Environmental Studies Internships in Portugal

1. Brief description of the host company/ organisation and supervisor(s) ERITAGE Studio Gallery is a vibrant contemporary art space in Lisbon that champions artistic plurality and uses art as a tool for human development and corporate engagement. It is a dynamic hub where international exhibitions foster intercultural dialogue. The gallery is led by its Founder and Creative Director, Joao Marcus Cavalcanti—a former finance professional from Rio de Janeiro who transitioned to gallerist in Portugal. He has built a remarkable cultural bridge between Brazil, Portugal, and Africa through artist residencies and shared productions. Committed to social dialogue and sustainability, Cavalcanti steers ERITAGE as a space where contemporary art intersects with social consciousness, making it an incredibly inspiring environment to learn from. 2. Your job duties, contributions and accomplishments My role as a Public Relations Intern was varied. My main responsibility was social media content creation and curation. I created and scheduled engaging visual content for Instagram including photography, reels and behind-the-scenes stories to promote current exhibitions and artists, greatly increasing the gallery's online engagement. I also carried out extensive research and reporting on galleries, visiting contemporary art spaces across Lisbon, looking at curatorial strategies and producing detailed reports that fed into our strategic programming. I provided direct support during the installation and de-installation of exhibitions, including handling artworks, setting lighting and display materials, and the safe packing and storage of works. These contributions have given me a holistic view of gallery operations from the public facing promotion to the physical logistics that take place behind the scenes. 3. Difficulties encountered during the internship (if any) The internship was not without its challenges. Professionally, I was initially daunted by the physicality of the role – in Hong Kong, gallery assistants rarely engage in manual construction, but here I was drilling into gallery walls to hang installations, meaning I had to learn proper techniques from scratch. Culturally, the language barrier was sometimes tough, as many locals do not speak fluent English outside of the tourism sector. I had to use hand gestures and basic Portuguese phrases. The city’s notorious topography, built on seven steep hills, was a real workout when commuting. This was personally my first experience living in an 8 bedroom flat with 7 other flat mates which really tested my patience and communication skills on a daily basis as well as bouts of homesickness over the holidays. 4. Knowledge/ skills/ benefits acquired from the internship I have learned a great deal professionally. I deepened my understanding of the artists' backgrounds, creative processes, and thematic concerns, which greatly enriched my appreciation for Portuguese art history and its cultural context. Translating these insights into words, I had the rewarding opportunity to write articles for the gallery's official Substack account—crafting engaging narratives that bridged the artists' visions with our audience, and sharpening my ability to communicate complex artistic ideas with clarity and warmth. On the practical side, I also gained hands-on technical skills in the safe installation and de-installation of artworks, from precise measuring and levelling to correct wrapping, safe transport, and meticulous inventory documentation—skills I never imagined I would learn but now value immensely. Most notably, I developed invaluable interpersonal and adaptability skills, learning to think quickly on my feet when my supervisor assigned last-minute work, and consistently delivering quality output under pressure without losing my composure. 5. Insights into the culture and people of the destination What impressed me most about Lisbon was not just its postcard beauty but its emotional depth, a kind of poetic melancholy that the Portuguese call saudade. This bittersweet longing is in the air all over the city, most distinctly in the plaintive guitar of Fado music drifting from dimly lit taverns, but it does not weigh down the culture. Instead it coexists with an extraordinary warmth and a deep sense of community. I loved the neighborhood life, like in Alfama, where old ladies gossip across clothes-lined balconies, and in the Santos Populares festivities, whole streets become open-air banquets, with neighbors grilling sardines together. The locals taught me desenrascanço — the uniquely Portuguese ability to improvise with charm and resourcefulness. They’re not on the clock, but on the clock of the golden descent of the sun over the Tagus River, valuing human connection over relentless efficiency. Whether it’s a long coffee in a quiet pastelaria or an informal greeting from shopkeepers, Lisboetas are quietly resilient and welcoming, making me feel less like a foreigner and more like a temporary piece of their lively, unhurried story.

I had the opportunity to participate in a study abroad with Arizona State University and Absolute Internship. We spent our time in Portugal exploring different parts of the country and learning about it's deep history and global impact. It was an experience I would love to live again and has inspired a desire to explore more parts of the world!

My experience abroad was something I will always be grateful for. The internship gave me valuable professional experience and allowed me to learn what it is like to work in a different country and culture. I was able to gain hands-on experience in both warehouse and office environments, which helped me better understand logistics and supply chain operations. One of my favorite parts of the program was the weekend trips around Portugal. Getting to explore different cities and places with the other students made the experience even more memorable. The people I met through the program were one of the biggest highlights, and many of them have become lifelong friends. Overall, this experience pushed me outside of my comfort zone, helped me become more independent, and gave me memories and relationships that I will carry with me long after the internship ended. I would highly recommend this program to anyone looking for a mix of professional growth, travel, and an opportunity to meet great people.

