Aisling O’Doherty Student at University of Limerick, studying Business, majoring in Marketing, interned at The Waterstone Inn, Greenwood Lake, New York.

Where do I start when I’m after the most amazing experience with Project Children! I’m so surprised to say that our week with Habitat in Alabama is undoubtedly one of the best weeks of my life! Getting the chance to help those who need it and doing it with 30 odd strangers made it all the better! We had no choice but to trust each other quickly, that was definitely the case for Maria and myself the day we were hanging doors a bit of trust and a line of communication was the only thing that prevented my fingers from ending up at one with the door frame! We learned a lot about ourselves down there, If I had been told the details of what I would’ve been doing in Tuscaloosa I would’ve said both physically and mentally I wouldn’t be able! However being down there and just getting stuck in we all surprised ourselves! A huge thanks to Peter and everyone with Habitat, the week couldn’t have been any more challenging, fun and memorable all in one! I’d do it all again in the morning

After Alabama came my internship in the Waterstone Inn of Greenwood Lake, a place that became a home from home all thanks to the Mulcahy family. From the get go I was made feel welcome and included in anything they did. My Internship at the inn was a very enjoyable one. It involved a lot of interacting with the guests on check in and departure and advising them with acticities to do during their trip. This will help me a lot with my degree as I am studying marketing which is all about positive interactions with your customers. I helped out with the breakfast, the cleaning of the rooms and the laundry I was up early in the morning and free to explore in the evenings. My time here has flown by quicker than I ever thought it would! I have loved every second of it and I am so Grateful to Pat , Denis and everyone involved in Project Children for allowing me to be part of such an amazing experience! I have learned so much through this program and that will stick with me forever, I will never forget this summer. A huge thank you to Una & Sam Gormley for taking me places and inviting me to events they were all great fun! I cannot thank everyone involved enough, I am forever grateful for this experience, for the people I’ve gotten to meet and for the memories that will last forever. An opportunity of a lifetime that surpassed all of my expectations!

Caolin Grant a Graduate from University of Ulster, studied Law, interned at Bruno, Gerbino and Soriano Law office, New Jersey.

I stayed with Matt and Michelle Smith, and their two sons, Brendan and Matthew. I worked with Matt and I travelled to and from work with him each day to the office in New Jersey. Bruno, Gerbino and Soriano specialises in investigating fraudulent insurance claims. They have a significant clientele, including some of the biggest insurance companies in the United States. It was a great experience to see the more practical application of my legal studies in an unfamiliar jurisdiction.

During my internship I was involved in a number of different legal activities including depositions, arbitrations and even attending a number of different courts throughout New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. I also had a number of office duties including learning and organising the filing system, helping others with projects, as well as my own project of creating a document for the firms clients containing a list of common medical treatments they may have to asses. For this project I had to make a list of the most common treatments insurance companies had to asses, conduct medical research to learn what symptoms would require such treatments, how doctors would administer these treatments and what the health risks and benefits of each would be. This had the twofold benefit of informing the employees of our clients about medical care they would be assessing, which was useful as usually they would not be medically educated. The second benefit to creating this document was that it would be offered as a complimentary service from the firm, showing the firm would go above and beyond for their clients improving relations and maybe leading to further business.

Overall, the days were long and the work was hard but it was a most rewarding experience and would do it again in a heartbeat. I would like to thank everyone at Bruno, Gerbino and Soriano, Project Children and to my host family for giving met his opportunity and making it one of the best summers of my life.

Cliona McFarline student at University of Ulster, studying Occupational Therapy, interned at Department of Person with Disabilities, New Jersey.

