IIVN Participant Testimonials

The Int'l Internship & Volunteer Network is proud to be recognized

by the Better Business Bureau as an

"Accredited Business"

IIVN led to life changing events both professionally and personally for me. My internship with the Chilean Ministry of Education paved the way for subsequent international employment positions, eventually leading me back to Chile after graduate school to pursue a development consulting career. The other reason for returning to Chile was to marry my wife whom I met in Santiago while at my internship with the Ministry of Education!!   I was placed into a great position with an amazing group of individuals from around the world. Making friends couldn't have been easier, and my confidence in the office led me to strike up a conversation with my current wife at a chic Santiago coffee-house, Starbucks. The rest is history and I still keep in touch with all of my past co-workers at the Ministry of Education. They have helped me with everything from employment references, to finding housing, and always being there for me in times of need in a foreign setting. I couldn't have asked for anything more out of this internship experience, and Sandra and I will always hold IIVN in a special place in our hearts.       Peter Frerichs, Internship in Chile

I participated in a one-month volunteer program in Bangalore, India.  My Program Coordinator was so great!  He was helpful and well organized.  He took us to several interesting places and made sure that we had what we needed.  He helped me and the others to understand our surroundings better, from an Indian point of view. The project was great and they did a good job getting us oriented and providing a safe, wonderful environment to carry out our service project.  I had a great time working with the younger girls, mostly ages four to twelve, though I did have contact with the older ones as well.  We worked to teach English, Math and Interpersonal skills, as well as to boost their confidence in their own abilities.  We played all sorts of games to keep the girls engaged, and spent all of our breaks playing with them.  I loved working there!  The project supervisors are truly amazing men who help people in need (many who others turn their backs on) solely out of the goodness of their hearts.  I would definitely suggest this project to others, especially women aiming to help girls! My accommodations were in a home stay and the family I was with was WONDERFUL!  They had two little girls who lit up the house and were all extremely kind, not to mention great cooks!  A home stay is definitely the way to go.  For transportation I took auto rickshaws and they were fantastic - worth the extra money.  For longer travel, the train is a much better option than the bus. Advice to future participants:  Grab onto every opportunity you are given.  It wont sink in when you get back that you are actually gone.  And make sure to get to know the locals!!  They are the best part! What I will miss the most:  The people, food and absurd craziness that I grew quite fond of. K. Roberts, Volunteer, Bangalore, India

I worked for Michelle Anderson and the Int'l Internship & Volunteer Network (formerly Global Youth Opportunity) as a student intern for one semester in college, from February 2007 until May 2007.  My last semester of college was greatly enhanced through my internship as an international administrative coordinator.  The work that I did improved my business and technical skills, taught me about a field that is closely related to my major and is a line of work I may want to pursue in the future. The hands-on, practical aspect of the internship gave me the opportunity to explore my major in a way that a regular class cannot.  This was, without doubt, one of the most educational experiences of my college career, and I am glad I was able to do it before I graduated. This internship has prepared and polished me for the work world, and as a result, I am more confident in my future job prospects.    I worked on spread sheets, wrote reports, and even got to use my Spanish skills in a business setting for the first time.  I feel more comfortable using Spanish for professional purposes now then I ever have, and I am probably most proud of that mental accomplishment because of its usefulness in the future.   In fact, since graduating I have accepted a job in Costa Rica where my Spanish fluency will play a paramount role in my success.    I highly recommend this experience to any student looking for a positive internship opportunity who wants to develop and polish their business skills in a way that no class can.  G. DiMaggio, Intern, GYO Corporate

My internship experience exceeded all expectations. I was surprised at the variety of experiences I was exposed to.  I thought that as a student with no meaningful experience that I would be given only limited access to the activities that  took place on the ward.  However, I was given as much, if not more, access than the medical students in the hospital. Karen, Pre-Med Intern in London, England

It was really nice to sit back and tell someone where I wanted to go and wanted to do for an internship. Kelsey, Environmental Intern, Brisbane, Australia

