Name: Nelid Rios Morales
Class Year: 2024
Major: Sociology
Minor: Latin American, Iberian, and Latina/o Studies
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Internship Organization: IES - Santiago
Job Title: Colectiva Manifesta Foundation
Location: Ñuñoa, Chile
What's happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!
I am working at Colectiva Manifiesta, an organization that helps queer immigrants in Chile by providing emotional support and economic support. Every Thursday, I attend a workshop that immigrants attend to explore their identities. Attending these workshops has helped me get to know them and listen to their stories of why they decided to come to Chile. I have learned the discrimination immigrants face from coming illegally and how it limits their opportunities here. I am working on producing a podcast that highlights the issues queer immigrants face in Chile. The purpose of this podcast is to demonstrate more visibility and for their voices to be heard. In order to have an outline of the episodes, I have to interview the participants. They are very open to telling us their stories during the interview.
Why did you apply for this internship?
I applied to IES to pursue an international internship in Chile which was important for me as a sociology major and a Latin American, Iberian, and Latina/o Studies minor. As a sociology major, I am interested in learning about Chilean culture, tradition, and food. It will assist me in comprehending how people's lives differ from those in the United States. Typically, these experiences aid a person's growth and enable them to return with a new perspective on life. I wanted to learn from others while also having the opportunity to intern. Pursuing an international internship would help me get out of my comfort zone and speak my native language, Spanish.
Was there anything special about how you found this internship?
Going through IES to connect me with an internship was intense. I knew that I wanted to work with an organization that helps immigrants. I was thrilled to partner with Colectiva Manifiesta and see their work to help immigrants and refugees.
What has been your favorite part of this internship?
My favorite part of this internship is producing a podcast with five episodes. I am responsible for creating the outline of the five episodes by including the titles of each episode, questions, song suggestions, and possible people to interview for each episode. Before creating an outline, I have to conduct interviews to understand the struggles queer immigrants face.
What is something you have learned from your internship that you didn't expect?
I have learned that the working environment is different from the States. For example, supervisors and workers all eat together and ask each other personal questions. I did not expect people to have this kind of relationship with each other.
Can you talk about the skills you are learning and why they are important to you?
I am learning how to interview people and ask them the right questions without overwhelming them. This skill is crucial for me in the future because I plan to become a professor, and conducting interviews is necessary for research. I am also improving my presentation skills. This skill is important in academic research when presenting our research.
What has been the biggest challenge you have faced at your internship?
I am a native Spanish speaker, but sometimes it is hard to understand them. There are certain Spanish words that I have never heard, and they also speak fast. I constantly ask them to repeat themselves or explain what certain words mean.
Can you give us three adjectives and three nouns that describe your internship experience?
Flexible, inspiring, insightful
Justice, freedom, kindness
What is most rewarding about your internship?
The most rewarding thing about my internship is learning from queer immigrants and interacting with them. They are so welcoming and also care about how I am doing. I feel like we are both learning from each other.
Was this internship what you expected it to be?
No, I thought this internship would be intense; they are flexible and caring. Even though we have assignments to get done, my supervisor is always willing to help me.
Visit the Summer Internship Stories page to read more about student internship experiences.