A sense of community away from home!
Imagine how exciting it would be to diversify your U.S.-based business with talented international professionals who are ready to share your vision and mission, while bringing unique cultural, academic and hands-on experiences! Greenheart Exchange’s Career Advancement Program aka Intern and Trainee Program sponsors international university students, recent graduates and young professionals giving them the opportunity to become an Intern or Trainee with a U.S. business. These structured and guided training programs offer the chance for cultural immersion in the U.S. and professional development in the Intern’s or Trainee’s specific academic or occupational field. Here’s Sinenhlanhla telling us about her current internship in Austin, Texas.
My name is Sinenhlanhla I am from South Africa in the Mpumalanga Province. I’m a Pastry Intern – a training program for 12 months, where I learn how to shape croissants and other morning pastries and bake from scratch. It is a real eye opener on what it takes to keep a bakery running.
The Intern and Trainee Program has had a huge impact on me because it helped me meet and connect with people from different parts of the world. On my first day here, I was paired with another J-1 Intern and we’ve been inseparable ever since that day and we call each other besties. We both come from different places and we grew up differently, and it is our first time leaving our home countries and learning to be independent away from our close family and friends back home. It’s a good program that helps one understand other cultures and beliefs and also it helps you make long lasting friendships with work colleagues and other interns.
In terms of cultural / community events Sinenhlanhla shares with her colleagues and host organization, she continues: “I came across a Coworker who performs in drag shows and I got an invite to come watch the show which was a first for me. It was beautiful show and it had many elements of athleticism and drama. It was great to see the sense of community and unity these dancers brought on stage.“
The interns like to get together and do fun activities as a group and it is perfect to know each other
more. We went on a group vacation to Disney World in Florida for three days. It was a great experience; we
grew closer as a team because we all work different shifts and at different outlets in the company. It made us feel a sense of community and as a family away from home. I now have lifelong friends from other
countries.
Are you a U.S. business interested in hosting international professionals to enrich your company with a global flavor? Visit HostGreenheartProfessionals.org to learn more.