Albert Schweitzer Fellowship (Paid Internship!!)

Are you wondering how you are going to pay to exist while completing your internship this summer? Interested in working with under-served populations in the Southwestern PA region? If so, keep reading! The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship program is FOR YOU!

Don’t let the word ‘fellowship’ confuse you. This fellowship is designed to take place while you are currently enrolled in school, NOT after graduating. This is a one year interdisciplinary program focused on community service and leadership development.

Here are a couple of sample projects to get you thinking: One fellow wanted to increase self esteem in middle school girls in an under-served community, so she created a poetry program that fostered self expression. Another student conducted focus groups and administered surveys to assess environmental health dangers to people in an under-served community.
Here are the basics of the program:

• This is a service project with a minimum of 200 hours through an existing community-based organization in the greater Pittsburgh area or its surrounding communities. (In order to count this for the GSPIA internship, you’ll need to complete 300 hours, but we’re told that is very easy to accomplish within the year long project).
• A supervisor or site mentor, at the host organization and a faculty member at the student’s school will serve as mentors for the program. In addition, the fellow will have an alumni of the Schweitzer fellowship as an additional mentor.
• In addition to the service project, fellows are required to attend a monthly meeting with other fellows and the program administrator. At these meetings, fellows have the opportunity to chat with each other about their projects, and learn about community service and professional development from area experts.
• At the conclusion of the project, fellows submit a written report, including recommendations for sustaining the projects.
• The fellowship will begin in April 2013 and end in April 2014.

What this Really Means:

• You will write a proposal for a project that you would like to design and implement. For your application, you will need to come up with an organization that you would like to work with on the project. The project must serve an under-served population OR an under-served community.
• You will receive a $2,000 ($3,000 for environmental fellows) if chosen as a fellow. This stipend DOES NOT have to be used for project costs.
• If your project requires funding, the Schweitzer fellowship program can help with those costs. (Don’t forget about GSPIA’s Professional Development Funds as well!)

How to Apply:

• Fellows will be selected on the basis of their completed application, their service commitment, and their ability to articulate ideas and goals related to their role in addressing unmet community needs.
• Applications are available in the Career Services office, or here.
• The application includes demographic, project, and professional information, as well as three references and a resume.
• The application is due NO LATER THAN Friday, February 15th, at 5:00 p.m.