Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Introducing Taylor, Our Summer Intern!


Hello everyone,

My name is Taylor Stephens and I will be serving as an intern for Visedal in Nicaragua this summer. I would like to use this first blog to share a little about myself and my background, and some of my goals for the summer.

Waiting for lunch with Nadiuska in December 2012.
I am currently a rising senior at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, where I am majoring in Government with a History minor. Around campus, I am actively involved with the admissions office through the tour guide program and with my social fraternity. Throughout my time at college, I have gained valuable experience in international service during trips to Haiti with a group of my peers and Nicaragua with Visedal. Last summer, I had the opportunity to intern in Washington D.C. for Civic Enterprises, a bipartisan consulting firm specializing in education and social mobility. I am also currently in the process of developing an honors thesis, to be completed during my senior year on the unintended market consequences of certain types of non-governmental aid organization intervention. While I strongly believe in the positive implications of the work of Visedal, I will use some of my free time in Nicaragua to explore instances in which other forms of aid intervention has stunted, or sometimes reversed, economic, and social development.

While working with the Visedal scholars on the winter trip, they indicated they would love to learn more about English, technology and community service during my internship this summer. During my stay, I am hoping to work on two projects that incorporate all three of these interests. The first project will allow the scholars to write, direct and edit videos they will make for their sponsors, which I believe will help allow for greater communication and collaboration between sponsors and scholars in the future. The second project will allow the older kids to learn more about community service and what makes a project successful.  The older scholars will then develop a project that can either be completed towards the end of my stay or on the winter trip this upcoming December. I look forward to serving as a resource as the scholars explore their interests within these two projects, and will keep all of you up to date as we progress.

I would also like to take time to thank all of the people and groups that have made this trip possible. First, I would like to thank my family for all of their love and support. I would like to thank the Charles Center at the College of William & Mary for encouraging me to intertwine my honors thesis with my desire to serve with Visedal, and Ben Boone for introducing me to Dylan and the work of Visedal. I would also like to thank all of our friends and family, and especially my church family at St. James Lutheran Church in Coopersburg for all of their support. Lastly, I would like to thank Daniel Schutrum-Boward and Esmir Calderon for serving as awesome resources as I prepare for my internship experience. I feel truly blessed to have the opportunity to travel to Nicaragua to work with these incredible kids, for an organization I believe is making sustainable long-term improvements in a community, all with the love and support of so many people.

Until next time,
Taylor

Taylor Stephens
intern.visedal@gmail.com

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