assisting refugees obtain residence permits at an immigration law firm
• Conducting due diligence to assess fair labor and ethical trade practices for local and international businesses
• Developing educational programs at an international foundation focused on equal opportunities and youth development
• Researching funding opportunities and new partnerships
• Raising awareness in local communities about human rights issues as well as organizing informative workshops
• Helping a local NGO develop and deliver training programs to youth at risk to secure employment
• Organizing events and educational activities to support learning, development and inclusion of children and families from disadvantaged social backgrounds
• Assisting the elderly at a retirement home
• Providing mentorship for teenagers
• Carrying out macro-level observations during home visits
• Creating new programs targeting a specific population

Academic Background:

Students from all academic fields and backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Applicants should have relevant knowledge or experience in their preferred field. Host companies may have established requirements or experience based on specific tasks for a position.

Skills / Experience:

All interns should have good written and verbal communication skills and a passion for their field.

Internships are an opportunity to learn, as well as be involved in the organization’s projects, so students should be professionally motivated, flexible, and proactive. It is important that interns have the ability to self-direct work and manage independent deadlines.

Our partner company can arrange a wide-range of opportunities relative to your skill-level and interests.

Language Requirements:

Internship opportunities are available both for Spanish and non-Spanish speakers.  While students with Spanish proficiency have more options available, our partner company can find opportunities according to your incoming language level.  Placements in which interns will be working closely with the populations they serve may require higher levels of language proficiency.

Once in country, our partner company can also help arrange language classes, if needed or desired.

Estimated One-Time Expenses

• IE3 Global Program Fee: $3,450
• Host Site Fees: $2,850 (includes $350 deposit)
• International Travel: $1,500
• Recommended Immunizations: $0*

*Fees vary based on medical history and insurance coverage

Estimated Monthly Expenses

• Housing: $600 – $900
• Food: $400
• Local Transportation: $100
• Recreation: $200
• Personal Expenses: $150

Budgeting Note: Estimated costs are based on typical internship-related costs and a modest standard of living. Each intern’s costs will vary based on lifestyle choices (eating out vs. cooking, taking public transportation vs. taxis) and recreational spending (travelling on days off, hobbies, etc.).

Additional Expense Information

The host site fee includes:

• customized internship placement
• arranging secure, high quality, accommodation based on your budget
• assisting with local transport
• airport pick-up and on-site orientation
• invitation to weekly social and cultural events
• advice, assistance, and guidance before, during, and after your stay
• 24/7 emergency support and assistance

Our partner company arranges screened, central housing according to your budget, internship location and preferences. Options include homestays as well as sharing apartments with other international interns.

Check out pictures from this internship.