Social Justice Coalition

Social Justice Coalition Internship

Position:  Politics / Advocacy

Length of Internship:  8-15 weeks

Number of positions:  2

Are you interested in doing political advocacy work?  Are you passionate about working towards social justice?  Do you enjoy working with diverse groups of people?  Well then you should consider an internship with the Social Justice Coalition, an exciting, new grassroots civil society organization that is rapidly gaining prominence in South Africa. 

You could not have picked a more exciting time to do a social justice internship in South Africa.  The country has just gone through a major election, and there is a whole new set of political leaders in government.  Democratic participation is growing, and people are coming together in greater numbers to demand accountability and justice from their political leaders.  Change is in the air!

The Social Justice Coalition (SJC) formed on June 16, 2008, in the midst of unprecedented xenophobic attacks against immigrants in South Africa.  These xenophobic attacks led to a massive displacement of persons and the formation of refugee camps, which quickly became centers of egregious human rights violations.  Government did little to help these refugees.  Help came from individuals and organizations in civil society that came together during the crisis to assist the displaced people and protest state inaction in the face of human rights violations.  The Social Justice Coalition was an outgrowth of this energetic response from civil society.  The organization began as a group of diverse and dedicated individuals who wanted to capture the energy of that response, and harness it into a long-lasting organization.

The Social Justice Coalition is concerned about the lack of political leadership and accountability in governance.  The organization focuses on the failure of government in the areas of service delivery, corruption & accountability, and the attacks from political leaders on the Constitution and Judiciary.  At the same time, the SJC recognizes that the vast economic and social inequalities that ravage society have exacerbated anger and frustration among the poor and marginalized.  This anger has led to an explosion of crime, such as xenophobia and gender-based violence.  The SJC engages in a variety of measures to address these issues, including community education and awareness campaigns; research and legal advocacy work; publishing articles and academic research papers; and organizing massive demonstrations and protests.

Social Justice Coalition members dance at the arms deal rally.

If these issues excite and interest you, then you should definitely consider an internship with the Social Justice Coalition.  The organization is growing rapidly, and needs dedicated interns who can assist in a variety of areas.  These areas include:

-         Participating in the SJC's education campaign to increase grassroots awareness about issues like poor service delivery, the roots of crime, and holding political leaders accountable.  This will involve working in townships and disadvantaged communities.

-         Researching and writing articles.

-         Assisting with the planning and promotion of mass meetings and protests.

An internship with the SJC is an exciting way to get involved in South African politics, form connections with a diverse group of locals, and to get experience working for a prominent NGO – all in one of the most vibrant cities in the world, Cape town!  Whether you are interested in working in the townships, doing legal advocacy work, or experiencing the excitement of mass protests, the SJC is the place for you – so go ahead and apply!   

Members of the Social Justice Coalition call for an inquiry into the arms deal.