My internship in Buenos Aires: Colorado Senior shares his experience

Josh Braun is back home in Colorado after completing his public policy internship in Buenos Aires, Argentina with Connect-123. His internship focused on sustainable development policy in Buenos Aires, as measured under the tenets of the UN sustainability goals. This fall Josh returns to the University of Colorado to kick off his senior year. He is studying International Affairs, Spanish and Russian.

We ask Josh about the highlights of his internship, and how it impacted his future career and education choices.

Tell us a bit about your internship. What was your work about?

I interned at the Provincial Government of Buenos Aires in the Department of Sustainability and Social Responsibility. The Department helps cities in Buenos Aires work toward sustainability goals, many of which come from the United Nations. It acts as an intermediary between the UN and the cites and provides resources and information on how to best work towards sustainability goals. The Department also works with international bodies such as ISO, the International Organization for Standardization.

Most of my internship was focused on sustainable development, and applying a specific ISO standard to municipalities in the province. This standard is a collection of indicators that help cities and municipalities evaluate their sustainable development progress. The process was much more difficult than I anticipated! However, it was incredibly gratifying to work on something that I found so interesting and that was making a tangible and positive impact on Argentina’s future.

What was the best part of your internship?

How did Connect-123 enhance your internship experience?

Connect-123 was great, from the planning stage of my internship months before I left, to finding me housing and a host organization. The whole process is very user-friendly and went smoothly. I especially liked the level of independence that Connect-123 provides. You have a safety net if things go wrong in any way, but you also have a level of independence that allows you to gain some real-life experience as an international student interning and working abroad.

What would you say to anyone considering an internship abroad?

I would wholeheartedly recommend Connect-123!

If you’re looking for relevant and valuable life experience working and living abroad, then Connect-123 is your ticket to do just that!

Whether you’re planning a gap year, still in college like me, or have recently graduated, those are all perfect times to go abroad. You’ll learn about and work in a different culture while also learning loads about yourself and your interests and desires.