15 Human Rights Nonprofit Internships for High School Students
If you’re a high school student interested in social justice or global issues, interning with a human rights nonprofit can be a meaningful way to learn how advocacy works in practice.
What do human rights nonprofit internships for high school students involve?
These internships offer a closer look at how organizations protect rights, influence policy, and support communities at the local and global levels. They also provide early exposure to the nonprofit sector.
Why should you pursue human rights nonprofit internships for high school students?
Through a human rights internship, you can build key skills in research, writing, and communication while contributing to ongoing advocacy projects. You’ll also gain insight into careers in areas such as public policy, law, and international relations. Many programs include mentorship opportunities, giving you the chance to learn directly from experienced advocates and nonprofit professionals.
You can also look at nonprofit mentorship programs here, or explore international nonprofit internships here! In this article, we highlight 15 human rights nonprofit internships for high school students that combine learning with real impact.
Disclaimer: Not all the items below might be non-profit internships, but they’ll be programs that help you develop the skills for future nonprofit internships.
15 Human Rights Nonprofit Internships for High School Students
1. Amnesty International USA Youth Collective
Location: Virtual
Stipend: Unpaid
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: Term is year-long; begins in June each year and runs through the academic year
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students between the ages of 15-24; need previous experience aligned with youth activism
Amnesty International offers The Youth Collective as a national leadership program for youth who are interested in human rights. In the program, you’ll gain insight into how non-profits work on advocacy work. You’ll work alongside passionate peers and work on outreach initiatives, campaigns, community mobilization, and provide insight for youth-focused projects. Although not an internship, this program will give you a rounded, year-long experience engaged in advocacy work. Selection is competitive and requires a written application, group interview, and individual interview with program staff and alumni.
2. Young Founders Lab
Location: This program is 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops
Cost: The total cost to attend the 4-week program is $2900. There is need-based financial aid.
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: Vary according to cohort
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort. You can access the application link here
Eligibility: The program is currently open to all high school students
The Young Founders Lab is a start-up incubator for high school students run by Harvard entrepreneurs. They offer a non-profit founders program where you can explore social and environmental impact. You will be guided through a 3-month curriculum and focus on nonprofit organizational development. You would look at each stage of the organization, including needs assessment and fundraising. The program will culminate in your launching a unique and thoughtfully designed non-profit venture. You will work on your own idea, address real problems, and gain hands-on experience in building a business. Your non-profit can focus on any area that you’re willing to work on, including human rights. Young Founders Lab will support you through the business ideation process and the registration and recognition process to make your non-profit an official 501(c)3. Check out the program brochure here.
3. Teens in Public Service (TIPS) Internship
Location: Nonprofit organizations throughout King & Surrounding counties, Greater Seattle Area, WA
Stipend: Seattle minimum wage $20/hr
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: 6–8 weeks during the summer (typically June–August) | Interns must attend three mandatory training events: orientation, leadership day, and day of service
Application Deadline: March 3
Eligibility: High school students aged 15-19 by the start of the program; eligible to work in the U.S.
Teens In Public Service (TIPS) is a non-profit that focuses on youth leadership through community service-based internship work. You can apply to intern at non-profit organizations in the area of your interest, including human rights advocacy, environmental education, community service, and art-based programs. Selection is competitive and includes a written application, letters of recommendation, and a formal interview. You’ll work on advocacy work by engaging in tasks such as research, outreach, campaign planning, and public awareness initiatives.
4. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote. You can work from anywhere in the world.
Cost: Varies as per program (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, including nonprofits, journalism, social impact consulting, and more. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average, raising over a million dollars. Past founders have included Y Combinator alums, founders raising over 30 million dollars, or founders who previously worked at Microsoft, Google, and Facebook. In the program, you work closely with your managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present your work to the company. As an intern, you are offered one-on-one training in communication and time management, and you will have the opportunity to attend group training sessions with other interns in your cohort. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
5. Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights Internship
Location: The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights & The Leadership Conference Education Fund, Washington, D.C.
Stipend: Unpaid
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: Varies based on intern commitment (2 weeks – 2 months)
Application Deadline: Applications processed on a rolling basis
Eligibility: High school senior
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights offers an internship program designed for students interested in gaining experience in civil and human rights policy work. Through the internship, you’ll broaden your understanding of human rights issues, observe the legislative process of the federal government, and understand the inner workings of a non-profit. Your daily tasks as an intern will involve providing administrative support, helping with communications, development, operations, field, and policy work. You’ll also have the opportunity to explore career paths and gain mentorship from non-profit professionals.
6. Voices for Children High School Internship Program
Location: Voices for Children, Lincoln, NE
Stipend: Stipend of US $1,125 for the five-month term
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: Two offered terms: August to December or January to May (5 months each)
Application Deadline: Varies based on term
Eligibility: High school students between the ages of 14 and 19
Voices for Children hosts an internship program for high school students interested in exploring the intersection of advocacy, policy, and community engagement. You’ll engage in human rights policy work by focusing on child advocacy and welfare-related work. As an intern, your tasks will include community outreach, program coordination, and attending advocacy-based events. You’ll develop skills in research, communication, and operations while learning how advocacy for children takes place legally and in a community setting, and how support programs for vulnerable youth are organized.
7. OHR Youth Human Rights Ambassador Program
Location: OHR, District Government Office, Washington, D.C.
Stipend: Unpaid
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: Program runs year-round (program meetings take place 1–2 times per month)
Application Deadline: June 13
Eligibility: Rising 10th, 11th, or 12th grade student; enrolled in a DC high school
The DC Office of Human Rights offers the chance to high school to engage in human rights through serving as Youth Human Rights Ambassadors. As an ambassador, you’ll work alongside Office of Human Rights professionals, receive mentorship from them, and engage in the functioning of the local government. Your work will involve promoting issues that impact the youth and public education on rights and laws. You’ll also work on outreach through public campaigns and encourage dialogue on civil rights and human rights-related issues.
