FSD Intern Abroad is our most advanced program and demands a strong capacity to work creatively and independently. The program is offered to the general public and is also customized for university partnerships.

Program Snapshot

• 9 to 52 weeks in the field
• 40 hour/week schedule
• Individual placement with a host organization and host family
• Comprehensive development training prior to community engagement
• Critical analysis and needs assessment done by student to define work plan
• Collaborative project development between student, host organization, and FSD site team
• $200 seed grant per student for project initiation and eligibility for up to $1,000 in additional project funding from our PDCB Fund
• Pricing is based on our standard Intern Abroad program fees

Intern Abroad students who are effective in the field generally meet the following criteria:

• 3rd year or higher in undergraduate program and/or a proven ability to work under challenging conditions in a creative and independent manner
• Social ability to actively engage their host organization and community leaders to collaborate on project work and initiate community buy-in
• Past experience abroad or work experience with people of diverse backgrounds
• Ability to cope with the strain of being separated from friends and family and work independently under challenging conditions
• Deep desire to live and work in a completely foreign climate, culture, and paradigm
• Openness and curiosity toward undergoing a potentially life changing shift of perspective and the emotional sophistication to handle the process
• Strong interest to learn local languages to enhance community immersion
• Inquiry and interest about destination and its cultural background
• Understanding that their work will not have impact they may have romantically envisioned (this point addresses the fact that many interns want to “change the world” in ten weeks)
• Ability to sustain a 40 hour work week for the full length of the internship
• Recognition that cultural competency is essential to creating sustainable development solutions

Click here for more information about Intern Abroad.

Please contact our outreach team via email at info@fsdinternational.org or (415) 283-4873, ext. 12 if you wish to discuss how your school could work with FSD.