About the May 18 Memorial Foundation
The May 18 Memorial Foundation was founded in 1994 with the precious funds of the May 18 victims, Gwangju citizens, overseas Koreans and Korean nationals in order to continue and develop the great democratic spirit and solidarity of the May 18 Democratic Uprising. Along with the aims of spreading the history of the struggle and its generous spirit to the global community, we hope to march altogether for the promotion and protection of democracy, human rights and peace building regionally and internationally.
Introduction to the Foundation Works
Since 1994, the May 18 Memorial Foundation has been conducting and expanding many projects to commemorate the spirit and struggle of the May 18 Uprising, eventually contribute to the peaceful reunification of Korea; and to work towards peace and human rights throughout the world.
The Foundation has carried out numerous projects in various fields, including organizing memorial events, establishing scholarships, fostering research, disseminating information to the public, publishing relevant materials, dispensing charity and welfare benefits, building international solidarity, and awarding the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights.
These are main projects of the Foundation:
| · May 18 Spirit Enhancement | · May 18 Folk Academy |
| · Solidarity for Democratization Movements in Asia | · May 18 Culture and Art Project Support |
| · Gwangju Prize for Human Rights | · May 18 Historic Site Guides and Trip Studies |
| · Gwangju Asia Forum | · May 18 Research Network |
| · Grant for Democracy and Human Rights Projects in Overseas | · International Internship Exchange |
About the International Internship Program
The International Internship Program strives to contribute to the development of democracy and human rights throughout our international network by recruiting 2 interns from overseas, who have been working for human rights, democracy, and peace building organizations in their home countries, and by giving them an opportunity to experience and learn the history and development process of human rights and democracy in the Republic of Korea, particularly the 1980 Gwangju Democratic Uprising. Interns will have the chance to exchange and network with Korean civil society groups. They can also choose or will be assigned research during the course of their internship. As interns, they will be assigned particular duties and responsibilities as part of the International Cooperation Project.
Goals of the International Internship Program
The annual internship program is an imperative part of the Foundation’s mandate to promote international solidarity and further the promotion of human rights across the world. Through the internship program the Foundation aims:
1) to build concrete solidarity through the exchange of human resources.
2) to nurture outstanding individuals to lead global civil society.
Main Policy
The May 18 Memorial Foundation believes that the International Internship Program is a part of the international networking efforts of the Foundation with international civil communities. It is a program which allows individuals to build their career and network organizations to share ideas and strengthen mutual prosperity for a better future.
In this sense, the May 18 Memorial Foundation seeks applicants who are supported by their organizations and who are required to go back to their organizations after finishing the internship.
The Foundation requires a recommendation letter from the representative of the organizations with which applicants are involved.
This is a co-partnership program, so organizations are also encouraged to select staff who are interested in applying for this internship program.
Eligibility
· Applicants should be a working member of an organization. Applicants cannot apply as individuals without the knowledge/support/recommendation of their current organization or network.
· Applicants who have a minimum of 3 years NGO or social development work experience, though not necessarily in the field of human rights, are encouraged to apply.
· Applicants need to have received a proper education. Preference will be given to those with degrees in human rights-related subjects such as social sciences and communication, and to those who have specialized in human rights issues within these disciplines.
· Applicants must be computer literate (email/internet, web page, lay-out/design, etc) and proficient in English; a working knowledge of Korean is an advantage.
Time Frame
Two interns accepted for this program will participate for 10 months, for the period March 2012 to December 2012.
Conditions of Service
The relationship between the Foundation and the intern is one of mutual benefit. Interns are assigned to a unit of the Foundation according to the needs of the office and their own areas of interest. They are involved, inter alia, in managing international conference such as Gwangju Asia Forum, preparing for the May 18 Folk Academy, conducting their own research, working on human rights issues, drafting analytical papers and reports, providing substantive and technical service, depending on the needs of the office. At the same time, the program aims to increase the intern's understanding of current human rights issues at the international level.
Interns are assigned to work with a supervisor who is responsible for providing them with an orientation of duties and a work plan. Upon completion of the internship, the interns are required to complete their final reports describing what was attained during the internship. Additionally, every intern is required to complete an evaluation questionnaire on his/her assignment and to submit it to the May 18 Memorial Foundation.
Interns must fulfill their duties and abide by the rules and regulations of the program.
In case of illness or other circumstances that might prevent the completion of the internship, interns will inform their supervisors.
There is no expectancy of employment at the end of the internship and interns cannot apply for any jobs or pursue a higher degree until the termination of the internship.
Interns are supposed to work from 9 AM to 6PM Monday through Friday and to carry out the duties assigned to them. They receive a summer holiday and a special holiday in December. They are compelled by the same duties and obligations as regular staff members; in particular, all confidential and unpublished information obtained during the internship may not be used by interns.
Sojourn Expenses
Travel costs, airfare and living expenses are provided by the Foundation. Housing will be provided but utilities (telephone, electricity, and gas) will be paid by interns. Public health insurance will be given to cover accidents/illness incurred during an internship. If interns would like more personal coverage they are encouraged to purchase a comprehensive travel insurance policy before arriving in Korea.
Requirements
Applicants should submit the following documentation:
· Completed, dated and signed internship application form
· Curriculum Vitae
· A scanned copy of valid and not expired passport
· A write-up detailing your expectations, objectives, and interest in the International Internship Program (not more than two pages).
· An official endorsement letter from your superior or head of your organization.
· An endorsement/referral letter from any alumni/contact/network of the Foundation in your country or abroad.
· A copy of your full academic transcript from your current university or learning institution or other universities or institutions which you graduated from earlier; a written sample of research work or an abstract of academic papers (3-10 pages maximum).
Please send all the documentations listed above with the application form as scanned documents either in PDF format or as WORD attachments.
Application Deadline
November 25, 2011 until January 6, 2012
Notification
Selected candidates will be informed around the last week of January 2012. Unsuccessful candidates will be notified by email and are encouraged to apply again the following year.
Contact
Solidarity Team
The May 18 Memorial Foundation
Postcode 502-260 Ssangchon-dong 1268 5.18 Memorial Culture Center Seo-Gu, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
Phone: +82 62 457 0518
Fax: +82 62 456 0519
Email: 518interns@gmail.com
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