Environmental Intern: Christine Skroski ’20
“This experience reaffirmed my goals to work in sustainable development.”
Internship: I interned at the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network - Youth Initiative. I was assigned to Global Schools Program which aims to empower schools and teachers globally to educate students on the Sustainable Development Goals. There were six other ϲ interns at my office this summer. It was amazing to already have a support network to collaborate and grow with throughout the internship!
Duties and tasks: I was primarily involved in communications and marketing. I managed our Forum of Educators and increased engagement by regularly posting content related to Education for Sustainable Development. I sent emails detailing our various comprehensive programs. I reviewed and selected candidates out of a pool of 2000 applicants from 110 countries for the Global Schools Advocate Program. I produced monthly newsletters using Mailchimp. The newsletters highlighted opportunities for educators, events, and stories of teaching Education for Sustainable Development. I reviewed, edited, and added content to a month-long online training course on edX. I also attended the UN High-Level Political Forum and participated in a roundtable on non-formal education at the UN Population Fund.
Most important takeaway: I learned how important networking is in working in sustainable development. I also learned time management and communicating to advisors when a project would take longer than the set deadline.
Best Advice: I encourage students to apply to many internships but make sure to individualize each application in order to stand out in a large pool of applicants. Start early in your search and do not give up - organizations and companies are always looking for interns!
Moving Forward: This experience reaffirmed my goals to work in sustainable development. I hope to further my marketing and communication skills as both are critical to the field. I am continuing with the Global Schools Program as a Communications Project Officer and am receiving independent study credit for my work.