by Hannah Bernstein, Recruiter and Director of Staff Fundraising
Each year REI sends student intern teams to support the ongoing work of long-term staff in REI host countries. In the past we’ve sent students to Djibouti, Indonesia, Laos, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam. This summer we will be sending two student teams to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. The summer teams are designed for university students to gain hands-on experience in their field of study, help the in-country REI staff and make a lasting impact on the local people. Also, REI desires for student interns to experience what it could look like serving long-term with REI after graduation.
For many a short-term trip is their first exposure to life outside of the United States. In fact, for summer 2025 approximately one third of our interns applied for their first passports and for others it will be their first time outside of North America. The internship experience is critical for developing a global mindset that will be carried with them far after their short-term service. An internship has the chance to change the trajectory of a younger person's life – if they let it.
As one of the internship coordinators, it excites me to see young people gaining exposure to the world, the unique people that live in it, and their beautiful cultures in a meaningful way. This summer the interns going to Uzbekistan will tutor university students, and the interns going to Kazakhstan will participate in a Servant Leadership Academy. Exchanging cultural and academic knowledge along with friendship are some of the best ways to make a lasting impact during a short trip. And, with technology, friendships that are started on these trips are now easier than ever to maintain long term.
We provide this holistic development for interns in a 3-phase mentorship program.
Phase one includes the pre-field training weekend and several pre-departure training/coaching calls with me and in-country REI staff. The main topics covered include the following:
·      Personal Preparation: setting realistic expectations for the experience
·      Knowledge of REI: getting to know more about the organization
·      Cross-cultural Basics: navigating cultural differences well
·      Teamwork and Conflict Resolution: handling conflict respectfully
·      Building a Partnership Team: finding people to invest in you personally and financially
The training weekend is a great time to start cultivating relationships within the intern team. Historically, many REI interns have developed long-lasting friendships with one another, which has led to participating in big life events like attending each other's weddings.
Phase two is the overseas trip. Interns are mentored by long-term REI staff. Staff provide exposure to our new staff training program, which interns will participate in if they decide to serve with REI long-term after graduation. Additionally, staff conduct an on-field debrief before interns head back to the US.
Phase three is a debrief led by our recruiting department. Once interns arrive home, they may experience culture shock. Our goal with this phase is to provide a place for interns to process everything they’ve learned, how they’ve changed because of their time overseas, and decide what their next step should be having had this experience. Of course, I’m biased, and I’d love to see every intern decide to join REI staff after graduation. But, I do hope the long-term impact of their overseas experience will enable them to be successful in their future endeavors wherever they are. Click here to read about two REI staff that began as interns and are now serving full-time in Indonesia.
While the application for the summer 2025 internship is closed, we are looking forward to summer 2026. The 2026 application will open in September 2025. If you or someone you know is a current undergraduate or graduate student looking for a unique summer experience where you get to develop your character, serve others, and gain professional experience, we’d love to have you apply for summer 2026. Visit our Get Started page and complete our interest form to connect with one of our recruiters and learn more.