Program Reviews

I interned for a grassroots organization the Summer of 2018 and took part in a reusable sanitary pad production and hygiene education project. It was my first time in Africa. I came to Uganda not knowing what to expect. With the support of people I met (my host family, the FSD team, and my colleagues), I learned a lot about community development and sustainable work through field work. The FSD team provided training (how to conduct community assessment, submit budgets, Luganda (language) lessons, etc) to better prepare interns. People in the neighborhood were friendly and went out of their way to integrate me into the local culture and community. I was inspired by the local youth's desire for entrepreneurship and drive to help their own community.

During the Summer of 2011, I participated in the Global Engagement Studies Institute (GESI), a Group Engage partnership model between the Foundation for Sustainable Development and Northwestern University. GESI is a unique credit-bearing program that combines intensive asset-based community development coursework with 8-10 weeks of team-based asset-based fieldwork with one of FSD’s community partners in Bolivia, India, Nicaragua and Uganda. As a FSD/GESI intern, I spent the summer at one of Udaipur’s oldest and largest NGOs, Seva Mandir. While Seva Mandir’s commitment to “democratic and participatory development” manifests in myriad program areas including education, women’s empowerment, youth development and social enterprise, I worked in Seva Mandir’s health department. Specifically, my GESI team of three worked alongside Seva Mandir’s Community Care Center (CCC), a HIV/AIDS clinic providing clinical and counseling support to local patients.

During my 10 weeks, I had the privilege of first, interviewing clinic patients to better understand their individual and collective barriers to access, regimented care, and stable health, and second, collaborating with Seva Mandir staff to develop and pilot test a small-scale two-part programmatic response consisting of a patient-driven pillbox/chart system and new education materials for clinicians. While parts of our project inevitably failed, my time with Seva Mandir taught me that equally important to the goals of development are the methods by which they are realized – that the process matters. Through the GESI program, the Foundation for Sustainable Development and Northwestern University opened my eyes to the value, intention and necessity of asset-based community development and ignited a life-long commitment to thoughtful international development work.

I traveled to Kakamega with FSD in 2010 on a GST for 4 weeks. A fellow student at SUNY Geneseo had discovered FSD and decided to put an ad in the college newspaper to see how interested other students might be. I luckily stumbled upon it and it has truly shaped my life for the better.

8 other students and I worked abroad with Daisy Special School on three different initiatives; solar cooking, water harvesting and income generation. Before I got to Kakamega, I had had an understanding of sustainable grassroots development, but had never seen or understood how to implement it.

I was incredibly impressed with how FSD managed to not only help us complete huge projects (we planted over 300 trees for both nutrients and harvesting, learned/taught Daisy how to use solar cookers, and installed/taught maintenence of three 250 gallon water tanks), but FSD also gave us lessons in Swahili, alotted us numerous days reviewing our progress and our ever progressing understanding of "sustainable development", provided us host families, and even brought us to neighboring towns for a greater understanding of Kenyan culture.

After my internship I went on to graduate with a degree in International Relations in the Developing World and am looking forward to spending 6 months working in Kenya as a Program Coordinator. I can't wait to help teach others even a little bit of what FSD has taught me.

The saying goes "teach a man to fish and he eats forever". FSD has taught me not only how to teach a man to fish, but also to teach him how to teach others, so the whole community can eat.

I did FSD's Salta program last semester and it was easily one of the best summers of my life. FSD really eased my transition into living and working abroad, and also broadened my perspective about sustainable development and service work. An orientation at the beginning of the program helped to acquaint us to the city of Salta and served as an easy transition period. Salta is a gorgeous city with a mild climate and friendly population. It is easy to navigate, and virtually every corner has a tienda selling anything you may need. During orientation we went on a scavenger hunt to familiarize ourselves with the city, climbed el cerro San Bernardo where we could see over the entire city, leaned about Saltenan and Argentine culture, and got to know the other interns and FSD's staff.

