Name: Sofia Bella Huie-Pasigan
Class Year: 2027
Major: Economics
Minor: Data Science
Internship Organization: zuka solicafé – zusammen leben e.V.
Internship Title: Sommerpraktikantinnen
Location: Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!
Liebe Freund*innen, Ich bin Sofia Bella Huie-Pasigan (sie)! In other words, dear friends, I’m Sofia Bella (she/her). I’m a rising a junior at Bryn Mawr majoring in Economics with a minor in Data Science. This summer I’ve been interning at zuka solicafé a part of zusammen leben e.V. in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany to help support their mission of living and growing together. zuka solicafé focuses on providing meals with seasonal and local produce at three different solidarity prices to provide an inclusive environment for everyone. We also provide free meals or drinks through our Sospesos “coupon” system, which is open all the time for anyone to access and is funded by customer donations! We host free events like KiKaffe, with different stations for all children regardless of ability, to play and even read from our worldwide library which has diverse children’s stories in all languages from all countries. Another event is CineArab, which showcases contemporary Arab cinema films in their original version with subtitles, including shared food and conversation, it is one of our most popular events!
Why did you apply for this internship?
Being an economics major, a summer internship in Freiburg, the “Green City” known for its environmental and sustainable practices, at first sounded pretty unconventional. However, food security and sustainability education have always been great passions of mine which has driven many of my projects and papers both in and out of Bryn Mawr. As I go deeper into my major curriculum taking classes like Developmental Economics have greatly shaped my view of the world and how economics can be used as a tool to better promote cultural competency and community. Pairing that with my involvement in community belonging through the Enid Cook Center and the Intercultural Learning and Living Center makes this the perfect way to spend my summer. Especially considering Vauban, the communal district where many homeowners actually took part in the planning of the city in late 1990’s, happens to be where zusammen garten, our community garden is located. It’s a great intercultural meeting place where around 250 people from 16 different countries regularly garden here together: whether on monthly action days or in their own garden plots it’s where I’ve also been working and spending much of my free time!
What has been your favorite part of this internship?
Helping the organization run and plan all these events while being able to connect with so many different people has been really rewarding! This was my first time in Germany and the first time I’ve ever lived by myself! Despite my initial nerves, I’ve had an amazing time. I really love the community I’ve found here, and I am so grateful to have this experience with such amazing people by my side.
Can you give us three adjectives and three nouns that describe your internship experience?
Reflective, Immersive, Grateful
Community, Connection, Fulfilment