My experience with Project Children was amazing start to finish! I interned with DPD , a non profit organisation which provides a range of services to help individuals and families with disabilities by 'providing help and creating hope.' I can not express into words how wonderful this organisation is, the staff are passionate about their cause and allowed me to see every programme offered! I spent time with the special needs group at the day centre, engaging clients in meaningful occupational and activities aimed to enhance their fine motor skills. Within the group homes, the nurses and I provided advice to staff on care for the clients. Through daily interactions and fund raising, I was able to get to know the clients and their personalities. I also has the chance to participate in the daily running of Straight and Narrow programmes (run by Catholic Charities also), experiencing first hand how the programmes help those with alcohol and substance abuse get back on their feet and make positive changes. These opportunities have enhanced my skills as a communicator and professional by attending to the clients individual needs. It has emphasised the importance of teamwork and how everyone's job has a positive impact on another.

Being able to experience the American healthcare system and compare to the Uk, allowed me to identity gaps in both services and think of ways that these gaps could be filled. I would like to thank project children and everyone involved in bringing us safely here and home, I will be forever in our debt for this amazing opportunity. To my host family; Scott, Mary, Julia, kaitlyn and Shannon Milliken, I can not express into words how much I am grateful for meeting you all!! Thank you so much for welcoming into your home and making me part of your family. I will cherish the memories we have made together and hope to see you all again soon. For those thinking of applying for the next Project Children internship - do it, it's the best decision you'll ever make!

Dara Kilcullen a student from Maynooth University studying Arts, interning at USG Performing Arts, Greenwood Lake, New York.

Spending seven weeks away from home with people you have never met before can be tough to adjust and settle into. Not with the people I have met all thanks to Project Children and Habitat for Humanity for giving me the chance to make a family happy and give back to them what they had lost in unfortunate events. I really did not know what to expect getting on that plane in Dublin and meeting everyone for the first time but I was glad these were the people I would be spending every minute with for the first week in Alabama. Being for that week in Alabama I don’t think I would have settled in so comfortably with my fellow interns and co-ordinators. The week in Alabama really helped everyone get to know each other and even themselves. Hard labour work really pays off in the end and we really felt such pride when we seen the faces of the families that were being given their new house.

After the week in Alabama I had begun my Internship with USG Performing Arts in Greenwood Lake, which is involved in mainly the international Rose of Tralee which I had no idea of prior coming to the States but I loved every second of it seeing as I am a man and seeing plenty of gorgeous women on a daily basis did make my life any much easier. For my first task I was to set up social media accounts for the Irish Summer Camp that was being held following month along with going to a few nearby towns to hand out fliers. After I had set up the social media accounts my next and main project was to set up a donate-to-vote campaign for the Florida Rose of Tralee which was only launched on my arrival so I was starting the Florida centre on fresh ground and I believe I helped it grow massively for the six weeks I was here. The campaign was a great success with emails and calls coming in from all around the states and Ireland to congratulate us on our achievement.

To conclude my whole seven weeks that I have spent in America on behalf of the wonderful organisation that is Project Children I would say do it. The best seven weeks you could ever possibly have at this time in your life. The people you meet the connections you make over here will follow you in your life and will be a great asset to you. I cannot thank the Gormley Family for putting up with my behaviour all the six weeks but they did and I really could not have asked for a better welcoming family like theirs. Also I would love to thank not just Project Children but Denis Mulcahy and all the Co-ordinators that make this summer possible every year for students like myself to be given a chance like I’ve had this summer and it will be forever in my heart.

Emma McAleer a student from Queens University Belfast, Studying Accounting, interned at Turning Stone Resort and Casino, Verona, New York.

This summer in Central New York, I was interning at Turning Stone Resort & Casino in 3 separate departments: Accounts Payable, Events and the Spa& Fitness Centre. This unique experience has guided me through a variety of different career options. Spending most of my time in Accounts Payable, I was entrusted with various projects: entering invoices onto their system to ensure they were paid on time; stuffing cheques; and statement of reconciliations. Accounts Payable not only dealt with the Turning Stone Resort & Casino's expenditure but also the Oneida Nation's expenditure, through other enterprises, such as their Savon Gas stations, health centres, police departments and so on.

For my 4th week of my internship, I was given the opportunity of being in the events departments, where I overshadowed events coordinators for a show girl shift and a RV One show. This gave me an insight into how much time and effort events required and also, showed me a different career option. For my final week of my internship, I observed front of house operations within the Spa and Fitness Centre of Turning Stone. With being front of house, you need excellent customer interaction skills, to ensure they have the best experience.

