Summer College Internship Program at DOROT

Spend a summer learning about DOROT and serving the elderly in the New York community. As a DOROT intern, you will be exposed to the complex issues of aging and non–profit management, and you will gain experience in all aspects of DOROT’s operations. Among many activities, you may visit with seniors in their homes, escort seniors to cultural events, doctors’ appointments or shopping trips, tutor seniors in computer use, run intergenerational art or theater programs, help administer the Summer Teen Internship Program, facilitate intergenerational discussion groups and assist professional staff in the DOROT office with the planning and execution of programs.

DOROT internships are particularly rewarding learning experiences. We will put you at the forefront of our operations. Once a week, Summer College Interns gather for a weekly lunch for issue based workshops and group reflection. There are opportunities for interns to customize projects to match your interests, meet your professional goals, and/or fulfill requirements for class credits.

After the summer, DOROT Interns are expected to take advantage of DOROT’s College Initiative Grant for Intergenerational Programs (up to $500) to bring DOROT like programs to seniors who live near their college communities, and to receive technical assistance to ensure the success of their projects. This grant enables summer interns to build on the skills and expertise they gained at DOROT, receive further support from DOROT’s accomplished professionals and share what they learned with their campus communities.

DOROT’s Summer College Internship Program is not a paid internship with the exception of a $1,000 stipend for the Summer Teen Internship. Interns commit to eight weeks (up to 10–week internship optional) with a minimum of four days a week schedule depending on your internship placement. There is an option of a 5 day week.) All interns must include Thursdays as one of their days.

The DOROT Summer College Internship Program begins on Wednesday, June 12th and concludes on August 7th.
DOROT will provide a monthly metro card.

INDIVIDUAL INTERNSHIP DESCRIPTIONS

On the Internship application, applicants are asked to rank preference for placement.

Internship Placement:
Community Services Department
Interns visit two seniors weekly in a Friendly Visiting capacity, assist in the Shop & Escort Program by escorting seniors to the grocery or to Dr. appointments. The interns will also assist with office projects such as a survey for seniors (over the phone and in–home), filing projects, updating excel data bases, and assisting with KOL DOROT, our senior choir.

Internship Parameters:
Must be on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Four placements available.

Internship Placement:
Kosher Meals Department and DOROTs NORC, Lincoln House Outreach
Interns work in the Lincoln House Outreach (LHO) residence and or the Kosher Meals Department (KMH). Interns will be paired with a senior for weekly friendly visiting. Intern may be involved in delivering meals to homebound seniors, helping with the weekly Senior Café, (a discussion group for seniors), and may run basic errands for seniors or take them on walks. Interns will assist with office projects such as a survey for seniors (phone & in–home) and filing projects, among others.

Internship Parameters:
Must be on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Two placements available.

Internship Placement:
Summer Teen Internship Program
Assist with the Summer Teen Internship Program. DOROT welcomes as many as 18 high school students a day to participate in a summer volunteering program. The College intern helps to facilitate volunteer opportunities by coordinating daily scheduling for the high school students and helps to plan and organize workshops and intergenerational outings. The College Intern will also learn how to train and supervise the high school students.

Internship Parameters:
This is a five day a week internship.
One placement available.
Due to the demands of this placement, a $1,000 stipend will be awarded after the completion of a successful internship.

Internship Placement:
Volunteer Services Department
The summer intern will visit with a specific senior every week in their home for Friendly Visiting. Intern may also assist with Corporate volunteer events, DOROT’s Cemetery Visits program, DOROT’s Rosh Hashanah and 9/11 Day of Service Program, office projects and conduct phone surveys to seniors. Intern will conduct outreach calls to our seniors for the Hand–in–Hand cultural outings program and go with seniors on outings to museums and other cultural events. Interns may also be matched with seniors for Cook & Dine; buy groceries and visit the home of a senior to cook and eat a meal together or as computer tutors for seniors. Intern may help at DOROT’s Homelessness Prevention Program serving meals. One intern will help to oversee an intergenerational theater and playwriting workshop run by Mind the Gap at New York Theatre Workshop.

Internship Parameters:
Three placements available. This is a minimum of 4 days a week internship.

Internship *Extra Day*
Additional Internship Project
Do you have an interesting area of ‘expertise?’ Music, fashion, the arts?
Prospective interns may submit a request to take on an additional day to intern at DOROT in order to coordinate and run an intergenerational program with seniors and teens.
Interns can apply to do one of the following or we would love for you to submit your own ideas. If accepted, we guide and work with you to develop and facilitate your project.

  Intergenerational Digital Photography Workshop
  Intergenerational Theater Workshop
  University Without Walls Intergenerational Discussion Group. (Lead a small group of teens and seniors in a weekly discussion on current affairs over the phone.)
  Your own intergenerational workshop idea

DOROT is a not–for–profit organization on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, which seeks to enhance the lives of Jewish and other elderly through a dynamic partnership of volunteers, professionals, and elders; and to foster mutually beneficial interaction between the generations.

The DOROT Summer College Internship 2013 is now full. If you have any questions about joining any of our occasional volunteering this summer or year round, please contact Rebecca Zinger at rzinger@dorotusa.org