AP's Eldest Residents Reflect on their Summer Work Internship Experiences

Rotha enjoyed gaining experience in IT

development during his internship at 

NokorIT in Phnom Penh. 

Last month the Internship Program came to a close after many months of hard work and dedication from the students and staff. The internships began August 1st and were completed at the end of September. Many months of planning went into the program, as the students participated in a number of job preparation trainings where they learned a variety of skills necessary before entering the workforce. The six participants did an amazing job sourcing their internships independently in the area of their individual interests.

AP staff conducted a number of monitoring field visits to the students placements to see the work environments first hand and develop a relationship with the students supervisors. The students completed a ‘Midway Report’ halfway through their internships, which encouraged them to reflect on their experiences and create goals for the remainder of their placements. Once the internships were completed, each participant presented photo’s during a final presentation that summarized their experience overall.

Each student had a unique experience as they describe in the following paragraphs:

Chanty : Chanty worked as an Art and English teacher at a local organization, ELIC. He is a talented artist with a passion for encouraging others to express themselves through art. He enthusiastically biked to his internship every day eager to see his students. “I feel so happy to work at ELIC. I enjoy it there. I like all the kids and they like me.”

Theara : Having previously worked in a salon, Theara decided to continue on this path and spend her internship at SreyMom Beauty Salon. She developed a close relationship with her supervisor, and is eager to spend more time at the salon whenever she can. “My favorite part of my internship is learning about manicure and makeup.”

Rotha : Rotha spent his internship at Nokor-IT, a Phnom Penh based international IT company. He has a special interest in web design and applications. He integrated well with his colleagues and received positive feedback from his supervisor. “I felt surprised about people there because they are very friendly people and kind to me.”

Chiev : Architect Design Intelligence (ADI) welcomed Chiev for his internship. Taking a strong interest in architecture, Chiev was happy to learn about building, landscape and interior design, site planning, making model homes and more. “My favorite part of my internship is to make models and drawing plans.”

Sreymach : Sreymach was welcomed into LySrey Vyna Medical Clinic for her internship. With an interest in the medical field, she gained valuable experience by organizing the medicine, learning how to read medicine labels, and improving her communication skills while occasionally acting as the clinic cashier. “They teach me a lot, and really want me to know what it is like being a doctor”

Ven Sophy : Ven spent his internship at Vulnerable Children Assistance Organization (VCAO), an organization in the Phnom Penh dumpsite community of Steung Meanchey, serving underprivileged children. Ven taught a class of 20-25 children basic computer programs. “They (the students) like me and they always say hi to me, they want to learn from me, and the teachers there like me!"

Overall, we are very proud of the internships students and are excited to continue the program next year!