The first week spent in Alabama volunteering for Habitat for Humanity was one of the most rewarding weeks of my 2017 summer. Initially I had no idea what to expect; I had never volunteered with Habitat for Humanity before, I had never been to Alabama, I had never spent time with the other 22 Irish interns before, I had never roofed a house before, I had zero construction skills. The list goes on. The only thing I knew for sure was that making the world a better place whether on an individual or global level is something that I want to do with my life. Life begins at the end of your comfort zone, and that’s exactly what I was doing flying six and a half thousand miles from Dublin, Ireland to Tuscaloosa, Alabama with a group of strangers. Those strangers became my close friends during the intense week of construction under the 30 degree Celsius Alabama sun. I can compare Alabama to my home in Ireland in many ways. Alabama has a sense of community and it is filled with selfless people who want to help those who cannot help themselves. The group of interns I flew with and our American friends that we met over there made the trip what it was. The week was filled with early mornings, learning of new life skills, sharing of stories, good food, campfires, sunshine, trips to Walmart and lots laughter. I don’t think I could do it justice on paper describing my trip to Alabama, so I encourage others to experience it for themselves. As my new American friend Ritchie said, “Don’t walk away from a challenge, always push forward”.

Third Year Medical Student Studying at Queen’s University Belfast - MB BCH BAO HONOURS MEDICINE

Interning with Dr. Burr at Reach Rehab and Chiropractic Performance Clinic has been a beneficial experience not only for my professional self but also on a personal level. I have been observing Dr Burr interacting with patients for over a month and seeing how he runs his private healthcare practice. Unsurprisingly, it has been a lot more than cracking backs. I was involved in meeting American patients, as well as consulted on the hypothesis and diagnosis of their care. It is clear when a doctor has a passion for what he or she is doing, and when there is a genuine care for the patients. Dr. Burr is the epitome of good medical practice.

Having studied the musculoskeletal system and anatomy of the human body for the last two years I came to Dr. Burr’s clinic with a sound background of medical knowledge. Initially I was unsure of what to expect – I had never had a reason to visit a chiropractor back at home. I had the pleasure of observing the professional but personal rapport that Dr. Burr has for patients who come to him in pain. Dr Burr got the job done yet always found the time to ask about how his patient’s family were doing or even simply how their weekend was. He showed me that keeping a relaxed atmosphere is critical when a patient presents with debilitating neck, shoulder, arm, elbow, hand, hip, knee, leg or foot pain. I was in awe of Dr. Burr’s ability to empower his patients, and how he is able to help them to help themselves. He spoke to his patients at a level they could understand, no medical jargon was to be heard of. I realised the importance of getting creative and using different resources to communicate with your patients. I observed the professional practice that has been preached to us as essential by the medical school for being a good doctor.

Dr. Burr’s endless amount of analogies never failed to amaze me. He is able to adapt his style of treatment depending on the type of personality of the client that walked through his door– and there were many! I appreciated Dr. Burr checking in with me every so often to answer any questions that I had and to explain why he was going down a particular route of treatment. No two patients, their stories or their recommended treatment were the same, and I look forward to this variability when I graduate and begin my medical career as a physician in three years time. In September 2017 I begin full time clinical training in the various medical specialities and I look forward to comparing my 2017 summer’s experience in a private business with the care that we provide in our social National Health Service.

Beyond the healthcare aspect of my internship, I came to realise that providing the care is only half the battle when you also own the business. I had the opportunity to learn about marketing strategies, the importance of link building, and how you can even have “business meetings” at a bar on a Friday night when you are the boss. On a serious note one of my long-term goals is to own my own health care practice in the United States of America, and it was an invaluable experience to see how much dedication and work it takes.

Throughout my summer in America I have been meeting and networking with an incredible number of people, and the friendliness and willingness to help a foreign Irish medical student was heart warming. My ability to network and the kindness of my new American family allowed me access to observe and scrub in on the weekly autopsy morning at the Wayne County Medical Examiner’s Office. This was an experience that is not currently on the medical curriculum at Queen’s University Belfast and I felt a deep privilege. I had the pleasure to meet family members and friends of friends of friends that I came in contact with. It will be a summer I will never forget.

