Undergraduate Funding
As part of our commitment to supporting and recognizing students' achievements in the field of human rights, the Human Rights Program provides an array of awards, financial support, and fellowship opportunities to undergraduate students. Students are encouraged to apply for one of our two Fraser Fellowship positions that include hands-on experience with a human rights organization. Students are recognized each year during an awards ceremony at the end of the spring semester.
Human Rights Internships and the Fraser Fellowships
The Human Rights Program offers two internship opportunities for undergraduate students at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities who seek field experience in leading human rights organizations to complement their academic studies. The selected students intern at leading human rights organizations for the upcoming summer. The interns are also recipients of the Fraser Fellowships. Named after Donald and Arvonne Fraser, two groundbreaking leaders in the defense of international human rights and women’s rights, the Fellowships offer $3,500 in funding each.
Donald Fraser was a tireless advocate for human rights during four decades serving in public office as a State Senator, member of Congress, and Mayor of Minneapolis. Ambassador Arvonne Fraser was a founder of the Center on Women and Public Policy at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, and was a leading voice on women’s issues in Minnesota, nationally, and abroad. These Fellowships aim to invest in the next generation of human rights leaders.
The intern at The Advocates for Human Rights receives the Don Fraser Fellowship. The Advocates has been at the forefront of the world’s human rights movement for more than 30 years, leading innovative programming that has changed the lives of refugees and immigrants, women, ethnic and religious minorities, children, and other marginalized communities.
The intern at Global Rights for Women receives the Arvonne Fraser Fellowship. Global Rights for Women is a Minneapolis-based NGO seeking to address the root causes of gender-based violence against women and girls. GRW's partnerships with local and international NGOs, government agencies, and the United Nations have advanced laws and practices aimed at eliminating violence against women and girls. (From 2018 to 2019, the Arvonne Fraser Fellow was placed at ECPAT-USA.)
Applications are now open for summer 2025 placements! Applications are due March 30, 2025. Find more information below on these incredible opportunities to gain experience in the field of human rights.
The Advocates for Human Rights has been at the forefront of the world’s human rights movement for 40 years, leading innovative programming that has changed the lives of refugees and immigrants, women, ethnic and religious minorities, children, and other marginalized communities. The intern will contribute to their International Justice Program, which works worldwide to create systems change, strengthen accountability, raise awareness, foster tolerance, and help individuals more fully realize their inherent rights. Interns will have the opportunity to conduct research on international law and country conditions, assist staff with compiling reports to the UN and other regional human rights bodies, and respond to requests for technical assistance and resources from human rights defenders and members of the community. The student chosen for this internship also will receive the Don Fraser Fellowship.
Possible internship activities may include:
- Research international law, including human rights, international standards, best practices, etc.
- Compile country/region specific information on rule of law issues, human rights defenders, civil society activities, legislative developments, and state compliance with international human rights standards.
- Assist staff and volunteers with compiling reports based on human rights monitoring missions.
- Assist with maintaining current information on The Advocates’ web pages, electronic networking sites, and other organizational materials.
- Help to develop educational/promotional materials for use with schools and community groups.
- Assist with planning trainings and preparing materials for volunteers participating in human rights monitoring projects both overseas and in the US.
- Translate documents as necessary.
- Assist staff with responses to requests for technical assistance and resources from human rights defenders and members of the community.
- Assist with all aspects of work at a non-profit, including administrative tasks, event planning, outreach, etc.
- Proficiency in one or more foreign languages, primarily French and Spanish, is an asset.
Location and Commitment
Internship will be either hybrid or fully remote; minimum of 240 hours between May-Sept; arrangements to be worked out with The Advocates staff.
Global Rights for Women (GRW) is a Minnesota-based organization dedicated to promoting women’s human rights internationally through effective legal and systems reform on violence against women and girls (VAWG). Founded in 2014, GRW works to develop systems to combat VAWG by partnering with organizations locally and around the world to enact and enforce laws, create sustainable training initiatives, build local advocacy and public support, and monitor and improve the implementation of law, policy and practice. The student chosen for this internship also will receive the Arvonne Fraser Fellowship.