Whilst on my time in Central New York, I had two host families: the Matts and the Crawfords. They both lived on Oneida Lake and we got to experience boat trips, floating in tubes and the calming feeling a lake brings. On top of the lake experience, I got to travel to the wonderful Niagara Falls! The Maid of the Mist illumination tour was a breathtaking experience, with being so close to the Falls. Another trip was completed to the Adirondack mountains, up to Old Forge. We seen breathtaking views, which added to the ?adventure. Also, we went to Utica's brewery's Saranac festival and the Great American Irish Festival.

I can't thank my host families and my area coordinator, Pat Costello, enough for providing a top class experience. I have made lifelong friends and can now add this unique internship to my CV, and not many people will have endured this experience.

Grace Rivers a student from University of Ulster studying Law, interning at The Supreme Court of the State of New York.

For my internship I spent my summer in New York at the Supreme Court of the state of New York in Nassau County interning with honourable David P Sullivan. During the 6 weeks between 27th June and 5th August 2016, I participated in conferences in chambers, assisted with the administrative responsibilities of the part, and observed a full range of proceedings in the courthouse, including jury selection, pleas, hearings, trails and sentences. Interning with a judge within the Supreme Court was a privilege. Judge Sullivan put aside time to talk one on one about what he does which is specialising in the drug diversion course allowing addicts to get a second chance in their lives, instead of going to prison they are enrolled in a course to give them the support they need to fight their addiction. Over the internship I was able to observe the graduation day of the people on these programme which was an extremely rewarding experience. Over the course of the internship I visited other court rooms dealing with cases such as various sex crimes, assault, manslaughter and murder. Judge Sullivan introduced me to other judges, giving me the opportunity to have an insight into the difference of approaches judges take on particular cases they deal with.

Interning in America allowed me to develop my knowledge of the Amercian legal system through hands on experience which I could not have achieve anywhere else. The courts have a wonderful internship program with lectures on various topics such as crime scene investigation and civil law. This fantastic opportunity was a once in a life time experience which I could not have obtained without the dedicated team involved in project children. When I was not working I went to the city to do sightseeing including the high line, ground zero, the 9/11 museum and many more. On the weekend I spent time with my host family Ray and Joanna Gallagher, who are the coordinators for Long Island. We visited the beach and watched firework displays together including visiting their friends and family. Ray and Joanna were very accommodating and made me feel part of their family taking myself and other interns out to dinner, family barques and? to shopping centres.

Overall my time in America has been unforgettably rewarding and I recommend it highly to everyone. I have had the privilege to meet some amazing people include the staff who work with judge Sullivan and the other interns at the court. The time I spent in habitat with the other interns from Ireland, has allowed me to form friendships with various people and develop my skills in teamwork which will benefit me in my career. My internship has enabled me to make connections with people in America, this gives me an addition benefit to allow me to further my future career in law. I would like to thank the whole team of project children and my host family for making my summer internship a truly unforgettable experience.

Mark Mc Teggart a student at Queen’s University Belfast, studying Law with Politics, interned at Sullivan Superior Court, Long Island.

The opportunity to partake in an internship within the judicial sector in Nassau County was an unforgettable and very informative experience. My time with Judge Sullivan allowed me to gain exposure to many aspects of American Criminal Law and provided me with the chance to distinguish the American system with the courts back home. Having sat in on various aspects of the trial procedure, including pre-trial conferences, jury selection and sentencings, I have been able to make first hand use of the knowledge I have developed from my degree. Alongside our time in court, the interns partook in lectures every week ranging from talks with attorneys in different sectors of law to classes on the work of crime scene investigators. It was outstanding to intern within such an interesting and busy court and the internship has provided me with great understanding of the courts for the future.

