Internship Program

Serve children in the developing world in our college internship program!

You can spend a summer serving in our dynamic international childcare ministry through our college internship program.  Join with other college students in a wonderful opportunity of a lifetime!

Internship Program Frequently Asked Questions

How does the internship program work?

Interns contribute their services without pay in pursuit of academic credit through an approved university curriculum. The necessary academic requirements are arranged, in writing, through the appropriate Orphan’s Heart staff member through consultation with the intern’s academic advisor.

Who can apply to the internship program?

Eligible applicants are undergraduate students with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, who have completed their freshman year through graduation from college.  Students must be legally eligible for employment in the United States.

There are ten intern positions available every year. Interns serving in Central America are not required to be proficient in Spanish, but it is strongly recommended that basic Spanish language skills are acquired prior to the start of the program.

Where do interns live?

Interns in Central America will live on site at the orphanage or malnutrition center, allowing full immersion into the community. Interns in Miami will be responsible for finding their own housing.

How long does an internship program last?

Internships are four to five weeks in length and begin in June or July.

What are the costs of the intern program?

Interns raise their own support. The costs for interns serving in Central America are approximately $2,600 plus airfare (approximately $700). These costs cover housing, meals, in-country transportation, and bottled water. An intern should budget around $3,500 for the program in Central America.

Interns serving in Miami must cover the cost of housing and other living expenses. In addition, they must cover the cost of their one-week mission trip to Central American, which is approximately $1,600 inclusive of airfare. This will cover housing, meals, in-country transportation, and bottled water for the duration of the one-week trip.

Note: Airfare costs can fluctuate. The exact costs will not be known until time of booking of tickets.

CLICK HERE to download the document Ten Steps to Raising Support for Your Internship Program.

Where are the internship programs located and what kinds of things do they do?

Interns serve in San Juan, Guatemala or stateside at our international headquarters in Miami, Florida.

Interns serving in Central America will work at an orphanage or malnutrition center. They will minister to the children and workers through daily interaction, Bible lessons, and other projects. They will also assist short-term mission teams that come in during the five week internship period. Overall, they will focus on building relationships with the children and showing them the love of Jesus.

Interns at our international headquarters in Miami will focus on further developing our international childcare program, where they will have the opportunity to learn organizational leadership and management through hands-on experience and implementation of creative programs. Some projects may include assisting the Mission Coordinator in preparing for trips by planning itineraries and logistics.

They will also help prepare for volunteer mission trips by compiling necessary mailings prior to trip orientations, handling donations, and entering participant information into the database. Miami based interns will have the opportunity to travel to Central America for a one-week mission trip during their internship.

How does someone apply for the internship program?

All individuals interested in participating in the Orphan’s Heart internship program must complete the following:

1. Fill out and send in the Internship Application form. CLICK HERE to download the internship application form.
2. Fill out and send in the Employment Application form. CLICK HERE to download the employment application form.
3. Have an interview with the staff member designated as the Field Supervisor.
4. Provide a minimum of three references. Email these to Howie Hooper at howard.hooper@fbchomes.org along with your internship application form.
5. Complete a drug and TB/Tyne skin test (or chest x-ray), both of which must have a negative result. (The applicant must cover the cost of these tests.)
6. Provide proof of all necessary insurance coverage.
7. Sign a release authorizing Orphan’s Heart to conduct all necessary background checks.

Preference is given to candidates who share the organization’s Christian worldview and mission.

What is the deadline for applications?

February 1 is the deadline for submitting the employment AND internship applications.

What is the timeline for the application process?

February 1 — Deadline to submit employment and internship applications

February 8 — Interviews arranged

February 22 — Intern selection and confirmation

When are payments due for the intern program?

A $250 non-refundable deposit is due upon acceptance into the internship program. This deposit is applied to the total cost of the internship program.

April 22 — Half of balance due for June interns

May 3 — Half of balance due for July interns

May 21 — Balance due in full for June interns

June 7 — Balance due in full for July interns

What can I expect once I am selected for an internship position?

Once selected for the internship, Orphan’s Heart will communicate all details and expectations. There will be a one day orientation in Miami for all of the interns prior to departure.

For interns serving in Central America, there will be staff onsite to help you get settled and integrated into the community. There will also be a half-day debriefing session in Miami at the conclusion of internship program.

How do I get more information?

For more information on the internship program contact Howie Hooper at howard.hooper@fbchomes.org or call the Orphan’s Heart international headquarters at (305) 271-4121.