Possible internship activities may include:
- Research and write briefing papers on country conditions where GRW has active and potential partnerships. Research will focus on political dynamics, conflict situations, international and regional treaty obligations.
- Research and write briefing papers on various forms of violence against women and girls, internationally, nationally and locally.
- Utilize and share research findings with GRW staff as they relate to relevant grant proposals
- Administrative tasks including assignments related to event planning and scheduling, donor outreach and records.
- Work with staff on communications, outreach and social media.
- Other tasks as assigned by Executive Director and GRW staff.
Location and Commitment
The intern will work remotely along with GRW staff throughout the summer. The intern will work a minimum of 240 hours between May-Sept.
Internship Eligibility
Applicants must be University of Minnesota - Twin Cities undergraduate students. Students must be in good standing.
Students graduating in Spring 2025 are NOT eligible to apply.
Internship Qualifications
- Excellent research and writing skills
- Good organizational skills
- Professional demeanor
- Demonstrated multi-cultural competence
- Academic background in related fields of study
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
- Demonstrated interest in human rights, rule of law and humanitarian law
- Fluency in English, competency in other languages preferable
Applications for summer 2025 internships are due March 30, 2025. Please submit all four documents noted below via the application form.
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
- Cover letter addressed to the Human Rights Program
- Resume
- One letter of reference who can speak to the skills required for the position
- Writing sample (no more than 5 pages, excerpts from longer papers are fine)
| Fellowship Received | Year Won | Recipient Name | Degree Program |
|---|---|---|---|
| Don Fraser Fellowship | 2024 | Manushri Ivaturi | Political Science and English |
| Arvonne Fraser Fellowship | 2024 | Isabella Minahan | Spanish Studies and Global Studies |
| Fraser Fellowship | 2023 | Shubhangi Mohan | Global Studies and Genetics, Cell Biology & Development |
| Don Fraser Fellowship | 2022 | Kathleen Zhang | Political Science and Global Studies |
| Arvonne Fraser Fellowship | 2022 | Zeinab Mohamed | Biology |
| Don Fraser Fellowship | 2021 | Mary-Kate Beaudin | Sociology |
| Arvonne Fraser Fellowship | 2021 | Roselin Victor | Global Studies |
| Don Fraser Fellowship | 2019 | Tala Alfoqaha | Mathematics and Global Studies |
| Arvonne Fraser Fellowship | 2019 | Anthony Burton | Political Science, Global Studies, and Communications |
| Don Fraser Fellowship | 2018 | Ryan Atkinson | Political Science |
| Arvonne Fraser Fellowship | 2018 | Anishaa Kamesh | Genetics, Cell Biology & Development |
About Donald and Arvonne Fraser
Donald Fraser served in public office for four decades as a State Senator, member of Congress, and Mayor of Minneapolis. During his time in the United States Congress, he initiated the first comprehensive study of U.S. foreign policy and international human rights, authoring several laws requiring the U.S. Government to give greater attention to human rights related issues. His efforts transformed the State Department’s work on human rights by mandating the creation of an office on human rights and that the Department write annual reports documenting the human rights practices of every county. These reports remain an important tool for human rights students and advocates around the world.
Ambassador Arvonne Fraser was a founder of the Center on Women and Public Policy at the Humphrey School of the University of Minnesota, the nation’s first teaching, research and outreach center devoted to women and public policy. Ambassador Fraser also organized and co-directed the International Women’s Rights Action Watch, a non-governmental organization working to implement women’s rights worldwide. Fraser served as U.S. representative to the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women with the rank of Ambassador from 1993 to 1994, and she was a member of the U.S. delegations to the 1993 World Conference on Human Rights.