The Sonia Kinkhabwala Storytelling Internship 2026

The Sonia Kinkhabwala Storytelling Internship

The Sonia Kinkhabwala Storytelling Internship was created in partnership with Sonia’s family to honor her memory by providing internship opportunities at StoryCorps—mirroring the transformative experience she had with us. 

Sonia began her journey at StoryCorps in 2021 as a Learning & Engagement intern. Following her internship, she joined the Mobile team as a Participant Relations Associate and was later promoted to Facilitator. Her deep empathy and passion for people shone through every conversation she had—so much so that participants often wished she could be there in person. In March 2022, she joined the Mobile Tour as a Facilitator, recording stories across Tulsa, OK; Springfield, MO; Missoula, MT; and Moses Lake, WA.

READ MORE: Announcing the Establishment of the Sonia Kinkhabwala Storytelling Internship

Internship Overview

• Start Date: September 21, 2026
• End Date: December 14, 2026
• Schedule: Full-Time: 30 hours/week or Part time: up to 24 hours
• Pay: $17 per hour

Department Matching for the Sonia Kinkhabwala Internship

As part of the Sonia Kinkhabwala Storytelling Internship, selected interns will be matched with a StoryCorps department based on their interests and the department’s capacity to host an intern during the summer. In the application, you’ll be asked to indicate your top three department preferences. To help guide your decision, we encourage you to explore our StoryCorps Department One-Pagers to learn more about each team and their work.

While each intern’s day-to-day experience will vary depending on the department placement, all interns will engage in hands-on work that honors Sonia’s legacy—centering storytelling, public history, and connection. Interns will also receive mentorship, participate in professional development opportunities, and leave the program with tangible experience and portfolio-worthy projects that reflect their time at StoryCorps.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Be a current undergraduate student or recent graduate
• Be pursuing or planning to pursue a career in storytelling, journalism, humanities, or a related field

Application Process

To apply, students must complete an online application form and submit a personal essay.

Essay Requirements (Minimum 500 words):

Complete an essay to answer the following: "How does a storytelling internship at StoryCorps align with your career goals, and what unique experiences or skill sets will you bring to this position?"

Additional Instructions:

• Please copy and paste your essay into the "Cover Letter" Box.

 

General Conditions

You don't need to make any purchase or payment to apply for the internship. To be considered, applicants must fulfill the internship's eligibility criteria and submit a complete application by the specified deadline. We reserve the right to disqualify any applicant or application that is inaccurate, incomplete, suspected to be generated by automated means or scripts, or results from plagiarism.

IN-OFFICE WORK:

Working at the StoryCorps office is optional except in certain circumstances, such as in-person training, if your position requires some in-office presence, or if your manager needs an in-person individual or team meeting. For those who prefer to work in the office, that option remains.