VOLUNTEER

Student Volunteer Opportunity

We are seeking high school students, university students, and recent graduates interested in international relations to volunteer with The Sage Institute for Foreign Affairs, a Richmond-based nonprofit dedicated to enhancing access to global affairs knowledge. Our work involves making expert insights accessible to diplomats, journalists, and other professionals as well as fostering communities of foreign affairs experts.

Volunteers contribute to a variety of projects:

• Bilateral Maps Project: Gather and map data on global bilateral relations. Most of our volunteers work on this team project.

• Think Tank Database Project: Build a comprehensive database of global think tank experts to aid diplomats, journalists, and policymakers.

• Global Stories Project: Help curate content that highlights the geopolitical underpinnings of foreign policy.

Our volunteer roles are virtual, offering significant flexibility. Volunteers set their own hours, committing to anywhere from one to ten hours per week, with a minimum commitment of 40 hours over at least three months. These hours may be recognized as volunteer contributions at participating schools.

Join us to help bring clarity to complex global issues and gain valuable experience in the field of international relations. Your efforts will directly support the work of diplomats, journalists, and global affairs professionals around the world.

requires native or fluent Persian or Arabic (or both)

The Gulf/2000 Project (G2K), hosted by The Sage Institute for Foreign Affairs, is seeking a fluent Persian and/or Arabic speaker to help curate high-quality news content from regional media outlets covering the Gulf states, Iran, and Iraq.

We may hire one candidate with fluency in both languages or two separate candidates - one for each language - depending upon the strength of the applications we receive!

Responsibilities:

• Monitor major Persian and/or Arabic-language news outlets

• Select articles that meet G2K’s editorial threshold and prepare them for inclusion in our news digest (training provided)

• Flag any unusual or notable shifts in media tone or coverage trends

• This position involves minimal translation; the primary focus is on curation.

Qualifications:

• Professional working proficiency in Persian or Arabic, with the ability to skim articles efficiently and understand informal conversation on platforms like X (formerly Twitter)

• Familiarity with major regional newspapers and the political landscape of the region

• Ability to assess editorial slant, source credibility, and political nuance with objectivity

• Background in Middle East/Gulf studies, political science, journalism, or a related field preferred

This is a part-time, remote role requiring a few hours per week. It is designed for early-career candidates looking to gain experience in media monitoring and regional analysis. Compensation is hourly and aligned with typical rates for entry-level research support.