FSD Internships in Bolivia

You can tell that everyone here cares about the work that is done with the partner organizations on the ground. The fact that they are so knowledgeable and passionate about grassroots sustainable development makes it easier on those of us going abroad.

The host families were a huge plus with this organization, they really choose families who are interested in your well being and having someone join their family as opposed to seeing visitors as paychecks.

Also learned a lot first hand about grant writing!

Interning with FSD in Cochabamba, Bolivia was life changing for me (as cliche as that sounds). It really helped me realize that I wanted to affect environmental change through youth advocacy and education. I had a lot of opportunity to self-reflect while in Bolivia and experienced amazing self-actualization and personal growth. My internship with FSD helped me professionally as well and was instrumental in securing my fellowship with Climate Corps Bay Area and Environmental Education nonprofit, the Green Ninja Project where I am currently at. Mauricio the onsite director is the bomb. I hope others will choose to participate in FSD's Bolivia program and take the time to do some self discovery by traveling!

They call Cochabamba, Bolivia "The City of Eternal Spring." My choice to intern abroad with the Foundation for Sustainable Development in Cochabamba truly invested me in an eternal spring. My experience with FSD brought fresh ideas into bloom, grew global relationships and showed me the power that local communities hold.

FSD welcomed and immersed me into the Cochabamban community. I engaged in a new environment with support and guidance from Mauricio and Cassandra, the program director and international program coordinator of FSD Bolivia's Site Team. Mauricio gave me sage wisdom, and with his help, I experienced not only public transportation adventures on some of the most brilliantly colored buses I've ever seen, but also the chance to ask strangers for directions in Spanish and challenge myself to rethink how I commute and communicate (and embrace getting lost in the meatpacking market along the way!).

My work as a FSD and Aldeas Infantiles intern created connections with local municipal organizations--EMSA and Gaia Pacha--to catalyze action on the global issue of environmentalism. These relationships grew from the ground up, and this spirit of collectivity grew even more so with my homestay family. The Ramirez Molina family defined my summer. Countless stories and jokes were told over early morning and late night tea (I miss mate de anís on the daily) with my madre, padre and hermano boliviano, all of whom shared their love of their city and their country with me.

In Cochabamba, big things happen through small but strong action. My FSD intern project drew from within and grew from face-to-face interactions instead of the usual text or email I expect from my studies at Northwestern University. I learned to ask not what a community needs, but rather how we can build upon the assets that a community already has.

FSD is an incredible nonprofit that thrives because it honors its mission for community-driven and -implemented change at every level of the organization. This past summer, I had the opportunity to intern at FSD's San Francisco headquarters. The office provided an incredible experience of grant reviews, marketing and staff dialogue, and I feel so lucky to have my FSD story span two continents with one organization and a continuous community.

FSD is dependable and supportive, but there is a lot of space to work, grow and establish yourself without having your hand held. The midterm retreat with the site team was a highlight and FSD's community connections really helped hit the ground running. Overall, it was a great experience in every way!