This past summer I had the ultimate privilege of going abroad for a Marketing and Business Development Intern in Lisbon, Portugal. To say I had the one of the best summers of my life is an understatement, working in a city as beautiful and vibrant as Portugal was a such a rewarding experience both professionally and personally.

I signed up for an internship in a non-profit industry. Absolute Internship helped me arrange an interview with the company. They also gave us a lot of information and reminders before going to Lisbon. During the internship, Absolute Internship arranged nice accommodation and fun weekend activities for us. For example, we lived in single rooms with AC and the furniture in the room is clean and cozy. The program staff are friendly and supportive. They answered our questions throughout the program and arranged activities well. For example, we had a boat trip during Lagos trip and had meals in nice restaurants.

My experience in Lisbon was deeply meaningful because of the cultural immersion, the diversity of engagement, and the chance to strengthen my Portuguese language skills. Working alongside people from different backgrounds showed me how powerful unity and service can be. We were all part of something bigger, doing meaningful work for a kinder world built on compassion, dignity, and love.

My internship experience in Lisbon was truly meaningful and something I’m deeply grateful for. Being welcomed into a new culture, learning through real community engagement, and growing both personally and professionally made this experience unforgettable. I felt supported, challenged, and inspired every day. The warmth of the people, the cultural connections, and the chance to contribute in a nonprofit setting all had a powerful impact on me. This experience helped me grow in confidence, independence, and purpose, and I’m thankful for every moment.

Trip was great, would definitely recommend other people to travel to Rotterdam. Both our country coordinators were great. They were responsive and showed us around the city. I liked our housing situation too, as it was in a great part of the city.

I had such an amazing time doing an internship in Rotterdam for three weeks this summer! Going abroad was an amazing experience and getting to experience it with the help of two amazing guides from WeFind group made it so special!

My time in rotterdam was truly amazing. I got to explore so many different cities surrounding rotterdam, as well as take the full beauty of rotterdam itself. We find group was amazing and provided two students that lived in the area that we were staying, and they showed us around and immediately welcomed us into the city. The relationships we formed with the students was truly amazing and they will forever now be our friends. Carlota was amazing through we find group. She was always very prompt with her responses and was always supporting us throughout the process. She went above and beyond to provide us materials to enhance our project delivery.

My trip to Rotterdam is one I will never forget!! I was placed at an amazing company where I learned a lot and had great experiences. My time outside of work was amazing, I had the best in-country coordinators that made sure we were always safe and having a great time.

I had an awesome time in Spain. Not only was the size of the group perfect, but any time we had any questions, our host would be very responsive. The work itself was great, as we got experience working on real problems that these companies have.

I had an amazing trip with so many new memories and friends! Blanca was absolutely amazing and so helpful. Madrid was gorgeous and would love to go back. My internship was not the best experience but those feelings have been brought up.

I enjoyed very much the city of Madrid. Blanca and Cata did amazing in helping us learn the city, and they are awesome people! I met Carlota once during my presentation, and she was very nice and helpful! The location of Fuencarral was not the best because it was far from most places in the city, and there is not very much around the area. I was also upset with the disrespectful attitude of my boss at BIP. But on the other hand, multiple other workers at BIP were very nice and made the workplace environment so much better!

These past 3 weeks have been an amazing experience for me! Blanca Cata Carlotta and Paula made my travel and time so much easier and fun! I will definitely miss it. I do wish the accommodation was closer to the city area as getting food was hard. Other than that 10/10 for everything else!

This program was genuinely an incredible learning experience and so much fun. Our country coordinators made the experience even more memorable by helping us learn how to navigate the city and introducing us to some of the best local places to visit. I’m so grateful that I had the opportunity to participate in this program—it was truly one of the best experiences of my life!

I could’ve of asked for a better experience abroad. I felt supported and safe while getting a valuable work experience out of it. Mathilde and Marina were great guides that introduced our group to the city and had great recommendations. This really was a great opportunity I’m grateful for.

I had such a great time in Vienna, Austria. Our in country providers, Valentina and Alex, were fantastic and always willing and able to help when we needed it. The work experience was a very valuable introduction into consulting, and the place of stay was a convenient location by the train station.

micampus location was definitely the only thing that made this experience not exceptional. It was frustrating to not be able to be immersed in madrids city life compared to other fisher global programs. Although it was nice. CBRE was a great company and opportunity. Blanca did a great job as well.

I had a fantastic experience in Madrid. I was able to learn so much about the culture of Spain and see so many beautiful places. Blanca did a fantastic job of guiding the group and helping us all enjoy our time here. I enjoyed my company placement as well and was able to learn a lot