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Internship Opportunities

Deadline to Apply: Rolling/Ongoing

Education: Graduate Students and Young Professionals

Types:

Clinical: Psychology & Social Work

Policy: Policy/Political Science

EU/EC Programs: International Relations

Project Management: Education Outreach/Administrative.

Animus Association Foundation is a Bulgarian NGO dedicated to the prevention of domestic violence and human trafficking for sexual exploitation. Animus offers a full range of support services including its Crisis Center and counseling services for victims of trafficking and domestic violence in addition to its prevention efforts through educational outreach and policy & programming initiatives within Bulgaria & Europe. You can read more about our mission HERE.

Animus has in the past successfully hosted Fulbright scholars, NOHA Network on Humanitarian Assistance students and other volunteers. Our organization is well acquainted with the aims and goals of such programmes and initiatives and are willing to offer our support and expertise in this field.

Animus is looking to fill its current internship positions with individuals interested in dedicating their time & skills towards combating trafficking and domestic violence head on in Eastern Europe. In this internship you will be given the opportunity not only to utilize and strengthen the skill sets you already have, but also gain new skills. What you gain from this internship, either academically or professionally is really dependent on you. Those who take the initiative and come with ideas and projects in hand are more likely to benefit from their time here.

Animus is seeking interns in the areas of Psychology, Social Work, Policy/Political Science, Project Management and International/European Relations. If you are interested let us know your skill set & motivation for applying so that we can place you in an appropriate internship opportunity. The application process is ongoing with no specific deadline to apply.

To apply please fill out the Application (MS Word Version or PDF Version) and e-mail it to animus@animusassociation.org.

To read a full “Internship Description” that includes duties & tasks. <<See Attached>>

Learn About Current & Past Intern Experiences

FACTS ABOUT BULGARIA & SOFIA

  • Bulgaria is considered both a country of origin and transit for victims of human trafficking, but is one of the few Eastern European countries to have passed major anti-trafficking policies.
  • Bulgaria became a member of the European Union in 2007.
  • Bulgaria is celebrating its 20th Anniversary as a new Democracy since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1989.
  • Bulgarian is the country’s primary language, which uses the Cyrillic alphabet. It includes Latin & Slavic roots and some words are borrowed from other languages (ex. Merci for Thank You or Ciao for Goodbye). In Sofia, many of the people speak English, German, Russian or French as a second language.
  • The ethnicities of the population include primarily Bulgarians, as well as Turks, Roma and other smaller populations.
  • The primary religion is Christianity (Bulgarian Orthodox Church), but there are also Muslim and Jewish populations.
  • Animus is located in Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital city - which has a population of 1.7 million people.
  • Sofia has all the culture and entertainment as any European City - Check out www.programata.bg

PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE:

  • Housing - It is best to look for housing once you are in Sofia. So first consider staying in a hostel (www.hostelworld.com), hotel or use community platforms like www.couchsurfing.org or www.hospitalityclub.org. You should be able to find a nice apartment for a very affordable rate once you arrive. We would be happy to put you in touch with real estate agents, etc.
  • Safety - Sofia is a safe city, compared to crime statistics of other major cities. Keeping that in mind - it is still a city. So one should always be alert. The majority of crimes committed in the city are pickpockets, muggings and car theft.
  • Travel Visa - If your country is a member of the European Union travel to Bulgaria for under 90 days should be easy. If you plan to stay for longer you should look into getting a student or long-term visa. Contact your local Bulgarian Embassy or Consulate for more information.
  • Transportation - It is quite easy to get around Sofia by walking or using one of the many forms of public transportation. Sofia has a bus, tram & trolley network which is fairly easy to use. It also has a newly expanded Metro line that connects outside neighborhoods to the Centre of the city. It is also quite easy to travel around the country and to the bordering countries of Romania, Serbia, Macedonia, Turkey & Greece via bus or train.
  • Climate: Bulgaria has all 4 seasons and can be as cold as -2°C (28.5°F) on average during the winter or an average of 22°C (71.5°F) during the summer months.
  • Money: Bulgaria is a cash economy, while credit can be used in some major food chains and stores most people only accept and use cash. The Bulgarian currency is the Leva. 1 leva is the equivalent of about .5 Euros. It is tied to the EURO and the exchange rate is fixed at EURO 1 = BGL 1,95583.
  • Food: Bulgarian cuisine is a representative of the cuisine of Southeastern Europe with Mediterranean & Turkish influences and is similar to other Balkan cuisines. The relatively warm climate and diverse geography make for excellent growth conditions for a variety of vegetables, herbs and fruits. Most Bulgarian produce is organic and fresh by season. There is an emphasis on dairy, salads, soups, pastries and pork dishes.