After completing Global Nomads Group’s Student to World, virtual exchange alumni who are eager for more engagement with their peers can apply to the Content Creation Lab (CCL) internship program, an opportunity to develop online content and design Student to World courses. Among these interns were Heidi and Younes, two alumni who were excited to stay engaged with the program. Heidi, a student at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, U.S., and Younes, a student at Med Laid Al-khalifa High School in Algeria, joined this close-knit cohort of interns from across the U.S. and MENA region to create content that would advance interpersonal competencies and develop connections with one another.

The internship created a space to foster closer relationships with their fellow alumni, learning more about one another’s backgrounds and perspectives. Through online group meetings, icebreakers, team-building activities, and informal virtual conversations, alumni interns developed a greater appreciation for the similarities and differences in their everyday lives, including school, interests, and hobbies. Heidi noted that by responding to prompts in their group chat, they were able to open up and get to know one another. “I was able to learn so much about my peers. It was really cool to see how all of our answers either varied greatly (favorite meals, school subjects, music, and what our yards look like) or were surprisingly similar (favorite sports, hobbies, and movies).”

A key component of this youth-centric internship is building skills like active listening, creative thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving. Specialized skills training sessions, focused on curriculum development, marketing, and video production, offered a chance for the interns to learn and engage on both a personal and professional level. In one activity, participants were asked to create a video about two favorite products bought from a local business and from a larger corporation. “I really discovered how objects differ from one person to another; from books and perfumes to CDs and necklaces. That was amazing to learn,” said Younes.

During their time together, the CCL interns developed new Student to World courses around topics like Architecture, Film & Media, Finance, Medicine, and Scientific Research. They successfully planned out their tasks and strategic goals, interviewed experts, analyzed research and data, and developed rich content that is original, informative, accessible, and action-oriented for young people around the world. Equally important, the 2022 CCL Alumni Interns are more confident in their ability to achieve their personal goals, whatever they might be, and are walking away from this experience with new friendships and a rekindled commitment to creating lasting social change. “[In] the end, GNG’s summer internship showed me [that] I can turn my efforts and time [into] real change,” said Younes.