FSD Intern Abroad
The FSD Intern Abroad program serves students and young professionals looking to gain international development experience and training while working to support an underserved community. The program commonly acts as a catalyst for building a career in development, strengthening applications for graduate programs, or cultivating relationships with international communities and organizations.
We work with more than 300 community-based organizations that provide a range of internship opportunities in:
• microfinance
• health
• environment
• youth and education
• women’s empowerment
• community development
• human rights
Our partner organizations work in ten regions throughout:
Your skills and interests will be matched with the organization that provides the best opportunity for you to effectively contribute to the community.
Internships run year-round for 9 to 52 weeks, depending on your time schedule and the breadth of experience you wish to attain.
The structured program consists of several components that prepare and provide you with the support and guidance needed to implement successful projects in a sustainable manner. Your internship will involve the following elements to insure that the work makes a lasting impact on you and the community you serve:
Orientation (one week) – You will begin your internship with a group of 3 to 8 other participants. Together, the FSD Site Team will help you acclimate to your new surroundings and deliver essential information to ensure a safe and comfortable entry. Initially, you will stay in a hostel with the group and then move on to your host family. A variety of activities and educational sessions will comprise the orientation phase, preparing you for the work ahead. FSD provides 10 to 15 hours of basic language training during orientation (Africa and India only). Private language tutoring is also available in all regions for a nominal fee.
Accommodation – All interns live individually with host families for at least the first 9 weeks of their internship. These accommodations ensure your full immersion into the local language and culture while providing a chance to form relationships with an extended family and community. Many interns stay in close contact with their host families for years after completing their internship because of the bonds made during such a memorable period of their lives.
Host Organization Introduction – Upon completion of the orientation, the FSD Site Team will introduce you to your direct supervisor at the host organization. During this stage, you will familiarize yourself with the organization and its staff by interviewing them and gaining a full understanding of the resources, people, and projects currently in progress. Typically, you will be the only FSD participant placed with the organization to ensure your immersion into the local culture.
Development Training – Throughout your internship, FSD supports you with a series of development tools to ensure the success of your project work. Initially you will learn the most pressing health, economic, environmental, educational, and human rights related development issues and initiatives in the local region. You will then be trained by speakers, readings, and resource materials on how to:
- Critically observe your surroundings
- Perform an effective needs assessment
- Build partnerships and assemble key community members (community mapping)
- Design and manage a coherent work plan that reflects realistic and sustainable objectives
- Prepare a persuasive grant proposal
- Implement sustainable project work
- Complete a sustainable plan that synopsizes your accomplishments and prepares the organization and future interns on how to continue your work
Grant Competition/Minigrant – Once you have jointly prepared a work plan, you and the organization will be given a $200 minigrant to support its implementation. If additional funds are integral to your project work, FSD offers a grant competition. To be involved, you will participate in grantwriting training and, subsequently, will write a grant proposal to FSD for up to $500. Grants are awarded to projects that best exemplify sustainable practices and approaches.
Project Implementation – The bulk of your internship will involve working directly in the community to actualize your work plan with the support of your organization, supervisor, and community contributors. The FSD Site Team will be at arm’s reach throughout, assisting your work and providing for your needs. Review Recent Project Examples to gain insight into past work implemented by interns and volunteers.
FSD Site Team – Each program site features a locally born Program Director and at least one Program Coordinator from the United States. Together, they will develop a solid working relationship with you, integrating you into the community and ensuring that you have the tools to be successful in your work. They will evaluate each step of your work, including your needs assessment, work plan, and grant proposal to provide you with critical feedback. Any problems that arise throughout your internship will be addressed by the FSD Site Team, ensuring that your time abroad is well spent.
Group Sessions/Midterm Retreat – You will meet bi-monthly with your group and FSD to share resources, develop project work, confront cultural issues, and process the internship experience. At the mid-point of your internship, you may participate in a group retreat that allows you to relax with your peers, remove yourself from the work, and travel outside of the community.
Sustainability Plan/Grant Report – In summation of your internship, you will be asked to produce a formatted description of what you learned, accomplished, and experienced. A portion of this work involves detailing the most efficient way for a future volunteer to further develop your work. If you received a grant from FSD, you will explain how you made use of funds and community/organizational resources to ensure project sustainability.
These elements make up the bulk of your internship with FSD. Upon completion, you will have significant experience in international development and hold a substantial body of work and knowledge to support your future goals.
Download FSD's Intern Abroad Brochure!
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