8. Generation Human Rights (GenHR) Student Internship
Location: GenHR, Brooklyn, NY (virtual track available)
Stipend: Unpaid
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: Internships are offered three times per year: Spring, Summer, and Fall
Application Deadline: Varies based on term
Eligibility: Open to high school through graduate-level students
Generation Human Rights offers a student internship program designed for youth interested in exploring human rights within a non-profit. As an intern, you’ll have the ability to explore and provide support to various departments such as research, program design, social media, and grant research. You’ll develop skills in research, writing, communication, and project management. You’ll work on multimedia projects, conducting research, planning social media posts, and conducting prospect research. You’ll also have the ability to interact with educators and activists who are passionate about advocacy and understand the practical application of human rights principles.
9. Human Rights Education Institute (HREI) Volunteer
Location: HREI headquarters, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
Stipend: Unpaid
Acceptance rate: Accepting
Dates: Volunteer roles are offered year-round
Application Deadline: Applications processed on a rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students
Human Rights Education Institute offers volunteering opportunities for students looking to explore human rights policy work. As a volunteer, you’ll have the opportunity to work across departments in areas such as public education, fundraising, administration, cataloging, and maintenance. You’ll have the ability to strengthen skills such as communication, project management, and collaboration by working on tasks such as interacting with visitors, grant writing, planning fundraisers, and working on administrative projects. As a volunteer, you will closely work with mentors and project coordinators in the respective departments on how a nonprofit human rights organization functions.
10. Human Rights Society Human Rights Activist Internship
Location: Seattle, WA (virtual track available)
Stipend: Unpaid
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: Start timing is flexible, and interns need to commit for a minimum of 3 months
Application Deadline: Applications processed on a rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students; Ability to work remotely or in the Seattle area
Human Rights Society offers a human rights internship for high school students who are interested in exploring advocacy. You’ll join the program as an activist and help with both administrative and on-field advocacy work. Interns will have the chance to work on their leadership and communication skills by working on raising awareness of human rights issues through tasks such as outreach, fundraising, events, and film festivals. You’ll also work on researching human rights issues for future projects and contribute to op-ed pieces.
11. Girls Human Rights Hub Virtual Work Experience
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Application fee $45 approx
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: August 4–8
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Open to high-school age participants; ages 16-24
The Girls Human Rights Hub (GHRH) virtual work experience is designed to provide practical experience in the field of girls' human rights advocacy. The program takes place over one week, when you’ll learn about advocacy through workshops, assignments, and interactive activities. Although not an internship, your tasks closely mirror real-world advocacy work, which will give you practical work experience and help you apply to internships and develop collaborative and communication-based skills. You’ll also interact with and understand the role of human rights advocates and other human rights professionals.
12. ACLU SoCal Internship
Location: Los Angeles & Southern California region, CA
Stipend: Unpaid
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: Internships align with academic terms: summer, fall, and spring
Application Deadline: Varies according to term
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and law students
The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California (ACLU SoCal) offers an internship opportunity for high school students interested in advocacy work. High school students can apply to the Education Equity and Student Rights track. As an intern, you’ll promote equal access to education by working on tasks such as campaign development, policy research, workshop planning, and community outreach. You’ll work alongside professionals and learn how legal advocacy and education reform can help in creating an equitable educational system.
13. Youth Civics Foundation Internship
Location: Youth Civics Foundation, Los Angeles, CA
Stipend: Unpaid
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: Applications open year-round based on availability
Application Deadline: Applications processed on a rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students who are 14 or older
The Youth Civics Foundation offers an internship program for high school students with a youth-led nonprofit. You’ll have the opportunity to work in the area of your interest, such as teaching, communications, or event support. As an intern, you’ll work on a project that supports youth community engagement, and you’ll gain practical experience in civic education, leadership, and outreach. You’ll work with youth on how they can engage in community issues and governance. Interns will also receive mentorship and guidance from advocacy professionals.
14. CAIR Chicago Internship
Location: CAIR, Chicago, IL
Stipend: Unpaid
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: Multiple sessions: Winter-Spring (Jan 1 – May 15), Summer (May 15 – Aug 31), Fall (Sept – Dec)
Application Deadline: Winter-Spring: apply by Dec 1 | Summer: apply by Apr 15 | Fall: apply by Aug 1
Eligibility: High-school students in grades 9-12
CAIR-Chicago offers an internship program for students interested in exploring advocacy-related career pathways. You’ll receive training before the start of your internship and will have the opportunity to apply to a non-profit in the area of your interest, such as civil rights, communications, administration, outreach, and operations. As an intern, you will learn how advocacy organizations operate and work on varying tasks, from community organizing and media strategy to policy research. You’ll work alongside advocacy professionals and develop skills in writing, research, critical thinking, and project coordination.
15. The Carter Center Human Rights Program Volunteer
Location: The Carter Center, Atlanta, GA
Stipend: Unpaid
Acceptance rate: Accepting
Dates: Applications open year-round
Application Deadline: Applications processed on a rolling basis
Eligibility: At least 16 years old; if under 18, guardian consent needed; high-school students may volunteer during summer and outside school sessions
The Carter Center’s Human Rights Program offers an opportunity to engage in human rights work through volunteering. During your volunteering, you'll have the chance to interact with professionals such as human rights advocates, policy analysts, and program coordinators, gaining insight into how non-profit projects are managed. You’ll have the opportunity to explore different projects and departments, while helping with administrative work and supporting ongoing program operations. As a volunteer, you will get the chance to develop skills in research, communication, organization, and teamwork.
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