It was a great program and gave me the opportunity to have extreme flexibility with the time frame and industry.  It gave me valuable work experience, but even further it gave me an opportunity to work hand in hand with a group of people of a different background from me.  I believe this is an invaluable experience people get. Nicholas, Intern in South Africa

By enrolling and completing an internship I was able to be employed in a field of interest in a country/city of my choice and had an experience of a lifetime.  I met so many new people, saw so many amazing things, and learned immeasurable quantities about my field, the surrounding area, cutlure, and myself. Danielle, Architechtural Intern in Glasgow

This program has given me the opportunity to have an experience I would not have had any other way.  Not only was I able to gain professional experience to help focus my career goals, I saw a beautiful country, learned about my ancestry, and made relationships that I plan on maintainting.  My horizons have expanded, I have a better grasp on what I want to do with my future and I can't wait to go back to Scotland!  I will never forget the experience I had in Scotland! Laura, Intern in Scotland

Everything went so well...the housing situation worked out very well...This program is great...I would recommend it to everyone...My job is also going very well.  This weekend I am traveling to Bariloche for four nights, next stop, Uruguay. John, Intern in Buenos Aires

Jambo (Hello)!  Things are awesome...I couldn't have asked for a better internship.  Work is great.  Every morning we go to the ward to check up on the drug regimen of patients.  First was the womens' ward and then the pediatric ward.  Needless to say I'm learning much more than just HIV/AIDS education.  It goes further into the TB, anemia, diabetes and malaria.  Thank you very much! Dan, Pharmacy Intern in a hospital in Kenya

I really love it here!  the job is great, as are the people!  Got to hang out with them all weekend and it was a lot like home.  The Spanish is improving little by little. Liz, Intern in Bilbao, Spain

My internship was everything I could have asked for and more!  I absolutely loved it and learned a great deal about issues of reproductive health and family planning in Morocco.  This was absolutely perfect for my dissertation project and I had notes and preliminary "data" to go through when I got back to the US.  I lived with a host family who were very nice and helped me extensively with my Arabic. Cortney, Intern in Morocco

To summarize my 6 weeks in Mombasa, it was a dream come true.  From  work to play, the experience cannot be matched.  My advisors worked very hard to make sure that my stay was productive, safe and fun but diverse - perfect for me...I worked the first two weeks accompanying various doctors on rounds...I counseled patients and it was the most gratifying feeling ever.  My co-workers were unbelieveable...The locals were all helpful.  Overall, the experience was fantastic and I couldn't wait to share with my family, friends, colleagues, and university.  I truly hope that this opportunity for me can be one for others in the future. Dan, Medical Intern in Kenya, Africa

This program provides a great opportunity to work in another country and see another part of the world in a very unique way. Mark, Intern in Santiago, Chile with the American Chamber of Commerce

I recommend an unpaid internship to anyone in any area - especially one of the longer ones.  It's a chance to try something new, get a great reference on your resume, and see how you stack up in the real world.  In the end you realize it does pay...an investment into your future, and not just your current bank account. Gabriel, Intern in London, UK with the United Nations Education Forum

I know it sounds cliched, but as a person I have grown and learned more in 3 months than I ever thought possible, and It showed as I returned home to enter the real world with the invaluable skills I gained. Emily, Intern in Edinburgh, Scotland, with "The Face" Magazine

This was the most positive, exciting, and rewarding experiences of my college years.  I met amazing friends, experienced a new culture and visited beautiful places.  How could living in London for two months be a bad experience? Shannon, Intern at Kings College in London, UK - Pre Med Summer Program

An internship is a necessary process to build a successful career in many ways.  Mastering a foreign language can only help advance one's future career.  This program provided me with a rewarding experience that definitely advanced my future career. Bennett, Intern in Santiago, Chile

My summer experience in Scotland was everything I could've ever wanted and then some! As a theatre person, my placement was everything I could've ever wished for.  It's a very friendly place and if people aren't quite sure of what to do, they help you out. I had a fabulous experience and would recommend it to anyone.  If you have interns interested in theatre, definitely send them to Scotland! Elizabeth, Intern in Scotland

We look forward to working with you to customize your experience abroad!