Communications Intern At Helen Keller International

Leave a Comment / Kenya / By

Background/Organizational Context

Guided by the remarkable legacy of its co-founder, Helen Keller, Helen Keller Intl partners with communities that are striving to overcome longstanding cycles of poverty. By delivering the essential building blocks of good health, sound nutrition, and clear vision, we help millions of people create lasting change in their own lives. Working in 20 countries – across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the United States – and together with a global community of supporters, we ensure every person has the opportunity – as Helen did – to reach their true potential.

Since 2013, Helen Keller’s Kenya country program has been implemented to improve the health and well-being of mothers, infants, and young children in Kenya, specifically focusing on delivering life-saving health and nutrition interventions such as multiple micronutrient supplements to pregnant women, promotion of early and exclusive breastfeeding, vitamin A supplementation, and community-based treatment for acute malnutrition.

Scope of the Position

The Communications Intern will assist the Country team in implementing organizational communications strategies. S/he will work with the team to fulfil organizational goals and initiatives related to programming and communications.

Key Responsibilities

General Responsibilities:

  1. Develop and format knowledge products, including policy briefs, data analysis, case studies, and human-interest stories, in collaboration with program staff.
  2. Draft and edit communication materials to support advocacy efforts and knowledge sharing such as articles, newsletters, and social media content to promote Helen Keller Kenya’s work.
  3. Serve as a Helen Keller brand ambassador, supporting the country team’s brand compliance and coordinating trainings with the global team as needed.

Specific Responsibilities:

  • Partner with the Center for Marketing and Branding to develop materials and support branding for the Kenya office.
  • Gather “people-first” stories of impact, including interviews with community members, to be shared across country and global channels.
  • Partner with the Center for Marketing and Branding to coordinate program photography and video gathering, including collecting written informed consent from participants, and upload assets to Helen Keller’s cloud-based media asset platform.
  • Support social media and digital communication for country-level visibility.
  • Maintain a shared folder for communication materials by ensuring relevant content (photos, videos, and articles) is up-to-date and shared with the global team.
  • Support the Country Director and program team in developing donor-facing communication materials, including fact sheets, donor reports, and presentations.
  • Assist in tracking donor engagement opportunities, calls for proposals, and partnerships that align with Helen Keller Kenya’s strategy.
  • Support donor stewardship by documenting project impact stories and producing content to strengthen relationships with current and prospective funders.

Required Qualifications & Competencies

Skills & Experience

  • Bachelor’s degree in a related field (English, Marketing/Communications, Advertising or Public Relations).
  • Strong writing, editing, and storytelling skills with the ability to adapt messages for diverse audiences (community, donors, policymakers, and media).
  • Demonstrated interest in communications, public relations, business development, or fundraising within the NGO/development sector.
  • Ability to design and present information clearly through reports, presentations, and digital platforms.
  • Proficiency in social media management and basic digital content creation (graphic design, photography, or video editing an added advantage).
  • Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks, meet deadlines, and maintain attention to detail.
  • Collaborative team player with strong interpersonal and networking skills.
  • Self-starter with a proactive attitude, able to work independently and take initiative.
  • Fluency in English and Kiswahili (spoken and written).

Behavioral Competencies

  • Owning Work & Building Trust: Produces honest, well-grounded content and follows through on commitments to program teams, leadership, partners, and external audiences. Takes clear accountability for the quality, accuracy, and brand integrity of communication outputs and addresses gaps directly rather than deflecting.
  • Adapting & Navigating Change: Adjusts plans, messaging, and channels in response to evolving program needs, audience feedback, news cycles, and partner-coordination requirements; brings a flexible, problem-solving orientation to short timelines and shifting priorities.
  • Getting Work Done: Translates communication strategy into executed outputs by sequencing work, meeting deadlines, holding suppliers and contributors to deliverables, and reinforcing brand and quality standards across every asset that leaves the program.
  • Working Together & Growing Others: Builds collaborative relationships across program staff, leadership, partners, media, and global communications counterparts; gives and receives feedback constructively, shares expertise generously, and supports onboarding of new staff and consultants on brand and communication standards.

Working Conditions

Travel

This position requires travel up to 20% of the time, primarily domestic travel within the Philippines to program sites, partner offices, and events. Occasional regional or international travel may be required for communications trainings, organizational events, or content-gathering missions.

Fairness, Belonging and Zero Tolerance to Abuse

As a member of the Helen Keller Family, each employee is expected to:

  • Help to develop and maintain an environment that welcomes and develops a multi-cultural workforce with varied lived experiences and identities.
  • Foster a work environment where everyone feels valued and included.
  • Support employees’ evaluation and promotion processes based on skills and performance.
  • Promote a safe, secure, and respectful environment for all members of the Helen Keller Family, stakeholders in general, and particularly for the communities we serve.
  • Follow Helen Keller Code of Conduct helping to prevent any type of abuse including workplace harassment, sexual abuse and exploitation, and trafficking in persons.
  • Adhere to the Organizational Core Values, which include compassion, courage, integrity, and rigor.

How to apply

How to apply

Interested candidates to send their cover letter and a curriculum vitae as a single document to kenya.recruitment@hki.org Please indicate the position on the subject line of the email. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis; early submissions are encouraged. The deadline for application is 14th September 2026.

NB: HELEN KELLER INTERNATIONAL

• DOES NOT RECRUIT THROUGH A RECRUITMENT AGENCY.

• DOES NOT CHARGE ANY FEES OF ANY KIND TO THE CANDIDATE.

• DOES NOT REQUEST INFORMATION ABOUT CANDIDATES’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

ALL RECRUITMENTS ARE FREE OF CHARGE

In the spirit of our namesake, Helen Keller is dedicated to building an inclusive workforce where diversity in all its forms is fully valued.