I gained a lot of information about the inner workings of non-governmental organizations in general and the IRC specifically, and I was able to get an idea of what each branch did while specifically working with the Employment and Economic Empowerment Team
What I wish was different
I would have liked to physically be in the office doing work, that is a personal preference
Advice
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Intensive Case Management
June - August 2019 • Baltimore, MD
What I liked
I like meeting new people who just arrived to the United Sates. I get to help them adjust to the way people live in the US. Last but not least I widen my network and have a hands on experience with what I want to do in the future.
What I wish was different
I wish I worked a bit longer and help out more as they done so much to better the world.
Advice
I learn to not judge people based on where they come from, how they dress, how they look, their race, or where they are from because I don’t know what they been through in life. The best I can do is treat them like the way I want to be treated.
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Girls Engagement Lead
January - April 2023 • Dallas, TX
What I liked
Everyone who works in the Youth and Mentorship department is so motivated and compassionate. It was amazing being surrounded by such inspiring people. I also liked how I was able to form string relationships with both my clients and organizations I got to work with.
What I wish was different
I wish I had more resources in supporting my clients.
Advice
If it gets too much, you can always talk to your program director! Working on such serious issues can take a toll on some people, and it is completely normal!
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Career Programs Intern
May 2019 • Boise, ID
What I liked
I loved the opportunity to be able to learn more about our local resettlement program and work with clients
What I wish was different
I would have appreciated more time with the supervisor who had been working with me initially.
Advice
Be super open and flexible. Things can change on a dime in the office!
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Youth Programs Intern
May - August 2019 • Charlottesville, VA
What I liked
I liked that my work actually made a difference in the children's lives and their parents' experience.
What I wish was different
More organization
Advice
Go in with an open mind and be prepared to help everyone in the company, not just your supervisor.
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New Roots Intern
June - August 2019 • Sacramento, CA
What I liked
Working with refugees in my community and getting to know these populations more intimately.
What I wish was different
I could've used a little more independence from my supervisors.
Advice
It's a wonderful opportunity to connect with your community.
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Co-director
May - August 2019 • Tucson, AZ
What I liked
I loved how hands on the internship was
What I wish was different
I wish that it was unpaid and did ask a lot of the interns but also I would 10/10 recommend
Advice
It is so fun really hands on and great learning experience. I would say don’t be afraid to really get involved
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Medical advocate
May - August 2018 • Tucson, AZ
What I liked
The International Rescue Committee was very welcoming and helpful. Being able to experience firsthand what they do everyday to help refugee families was an amazing experience that has helped me in my job as a case manager today. It was my first look into advocating and working within a non-profit.
What I wish was different
I wish I would’ve had more time, as the experience felt kind of rushed.
Advice
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. If you need help, ask for it! There are plenty of people that are willing to assist.
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New Roots Intern
July - August 2018 • New York City, NY
What I liked
Working with students, refugees and on a farm was an incredible experience
What I wish was different
I wish I had more time to show how much I had learned
Advice
Listen and work as hard as you can.
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Adult Education Intern
May - August 2020 • Atlanta, GA
What I liked
My experience teaching English to adult immigrant and refugee clients at IRC was incredibly fulfilling. I not only developed great relationships with the students and staff, but I also had the opportunity to develop teaching materials, become familiar with leading Zoom calls over the summer, learn more about culturally-sensitive language teaching, and distribute information to IRC clients in over 10 languages. This internship only required about 7-10 hours of work every week, so it was very manageable while still making me feel valuable and important to the organization.
What I wish was different
Advice
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IRC Intern
May - August 2019 • Tallahassee, FL
What I liked
I gained knowledge and education about Tallahassee through orienting my clients on how to live here. I learned about public transportation and many resources available to refugees. I also learned about the way refugee funds are regulated from the state and federal levels.
What I wish was different
I wish there was the funding for interns to be compensated for gas money when we transported our clients.
Advice
Be open with your clients and always be aware that they are coming directly from a much different society.
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Program Intern
October 2018 - June 2019 • Sacramento, CA
What I liked
I loved learning about the international non-profit and its myriad of programs. While supporting a unique and successful program in the Sacramento office, I was also able to lend my help to the operations of the office and organization as a whole. I also thoroughly enjoyed the people I worked with, all of whom have global perspectives and speak multiple languages.
What I wish was different
Advice
I would urge others to ask as many questions as possible and be willing to make mistakes. You can learn just by being in the office environment and observing processes.
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Economic Empowerment Intern
June - September 2019 • San Jose, CA
What I liked
Meaningful Work
What I wish was different
Advice
Be proactive, there are a lot of interns
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Asylee Casework Intern
June - August 2019 • Silver Spring, MD
What I liked
I appreciated working with people from several different countries both in terms of clients and coworkers. I loved the environment which was always resourceful and caring.
What I wish was different
N/A
Advice
Even if you are not sure what you are doing, be willing to volunteer to perform different tasks or help people aside from your supervisors.
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Employment Intern
September 2019 • Charlottesville, VA
What I liked
Really good hands on experience for anyone interested in global development.
What I wish was different
Advice
Be ready and willing to take on a variety of tasks, the job differs from day to day.
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Immigration Legal Intern
June - August 2018 • New York City, NY
What I liked
Friendly office. I had a lot of networking opportunities.
What I wish was different
The commute from my home was long.
Advice
Take advantage of the networking opportunities.
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Immigration Services
May - August 2017 • Tucson, AZ
What I liked
Staff is flexible and friendly.
What I wish was different
A bigger office space.
Advice
Go for it. You will have the chance to meet new people from different cultures.
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Economic Empowerment Intern
May - July 2017 • Atlanta, GA
What I liked
The employees are helpful and enthusiastic and I had the opportunity to do hands-on work with refugee clients.
What I wish was different
Advice
Be prepared to learn a lot very quickly, and be flexible as you make plans and interact with clients.
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Economic Empowerment Intern
June - August 2017 • Silver Spring, MD
What I liked
I like the direct interactions I had with clients. My favorite memory was when I went with my supervisor on an airport pickup and saw a family reunited. I also really enjoyed doing an employer visit at the Hilton (one of the employer partners with the IRC) where I got to talk to some refugees and asylees about their journey here and life back in their home country. Day to day, I helped clients create resumes, apply for jobs, and prep them for interviews.
What I wish was different
Sometimes there were days where I would do a lot of case filing for my supervisor. I wish that I had more time with clients and less time doing administrative tasks.
Advice
I would advise an intern who is working at the IRC to try to get to know the different people across the departments who work there. Don't be afraid to ask how they started working there, what they enjoy, and what they do not enjoy about the job. It can help you figure out if the non profit world is for you and you will see that people have different journeys to get to where they are. Also talk to other interns! You'll be working with them so take it as an opportunity to get to know them.
