Internships in Zanzibar

Since completing the Psychology internship in Cape Town, I've been more empowered in several key ways. I've developed greater cultural competence within my field, along with a stronger understanding of how to draw on other professionals and networks to bring together resources that genuinely support a community or individual. I also feel more confident in the value of my informal counselling skills, and a renewed appreciation for the value of my psychology degree and what it equips me to offer. My experience co-facilitating the DBT session for clients with BPD has genuinely inspired me to consider this as a potential area of future specialisation, and I'd like to continue building my knowledge and skills in this space. I enjoyed staying in the big intern house with the other interns and exploring Cape Town together. The cultural insight from the local coordinator and internship was very insightful and has allowed me to personally and professionally appreciate and develop my cross-cultural competence.

The Marketing & Communications internship in Sydney gave me the real life experience which I can tie closely to my studies, and this has helped me understand different topics more easily. The internship also gave me the practical experience I needed to help boost my CV (resume) for my later career, and better prepare me for my future. I enjoyed meeting many people from different cultures a lot. My host family accommodation was amazing; I couldn’t have asked for better.

I am incredibly grateful for my time in Valencia. Both my time with my host family and the staff at my placement allowed me to immerse myself in the Spanish language and culture while teaching me life and career skills that cannot be learned in a classroom. Rotating between nursing and the OR enabled observation of patient processing and medical decision-making from start to finish, pre-op to post-op.

I definitely enjoyed meeting new people the most. Getting to talk to people about their life perspective/experiences and how things are similar or different based on my own experiences was really interesting to hear about. Having the opportunity to do an international internship has greatly contributed to my personal and professional development because not only am I more educated on a different cultural view, but I can take this and apply it elsewhere. All of the work I completed has helped me become a better person for future work purposes. My Program Manager Sarah was very patient and kind with me and answered all my questions.

I believe this internship provided me with a much more unique experience than what I was expecting. Working in a holistic psychology practice, where themes of psychoneuroimmunology, family systems, and transpersonal psychology are all intertwined, opened my eyes to a side of therapy that isn’t taught in textbooks, and I’m sure this experience will influence how I practice in the future. Outside of work, living alone abroad taught me a lot about myself, the people I want to surround myself with, and what kind of experiences I value. I made connections with people from all over the world and traveled to 5 countries and countless cities. And along the way, I also improved my Spanish and picked up another language.

My Marketing & Communications internship in Tokyo (Japan) was one of my most rewarding experiences for my professional and academic journey. What I enjoyed the most was the opportunity to fully immerse myself in a new culture that I became deeply fond of while working alongside professionals who supported me in my career aspirations by giving me the independence and challenge to develop and lead work initiatives. This experience also allowed me to observe Japanese culture and develop an appreciation and understanding for their work ethic and respect that I will continue to implement in my future projects and in my personal life. Most importantly, this internship helped me confirm my love for traveling and my future career in international marketing.

The thing I enjoyed the most is that I got to meet so many people from various parts of the world who I deeply connected with, and shared some life changing experiences with. As for my professional development, I was able to gain more confidence and become more comfortable while talking with people. I would 100% do this again and I would advise anyone who wants to do this internship to do it.

The internship was an incredibly rewarding experience that contributed to both my personal and professional growth. What I enjoyed most was the opportunity to immerse myself in a new culture while working alongside people from diverse backgrounds. Building relationships with my coworkers, interacting with members of the local community, and collaborating with other interns allowed me to develop stronger communication and interpersonal skills. I especially enjoyed stepping outside of my comfort zone by navigating Athens independently, using public transportation, and adapting to a different way of life. Professionally, this internship strengthened my interest in psychology and working with diverse populations. I gained a greater appreciation for the importance of cultural competence, empathy, and flexibility when supporting individuals from different backgrounds. I learned how to communicate effectively despite language and cultural differences, observe professional practices in an international setting, and adapt to unfamiliar situations with confidence. Personally, the experience helped me become more independent, resilient, and open-minded. Living abroad challenged me to solve problems on my own, adjust to unexpected situations, and become more confident in my ability to navigate new environments. Overall, this internship broadened my perspective, enhanced valuable professional skills, and reinforced my passion for pursuing a career where I can support and work with people from diverse communities.

I'm a current intern placed in Cusco, Peru through IVHQ, doing marketing and communications with a local organization. The process from application to arrival was clear and well organized, and the support has been genuinely responsive. When I've reached out, I've had the best experience with REAL people replying fast and actually being helpful. The placement itself has been the highlight: meaningful work, a great host organization, and an experience that's pushed my Spanish from conversational to fluent. If you're a student considering an internship abroad in Latin America, this is a legitimate and well run way to do it.