Beyond my internship, the chance to experience life in New York is something I will remember for years to come. Having visited many of the world renowned sites and watch the famous New York Yankees with fellow interns, I have definitely been persuaded that America is somewhere I will visit and perhaps, live again. The hospitality of Raymond and Jo-Anne Gallagher to myself and my two fellow interns was exceptional and I would like to thank them for their generosity to us throughout the two months. Ultimately, Project Children has provided me with an invaluable opportunity for my future career development and a great insight into life in America.

Meabh McManus graduate from Queen’s University Belfast, studied Law, interned at NJFMBA, New Jersey.

Thanks to Project Children, I enjoyed the summer of a life time! I interned at the New Jersey Firefighters Municipal Benevolent association (FMBA) which was one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had. I worked with the esteemed in house Attorney and the legal professional in their admiral work, advocating for the social labour rights of these Firefighters in the state of New Jersey. I learnt a lot from my position and gained invaluable legal skills which I will carry on as I further my career and also learnt a lot about the substantial labour law of the US, which fascinated me after having studied European labour law and seeing how the two systems differed. I think my work experience in this position was particularly special and exciting in this Presidential Election year as I engaged in many different debates on how our campaign for fair social freedoms would be hindered or encouraged under particular administrations. A specific example of a controversial case was the current case of the fight for pension rights against a Conservative New Jersey Governor. The dedicated team at the FMBA are passionate and devoted to their cause, and it was an honour to be a part of this endeavour for civil and social development in the USA for these firefighters, in a legal respect or through PR projects I was given.

The Donnelly family are the kindest and most generous people I have ever met. I appreciated them opening up their home to me and helping me to experience real American culture, and in particular the unique culture of “Jersey”! I can now officially call myself an honorary Jersey girl as I am a baseball aficionado (go Cougars!) and have spent many a weekend relaxing along the Jersey Shore. They are like family to me now and the kids especially will have a special place in my heart. They shared every experience with me and ones in particular that I will never forget were the Yankees baseball game in Yankee stadium; The Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island; 4th of July Fireworks in Jersey City and front row at the Village People, and my final week spent at their beautiful home in Long Beach Island and the unforgettable experience of Atlantic City! I am forever thankful to them and hope to see them soon in the future in Ireland or back again in the US.

Megan McGlinchey a student at Queen’s University Belfast, studying Psychology, interned at Employment Horizons, New Jersey.

I am very appreciative to have had the opportunity being apart of Project Children. In Alabama we were working in very hot conditions and helped build houses which was a completely new experience for me there were a few challenges, however it was very enjoyable and rewarding. This was a brilliant team bonding experience and for the majority of the group fixing up houses was all very new. After Alabama we all went to our separate destinations, I stayed in New Jersey with the Grant Family with another girl Christina. The Grant's are two of the kindest people I have?met, they opened up their home and would have done anything for us, for that I am so grateful.

Working at Employment Horizons for the summer was truly an amazing experience. It is a non-profit organization and it involves working with adults with special needs. Employment horizons is workshop-based and each of the clients have their individual job to fulfill. The staff at employment horizons were so welcoming and friendly from the beginning, they are in inspiration alone as they encourage and motivate each of the clients to do their very best each day. This organization benefits the clients not only improving on their self-esteem and social skills, but for a lot of them it builds work ethic and develops other qualities to be able to work for a job in the community. Each day there was something new, some good days with the clients and very few bad days but it allowed me to put into practice using my initiative and dealing with any given situation. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to look after my own group, I was able to get to know some of the clients a lot more and I will definitely miss working with them a lot I hope I have influenced a positive impact on their lives. It is has been a memorable summer and the experience I have gained from working at Employment Horizons will benefit me for my future studies.

Samantha Gault student at Liverpool Hope University, studying Psychology, interned at United Way of the Valley and Greater Utica area and Limelight Event Company, Utica, New York.