I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone that made my summer what it was. My American friends and “family” will always have a home in Ireland. Tim and Kitty Higgins opened their home to me and showed me American life. I had the opportunity to visit wineries, breweries, theme parks, art fairs, shopping malls, a baseball game, Chicago and other states outside of Michigan, and meet with the Irish community in Michigan. I was welcomed into Tim’s Rotary Volunteer club meetings, where I heard from speakers who volunteer in charities to help young girls who are being trafficked. Another speaker for a charity called Blessings in a Bag BIAB described how they volunteer to pack lunches for children in schools that come from families that can’t afford it and are hungry. Listening to these volunteers talk about the impact they are making has lit a fire inside of me. The beauty of the situation is that once the mind has been moulded by a new experience it cannot return to it’s original form. This summer I have grew professionally, personally and spiritually and I cannot thank the Project Children Intern Organisation enough for providing the opportunity for this to happen.

http://reachchiro.com/

On our second day in Alabama, we were invited to an outdoor reception by the Hon. Judge Scott Kugler of the U.S Federal District Court. This proved to be a great evening, and the hospitality which we enjoyed was incomparable. The lakeside setting was picturesque, and in addition to the fantastic food and a real taste of the American South, we were able to make the most of the speedboats, kayaks or in some cases, be rescued by pick up trucks! All in all, we were made to feel incredibly welcome, and the hospitality we received no doubt inspired us to give something back to the Tuscaloosa community during the week which followed.

I spent the majority of my time in the USA interning at the District Office of Rep. Peter King, a hugely prominent Irish American attorney and politician, and a key figure within the Irish peace process. The internship proved invaluable in certain regards, notably as it allowed me to gain a solid understanding of US politics, something which I had previously struggled to grasp. Furthermore, the staff at Pete's office were very accommodating in terms of allowing me attend Court and gain a legal as well as political understanding of the USA.

Outside of work, both my housemate Gavin and I had a fantastic time exploring New York and Washington D.C, whether alone, with the other interns, or with our host. We were extremely fortunate to be placed with Vinny McGreevy, one of the most hospitable people I have ever met. Vinny went out of his way on a daily basis to make our time in the USA amazing. In addition, the support of Tom, Jo-Jo and Ray, our area coordinators, was invaluable.

On the afternoon of the Saturday we flew into Birmingham airport. Between the tiredness from travelling halfway across the world the day before and with everyone still getting to know each other I remember the journey from the airport in Birmingham to the YMCA camp in Tuscaloosa being a very quiet one. After what felt like hours of driving through the Alabama countryside we arrived at the camp. Everybody got settled in quickly, claiming their bunk and power socket. We ended up going to Walmart that evening to get some supplies; snacks, sunscreen, toothpaste, sunscreen, bug spray and even more sun cream. We knew we would be in for a week of torture from the sun and bugs. On the Sunday we introduced ourselves to the whole group and we met Peter Salemme for the first time and listened to his story of coming to work with Habitat for Humanity. I think this inspired a lot of us for the coming week to go to work each day and put in the effort to get the results at the end of the week. Each day we would wake at 5 a.m. and have breakfast prepared by Maureen and JoJo, the two of them pretty much kept us all going for the whole week with breakfast lunch and dinner, every day adding some bit of variety to our meals. Work was tough but rewarding; we were split into two groups, the roofing crew and the painting crew. We would spend hours upon hours out in the baking sun painting walls, tearing up old shingles, fitting window borders and reroofing the house. Working with Habitat for Humanity was a chance to really make an effort to change somebody's life; it never felt like a chore to get up in the morning, put in an eight hour day and come home to the camp, sore and sweaty. Before we started the week we were told that the time spent in Alabama has always been the best experience for every group that has come through this programme; once we heard that, I think we all looked at each other and thought “yeah right!” but honestly it is safe to say that the week building houses and getting to know everybody that we traveled to America with for the summer truly was the highlight of my time here. It was a pleasure to have the opportunity to volunteer for such an excellent organization in a part of the world that I probably would never have thought to travel to if it were not for Project Children, and I am very grateful for that. ROLL TIDE Y’ALL!

