Students encounter social transformation through innovative means.
University students seeking digital storytelling internships in third sector organizations, cooperatives, social enterprises, foundations, and accelerators have diverse opportunities across nonprofit and social impact sectors.
In a bid to make students aware of these job opportunities, the Vivere il Terzo Settore project offers internships to students. Developed by students from the Catholic University of Milan, this project aims to promote awareness and opportunities in the third sector, particularly for students.
The project, associated with a specific website and the Milan university, won in a hackathon and was initially developed three years ago. More interns will join the project in the coming months, with Daniele Bellasio, the vice-director of the associated website, welcoming the new recruits.
The internship content, including articles, videos, and social media posts, will be disseminated on the website's Sustainability section and social channels. The project is enhanced through the support of TechSoup, a social enterprise that is part of a global network committed to supporting non-profits in the adoption and use of technology.
Key internship opportunities and partner entities include:
- Nonprofit organizations focused on climate and social causes like Climate Solutions, which hires Digital Storytelling Managers and offers hybrid roles involving community engagement and elevating community voices through multimedia storytelling. These roles often involve close collaboration with partner organizations in the region and emphasize mission-driven communication.
- Foundations such as the GitLab Foundation recruit communications professionals to craft compelling narratives, engage diverse audiences including philanthropic partners, and produce digital content that amplifies grantees’ and sector voices globally. These roles combine storytelling with strategic communications aimed at advancing social missions.
- Social enterprises and accelerators often post internships involving digital marketing and storytelling to boost brand visibility and support growth. For example, internships at organizations like The Walt Disney Company (in a social and digital marketing context) equip candidates with experience in content distribution and audience engagement across global platforms.
- Media and journalism internships tailored to digital storytelling are available in broadcast and digital newsrooms such as Nexstar, CNN, and Fox Entertainment, where students gain hands-on experience with storytelling through video editing, content production, and social media campaigns. These experiences foster skills highly transferable to third sector storytelling roles.
- Public affairs and communications internships in corporate social responsibility divisions (e.g., Wells Fargo’s Public Affairs Program) that provide exposure to storytelling for brand management, sponsorship, and government relations focused on social impact.
Partner entities commonly involved in these internships include nonprofits and advocacy groups (e.g., Climate Solutions), foundations with a social mission (e.g., GitLab Foundation), media companies and content producers collaborating with nonprofits (e.g., Disney, Nexstar), social enterprises and cooperatives focused on sustainable and equitable goals, and accelerators supporting social startups and impact-driven organizations.
Many recent surveys indicate how relevant environmental and social issues are to Generation Z. With the experimental launch of the Vivere il Terzo Settore project involving about ten students last year, the project is a testament to the growing interest in third sector careers amongst university students. The project is focused on promoting awareness and opportunities in the third sector, particularly for students who are passionate about making a difference in the world.
[1] Climate Solutions: https://climatesolutions.org/ [2] GitLab Foundation: https://gitlab.org/foundation/ [3] The Walt Disney Company: https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/ [4] Nexstar: https://www.nexstar.tv/ [5] Wells Fargo’s Public Affairs Program: https://www.wellsfargo.com/about/corporate-responsibility/community-investment/public-affairs/
- The Vivere il Terzo Settore project, intended to increase awareness about third sector opportunities, will offer diverse internships, including those in education-and-self-development, such as learning about other lifestyle choices through digital storytelling and social media posts.
- As the project expands to include more interns, they will have the chance to engage with various partner entities, like social enterprises and accelerators, which often provide internships focused on entertainment and digital storytelling to boost brand visibility and support growth.
