Christian Internships

• Who? Applicants must fall within the (expected) college graduation dates of May 2013 and May 2015. Students who have graduated any earlier than May 2013 will not be accepted into the program; the program is open to undergraduate students only. A cumulative 3.2 GPA is required, and students must be legally eligible for employment in the United States.
• What? Paid Internship consisting of five-day work weeks for 10.5 weeks at $9.00 per hour.
• Where? Compassion International’s Global Ministry Center, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
• When? May 20 to August 2, 2013. An optional “Vision” mission trip to the Dominican Republic is also available, during which students will see Compassion’s work firsthand. Students must raise their own funds to cover trip expenses.
• How? Detailed job descriptions and applications will be available soon, on the Compassion Employment Opportunities web page. The last day to apply is January 31, 2013.

Please see further details on the Internship Program by using the tabs above.

• Compassion’s Global Ministry Center (GMC) in Colorado Springs works as a corporate setting “behind the scenes” of the international ministry. Compassion’s programs work worldwide through local churches in 26 different countries. The field offices are the “hands and feet” of the ministry and are staffed by the local people in each country. Compassion works through local churches around the world in order to empower indigenous people with resources and training so they can help people in their own communities build a better life within their own families, friends, etc. To learn more about Compassion’s programs, please visit: www.compassion.com/about/programs.
• Each year, different Supervisors and departments request positions based on their needs. Because Compassion’s GMC in Colorado works "behind the scenes" of the international ministry, we mainly operate in and thus hire in the following corporate functions:
  • Accounting, Business, Civil Engineering, Communications, Computer Science, Education, English, Finance, Human Resources, Journalism, Marketing, etc.
• Intern job placement is based on a student’s major as well as relevant experience both in ministry and in the workplace. However, if a student’s major does not exactly match a job opening, certain areas may be sufficed through adequate background experience.
• Throughout the 10.5 weeks, Interns will receive job coaching from their Supervisor. An Intern’s time will be split, with about 70 percent of their time spent working on major projects in their assigned departments, and about 30 percent of their time spent working on more day-to-day tasks (research, etc).
• Supervisors are looking for self-motivated individuals who tackle job tasks with creativity, ingenuity and energy. Applicants must have both sufficient organizational and communication skills, and the maturity to follow through on all work projects. Students interested in the Internship Program should be teachable, able to multitask on both short and long-term projects, and above all, be advocates for children in poverty.
• Detailed job descriptions and applications will be available soon, on the Compassion Employment Opportunities web page. The last day to apply is January 31, 2013. Applicants can apply for as many positions as they are qualified for. Applicants for the Internship Program are considered for each job they apply for, so if they’re not selected to interview for one position, they still may be considered for another position.
• Please view the essential qualifications in each job description prior to applying to make sure you are eligible. Students also must be legally eligible for employment in the United States (i.e., have a current work or student Visa and SSN card). The Internship Program is a one-time opportunity: no Interns may repeat the program (i.e., last summer’s Interns cannot be part of the program in summer 2013). Applicants who previously applied last year but were not accepted into the Internship Program may reapply for 2013 if they still qualify.
• Please check your email regularly: Communication is primarily conducted through the email address you provide on your application due to a high volume of communication. If an applicant at any point along the process is seen as an inadequate match to a job position, he or she will be notified at the earliest possible date via email.
• Applicants whose skills match openings will be contacted by the Internship Program Coordinator and then screened by phone by Compassion’s Human Resources Department. Human Resources will then select three or four final applicants per each position for the hiring supervisors to interview. Supervisors will relay their final hiring decision, as well as a selected runner-up candidate, after the final interviews are completed. A final hiring decision should be reached by March 1.

• The Internship begins with three paid days of orientation at Compassion International, where Interns are immersed into the work culture and learn about expectations. Interns will work Monday through Friday at $9.00 per hour. There are also opportunities to volunteer on various weekends as a group in the local community. This provides an opportunity for the students to replicate the work of the Compassion field offices and minister to the community in the local area, and to attain personal growth.
• In addition to the Internship Program, students will have an opportunity for an optional trip to see Compassion’s work in the field. After the 10.5-week Internship Program is completed, students will have a chance to take an optional Vision Trip to the Dominican Republic. The purpose of this trip is for Interns to see the “hands and feet” of the ministry as well as put a “face” to the reality of poverty. This is a great opportunity to get a glimpse into how Compassion comes alongside the poorest of the poor, and see firsthand the impact Compassion’s programs make in the lives of children. This trip will consist of visiting the Country Office, meeting the field staff, interacting with Compassion-sponsored children, and visiting the homes of sponsored children. Students will raise their own support for this trip independently and on their own time after they have been selected for the program. This trip is estimated to cost $1,500. More details are available on the “Vision Trip” tab.
• College credit will be available for Interns; but students must individually take responsibility for the credit requirements and research (on their own time) how to attain credit for their college (writing papers, etc.) before the internship begins. Interns must complete the entire 10.5 weeks to graduate from the program; there will be no alteration to the time commitment for summer travel, etc. (exceptions include a family emergency, health issues, etc.). Students who cannot commit to the entire 10.5 weeks will not be considered for acceptance into the program.

• If out-of-state students have no other housing options (e.g., family, friends, etc), they are eligible to receive housing from Compassion staff and contacts at local churches who partner with Compassion. There is a screening process for hosts, and a housing contract is issued for both the Home Host and the Intern to sign in which they agree to certain house rules and expectations. Interns are expected to keep a clean living space, house sit if applicable, spend regular time with the family, etc. Interns will pay a one- time fee of $600 to the Home Host to help provide for utilities, etc. (distributed in $200 increments over the span of 10.5 weeks).
• Interns will be required to provide their own transportation to Colorado Springs, and provide their own vehicle while working in Colorado Springs throughout the summer. Interns must also purchase their own food for meals and their own living necessities. However, under special circumstances, if an Intern does not have a vehicle to use for the summer, a Home Host may be able to provide a ride to and from work if the Home Host works at Compassion on the same time schedule as the Intern. In this event, Interns must pay for gas used and will be expected to arrange a ride (possibly from another Intern) to attend non work-related events and weekend activities (Home Hosts will not provide rides outside of transportation to and from work).

• In addition to the Internship Program, students will have an opportunity for an optional trip to see Compassion’s work in the field. After the 10.5-week Internship Program is completed, students will have a chance to take an optional Vision Trip to the Dominican Republic. The purpose of this trip is for Interns to see the “hands and feet” of the ministry as well as put a “face” to the reality of poverty. This is a great opportunity to get a glimpse into how Compassion comes alongside the poorest of the poor, and see firsthand the impact Compassion’s programs make in the lives of children. This trip will consist of visiting the Country Office, meeting the field staff, interacting with Compassion-sponsored children, and visiting the homes of sponsored children. Students will raise their own support for this trip independently and on their own time after they have been selected for the program. This trip is estimated to cost $1,500. Upon being accepted into the program, students can begin raising funds to cover the cost of the trip.

Have you read through the information and can’t find what you’re looking for?
Please contact the Internship Program Coordinator, Sam Askew, with your specific Internship questions: saskew@us.ci.org.

Passionate about Compassion, but not sure if the Internship Program works for you? Click here to learn more about being an advocate for children in poverty.