FSD Internship Programs
"Experiencing the culture and learning the customs, and interacting with the people are crucial in the field of sustainable development, not only to be able to understand the problems better, but also to gain respect. Overall, the experience has been challenging, rewarding and inspiring". –
Lori Parks, 2005 Summer Internship Program
Biosfera - La Plata, Argentina
Summer Internships are structured and highly supported eight or nine week programs during May-August. They include weekly trainings on development topics, language support, a grant competition of up to $1000 for development projects, and group travel.
Long Term Internships start each September and January and provide invaluable long-term experience living and interning abroad, while developing essential skills for a potential career in international development. An intensive orientation, regular development trainings, langauge support, and grant competition are included in this structured, highly supported program.
Customized Internships are 8-52 weeks long and provide a time flexible, independent structure. Development training is offered along with a grant competition of up to $1000 for development projects.
Spanish Immersion Internships are 8-52 weeks long and take place in Cochambamba, Bolivia. The program allows beginner Spanish students to study intensive language skills prior to interning with a host organization.
Application Process Visit our application page.
What is an FSD Internship?
FSD’s integrated Internship Program is an opportunity to immerse yourself in a developing community abroad. It is an opportunity to push yourself, to re-define your perspective, to test your knowledge and adaptability, to build relationships, and to bear witness to the challenges of grassroots development. It is also an opportunity to contribute and make an impact, although it is inevitable that you will walk away more changed than the community you've worked with.
FSD facilitates your connection to a developing community abroad. We will place you with a community development organization in your area of interest in one of our nine Partner Communities abroad. During your internship, our local Country Director and US Citizen Program Assistant are available to support and guide you as you navigate your relationships with your host family, your host organization, and your host community. FSD offers you tools and resources to support a safe and educational encounter with grassroots development. What you do with those resources and this incredible opportunity, is up to you.
Program Components
Each of the programs below includes:
- an individual internship with a community development organization
- an individual family homestay
- access to grants for development projects
- orientation, evaluation, and debriefing sessions
- language support
- pre-departure and ongoing in-country support
- limited travel-medical insurance.
The FSD Internship Program has immense value as an experiential learning experience, and FSD will support those individuals who wish to earn academic credit for their participation from their University.
Host Organizations
FSD maintains relationships with approximately 160 community-based development organizations in eight countries worldwide.
Internships are available with organizations that work in a variety of issue areas, including, but not limited to:
- Health: Nutrition, HIV/AIDS, Malaria, Reproductive
- Education: Youth Development, English, Leadership, Sports
- Human Rights: Legal Advocacy
- Women's Issues: Women’s Empowerment
- Environment: Conservation, Sustainable Agriculture
- Microfinance: Business Development and Capacity Building
- Community Development: Umbrella organizations and multi-disciplinary initiatives
To learn more about specific internships, search for opportunities by country, region, or focus area.
Once you've found the FSD Partner Organization(s) that parallels your interests, contact FSD to get in touch with past FSD Interns who have worked with that organization to learn about their experience.
Internship Content
Specific internship activities vary widely according to the type of organization, their current programs and access to resources. Specific internship activities will also vary according to the intern's skill set and the amount of time they have committed to the host organization.
Most host organizations will have a basic idea of the internship content prior the intern's arrival, based upon the intern's application and discussions with the FSD International Staff. Work plans are developed in greater detail by the Intern and his or her supervisor during the first few weeks of the internship with the support and facilitation of the FSD International Staff.
We have found that the key to a successful internship lies not so much in the specific activities undertaken, but rather in your attitude towards them. It is crucial to approach your internship with a humble willingness to support your host organization and an ability to flexibly consider and balance your organization's needs, the community's needs, your skill set, your time frame, and the resources available.
During your internship you will observe the organization's operations and shadow and accompany your colleagues as they execute their role. While it may seem boring, these aspects of the internship are crucial to developing an understanding of your host organization and your host community, and to earning their trust.
You will also have the opportunity to expand upon or augment the operations of your host organization. Many interns have chosen to contribute through coordinating or leading needs assessments, capacity building workshops, grant writing, or public awareness campaigns.
