Lauren Oxendine Practices Counseling & Humanitarian Action Internship in Amman, Jordan (June 15-August 3) Blog 2

Five of my weeks abroad was spent interning at Save the Children Jordan’s (SCJ) Department of Advocacy, Media, & Communications which was secured through SIT after a round of applications, cover letters, and interviews. I have really enjoyed my internship experience and it has shed light on a potential career path for me. At SCJ, I learned more about the services provided to impoverished Jordanians and Non-Jordanians living in Jordan as well as child protection services, a field that intrigues me the most. I can see myself coming back to Jordan after graduating from Rollins and really focus of bettering the lives of children, mainly since I want to ensure their safety and happiness.

                                                                                  This is a picture of me from my desk at Save the Children Jordan. It is taken from my Rollins Instagram takeover video.

My largest assignment was meeting with each program director in our office and reviewing 3-5 case study profiles from each director. This will be used to compile a final list of 10 case studies which will go on to be filmed by a professional as part of a video to celebrate Save the Children’s 100 year anniversary. Each case study focuses on a child beneficiary in Jordan and the success they’ve accomplished since gaining the resources from SCJ. There will be a mix of Jordanian and refugee beneficiaries in the final product released in the Fall.

                                                                              This image was taken by myself during a work field trip to the Zarqa Vocational Training Center which was sponsored by SCJ and the German BMZ. The event pictured is the conclusion of a young woman’s two-year training course for hairstyling and makeup application. At this event, employers observe and may hire them.

Out of this internship, I’d say the most significant gain I’ve had was strengthening my network through my fellow intern Hala and supervisor Layal as well as gain a perspective of post-college life. This experience has led me to pursue a graduate degree in Human Rights or Forced Migration studies with the goal of working within the UNHCR or other organizations that work directly with the populations they serve.

 

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