Volunteering and Internships
Volunteers
Volunteering at the Memorial
Volunteering at the Memorial Site is an opportunity to learn about or deepen your knowledge of the history of KL Auschwitz. It also offers a chance to see the Museum from the inside and meet interesting people, including representatives from the worlds of politics, culture, and academia.
Additionally, it provides an opportunity to develop skills that will be valuable in future professional careers. Such work demonstrates a person's engagement, creativity, responsibility, independent thinking, and ability to work in a team.
Volunteering as a form of cooperation with the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum and Memorial is highly popular among people of all ages. Volunteers include teenagers, students, and adults.
Volunteering at the Auschwitz Museum is available in two formats:
On-site volunteering:
- Event-based volunteering – assisting during key events at the Memorial, such as commemorations and educational conferences.
- Long-term volunteering – supporting a specific department within the Museum.
Online volunteering:
- Usually conducted remotely from the volunteer’s place of residence.
Candidates
Candidates for the volunteer program must be adults and should possess the following qualities, abilities, and skills, depending on the type of project: an interest in Auschwitz, the Holocaust, and World War II; availability for a specified period; commitment; proficiency in computer and office equipment operation; knowledge of foreign languages; and the ability to work at different hours.
To apply for the volunteer program at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, candidates should send an email to .
Applicants will be asked to specify their preferred volunteering period and the Museum department in which they would like to assist.
Due to the high number of individuals interested in volunteering at the Memorial Site, submission of an application does not guarantee acceptance into the program.
Formalities
Upon acceptance of the application, candidates for remote volunteering will receive a cooperation agreement via email. Those participating in on-site volunteering will sign the agreement at the Museum.
Before starting their volunteer work, volunteers must submit a photocopy of a document confirming accident insurance coverage and proof of completion of an initial occupational health and safety (BHP) training.
Museum’s Commitments
As part of the volunteer cooperation, the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum in Oświęcim commits to:
-) Assigning a supervisor under whose guidance the volunteer will carry out their duties.
-) Organizing the volunteer work process through the designated supervisor.
-) Familiarizing volunteers with work regulations, occupational health and safety rules, and confidentiality policies.
-) Providing appropriate workstations, spaces, tools, equipment, and materials necessary for performing volunteer duties.
-) Ensuring that volunteers receive appropriate work and protective clothing, as well as personal protective equipment and hygiene supplies, in accordance with occupational safety regulations.
-) Issuing a certificate of participation in the volunteer program.
-) Allowing volunteers access to the Museum’s library.
Additional Information
-) The volunteer program is conducted in accordance with the Public Benefit and Volunteer Work Act of April 24, 2003 (Journal of Laws of 2003, No. 96, item 873, as amended).
-) Volunteer services at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum are unpaid.
-) The Museum does not cover transportation, meals, or accommodation costs. However, volunteers can use the hostel located near the Museum entrance.
-) Volunteers receive a certificate issued by the Museum, which includes an evaluation and a summary of the tasks performed.
Once accepted into the program, volunteers have the opportunity to attend free conferences, lectures, workshops, and seminars. Students also have the chance to familiarize themselves with the functions of various parts of the Museum, as well as to take a guided tour of both parts of the former camp—Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau in their chosen language.
Internships
Internships
To apply for a student internship at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, candidates must send an email to wolontariat@auschwitz.org at least three months before the planned start date.
As part of the application process, the student will receive a form in which they must indicate the specific organizational unit of the Museum where they would like to complete their internship.
Due to the high number of applicants interested in completing an internship at the Memorial Site, we are unable to accept all submissions.
The Volunteer and Internship Office, in coordination with the head of the relevant department, will determine whether a student is accepted for the internship and will assign a supervisor responsible for overseeing the student's tasks. Only selected applicants will be contacted.
Formalities
Upon receiving a positive response to their application, the student must submit the following documents to the Museum no later than one month before the start date:
-) A copy of a document confirming accident insurance coverage
-) A nominal referral letter for the internship, including the contact details and phone number of the person responsible for internship coordination at the student’s university
For non-mandatory internships:
-) A copy of a document confirming accident insurance coverage
The heads of individual organizational units may require additional documents, such as a certificate of no criminal record, depending on the position.
Museum’s Commitments
As part of the student internship program, the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum in Oświęcim commits to:
-) Assigning a supervisor under whose guidance the student will complete their internship program.
-) Organizing the internship process under the supervisor’s guidance.
-) Familiarizing students with work regulations, occupational health and safety rules, fire safety procedures, and confidentiality policies.
-) Providing appropriate workspaces, equipment, tools, and materials necessary for fulfilling the internship program’s requirements.
-) Supervising the student’s completion of tasks outlined in the internship program.
-) Allowing the university-assigned internship supervisor to monitor the internship’s progress.
-) Providing the student with work and protective clothing, personal protective equipment, and hygiene supplies, as required by occupational safety regulations.
-) Issuing a certificate confirming completion of the student internship.
Additional Information
-) The internship is unpaid, and the Museum does not cover costs related to transportation, meals, or accommodation.
-) Students will not receive remuneration for their internship period. However, they can stay at the Museum’s hostel, located near the Museum entrance.
-) Upon successful completion of the internship, the Museum issues an official certificate. Additionally, confirmation of the internship can be recorded in an internship logbook or provided in another written form, depending on the university’s requirements.
Students accepted into the program will have the opportunity to participate in FREE conferences, lectures, workshops, and seminars. They will also have the chance to gain insight into the work of various Museum Departments and Sections and take a guided tour of both Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau in their preferred language.
Hostel
Hostel
Located in close proximity to the Auschwitz Museum Visitor Service Center, the hostel offers 97 beds and is primarily intended for volunteers and participants of educational programs organized by the Museum.
Facilities
The hostel includes:
-) Double rooms (2-person)
-) Five-person rooms
-) Five-person suites (2+3 persons)
Additionally, the hostel provides:
-) A large conference hall
-) Two smaller rooms for group work or individual study
-) A kitchenette for guests’ use
-) A utility room equipped with a washing machine, dryer, ironing board, iron, vacuum cleaner, and other household appliances
Guests also have access to an on-site restaurant, which is open to all Museum visitors.
For inquiries and reservations, please contact:
