Sena Kaper-Dale '25 Internship Supports Refugees, Immigrants, and Asylum-Seekers
Name: Sena Kaper-Dale
Class Year: 2025
Major: Sociology
Minor: Education
Hometown: Highland Park, N.J.
Internship Organization: Programa Casa Refugiados (House of Refugees)
Internship Title: Summer Intern
Location: Mexico City, Mexico
What's happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!
This summer, I have the privilege of interning with Programa Casa Refugiados (House of Refugees) in partnership with the UNHCR in Mexico City. Casa Refugiados is an organization that provides support services to people in mobility: refugees, immigrants, and asylum seekers. Within the organization, there are different teams, such as the legal team, the psychology team, and the integration team that come together to form this support network. I am an intern in the Integration office, where we support individuals as they are adjusting to living in Mexico City, specifically in regards to education and employment. In my role, I support people between the ages of 18 and 35 as they are looking for internships, vocational technology schools, and starting their own businesses. I accompany individuals to job interviews and help administer online preparation courses that are required before receiving support with entering the workforce. Additionally, I travel with my colleagues to different immigrant shelters in the city to carry out workshops where we explain which documentation is required for formal employment. I have also had the privilege to support the Peace Education team at Casa Refugiados as they have held many different events in the month of June to commemorate World Refugee Day and promote peace among people from all over the world.
Why did you apply for this internship?
I applied for this internship because Casa Refugiados and their amazing work immediately caught my attention when I was looking into summer internships. In the past, I have worked for an organization that supports refugees, immigrants, and asylum seekers in the U.S., so I was very drawn to the idea of continuing this work in a different context and learning a new perspective on such important work. As so many people from across the world either resettle in Mexico, or pass through Mexico in route to the U.S., taking time to learn about the migration process here in Mexico City has been incredibly informative for me.
What is most rewarding about your internship?
For me, the most rewarding aspect of my internship is supporting people to successfully get job opportunities. I help a lot with the preparation process, contacting people to learn about their career interests and past work experience, and helping them take preparatory courses, but when I have the chance to listen in on their job interviews, it is wonderful to see them create successful connections and land their first jobs here in Mexico City. It is so rewarding to witness people find their stability and success.
Was this internship what you expected it to be?
The biggest challenge I have faced is understanding that in my role, many aspects of refugee support and resettlement are completely out of my control. Throughout my internship, I have sat in on meetings with my colleague where we have to tell a client that, unfortunately, we cannot support them in their job search due to a technicality with their governmental working papers and their immigration status. When working in conjunction with the government and the UN, certain aspects are fully out of our control, yet we have to deliver the news to people who have been searching for work for months on end and are in need of financial stability. I hope to continue working in this area so that one day I can make changes that will support people in mobility to make their processes less strenuous.
Through the Career and Civic Engagement Center Beyond Bryn Mawr Summer Internship Program, Bryn Mawr students pursue opportunities in fields such as nonprofits, government and law, health care, research, sciences, business, and the arts. Thanks to the generosity of our alumnae/i and donors, over 150 students across all academic departments are funded to pursue unpaid internships or research experiences in the U.S. and abroad each year.