Name: Madison Carter
Class Year: 2025
Major: Psychology
Minor: Africana Studies
Internship Organization: Die Gelbe Villa
Internship Title: Creative Learning and Workshop Facilitation Intern
Location: Berlin, Germany
What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!
I worked with children ages six to sixteen assisting them with building social, political, and creative skills. Each week I worked alongside 3-7 workshop leaders, five voluntary social year workers, and two other IES interns to guide students through topics of democratic, climate, and social justice issues. These children came from varied school environments and were separated into small groups for workshops. I assisted in fashion and sustainability workshops, short filmmaking, wood workshops, AI image generation and photography comic strip workshops, and a happiness workshop. I was also trusted with planning potential project excursions for students to gain exposure beyond the villa.
Why did you apply for this internship?
I applied for this internship because it stood out to me among the other options offered to me. This workshop not only allowed me to gain experience with children but mainly children of different cultural backgrounds that come from predominantly low-income families. I want to uplift and support adolescents of these demographics now and in my future career. The villa prioritizes not only education and open learning discussions but also creative expression in various forms. Two topics that I both value and have interest in.
Was there anything special about how you found this internship?
I immediately connected with my supervisors while interviewing with them and formed a quick bond that foreshadowed the relationship we were meant to have while working with this organization.
What has been your favorite part of this internship?
Meeting and making connections with the brilliant children that come to the villa. Additionally, the relationships I cultivated with the faculty/staff and interns that work with the villa. They made my experience in Berlin and with this organization one that I will never forget and will maintain through the next chapter of my life post-graduation.
What is something you have learned from your internship that you didn’t expect?
I learned that I am very resilient and able to navigate and thrive in different working environments even when they are speaking a language that I cannot understand.
What has been the biggest challenge you have faced at your internship?
The biggest challenge was the language barrier. I do not know any German and was told that most of my internship would be English speaking, however this was not the case. I was able to adapt using different forms of communication with an emphasis on nonverbal communication and being attentive towards body language.
Can you talk about the skills you learned and why they are important to you?
I continued to grow leadership skills in a constantly changing environment, embracing flexibility with schedule developments, advocacy skills, and continuing to work in childcare and make connections. These skills are important to me because they show that I am adaptable and prioritize growth and service. They help shape who I am becoming and emphasize that I show cross-cultural adaptability.
What is most rewarding about your internship?
Meeting the kids and working with them.
Was this internship what you expected it to be?
It was not what I was expecting at all but turned out to be even better than I could have hoped.
Can you give us three adjectives and three nouns that describe your internship experience?
Dynamic, resilient, creative
connection, community, perspective