FSD pairs inters with organization based their interests and skills. I got to work with Fundacion HOPe, an NGO who supports those affected by a child's cancer. HOPe was the perfect fit for me, as I love children and would like to be a doctor one day. FSD's host organizations cover a broad scope of topics, for example environmentalism, entrepreneurship and education. The site team provided constant support throughout our internships, providing advice on hot to create an effective, sustainable work plan at weekly meetings. They helped me improve me grant writing skills through workshops and offered feedback on my grant before submission. The Salta FSD staff really looks out for the well-being of their interns, and is always eager to help you with anything you may need, whether it be advice on where to find the best cafe con leche or provide accompaniment to the doctor's office.

The best part of my stay was getting to know my host family. It was a great way to familiarize myself and participate in Argentine culture while making life-long friends. FSD's host families are so open and friendly, and are eager to hos the interns. Among all the great experiences I had in Salta, sitting with and talking to my host mom after dinner was my favorite.

I would recommend FSD Salta to anyone who is interested in sustainable development and wants to strengthen their profession skills while meeting some incredible people.

Please feel free to ask me any questions you have about the program!

I had participated in two month-long global experiences with different organizations prior to my FSD program. FSD stood out with its emphasis on community partnership and sustainability. They really made participants think about their role within the project, and how they could empower the community to take an active role in the project. This was incredibly refreshing, as the other trips I went on encouraged a savior mentality.
With the FSD program I had an opportunity to interact with locals daily, and it was an enriching experience. Living standards for the students were incredible, and they all greatly enjoyed their home stays.

When I first decided to leave my day job and give volunteering/interning abroad a whirl, I was overwhelmed with the opportunities out there. The first thing I noticed was that a lot of the opportunities offered revolved around teaching English or constructing a building. My background wasn't rooted in teaching and I was looking for a transition into sustainable development, not aid. I was when I found FSD's site and realized that what they were offering was exactly what I was looking for. They offered three different areas that I was really looking for in a program -- cultural integration, (real) project development, and support. After checking with an old college professor about the organization, I decided to apply. The cost of the program was the only thing that was the only thing that had me concerned -- I was essentially paying a lot of money to work for free. Yet, I later realized FSD practices what they preach. The fees for the program allow the organization to function without depending on donations.

From the very start FSD was really involved in the process. It included an interview with the local site team, which was both an introduction and an opportunity to further express the type of work I was hoping to do. After the interview, the site team helped me with the visa application and promptly sent me my host organization and host family information. The support didn't stop there. Once I was in Udaipur, I received a week-long orientation on how to both practically and culturally navigate my time in Udaipur. After the orientation the site team checked in with me at least once a week, but were always available if I needed assistance. The support covered helping me find soap to giving constructive criticism -- that really helped! -- during my project. The site team also facilitated both cultural and development related activities. The activities included Q&As with prominent figures in the community, cultural activities, and exposure to different fields of development. We even went on a midterm retreat to Northern Rajasthan.

The key to the cultural integration, which was also the best part of the internship, was the host family. Living with the host family gave me a different perspective. My host mom was the sweetest woman and she suffered through my painstaking nights of trying to learn how to cook and learn hindi like a champ. She also included me in family activities, introducing me to her extended family, bringing me to weddings and patiently responded to all the questions I had about Udaipur/Indian culture.

The third part was the project development with a host organization. This was really important to me from the beginning. I was looking for a program of substances, which is why I opted for FSD over teaching English/volunteering. I was taught about FSD's approach to sustainable development, which was really important when I settled into the organization. The staff members, who after a few weeks became friends, had a really strong understanding of FSD's ABCD approach to development. We worked with the communities and clients to create a project. In addition, I was able to support on-going projects within the organization. The collaboration was a great experience, one that I felt I was able to obtain a better understanding of the reality of development and to contribute my own skill set to the organization.

The length of my internship was for six months. During my time I felt like I was able to accomplish what I set out to do. I learned about the practical applications to international development, I successfully integrated into a new culture, and had some good ole' fashioned fun.

I interned with FSD in in the city of Jodhpur. I was an intern during the summer of 2013. I was introduced to the program by a professor at my University. A key benefit of the program was the professional experience that it provided. As a college student I felt I needed a practical component to complement the monotony of pure academics. The program was able to provide "real world experience". This practical experience has been invaluable when applying for jobs. Beyond giving me professional experience I was able to develop important relationships with other program participants as well as staff. The staff always had our backs and made us feel safe for the duration of our internship.

