Employment and Internships

The National Consumers League seeks a motivated intern who wants to work with a nonprofit advocacy group. The League is a national membership organization that protects and promotes social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad on issues including telemarketing and Internet fraud, food and drug safety, and fair labor standards.

The intern will assist NCL staff with ongoing projects and research related to the Child Labor Coalition (CLC), which serves as a national network for the exchange of information about child labor; provides a forum and a unified voice on protecting working minors and ending child labor exploitation; and develops informational and educational outreach to the public and private sectors to combat child labor abuses and promote progressive initiatives and legislation.

The CLC has both a U.S. and global focus.  As North American Coordinator of Global March Against Child Labor (GM), the CLC works to promote GM’s international agenda and programs, including ongoing activities associated with the Children’s World Congress on Child Labor.  The CLC’s domestic agenda includes several related initiatives to strengthening protections for working youth, with specific focus on children working as migrant and seasonal farmworkers, child trafficking for sex work and forced labor, and children in other worst forms of child labor.

This internship will provide an opportunity to:

• Gain knowledge about child labor issues, both international and domestic;
• Become familiar with various non-governmental groups and relevant government agencies, and their role in addressing child labor issues;
• Understand coordination and management of a national coalition; and
• Be involved in international campaigns on child labor and basic education for all children.

In addition, a National Consumers League child labor policy internship provides the following areas of experience:

• Since the League performs research in complex issue areas, interns deal directly with federal agencies and Congressional staffs in addition to attending Senate and House committee hearings, national conferences and public interest coalition meetings.
• Because the League's staff is small, interns are an integral part, and are given responsibilities outside of their research duties, including:  keeping project files up-to-date and providing limited office support (occasional data input, mailing, and filing).
• The League requires from its staff and its interns a high level of oral and written communication skills. Interns are frequently called upon to write brief reports for NCL staff to provide background information on various issues.

Occasionally, the League is able to offer a stipend when grant funding allows. Please inquire. Many interns work part time at another job while completing their NCL internship. We ask that interns make a minimum time commitment of eight weeks, spending at least 20 hours per week working at the League. Of course, we welcome longer time commitments. Work hours per week are flexible for longer-term assignments. Our goal is to tailor your internship to suit your specific needs. The League is happy to consider the particular interests of applicants and will develop specific projects, complete paperwork, etc., as needed for class credit.

Please submit cover letter, résumé, and writing sample to Child Labor Policy Intern, NCL, 1701 K Street, N.W., Suite 1200, Washington, DC 20006, fax: 202-835-0747, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.