My host mom was great! She was very welcoming and took an interest in what I was doing and how I was feeling! She made it easier to be away from home for so long. The part I enjoyed most about this internship was the opportunity to work alongside the staff at the school farm and experience how animal care and agricultural education are approached in another country. I enjoyed building relationships with my coworkers, host family, and classmates, and learning how to communicate despite the language barrier. It pushed me outside of my comfort zone and helped me become more confident, independent, and adaptable. Professionally, the internship gave me valuable hands-on experience in an international setting and reinforced my passion for pursuing a career in Animal Science. Personally, it taught me to be more open-minded, appreciate different cultures and ways of life, and trust my ability to handle new challenges. This experience has given me skills and confidence that I will carry with me throughout my education and future career.

This internship has truly given me the necessary tools to become more competent in my field. I feel as though I have developed both personally and professionally through the experience gained during my time in Spain. Stepping out of my comfort zone and interacting with experts on a daily basis or simply meeting new people and creating bonds were some key takeaways I will carry with me.

I truly wish I had spent the full 12 weeks in Ireland rather than only four. However, within that short time, I tried to fully immerse myself into the experience as much as possible. One of the things I appreciated most was that my internship was genuinely hands-on rather than simply shadowing someone the entire time. I was trusted with real responsibilities, projects, and problem-solving opportunities that allowed me to grow professionally and personally in ways I honestly did not expect. Before arriving, I had fears and uncertainties about whether I would be capable enough, experienced enough, or even if my age would affect how I fit into the program. Those fears quickly faded once I became immersed in the experience itself. This internship challenged me to adapt to unfamiliar environments, problem-solve independently, communicate within a new culture, and gain confidence in my own abilities. I was able to work on projects involving social media, marketing strategy, Google Ads troubleshooting, tourism promotion, and organizational systems while also learning more about Irish culture, history, and daily life. Personally, the experience had an even greater impact on me than I expected. Living abroad helped me become more independent, adaptable, confident, and willing to step outside of my comfort zone. It also deeply inspired me creatively as a writer and future author by exposing me to new places, stories, perspectives, and experiences. I am incredibly grateful that I took the leap and participated in the program despite my initial fears and uncertainties. It became one of the most impactful experiences of my life so far. If I were to offer one area of constructive feedback, it would be encouraging more visible student testimonials, experiences, and promotional content surrounding the program itself. Before applying, it was sometimes difficult to find detailed firsthand experiences or examples from previous participants, which initially made the program feel harder to fully research and trust from the outside looking in. Because of that, I think encouraging more students to share their internship experiences publicly through testimonials, videos, social media content, or alumni stories could greatly help future participants feel more confident and reassured during the decision-making process. Now having completed the program myself, I absolutely would recommend it to others and plan to share my own experience as well. I am genuinely grateful that I took the leap despite my initial hesitation, because it became one of the most impactful and transformative experiences of my life so far.

This experience was invaluable in terms of immersion in a new culture and environment. I learned so much about different cultures and enhanced my skills in the Spanish language. The best ways to gain new perspectives is to travel!

The internship truly allowed me to appreciate the blessings I have. I really appreciate the internship for allowing me to grow both personally and professionally. I truly enjoyed seeing the similarities in medicine, even if the practices are separated by continents. Not only that, but working with patients and healthcare professionals from different cultural backgrounds improved my ability to communicate effectively.

I enjoyed meeting new friends and getting to know people who were also interested in my career and had the same goals as me. This internship has developed my confidence and increased my motivation to continue with psychology. Everyone was very communicative and made sure I had a comfortable stay and a great experience!!

My Business Development internship in Japan was an incredibly rewarding experience. I enjoyed working alongside people from different backgrounds, experiencing Japanese culture, and contributing to meaningful projects that supported the organisation. The internship strengthened my communication, adaptability, and problem-solving skills while giving me valuable cross-cultural experience that will benefit both my personal growth and future career.

I enjoyed the interactions with a vast amount of people from different and diverse backgrounds and circumstances. I also enjoyed being provided with the opportunity to help people and support them. The upport and guidance provided by IAHQ and my local team was efficient.

I enjoyed meeting new people the most. Becoming familiar with people with mental health disorders helped me to develop professionally and personally because I practiced patience, understanding, and empathy.

I really enjoyed Remote Marketing & Communications internship (hosted out of Japan) as the internship tasks that I did is meaningful to the host organization and me. This internship helped shape me into a better person, in terms of knowledge and skills. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

When I first applied to intern through intern abroad HQ, the description I was given said that I would mainly be shadowing therapists, which is great experience as a clinical psychology student. However, once I got to Madrid and began my internship I was blown away by the fact that I received my own clients. I was absolutely thrilled to be able to practice my communication and therapy skills on real people in addition to watching licensed therapists conduct their own sessions. Overall I could not have asked for a better experience and would absolutely intern through this company again.