Internship “opens the world” to students

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/steph_gilberto1.jpg” caption=”Multimedia students Stephanie Szakall and Gilberto Lontro interned with non-governmental organizations in Geneva, Switzerland.”]For the past four years, Humanities students have been given the opportunity of a lifetime to intern with non-governmental organizations in Geneva, Switzerland.

Since 2004, the Faculty of Humanities and organizations such as Franciscan's International, Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance, Action by Churches Together and the International Catholic Migration Commission have provided multimedia students with the opportunity to work as web and graphic designers and communication assistants.

“These organizations are interested in students who have technological skills and are web-savvy, but who also have good communication and research skills and a broader interest in working with social justice,” said Rowena Muhic-Day, Humanities liaison officer and coordinator of the Geneva internships.

The multimedia program requires that students also major in another subject, which makes them the perfect candidates for these positions. In fact, “these organizations came to us because of our multimedia program,” said Muhic-Day.

Currently there are six McMaster students interning in various positions with these organizations.

“I have had many memorable experiences so far, including the opportunity to meet great people that have so much influence in the international community, such as the current UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon,” said Gilberto Lontro, a multimedia and communications graduate currently interning in Geneva.

According to past and present interns, they have found themselves taking on much more responsibility than they would if they were working for large corporations.

Stephanie Szakall, also a multimedia graduate, said, “Oftentimes, if I don't know how to do something, I have no choice but to teach myself as an entire project can rely on me attaining a particular skill.”

In addition to working closely with social justice, the interns have the opportunity to experience the culture of various European countries with the affordable travel rates.

“I've taken a low-cost flight to Prague, the train to Milan, and rented a car with fellow interns for a weekend in Nice,” said Lontro.

For students who are interested in applying, Szakall said, “Don't think twice, just apply. It has been the most memorable and exciting experience of my life, and you won't regret it.”

The amount of experience and the skill-set attained during these internships is one of their greatest advantages, said Muhic-Day.

“It really opens the world up to them.”