Internships in Hawaii, United States

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!

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!

I would like to commend the Institute for Global Studies for finding great placements for interns like me. I was assigned in Hawaii and I had such a great time! We had the rare opportunity to participate in an open-ocean research cruise, SCUBA dive on Bermuda’s coral reefs, gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge equipment, and engage in seminars relating to marine science. There’s so much to see and learn!

My main duty as an intern is to communicate with the visitors (address their concerns and also educate them on the aquarium’s different marine life). It’s actually fun seeing kids being amazed by the natural life down there. Even adults look like kids when they see the magnificent corals. It’s a fulfilling job for me. Interestingly, the island has a plethora of coral reef and fish exhibits and any more others that I get to visit on my free time.

Upon arrival, we were given enough time to rest and settle down. The next day, we had a week-long training session about marine animals and ecosystem. So much to learn! The speakers are commendable and knowledgeable and credible. IGS gave me a really memorable winter internship. My co-interns, Rachelle and Mark are inspiring people. They are already established in their fields so I got to learn from them.

my co-inters are a good to work with. Experience is just ok but its nice to do these things once in a while. Tnx to igs for a good placement. they reply asap and answer to my concerns via videochat. I met ppl of diff backgroundz and nice cultures.

For track two, ms. shiela assigned us to cover politics for a community newspaper. Was able to interview a Filipino politician about his stand on divorce. Honestly I don’t agree but i respect everyones opinions. also covered a protest in manila's town centre. Philippines is a great country to visit nevertheless.

I am grateful for this internship. I was assigned on Track One, and I worked for a political advocacy group. I am very particular about women’s rights and human rights in general so I was very excited to work with NGOs that support those causes. We were tasked to draft bills and witness some assemblies. I wanna be government official one day so this is a great start.

As a Social Media influencer, I wanted to expand my knowledge on how to use my platform to promote better causes and even expand my network. With this internship, I gained more knowledge on social media marketing and even graphic design for my future posts. I also got to work for major sports teams, ecotourism companies, and go to other exciting venues, which I vlogged about. My YouTube channel’s following enhanced because of that. Thank you very much, IGS!

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”!

I voluntarily gave this program review because I REALLY LIKED this internship program!!! Conservation Biology is one of my interests, but I never knew where I could get the best internship possible. We are assigned to our chosen destinations and even talked to respected experts in the community. My co-interns came from such interesting backgrounds and are fun to be with – one of them is a doctor, one is an Economics student, two are a couple, and one is a travel vlogger. Thanks to my college senior who told me about this program. You guys should definitely try this internship!

For my track, I worked with a traditional company who wants to expand their social media presence in-house. We oversee their social media updates and discuss on how to improve the company's online presence. The working atmosphere is calm and very accommodating. They are so patient in mentoring us... In the process, we also conducted market analysis and did some interviews on the locals. I never knew my grade school subject of Mandarin could be so handy!

Working in Paris was a dream come true! I got to see the Eiffel Tower during our free days and sip our coffees on world-famous cafés there. Also, my IGS mentor was very approachable and appreciative. He gave us a Letter of Recommendation upon successful program completion. I super duper enjoyed my stay there. Can’t wait to be back! Thank you very much to IGS and to my IGS mentor, Mr. Kline.

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.

I know only a little about Conservation Biology and I only joined because my friends joined here. Little did I know that I will have the best summer internship of my life. My friends and I now have this life-long bond we will always cherish. I learned a lot about biodiversity and resource management, more than I can ever learn in school. Thank you, IGS.