Your internship will include some mundane tasks. It will include some downtime and some frustrating moments. It will also bring you face to face with incredibly unique opportunities to learn and contribute. You will encounter unforgettable people, situations, and moments, which will shape your understanding of yourself and your host community, and the way you think about development.
Summer Internships are structured and highly supported eight or nine week programs during May-August. They include weekly trainings on development topics, language support, a grant competition of up to $1000 for development projects, and group travel.
Long Term Internships start each September and January and provide invaluable long-term experience living and interning abroad, while developing essential skills for a potential career in international development. An intensive orientation, regular development trainings, langauge support, and grant competition are included in this structured, highly supported program.
Customized Internships are 8-52 weeks long and provide a time flexible, independent structure. Development training is offered along with a grant competition of up to $1000 for development projects.
Spanish Immersion Internships are 8-52 weeks long and take place in Cochambamba, Bolivia. The program allows beginner Spanish students to study intensive language skills prior to interning with a host organization.
Application Process Visit our application page.
What is an FSD Internship?
FSD’s integrated Internship Program is an opportunity to immerse yourself in a developing community abroad. It is an opportunity to push yourself, to re-define your perspective, to test your knowledge and adaptability, to build relationships, and to bear witness to the challenges of grassroots development. It is also an opportunity to contribute and make an impact, although it is inevitable that you will walk away more changed than the community you've worked with.FSD facilitates your connection to a developing community abroad. We will place you with a community development organization in your area of interest in one of our nine Partner Communities abroad. During your internship, our local Country Director and US Citizen Program Assistant are available to support and guide you as you navigate your relationships with your host family, your host organization, and your host community. FSD offers you tools and resources to support a safe and educational encounter with grassroots development. What you do with those resources and this incredible opportunity, is up to you.
Program Components
Each of the programs below includes:
- an individual internship with a community development organization
- an individual family homestay
- access to grants for development projects
- orientation, evaluation, and debriefing sessions
- language support
- pre-departure and ongoing in-country support
- limited travel-medical insurance.
The FSD Internship Program has immense value as an experiential learning experience, and FSD will support those individuals who wish to earn academic credit for their participation from their University.
Host Organizations
FSD maintains relationships with approximately 160 community-based development organizations in eight countries worldwide.
Internships are available with organizations that work in a variety of issue areas, including, but not limited to:
- Health: Nutrition, HIV/AIDS, Malaria, Reproductive
- Education: Youth Development, English, Leadership, Sports
- Human Rights: Legal Advocacy
- Women's Issues: Women’s Empowerment
- Environment: Conservation, Sustainable Agriculture
- Microfinance: Business Development and Capacity Building
- Community Development: Umbrella organizations and multi-disciplinary initiatives
To learn more about specific internships, search for opportunities by country, region, or focus area.
Once you've found the FSD Partner Organization(s) that parallels your interests, contact FSD to get in touch with past FSD Interns who have worked with that organization to learn about their experience.
Internship Content
Specific internship activities vary widely according to the type of organization, their current programs and access to resources. Specific internship activities will also vary according to the intern's skill set and the amount of time they have committed to the host organization.
Most host organizations will have a basic idea of the internship content prior the intern's arrival, based upon the intern's application and discussions with the FSD International Staff. Work plans are developed in greater detail by the Intern and his or her supervisor during the first few weeks of the internship with the support and facilitation of the FSD International Staff.
We have found that the key to a successful internship lies not so much in the specific activities undertaken, but rather in your attitude towards them. It is crucial to approach your internship with a humble willingness to support your host organization and an ability to flexibly consider and balance your organization's needs, the community's needs, your skill set, your time frame, and the resources available.
During your internship you will observe the organization's operations and shadow and accompany your colleagues as they execute their role. While it may seem boring, these aspects of the internship are crucial to developing an understanding of your host organization and your host community, and to earning their trust.
You will also have the opportunity to expand upon or augment the operations of your host organization. Many interns have chosen to contribute through coordinating or leading needs assessments, capacity building workshops, grant writing, or public awareness campaigns.
Your internship will include some mundane tasks. It will include some downtime and some frustrating moments. It will also bring you face to face with incredibly unique opportunities to learn and contribute. You will encounter unforgettable people, situations, and moments, which will shape your understanding of yourself and your host community, and the way you think about development.