Education Internships in Fiji

It started with a Google search. I tried to look for ways to travel despite the pandemic. I am bored to death at home. I searched available internships on Google, and tadah the Institute for Global Studies came up. I was very hesitant at first, but the video call with Dr. Adams made me trust the organization. He assured me everything will be safe and sound. Fast forward, 1 week after my internship in Hawaii. I so missed the people there, the people I bonded the most, the children whom I taught English, and the IGS mentors I gained along the way. Glad that I did that Google search!

As an Education Major, I know that the childhood phase and early youth phase are crucial stages in one's life. That's the precise reason why I chose this internship. Here, I was given the chance to work with children abandoned by parents and committed some juvenile crimes. We created teaching lessons for them and spearheaded class discussions. What melted my heart is that they are really actively participating and very much enthusiastic as they listen. I wish I could extend my trip, but I had to go home because of personal matters. I'll be back I promise!

I became a youth mentor in Bangkok and all I can say is Thailand is really beautiful. More than the postcards and the YouTube videos that I watch, it is intensely more beautiful in person. We toured Bangkok during weekend trips - me and my co-interns. They are nice people and fun to be with at the same time. Among all the places we visited, mI can't forget The Grand Palace and the floating market. There are still so many tourists!

Children and women are being exposed to so many risks, like emotional, psychological, sexual, and physical abuses. While society are doing its best to address these issues, there are still a handful of cases left unheard and unresolved. In my internship, I was tasked to answer hotline calls from abused women and children, interact in their therapy sessions, and even organize parties for the children in the shelter. These kids are so adorable and I could not bear the fact that some people are finding it easy to resent them. At the outset, before we started our internships, we are trained by licensed guidance counselors and psychologists and told us what to and not to do. I learned a lot.

Indeed, domestic violence poses serious threats to women and their children. I have witnessed it first hand in my own home, and I regret every second of it. When I was presented with the chance to work with women and children in their care shelters, I was ecstatic. Even told it to my mom and she was very supportive. Internships like these are rare, and being chosen as an intern here is an honor for me. Happy to do it with IGS! :)

As a policy student, I really am very interested with this internship. When my classmate told me her experience with IGS, I did not hesitate and applied. Good thing, IGS's courses are available the whole year, so I was able to find an internship suitable to my needs and preferences. I got to experience 3 weeks of fulfilling and rewarding internship, and actually make a difference on others' lives.

Being a teaching assistant in the Netherlands is a dream come true for me. In my work, I was assigned to gather and distribute school supplies, helping students with their lessons, and keeping the classroom organized. Having a practical experience inside the classroom - seeing how children behave, knowing what motivates kids - is good exposure for me, as I wanted to be a licensed teacher in two years' time. :)

In my internship, we are deployed in a small community school in Thailand. The kids are really adorable and the teaching staff are so kind! Aa a teaching assistant, I help the classroom teacher in preparing her materials, and having one-on-one sessions with kids that are having troubles with lessons. Dr. Rahim, the school principal, even gave me a letter of recommendation, that I can present to my future employers.

There are dozens of different occupations that involve dealing with kids, but teaching them in an educational setting is my favorite. I'm happy that my mom suggested me this internship and messaged Dr. Adams about the possibility of taking an internship despite COVID. Luckily, they are still open for internships. Everything is wonderful. And IGS never failed to remind us of safety precautions. Thanks, IGS!

Kudos to IGS for a great summer! We were assigned to a local dive resort in beqa islands, assisted clients on dive trips and work on some graphics and emails to promote tours. the fire walkers are so cool!!!

We taught adorable children and lived in a Fijian village. As a native English speaker, it was easy for me to teach them basic English words. But the most challenging for me was making some kids calm down after they had tantrums. It was still a great experience. The school treated us as own employees, own teachers. Seems a like a new life for me

Fiji’s beaches are the real deal! For my marine research internship, we worked under a world-renowned reef ecologist and did researches on MPA’s (marine protected areas). We were given trainings before our actual work so everything was smooth. Every detail was well thought off. Im glad I put my savings into this memorable experience.

I love that we maintain a flexible work schedule and are given the opportunities to take on job responsibilities outside of our job description. My cooking skills are put to good use when we cooked for the children and facilitated a “tutoring and feeding program” for them. I am glad that my years of cooking experience did not fail me and managed to help me in these times. IGS stayed true to its brand that “Meaningful travel starts here”!

The educational facility to which we were assigned to, treated us like their own employed teachers. They asked us about our opinions and original ideas on how to best help the children. It was particularly helpful for me as a future educator, because my critical thinking skills are tested. I also discovered the art of communicating with people of different cultures, since my fellow interns are from different continents and from all walks of life.

What I enjoyed the most during my internship was when I helped plan the children’s field trip in the home of their national hero. We supervised the children on the excursions and made sure that they learn about the hero’s brave acts and heroic life. In the process, I also learned how to be more patient with kids and the importance of “buddy system” for kids not to be lost. It was very challenging but I really really enjoyed spending time with these cute kids.

During my internship with IGS, I was assigned to create reading programs and scripts that are tailored to the needs of the children. My grandmom used to tell me a short story about three ducks, and I used that as main characters in my scripts. The kids loved it! It feels like home away from home. I cannot wait to tell my other co-teachers about this program. I am sure they’ll love it as much as I did.

As a Family Life and Child Development Major, this internship made us involved in traditional day-care settings, educating and taking care of cute children ages three to six. We facilitate all aspects of the students’ day and act as their second moms. I was attached to one of the students, named Katy, and she was even crying when we have to leave. After the IGS internship, Katy’s mom and I became friends on social media and Katy and I usually do videochats once a week. What a charming kid!

On my first day in Sydney I was wandering around what was soon to become my neighborhood. After a few days, my roommates and I talked about the range of architecture and culture the city seemed to capture. The definition of a melting pot: home to a large Asian population, European, and some Americans. The food, the buildings, the languages are all a mix. What really struck me in my time there was the plight of the Aboriginal people. The drastic loss of these people and their culture is what has inspired me to learn some of the real history of the area. In a recent trip to the Blue Mountains we spoke to an Aboriginal briefly and observed traditional Dreamtime dances and rituals. There are so many things to appreciate about the land, and that goes hand in hand with appreciating the culture and survival of the Aboriginal peoples. At Grotto Point, I viewed cave art made 40,000 years ago. The engravings are not colorful and loud artwork, but rather very simple marks that almost felt like evidence. They are outlined symbols of fish, water, and land. I am so lucky I stumbled on to this native history during my short time here.

I chose Intern Down Under because it was the perfect “next step” before solo travel. With Intern Down Under, I chose how to spend my free time without relying on supervisors to do that for me. Before our internships started, we had a five-day orientation period. My favorite part of the orientation in Auckland was going to Piha Beach. For my Auckland internship, I worked at Talented Tots–an early learning childcare center. What I enjoyed most about Auckland in general was the location of our apartment. We were right in the central business district and less than a 5-minute walk from all the best shops and restaurants. What I like the most about Sydney is the food! Intern Down Under helped prepare me for my future. I hadn’t felt that amount of freedom, and I loved it! I am really preparing to take care of myself. I planned my own weekend trips and excursions which taught me how to handle unexpected situations and problems as they arise. I also learned to live with other people from different backgrounds and how to do so while causing as little conflict as possible.