AIFS Abroad Internships in Washington DC, United States

I was able to get an internship with So Others May Eat in Washington DC. SOME provides aid to the homeless population in Washington DC through housing, mental health services, dental, medical, career advancement and sustainable life long recovery for at-risk homeless individuals and families. As an intern for SOME, I was able to take part in all of the departments within the non-profit both hands on and managerial. All in all I learned so much in the field of public and global health, non profit management and community engagement. Due to the excellence and skills learned with this internship, I was awarded in our school’s internship scholarship contest this month in December. I represented the college of health and human services due to the accomplishments of the AIFS internship in Washington DC. As a first generation college student and first one to obtain a bachelor’s degree and almost masters degree in the MPA program, this internship has sky rocketed my career and passion to be in the field of public administration and non profit management. For someone who is new to the field of public service and public administration, I hope to continue more public service internships for more experiences and opportunities in the field.

Photos

I received extensive online support before starting my internship and felt thoroughly prepared for my time in the USA. The social events organised by Global Experiences provided great opportunities to get to know other interns and settle into the city. My internship was a great match for my interests and skill level and will be a fantastic platform on which to build my future career. Eight weeks was only just enough time to explore all the amazing things in Washington, DC. There is a huge variety of food, music, museums and networking opportunities and the friendly, supportive Global Experiences staff were always available on the ground to help with navigating everything this great city has to offer.

First, the preparation before the start date of your program, Global Experiences (GE) definitely prepares you in every aspect so you can maximize your experience. I felt thoroughly prepared with everything I need to know for my professional development resume building, interviewing etc. And preparing for your cultural/social experience. It was very comforting to know that the global experiences team answered all my questions and were available to help me in any aspect of my preparation. I also though the global experiences team was lovely such amazing people willing to help you on your journey. I loved my experience abroad DC was a city i would actually like to live in one day. It is filled with fun things to do especially with other major cities in close proximity which makes your experience more authentic. I loved being able to experience the political culture in DC since it is the world leader in politics. It’s such a unique historical city and amazing food.

Warning: This review begins with a major cliché! As a young boy, I had always dreamed to intern in Washington D.C. and experience what it was like to live in America. Global Experiences fulfilled both of these young boy's wishes. Throughout the entire experience, I met amazing people: the GE Team in DC, the people who lived in the halls with me, my colleagues at the workplace I interned at and many others along the way. My internship allowed me to work with amazing people who took me to Congress and see what it is like to work in the political hub of the world. I also got to explore DC (along with a cheeky trip to New York) and so, I saw the experience as both career development and a little holiday. If you are reading this review, I just want to emphasise that you can't lose out by going to DC with GE. The team are always on hand to answer your questions and support you throughout the process, to ensure you have a safe and enjoyable experience abroad, to allocate you with an internship that develops you and your career, and you will ALWAYS have great memories when you go back home.

Being an intern has never been this brilliant. I had never worked before and was worried as to what my internship would be like. Working abroad is daunting, especially when it's the first time and I did not know what to expect at all. I dreaded the amount of coffee and photocopies I would have to make. I had never been so wrong. I was paired with a criminal defense attorney (my choice of sector) and it is one of the best things that happened to me. My supervisor was kind and gave me challenging tasks. He did not hesitate to rely on me and trusted my work. I felt proud and fulfilled, one of the best states of mind you can be in. In addition, my accommodation was located in central DC, at George Washington University halls. It was really reassuring to be with other students or interns. I never felt alone. The fact that the museums and landmarks were not far away was also a big advantage. Finally, Global Experiences definitely helped in the discovery of the city by organising several social events to make the most out of my stay. I wholeheartedly recommend this organism.

Being accepted into the GE Internship program opened doors to many opportunities for me. Without my placement in Washington, D.C. I would not have been given the chance to gain experience in the field of my interest or live in a place that I have grown to love. During my internship, I had the opportunity to work with passionate and dedicated leaders, mentors and, eventually, friends. My experience through GE was invaluable and one that I could not have obtained through my school or on my own. GE has an amazing network of internship opportunities that may lead to employment opportunities. Don't miss out!

In the beginning, I'd always dreamed of an intern abroad, and to my disappointment, I didn't get one, BUT I was not disappointed greatly with the DC decision. DC was a wonderful place and had many cool adventures, which I never had an opportunity to explore in my previous visits to DC. I would go out to run around the Reflecting Pool and enjoy the views every evening, and I would go to visit the museums on weekends. Also, it was the gigantic challenge for me to overcome because I am Deaf, but thanks to the wonderful people in the Global Experiences and their unconditional supports, I was able to overcome the challenge.

Photos

I had a wonderful experience at my internship. I loved every minute of it and got to do a variety of things from immigration work, to a few estates to a murder trial. This internship was the reassurance I need that I am destined to be a lawyer. Circa is awesome and is right on the corner by the metro. The metro being almost directly across from our dorm was incredibly convenient. Overall the dorm was close to everything which made the experience even better!

Interning in Washington DC this summer, was most certainly an experience not to forget! Being able to work within in the heart of the political world itself is only one of the pro’s of doing an internship here, firstly we were situated in Foggy Bottom area which was only a 6 min walk from the White House, the monument and many more infamous attractions, there were also a number of great restaurants and bars right on our doorstep which came in handy. We stayed in GWU student housing, which was great as there were many other interns who were of similar age and we therefore made many friends outside of the GE group and had plenty of parties, but other than the fantastic social aspect of the summer, interning in DC gave me the direction I required and I have now discovered my true passion and know what it is I want to pursue after graduation. Within my internship itself I not only got to learn more about the Criminal Justice System but I also got to see what happened behind the scenes and was able to brush up on my networking skills. I highly recommend doing an internship in DC with Global Experiences. They were incredibly helpful and supportive throughout the entire process and also made it easier to transcend into DC life. Check out Circa, great for an after work cocktail and great food!