Communications Intern

Helen Keller is a global organization dedicated to eliminating preventable vision loss, malnutrition, and diseases of poverty. Co-founded by Helen Keller, the organization has over 100 years of experience working in 19 countries across Africa, Asia, and the United States, guided by a fierce optimism to remove barriers to human potential.

The Communications Intern will play a crucial role in assisting the Helen Keller Kenya country team with the implementation of its communication strategies. This involves collaborating with the team to achieve organizational objectives and initiatives related to both programming and communications. The intern will be instrumental in developing and formatting various knowledge products such as policy briefs, data analyses, case studies, and human-interest stories, working closely with program staff. Additionally, they will draft and edit communication materials, including articles, newsletters, and social media content, to support advocacy efforts and promote Helen Keller Kenya's work and knowledge sharing. The intern will also act as a brand ambassador, ensuring brand compliance and coordinating necessary trainings with the global team.

1. Collaborate with program staff to develop and format knowledge products like policy briefs, data analysis, case studies, and human-interest stories.
2. Draft and edit communication materials such as articles, newsletters, and social media content to support advocacy and promote Helen Keller Kenya's work.
3. Serve as a Helen Keller brand ambassador, ensuring brand compliance for the country team and coordinating trainings with the global team.
4. Partner with the Center for Marketing and Branding to develop materials and support branding for the Kenya office.
5. Gather “people-first” impact stories, including interviews with community members, for sharing across country and global channels.
6. Coordinate program photography and video gathering with the Center for Marketing and Branding, including obtaining written informed consent and uploading assets to the media platform.
7. Support social media and digital communication efforts for country-level visibility.
8. Maintain an up-to-date shared folder for communication materials, ensuring relevant content (photos, videos, articles) is shared with the global team.
9. Assist the Country Director and program team in developing donor-facing communication materials, including fact sheets, donor reports, and presentations.
10. Help track donor engagement opportunities, calls for proposals, and partnerships aligned with Helen Keller Kenya’s strategy.
11. Support donor stewardship by documenting project impact stories and producing content to strengthen relationships with current and prospective funders.

1. Bachelor’s degree in English, Marketing/Communications, Advertising, or Public Relations.
2. Strong writing, editing, and storytelling skills, with the ability to tailor messages for diverse audiences (community, donors, policymakers, media).
3. Demonstrated interest in communications, public relations, business development, or fundraising within the NGO/development sector.
4. Ability to design and present information clearly through reports, presentations, and digital platforms.
5. Proficiency in social media management; basic digital content creation skills (graphic design, photography, or video editing) are an advantage.
6. Strong organizational skills, capable of managing multiple tasks, meeting deadlines, and maintaining attention to detail.
7. Collaborative team player with strong interpersonal and networking skills.
8. Self-starter with a proactive attitude, able to work independently and take initiative.
9. Fluency in both English and Kiswahili (spoken and written).
10. Produces honest, well-grounded content and follows through on commitments, taking accountability for communication outputs.
11. Adapts plans, messaging, and channels in response to evolving program needs, audience feedback, and shifting priorities.
12. Translates communication strategy into executed outputs by sequencing work, meeting deadlines, and reinforcing brand standards.
13. Builds collaborative relationships across program staff, leadership, partners, and media, sharing expertise and supporting new staff.