After a week in Alabama, living with 30 other people in such a small space, I arrived at my host families home and it was bigger than any house I had ever seen. Over the next few days I would learn that bigger than their home, was their hearts. They looked after me, made me feel right at home and treated me like they had known me their whole life. Nothing was too much for them to do for me, and when they weren't making me laugh uncontrollably they were showing me what hard work and success looked like. I was fortunate to spend one day a week interning for Jackie Romano at Limelight Event Company, and the rest of the time at United Way. Both of these companies taught me a lot about myself and my career plans. I got to work with my host Mom at her event company, helping to organise and run various events, build a database of connections and help design leaflets for the company. I got to go to meetings and learn how to run a successful event. As well as working every Monday I got to attend events in the evenings and weekends and got to be a part of the small team that makes Limelight such a success.

I then got to work at United away doing event management and a lot of community work. I was welcomed with open arms and instantly felt part of the team. I got to organise and supervise volunteers at the weekly Saranac concert, I was able to begin the process for one of their yearly campaigns, putting together some leaflets and a website to inform the public. Within my job I was able to spend time in each department, learning about finance and campaigns, I also was able to sit in on interviews, go to meetings and attend conferences. I got to network with psychologists and social workers, and talk to all of the professionals within the career path I would like to pursue. The most enjoyable part of this internship was helping the community, not only did I get to do the back work off the facts and figures and how to move forward in Utica, I got to go and fix murals that had graffiti on, go on the radio and be a part of live webcasts. It was a very active summer, I got to both work hard at something I enjoyed as well as do lots of other fun stuff. I got to go to Niagara Falls and Ocean City. I was able to volunteer for one of America’s biggest road races, amongst some other amazing things and I got to do all of this surrounded by some of the funniest, most caring people I have ever met.

When they tell you your time in America will fly by, they aren’t joking, and when they say you will have the summer of your life believe them. Not only did I get experience in my field of study, I made friends for life and made memories worth gold. I would like to thank Denis, for being the humblest man I know and looking after us, all of the Area co-ordinators, especially Pat Costello, for being so dedicated to making this programme such a success, the four other interns and their families from Syracuse, thanks for an amazing summer. And last but not least my host family, the Romano’s, I will never forget what you have done for me you’re all amazing and no words will ever thank you enough.

Sharon O’Sullivan a Graduate from University College Cork, studied Commerce (international) with French, interned at Turning Stone Resort and Casino, Verona, New York.

Upon arriving in Syracuse airport after our week working for Habitat for Humanity in Alabama, I was excited to embark on the next stage of the programme. I interned at Turning Stone Resort and Casino which is owned by the Oneida Indian Nation in upstate New York. It is a large organisation, with over 4500 employees, and was an exceptional environment in which to learn and expand my work experiences. I was rotated around three departments. In accounts payable I entered invoice data, did statement reconciliations and did filing amongst other tasks - I was given great responsibility and was kept very busy. In the events department I worked on events such as the RV One show, and assisted in preparing showgirls. I learnt exactly how events were planned and implemented within the Casino, and got a fantastic insight into the events sector. Finally I worked in the spa and fitness centre, where I gained invaluable experience within the hospitality sector. The internship was extremely interesting, and I am positive that it will aid me in my future career. My managers and co-workers were very warm and helpful, and gave me every opportunity to learn.

Project children would not be what it is today without the host families, and I had the opportunity to stay in two extremely kind, welcoming and accommodating households. Pete, Emma and I firstly stayed with Brian and Theresa Matt who live near Sylvan Beach right on the lake. I then stayed with Georgette and Kevin Crawford who live nearby, also by the lakeside. I had such great experiences with both families such as boating, visiting a water park in Old Forge, block parties, trying traditional American games like Cornhole, kayaking, visiting the huge nearby mall (Destiny USA), sitting around the fire by the lake in the evenings and even trying shooting - the list goes on! The other host families in the area were also extremely generous to us, and even took us on a trip to Niagara Falls. Our coordinator Pat Costello could never do enough to help us, and I am extremely grateful to him, the families, Turning Stone, and Project Children for allowing me to have this unforgettable and life-changing experience – I will definitely return to America in the future and would like to work there again some day - hopefully sooner rather than later!