As a major in International Relations the program was a perfect fit. Towards the end of my college career the program helped me define a career path. This was important due to the fact that Liberal Arts majors have a period of anxiety about what they will do after graduation. The internship gave me insight into my desire for a career in International Affairs and specifically development. The issues I was exposed to during my internship spurred me to investigate them in greater depth when back at school.

Every intern lives with a host family and works at a specific NGO. My host family was extremely welcoming and determined to feed me as much as possible. I am still in contact with them today. You will come across conditions that you may not be accustomed to like squat toilets or occasional blackouts. I was aware of these conditions before I left, so it did not bother me. Jodhpur is great city to experience a part of india. It is small enough that I did not feel overwhelmed but big enough to provide actives and places to chill out (restaurants and bars).

After several months of research into ALL abroad organizations, FSD stood out as best bang for my buck, and I loved the mission of long-term sustainability. I interned with FSD in Kenya in 2007 for many reasons, but mainly to move my career into a different direction, toward my passion for giving back to others in the world after being stuck in a dead-end job after I graduated college. The experience is very challenging (mostly on a personal level) and requires initiative, self-reflection, and flexibility. It is set up to provide both independence/freedom with what you get out of it and contribute, while always having a strong support network (and educational trainings) through the staff, host-organization, and family- as well as other interns. I was there during political unrest and ended up being evacuated early. Little did I know at the time how much FSD impacted me. As I left Kenya I realized that it was so life-changing that I needed to return, and it had to be with FSD. I returned as a field coordinator with FSD and now I work in headquarters. Yes, I am a staff now, but I want you to know my story and why I have stayed with FSD. My internship in Kenya required me to take initiative and learn about what sustainability REALLY looks like in the field, and completely shifted my idealistic views of international community-based development work. My biggest take away from my internship- development is not about helping others and giving them solutions, it is about collaboration, relationship-building and appreciating different perspectives.

Also- I LOVED my host-family and am still in touch!

My time in Udaipur India is something I will never forget. Not because it was abroad or "exotic." Though India is amazing in itself, it was because of what we did and who we met. FSD as apparent in it's name is about development for the community you become a part of. It is not about coming as a rich foreigner and leaving with pictures of children and talking about a library you built for people that didn't even want it.

FSD's mission is much deeper about that. It is about actually work with the community you're with and for THEM to be the innovators and change makers in whatever project you assist with. To create something sustainable and lasting that actually benefits and is used by the community.

The other half of being an intern for FSD is the amazing cultural experience you'll be having. Between your host family, your organization, and whatever community you'll be working with, you are going to meet a lot of amazing people. India is somewhere I'll never forget not necessarily because of the work I did but the people I met. I now have dozens of friends and de-facto family in India now that I hope to (and plan on) return to and visit many times over the years. From my coworkers in the village I was in, to my host family in Udaipur, the people I met were amazing.

So if you're think about interning abroad, you will not get a more genuine and meaningful experience than FSD.

My experience with FSD in India not only allowed me to develop professionally, but also to undergo personal growth in unimaginable ways. If you're open to new cultural experiences, passionate about grassroots development and unconventional learning, then this opportunity is for you!

India is an amazing country with vibrant and complex cultures. Udaipur is a charming desert city enveloped in the ancient Aravali Mountains and known for its iconic network of lakes. Udaipur is a safe city with a wealth of opportunities for involvement in local development initiatives, recreational activities and community engagement.

Of course no program is perfect, and participating in a program in an entirely different cultural context presents new challenges and frustrations. While organization and structure can always be improved, the internship program is a unique educational opportunity and cross-cultural experience. An intern's work in country is often referred to as a project, but it's important to keep in mind that interns are in no way obligated to devise comprehensive development projects. In fact, some of the most successful intern initiatives involve contributing to the host organization's ongoing efforts or existing programs, which the program can emphasize more.

If you're still interested, don't hesitate to apply!