Internships Asia - Providing Practical Experience for Community Development Workers

YI'm not working with a development organization right now.  Can I still apply?e!

We believe that capacity development of organizations is just as important as individual development.  With this in mind, we want individuals who have specific plans to continue community work with an organization upon completion of the program.  If you're not connected to a development organization, you should associate yourself with one before you apply.

YI work with an organization right now, but I can't take leave to participate in your program.  What advice do you have for me?e!

You're not alone!  Many of the individuals participating in our programs have commitments with organizations back home.  Our simple advice is that we plan to continue this program long into the future, so if you're not ready now...we'll likely have something that fits your schedule in the future.  Also, if you contact us early with your interests, we may be able to meet with you and your organization to determine how - and when - we can get you involved in this program.  

YI just graduated from university. Can I apply for this program?e!

If you just graduated from university - or you're graduating soon - do not apply for this program.  However, because you just graduated, you may be automatically eligible for one of our affiliated programs for university scholars.  Please contact us (or your scholarship provider) to determine whether you would be eligible for one of these programs.

YI don't have a passport yet.  Can I still apply?e!

Of course!  In some circumstances, IA will support individuals to apply for and receive a passport because it's an important part of the logistical process.  Individuals selected into the program must have a passport by the time internships begin because all placements are located outside the country of citizenship.

YWhat if I don’t have all the application materials? Will my application be accepted?e

Everyone's situation is different, so we don't expect every applicant will have all the application materials we would like to have for the Selection Committee to make their decisions.  Your application will be accepted as long as you have submitted at least the documents listed below:

• Application Form
• Completed Essays
• Letter of Support from Your Home Organization
• Letter of Support from a Former Employer, Professor, etc

YI'm having trouble filling in the fillable PDF application forms.  What can I do?e!

If you're having trouble filling out the fillable PDF application forms, it's probable that the computer you're using doesn't have an updated copy of the free Adobe Reader (version 7 or higher).  You can download this for free by visiting Adobe's website HERE.

YAre there any costs related to applying for the program?e!

Absolutely not.  We don’t charge program fees for participants – ever. 

YWill everything be paid for if I become an intern through your program?e!

Internships Asia will provide sufficient amounts of money to cover the necessary costs related to an internship placement.  All interns must take full responsibility for the overall management of money provided by IA to cover expenses, as well as being responsible for any issues related to unnecessary or unapproved expenditures.    Some of the main items we cover are as follows:

• Round-trip transportation to and from the host organization
• Relevant visas
• Local transportation for daily work travel
• Food
• Housing
• Utilities
• Personal Care
• Emergency medical care

YWhat costs are not covered by Internships Asia?e!

We provide interns with a stipend to cover what we consider regular internship costs mentioned above.  If you want to purchase things above what we consider regular costs, you should plan on bringing some of your own money for that purpose.  A comprehensive overview of financial matters will be available to selected interns.

YHow much will my stipend be?e!

That’s difficult to say because different countries have different standards.  In general, the stipend we pay to our interns is just enough to cover your basic living expenses.  We keep stipends low to allow more individuals to benefit from this program, so you won’t have much left at the end of each month.

YHow long can I be an intern?e!

All our internship placements range from 3-6 months in duration.  The actual time varies according to the host organization, and the amount of time the intern and their home organization can arrange.  In some circumstances, internship placements may be lengthened or shortened, as long as placements are at least 3 months in duration, but no more than 6 months.

YIn which countries could I intern?e!

IA has developed relationships with organizations throughout this region - especially with ASEAN countries.  However, instead of thinking of WHERE you could go, we would encourage you to think of WHAT you could learn instead. 

YWill there be other people from my country working near my internship placement?e!

In most cases, the answer is yes.  If we don't have other interns living and working near you, we'll make an effort to introduce you to other individuals from our affiliated programs - like our university scholars.  It can be scary living and working abroad for the first time, so we encourage our participants to get to know each other.

YWhat responsibilities will I have as an intern?e!

The focus of an internship is to learn, so we place less emphasis on what type of work you'll be expected to do.  Instead, we focus on what you and your home organization want to learn during your internship, and we shape responsibilities to fulfill those learning goals.  Every placement is different, so we work personally with every intern to make sure your learning expectations match what we have to offer before you even leave your country. 

YWhat do I do when my internship has finished?e!

Based on the objectives of the Regional Internship Program, we expect you to return to your home organization to put to use the new skills and knowledge you've developed during your internship. 

YWhat if I want to go to university after my internship?e!

We encourage personal development because that's one of the purposes of this program!  However, we don't want our participants to go directly to university after an internship experience because there would be a very long delay before you could put to use any skills or knowledge you learned during your placement.  So, if you're really interested in attending university, we ask that you put your skills to use for at least 1 year with your home organization before you pursue your studies.