Growing While Serving Refugees as an Intern

GoTEN is excited to enter its 10th year hosting interns for an 8-week, extensive growth program held at the training center in Central Phoenix. Each year, a number of young adults choose to spend their summer as part of the GoTEN team, living within the refugee community, volunteering in GoTEN’s refugee outreach programs, and shadowing experienced team members as they do life with their refugee friends. Interns also have the unique opportunity to develop relationships of their own within the community, meeting friends from countries that they more than likely had not met people from before. The drive behind this program is to provide a unique opportunity for life-changing growth, which is a challenge that GoTEN is honored to take. Take a look at some of the key instances of growth that interns often experience during their time on our team:

Growth Through a Community of Peers

One distinct benefit to GoTEN’s internship program is that it is a shared experience with up to 11 other interns, generally within a similar age range. It has been our experience that interns, regardless of their personal interests or background, tend to come together under the shared desire to serve God and serve the refugee community. Close bonds develop over the summer, and many interns develop friendships with each other that last beyond their time in Phoenix. Once they’ve had a chance to strengthen and develop over time, peer groups are also great at challenging and pushing each other, leading to even more growth within each intern. 

Growth Through Wise Counsel 

GoTEN’s team boasts a wide variety of experience. From general life experience, to experience spanning across multiple ministry avenues, to experience serving and relating to the world’s many different people groups, GoTEN’s staff has team members that can provide sound wisdom and guidance. God has blessed our organization with a staff of servant-hearted people that also enjoy teaching and guiding. No matter what area an intern could benefit from growth in, a teammate will be there and excited to provide constructive, experience-based guidance. 

Growth Through Engagement 

The core activity behind GoTEN’s internship program is being immersed in the local refugee community, looking for opportunities to connect and serve. Whether in an English class, a Kids Program event, or sitting in someone’s home helping a family fill out a confusing document, interns that proactively search for opportunities to serve will find plenty of space to stretch their abilities, picking up new skills along the way. Through their service, interns also develop a greater understanding of the needs of people displaced around the world.

The growth opportunities that take place in Phoenix through the summer, combined with the hands-on training and experience gives interns a leg up as they go into their professional lives, whether in a similar industry or a different one altogether. Know someone that could benefit from a summer internship with us in Phoenix? Our application deadline of March 31st is approaching. Inquire and apply online!