The Global Peace Initiative of Women (GPIW) was founded by a group of women religious and spiritual leaders to provide a global platform through which women and men, working in partnership, can foster the spiritual values of global unity, peacebuilding and the development of all the peoples of the world.  GPIW is an international  network of women and men who come together to tap our collective spiritual wisdom to stimulate reconciliation and healing in areas of conflict and post-conflict, and to deepen understanding of oneness, compassion and the principles of ahimsa (non-harm) as central tenets of life.  We believe that a shift in consciousness is needed, a change in heart and mind, if we are as a global community to meet the challenges of climate change, environmental degradation, poverty and hunger, violence and conflict.  Central to our work is the belief that the feminine qualities of wholeness, inclusion, and integration have a vital role to play in facilitating this shift and bringing greater balance to our world.  Thus we make great effort to draw upon the resources of women spiritual leaders as we seek to empower these vital qualities.

Our work aims to foster respect for all peoples on Earth and for the Earth's natural environment. We highlight humanity's shared values, even as we profoundly appreciate the diversity of human culture and belief. We realize the importance of transmitting such values to the next generation. Thus, in our sacred work, we place special emphasis on tapping inter-spiritual wisdom and developing leadership in young adults around the world, listening to the perspectives of all as we seek together to create a more caring and compassionate world community.

Since our inception we have worked with the United Nations, global NGO's, local stakeholders, and likeminded individuals to create a bottom up approach to social change through dialogue initiatives. We utilize existing infrastructures to fully maximize the impact that GPIW's initiatives and multi-dimensional programs have. By incorporating and strengthening existing systems of community dialogue that take into account the multitude of cultural nuances we are better able to create an inclusive venue that can bring about real change.

Because our network and programs are inter-faith, inter-culture and international in nature the intern will have an opportunity to contribute to programs that have global impact.  She/he will also get to interact with an array of communities and be exposed to critical issues facing communities in conflict and post-conflict regions.   

Our staff carries out a number of duties from strategic program development to organizing logistics for an international dialogue. We work hard to meaningfully engage our interns in projects and in all facets of a non-profit operation.  The intern will have an opportunity to work on an array of GPIW related tasks.  This includes fundraising, research and writing for program concepts, and network correspondence.  She/he will be responsible for various administrative duties to help support the staff and office function, such as maintaining databases, formulating electronic mailings & announcements, or media monitoring).    She/he will also be included in weekly staff meetings as an integral member of the GPIW team. 

During the summer of 2009 there will be follow-up work related to the Buddhist-Hindu Summit that we will be convening in Cambodia in March of 2009, and a young leaders gathering for Afghani youth in Kabul held in partnership with the United States Institute of Peace, which will have taken place in May of 2009. 

We are looking for interns with strong writing and research skills.  We also seek someone interested in the areas of peacebuilding, reconciliation, interfaith dialogue and cross-cultural understanding. A second language is welcome, but not at all a requirement.