The six-week internship is organized in collaboration with highly recognized French NGO's active in over 40 countries.

Pioneers in the domain of humanitarian action, French NGO's offer valuable opportunities worldwide in arenas of engagement such as the alleviation of poverty, the education and support of women, the protection of the environment, food autonomy of local populace, the health care and education of children, and equitable trade. In contrast with emergency relief efforts, which are not the program's focus, cooperating NGO's strive for lasting improvement in living conditions sustainable by the local populations themselves.

Mid-way through the first semester, in consultation with the ISHA internship coordinator, students select their internship site from a list of humanitarian projects in over 40 countries.

ISHA internships are organized in large part in collaboration with France Volontaires. This French non-profit organization is subsidized by the French State Department, headed by Bernard Kouchner, founder of Médecins sans Frontières. In over forty years of existence, France Volontaires has supported more than 10,000 humanitarian projects. Concentrating on sustainable humanitarian action, projects include supporting rural initiatives, implementing public health policies, organization of community associations, management of urban projects, creation of micro-enterprises, post-emergency assistance and support of eco-tourism. Other ISHA internship partners supported by the French Ministère des Affaires étrangères and the United Nations Development Program include Agrisud International, Terre des Hommes, and Santé Sud.

Acting as trained observers of humanitarian efforts in the field, ISHA interns compile and produce an on-site case study, calling upon the empathetic perspective of intercultural journalism. The NGO case study allows participants to witness and experience first-hand both the interconnected global context and the complex reality of local concerns.

While in the field, ISHA interns/observers will compile information as regards:

NGO mission statement Implementation strategy Institutional and individual actors Available resources Obstacles and achievements Experience and perception: humanitarian workers Experience and perception: local population Long and short-term mission-related perspectives

During the second semester of study, ISHA students participate in a colloquium for the public presentation of their Internship Report. Experience and insights gained during the internship serve also as the basis for the final Master's thesis or mémoire.