Friday, August 12, 2016

Summer Internship in Colombia: A rewarding experience in "The city of eternal spring"

Students who will be part of the Class of 2017 have started to arrive in Bologna. Meanwhile, last year's students are completing their summer internships and are preparing to move to Washington, DC, for their second and final year of study before they graduate from SAIS.

In previous posts, students have written about their experiences in Brazil, Peru and South Africa

Today, Ileana Valle, a student pursuing the MA program and  focusing on Latin America, tells us about her experience in Medellin, Colombia.

The city of eternal spring” has been my home for the past three months. 

Since arriving to Medellin, Colombia, I have been impressed and enamored with the hospitality, resilience, food, history, and infrastructure.

My internship began at the end of May with Comfama, a non-for-profit organization based out of Medellin, which provides social protection services to over its 2.5 million beneficiaries through 150 service centers. These services include: entrepreneurial financing, housing, education, health, and recreation.

Comfama, which is financially stable and self-sufficient, began as an initiative between unions and the private sector to improve the lives of the working population and aligns with goal #10 of the Global Goals: to reduce inequality within and among countries.

My experience has been gratifying and this is due to the interaction with my colleagues. The projects, which were planned specifically for me, have allowed me to sharpen key skills, to learn about this unique social enterprise model and to lead and take ownership of the work. This translated into a high level of inclusion and sense of belonging.

Outside of work, my summer has consisted of hikng the Piedra del Peñon—a monolithic formation in the town of  Guatapé; dancing champeta in Cartagena; walking the cobble streets of Sante Fe de Antioquia; and hiking mountains in the nearby town La Estrella, located in the Central Andes. One of the most incredible views of any city.

Medellin is a magical city. Without a doubt, a charming and bustling metropolis with a stable and growing economy and impressive infrastructure. In 2014, Medellin held the 43rd place among urban centers with the highest GDP per capita in the world, according to the Brookings Institute’s Global Metro Monitor. Additionally, the city was also named the most innovative in Latin America-- a recognition given by the Wall Street Journal. This meant that Medellin was up against cities like New York and Tel Aviv--all this with the stunning Aburrá Valley as a backdrop. What's more, the strength of its people and their willingness to move forward and progress, has produced many entrepreneurs, innovators, and just simply, hardworking people.

The people here don’t shy away from strangers, less from foreigners—they’re always willing to help and make new friends. I have met and developed such great friend relationships in a short amount of time.


Ileana Valle
SAIS Europe 2016



No comments:

StatCounter