Treatment Action Campaign

Treatment Action Campaign Internship

Position:  Politics / HIV/AIDS Advocacy

Length of Internship:  10-14 weeks

Number of positions:  2

Are you interested in campaigning for the rights of people living with HIV/AIDS?  Have you ever thought about working for an NGO?  Well imagine yourself interning for the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), an internationally acclaimed HIV/AIDS advocacy organization that was named by The New York Times in 2006 as “the world’s most effective AIDS group.”  TAC, which happens to be based in the world’s most beautiful city (Cape Town), is looking for volunteers! 

Founded in 1998 in Cape Town, TAC advocates for increased access to treatment, care and support services for people living with HIV/AIDS, and campaigns to reduce new HIV infections. Its mission is to “ensure that every person living with HIV has access to quality comprehensive prevention and treatment services to live a healthy life.”   With more than 16,000 members and 267 branches, TAC has become the leading civil society force behind comprehensive health care services for people living with HIV/AIDS in South Africa.  Since its inception, TAC has won numerous court cases; held government accountable for health care service delivery; campaigned against AIDS denialism; challenged the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies to make treatment more affordable, and cultivated community leadership on HIV and AIDS. Their efforts have been highly successful, and have resulted in many life-saving interventions.  For its efforts, TAC has received numerous international accolades, including a nomination for a Nobel Peace Prize in 2004.

TAC has 3 core programs:

The Prevention and Treatment Literacy (PTL) program provides training and public health education to HIV/AIDS and TB patients.  This program also monitors access to life-saving HIV and TB services and treatment at the facilities in which TAC operates – mostly in townships and underprivileged areas.  An internship with the PTL program is a fantastic opportunity if you are interested in assisting with HIV/AIDS and TB education initiatives, and are willing to work in underprivileged areas. 

The Community Health Advocacy (CHA) program builds awareness of and advocates for greater access to HIV and TB prevention, treatment, care and support services at a grassroots community level.  This program also provides leadership and advocacy training to people living with HIV/AIDS, communities, and partners in order to encourage community mobilization around these issues.  If you are considering a career in public health, education, or social work, you should definitely consider an internship with the CHA program.  This internship will allow you to work in townships and underprivileged areas, and form connections with a diverse group of local South Africans.  In addition, the CHA program has recently begun to intensify its focus on women’s rights by leading campaigns and mobilizing communities around gender issues.  So if you are passionate about women’s rights – this internship is the perfect opportunity!

The Policy, Communications and Research (PCR) department is responsible for monitoring and engaging with health policy processes at all levels of government, and for liaising with media to promote TAC’s advocacy work.  The PCR department disseminates information on HIV/AIDS and TB through the production of high-quality educational materials, such as TAC’s magazine, Equal Treatment.  This department also generates legal submissions, policy papers, and articles on HIV/AIDS and TB.  If you are interested in doing research and writing articles on public health issues, then you should definitely consider an internship with the PCR department.  This internship is perfect for someone interested in a career in public health, law, or journalism.

An internship with TAC will look fantastic on your resume.  You simply cannot pass up the opportunity to intern with a world-renowned HIV/AIDS advocacy organization in Cape Town – so go ahead and apply!