Join Our Team

Are you interested in working with Huaywasi? We offer local and remote internships, coordinator & managerial positions in Fashion Design, Business Development, Social Media Marketing and more! Our programs accept a wide variety of expertise, from students to experienced professionals. We will work with you to find your perfect fit in our organization! Eager to collaborate but unsure if your skill set matches any of the open positions below?

Email huaywasi@lightandleadership.org with any questions, we'd love to hear from you!!

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First, let's decide if a Huaywasi internship is the right fit for you:

1. Do you speak at least intermediate Spanish? We require different speaking levels based on the placement.

2. Do you have experience in fashion design, business development, digital marketing, social media, or graphic design/photography?

3. Are you passionate about fair wages and fair trade? Are you eager to learn alongside artisans and gain insight into Peruvian culture?

Did you answer YES? If so, keep reading! See our available positions below, often with flexible start dates and time commitments: 

SHORT TERM INTERNSHIPS: Our short term internships are great for anyone looking to gain experience working at a fair trade fashion organization. You will get the opportunity to learn all about Huaywasi's operations and complete a specific project in your area of interest. These internships require a minimum commitment of 8 weeks so you can be sure to see your project from start to finish.

Internship Description: Work directly with the Program Manager and artisans to create new pieces through pattern making and design software. Other projects could include creating a uniform size guide for all apparel or creating a specific "basics" pattern such as a crewneck sweatshirt that could serve Huaywasi for years to come.

Final Product: Varies by project but finished pieces that will be available on our online store.

Requirements: Skill and experience in pattern making and creating sizing guides. Intermediate Spanish strongly preferred.

Internship Description: Develop an incoming inventory system based on artisan orders/maintain the inventory as it's received and create a guide or SOP for future interns. Clean out/organize existing inventory in Shopify. Decide what Shopify apps could be utilized to help our marketing content and user experience.

Final Product: A clean and organized inventory system utilizing both Shopify and spreadsheets in an efficient manner.

Requirements: At minimum, familiarity with Shopify (or similar) platform. Preference given to those who have maintained online Shopify stores before. Beginner Spanish is recommended but not required.

Internship Description: Create blog posts, website graphics, sales promotions, and other forms of relevant marketing content for Huaywasi. Collaborate directly with the Huaywasi team to finalize and publish finished content

Final Product: Leave Huaywasi with visually compelling marketing content and well written blog posts to further promote the brand and philosophy.

Requirements: Must provide examples of written work and photography portfolio if available. Beginner Spanish is recommended but not required.

Internship Description: Work directly with artisans on visually documenting their craftswomanship process. Photography and video preferred.

Final Product: Leave Huaywasi with a visually compelling photo and video library to tell artisan's stories.

Requirements: Must provide photography portfolio. Must speak at least intermediate Spanish.

Internship Description: Work directly with Huaywasi team to produce high quality photographs for social media channels and the brand's website. Edit and organize RAW images from photographers into Google Drive & Shopify.

Final Product: Leave Huaywasi with perfectly edited, high quality photos to present products in our current and upcoming seasons. Edited content will be published live to website and all social media channels.

Requirements: Must provide photography portfolio. Skilled in editing software (Adobe Photoshop/Lightroom preferred). Familiarity with Canva is helpful. Beginner Spanish is recommended but not required.

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LONG TERM INTERNSHIPS: Our long term positions are great for anyone looking to gain quality hands on experience managing a fair trade fashion organization. You will learn all about Huaywasi's operations and actually manage a part of the brand in your area of interest. These positions require a minimum commitment of 4 months so you can be sure to gain lots of new skills, professional experience, and complete projects.

Internship Description: Work directly with the artisans to design the next season's collection. Create the best timeless pieces with Peruvian twists. Manage production of the entire collection from sourcing materials, consulting with artisans, and contributing design ideas.

Final Product: Leave Huaywasi having successfully managed the production of the seasons collection from design, consultation, manufacturing, and shipping. Contributed designs will be produced in the next season's collection.

Requirements: Skill and experience in pattern making and creating sizing guides. Provide a portfolio of previous designs. Must speak intermediate Spanish.

Internship Description: Work with the Huaywasi team to source materials from the garment district, Gamarra, and collaborate on new design ideas. Manage the quality of all finished products, preparing them for shipping to the U.S., as well as maintaining an up to date and organized Shopify inventory.

Final Product: Leave Huaywasi having successfully managed the sourcing and quality control process of the seasons collection. Contributing work on Shopify will be published to website.

Requirements: Experience working with Shopify and Canva (or similar platforms). Knowledge of fabric/material sourcing. Excellent attention to detail and is a critical thinker.

Internship Description: Work with the Huaywasi team to actively seek new wholesale opportunities in the U.S. and Lima. Research potential partnerships with brands, markets, and influencers. Manage communication with wholesalers and retailers in Lima.

Final Product: Leave Huaywasi having successfully managed multiple wholesale opportunities and gained new insights on potential marketing strategies.

Requirements: Knowledge of Fair Trade, specifically in the fashion industry. Strong written and verbal communication skills, in English and Spanish. Can meet deadlines and complete research independently.

Internship Description: Work directly with the Huaywasi team to present the brand in a clear and professional manner across all social media platforms. Manage Huaywasi Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and LinkedIn, raising brand awareness and staying in line with the brand's aesthetic. Utilize Omnisend to coordinate email blasts to subscribers. Think creatively and strategically to further promote the brand and reach a larger audience.

Final Product: Leave Huaywasi having successfully managed multiple social media platforms and gained new marketing/performance insights.

Requirements: Digital marketing experience in Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and LinkedIn. Knowledge of Canva/Adobe editing software. Must speak intermediate Spanish.

*must be based in Chicago/Suburbs*

Internship Description: Work directly with the Huaywasi team in Peru to apply, lead set up/tear down, and sales of fairs/markets in Chicago and its surrounding suburbs. Create a sales guide for Huaywasi fairs/markets volunteer group. Recruite and motivate others to join Huaywasi as volunteers.

Final Product: Leave Huaywasi with an improving sales record, a projection for future sales in fairs/markets, and a sales guide for volunteers.

Requirements: Commitment of 10 hours/week minimum, occasionally more in late November, early December 2020. Knowledge of Fair Trade. Strong people skills and ability to read others; a knack for sales. Can motivate others and enjoys organizing events. Access to the Metra train Rock Island line a minimum; a reliable vehicle a big plus. Must be available on weekends.

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How To Apply

Please send your resume and cover letter to Deborah Azer, huaywasi@lightandleadership.org. 

 

Still not quite sure of your placement? Please communicate with us ASAP
through huaywasi@lightandleadership.org. We want to ensure the volunteer experience is beneficial to you, to the organization, and most of all, to the community we serve! 

 
 

"From this internship I have been able to gain new skills and find self assurance in the skills that I wasn't sure I had mastered. I want to say thank you for allowing me so much independence in my designs and for encouraging me to be creative! It has been such a pleasure to work alongside Guillermina, a type of learning that I know I could not have experienced anywhere else."
- Lily Kinder, Fashion Design Intern