For a decade, Oregon University System’s IE3 Global Internships has been building bridges between Oregon and the rest of the world. The key to the success of the internship program is the deep relationships that have developed between internship sites, universities, interns and the local communities abroad. These relationships enable an exchange of information that goes beyond the individual students’ experiences. The impact of each internship is literally felt around the world – from the student, to the community where he or she interns, and back to the classroom.
     Many students leave lasting impacts on the communities where they intern. For some organizations, the participation of interns is an equal equation of give and take. It takes time and resources for them to integrate the interns into the organization, but the interns also contribute significantly to the mission of the organization and to the success of the local community. In all cases, interns from the U.S. are ambassadors to communities that might not have other exposure to the human side of the country.
     This past fall, the cycle came full circle as directors from three internship sites made the journey to Oregon to share their experiences and insights with students and faculty here. In September Edgard Francisco Fernandez Flores and Edgard Francisco Fernandez Landero of Colegio Americano in Ocotlan, Mexico came to Portland to participate in IE3’s regional conference on international internships. The director of the school and his son gave a presentation on the importance of internships to sites. Their participation in the conference brought a unique perspective on the outcomes of these internships to faculty and advisors from around the Pacific Northwest.
     In November, Charlotte Hill O’Neal, Sam Obae and Anwary Msechu of the United African Alliance Community Center in Tanzania, and Judy Logback and Edison Aguinda of Kallari Association in Ecuador presented on development issues in their communities on the University of Oregon campus. Their presentation topics ranged from Hip Hop as a positive social influence in Tanzania to Chocolate as an Economic factor in development.
     Former interns Kai Yonezawa (UAACC 2005) and Jeff Mecredy (Kallari 2006), both from the UO, were instrumental in helping bring their internship directors to their home campus. When asked about the personal impact of his internship, Mecredy said, “My internship taught me the importance of global citizenship, ecological stewardship and humility. I now understand that our luxurious lifestyle in the U.S. is based upon a false paradigm of unlimited natural resources. In Ecuador I observed the people inadvertently paying the difference between our American paradigm and reality.” For Yonezawa, the internship also increased his connection to the host country, “Tanzania has a very intimate and personable feeling. The feeling of welcome started from the time I arrived at UAACC and it still remains here in the States.” Both Mcredy and Yonezawa went out of their way to return the favor when O’Neal, Obae, Msechu, Logback and Edison were visiting their home campus.
     The visits, which overlapped in early November, were also a rare opportunity for the two intern supervisors, Judy Logback and Charlotte Hill O’Neal, to share their insights on the program with each other. In an interview conducted at the UO, both highlighted two-way nature of internships. By welcoming interns to Ecuador and Tanzania respectively, they were giving both the U.S. students and the local community a valuable opportunity to learn about each other. Their hope was that the interns would take an improved understanding of their adopted community back to their home country and be ambassadors there for the country and organization. For Kallari, a cooperative that produces chocolate and goods from the Amazon rainforest, the interns are also valuable links to their markets abroad. Many interns continue their work for the organization long after their internships are over and are instrumental in developing new outlets for the goods the cooperative produces.
    The visits included presentations to packed rooms of students eager to hear about the organizations and their missions, providing an opportunity to learn for those who aren’t able to intern themselves. As the next group of interns begin their internships around the world this winter term, the ripples are already spreading back to the West coast in the form of emails and updates. More site director visits are also being planned. Visit the IE3 Calendar to find out more about upcoming events and opportunities.

Interested in interning at UAACC, Kallari, or Colegio Americano? Click on the links to read the IE3 Global Internships position description and get more information.