For my internship I was working with The Fountainhead Group, Inc. in Utica, New York. During my time I got the opportunity to work with engineers on projects involving an insect repellent product that they make at the company. My work involved research, testing, taking measurement, recording results and graphing data. I worked both as a group with the other engineers and on my own as we tried to find solutions to issues the company was having with product development. My time with the company was very successful and I feel that I have learned a lot from spending my summer there. While on my internship, I lived with the Romano’s, the owners of The Fountainhead Group. To say that this family was fun to live with is an understatement. I got the chance to go jet skiing, watched the 4^th of July fireworks at a private golf club, went to an endless amount of events and concerts including a Kings of Leon concert and met many interesting people along the way. I couldn’t imagine being with a better host family than the Romano’s and I am very grateful to them for putting me up in their beautiful home for the summer.

“How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard”

A simple yet accurate quote by famous figure Winnie the Pooh, and this was definitely the case on Saturday 1^st of July when I stood in floods of tears having to bid farewell to my friends and fellow interns in Detroit International Airport. If you had told me a week previous that I was going to feel this way about perfect strangers I would’ve laughed and rolled my eyes in disbelief, but during that week in Tuscaloosa, Alabama we all grew so close and created such fun memories that forged great friendships that I’m sure will last a lifetime.

Being thrown into the outskirts of nowhere in Alabama, in a camp site with no internet or connection to the outside world forced us to spend time with each other, feeling like a 1950s family sat round playing games such as Monopoly or Jenga! When put to work on Monday morning, we all had something in common – none of us really knew what we were doing!! This forced us all to work together and support each other to ensure we got the task at hand complete. Throughout the week we all got to know each other - Evenings were spent sitting around campfires singing songs and eating s’mores, while we chatted about everything and anything. Not having our phones was probably a blessing as it increased our bond and we realized we didn’t really need them!

Leaving Alabama was a tough step for everyone as we said our goodbyes, but we all kept in contact throughout our internships until we met again in New York, and I’m sure we will all keep in contact for many years to come. Project Children and Habitat gave us the chance to bond like a family 6000 km across the water while creating some incredible memories, and for that we are all truly grateful!

Christopher Kenny a student at Ulster University, studying Business, Interned at Biddy Murphy Irish Gifts, South Haven Michigan.

Thanks to Project Children, I had the privilege of interning at Biddy Murphy Irish Gifts in South Haven, Michigan. Biddy Murphy is a global retailer for premium Irish goods, primarily selling online although there is a sales outlet in South Haven where I was based. Throughout the duration of my internship I was tasked with retail and digital marketing aspects of the business, including store merchandising, customer service and creating online content, along with a few marketing projects. The internship allowed me to put the marketing theory I had learned during my degree into practice in a real- life business environment. The internship allowed me to go behind the scenes of an online retailer with the help of new programs such as Basecamp, Channel Advisor and Google Suites. Along with my daily tasks I also wrote a blog about my time in America and the experiences I had, which was a big draw on their website. The team at Biddy Murphy was extremely pleasant and welcoming, always keen to help with any queries I had, ensuring I got the most out of my internship.

While interning in South Haven I stayed with the owners of Biddy Murphy, Mary and Ward Gahan, who were extremely hospitable and for that I am very grateful. Their beautiful home is located right on Lake Michigan so I was able to enjoy the beach and water in my free time, along with gorgeous sunrises and sunsets daily.

Throughout my stay I had the opportunity to travel with other interns to Chicago, Cedar Point theme park in Ohio and Detroit while also exploring the beautiful lake-side towns near to South Haven with my host family. I am forever grateful to Project Children for affording me the opportunity to travel to America and enjoy this wonderful experience while meeting some amazing people that I can now call close friends.

