Internship at KidsRights Foundation 2026

Are you a currently enrolled university or higher education student looking for a structured learning internship in an international team in the heart of Amsterdam? Are you interested in gaining practical experience in the field of children’s rights?

We are looking for an intern to support us with State of Youth International!

About KidsRights Foundation

KidsRights, founded in 2003, is an international children’s rights organization that promotes the well-being of vulnerable children across the world and advocates for the realization of their rights. KidsRights has impactful and influential programs such as the International Children’s Peace Prize, the KidsRights Index and State of Youth, all aimed at amplifying youth voices and empowering young changemakers.

What is State of Youth?

State of Youth is here to empower young people aged 12 to 29 by building a global platform for leadership and changemaking. We give youth the opportunity to engage and act on themes related to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and guided by children’s rights principles. The ultimate goal is to create real change and impact, driven by youth, across the world.

In 2019, KidsRights introduced State of Youth at the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates in Mexico and at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. State of Youth is the first non-political, non-religious digital “youth state” that transcends borders to unite young people worldwide. State of Youth is a global grassroots movement created for youth, by youth (ages 12–29). It provides young people with the tools, resources, and global connections needed to address the world’s most pressing challenges. Since its launch, State of Youth has expanded rapidly. Young people join as local groups – called Chapters – led by youth themselves. These Chapters represent State of Youth in their communities, engaging peers in awareness, advocacy, and action around issues that directly affect them. Between 2019 and 2025, State of Youth has worked with more than 700 Chapters across almost 70 countries, and the movement continues to grow every day.

What will you be doing?

Movement Building

·      Coordinate global online events, campaigns, and initiatives (e.g. chapter meetings, SDG awareness days, thematic webinars).

·      Liaise with Chapter Leaders to strengthen engagement and collaboration across the network.

·      Support the implementation of funded projects and maintain the Movement Platform, ensuring functionality and access to relevant resources.

Approval & Onboarding

·      Review and process applications from prospective Chapters, ensuring alignment with selection criteria.

·      Coordinate onboarding processes and support new Chapter Leaders in establishing local activities, including peer mentoring.

Capacity Building

·      Research, curate, and manage a shared library of training and development resources.

·      Support the organization of workshops and learning sessions, including collecting and analysing participant feedback.

Communications

·      Support internal coordination, including organizing meetings, preparing agendas, and monitoring shared inboxes in line with procedures.

·      Contribute to content development and performance tracking, including newsletters, social media, and analysis of engagement data.

In addition to providing support to State of Youth International, you will also eventually support other programs and tasks in KidsRights.

Who are we looking for?

  • Start date: Mid-May 2026 (flexible by mutual agreement)
  • Duration: 4-6 months (32 hours per week)
  • Currently enrolled as a student at a recognized university or higher education institution, with a background in international human and/or children’s rights law.
  • Knowledge and/or strong interest in children’s rights, youth empowerment and youth leadership is an asset.
  • Ability to work well with others, build relationships, and collaborate effectively in a team environment.
  • Excellent writing and organizational skills, with a demonstrated ability to multitask, plan ahead and keep track of tasks.
  • Strong communication skills, including excellent (spoken and written) English. Fluency in other languages will be considered an asset.
  • Must be legally authorized to work in the Netherlands for the full duration of the internship.
  • Knowledge of Salesforce and other similar databases is an advantage.
  • Previous experience working in the non-profit, welfare or development sector is appreciated but not required.

You will work directly with the State of Youth International team under the guidance of its Program Manager. The position is based in our historic office building in the centre of Amsterdam. There is also the possibility of partial remote work within the Netherlands, in consultation with the team.

What do we offer?

  • An opportunity to excel in a fast paced, international environment.
  • An inspiring and challenging internship where you can get a taste of working life at an international NGO.
  • A great opportunity to apply and enhance your skills at an established and independent organization doing impactful work in the field of children’s rights.
  • 25 vacation days per year for 40 hours/week (pro rata).
  • This is a paid internship with a monthly stipend of €300, in accordance with applicable Dutch internship regulations.
  • Reimbursement of travel expenses to the KidsRights office.

If you are interested in this exciting opportunity, please email the Program Manager, Marcos de Barros, at jobs@kidsrights.org, along with your CV and motivation letter (in a single PDF file). Only the completed applications sent to this email id will be reviewed.

The deadline for applications is until 15th May 2026, 23:59 CEST.

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