After our long flight and quick sleep in our new home stays we had to all get up very early to leave for Alabama, which was also a very long day we had two flights and an hour car journey we finally arrived at camp in Alabama. Our home for the next week would be at the YMCA Y’s Acres Camp in Tuscaloosa AL, it was a very dull day (not like being from Ireland we weren't use to this) and we seen our little log cabins that would be our home for the first week, it looked like a real classic American summer camp like something out of a film, I was actually thinking to myself what have I got myself into!

It had bunk beds, Boys and Girls dorms, Bathroom which weren't overly the greatest, but we thought it’s a bit of craic and all character building and then there was a Kitchen and dining area. We all had different roles and chores to do in the camp whether you were on kitchen duty or lighting the campfire everyone played their part. It was quite a muggy evening and at first me and the rest of the interns were told it was going to be a hot week and we did end up having a few really great sunny nights.

When we weren’t venturing out to evening activities such as the BBQ, the pool, the lake or Walmart the highlights of the evening included gathering around the campfire and playing card games or silly games or having a singsong. We went from being one big group of random people to being close friends and laughing our heads off within hours, one of my favourite things about camp was the fact that majority of our phones were not working, nor were the straighteners or hair dryers may I add. But without the mobile phones everyone actually communicated and got to know each other. All in all it was an amazing experience, we all bonded and got on well with each other. I think every person that took part gained something from this experience and learned something new about themselves whether it was positive or negative but something that they could develop on.

Clodagh Cooke a student at the University of Ulster studying Community Youth Work degree, interned at Employment Horizons in New Jersey.

Having the opportunity to be part of project children for the past 8 weeks has been an amazing experience. From starting of working in Alabama repairing homes which were affected from natural disasters to interning at Employment Horizons in New Jersey. I gained a lot of experience from my summer work programme. I couldn't have asked for a more positive, enthusiastic and educated team. I learned a lot with working with adults with special needs and I have improved greatly on my communication skills and my ability to transfer knowledge gained across a wide variety of service users. The aim of this organization is to encourage, supervise and motivate all clients to work to the best of their ability, carrying out different tasks and reaching individual goals. This increases their self-esteem and allows them to develop multiple skills in a working environment. My time at Employment Horizons has given me valuable experience which I will be able to apply to my future career within other community groups and staff teams.

Each day brought something different; all the clients had their own personalities, which made them all interesting in their own individual way. Every day in placement I always had a big smile on my face, I felt so appreciated from each client and staff member.

During my stay in New jersey, I had the pleasure to live with Carol Grant, a truly amazing woman, who is so caring, considerate and kind hearted who made me and the other girl Orlaith feel so welcome. Carol treated us like her own daughters and we had many evenings together socialising and simply chilling out with a bowl of ice cream.

On the weekends we were busy at all times, we travelled to New York and got to explore all parts of the city, Jersey shore and Greenwood Lake. Thanks to Project Children and everyone else involved who made it possible for me to have an unforgettable eight weeks in the States- a summer that I will never forget.

A college major in music, Mrs Wells became a public school music teacher. In 1975, she left her position and began giving free music lessons to children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds who were unable to afford private lessons. Mrs Wells felt that God wanted children to have the opportunity to develop their musical gifts and talents and that music was an experience that everyone should have, especially children. A year later, Zelpha’s Cultural Development Corporation (ZCDC) was founded in Tuscaloosa (Alabama) and continues to enrich the lives of children to this day with the help of Zelda’s daughters as co-founders and small private donations. The ethos behind the corporation is one of faith, citizenship and building character so that wherever her pupils go, they go on to become good people.

During our week at Habitat for Humanity, we had the opportunity to work on Mrs Wells’ house. From painting, to construction, to scaffolding, to plastering, to roofing… we all pulled together from Monday morning until we could present the renovations to Mrs Wells on the Friday. For a lady that has given so much to her community, it was incredibly rewarding to see her smile.

Internship

I was incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity of interning with L. Scott Coogler, a U.S. District Judge at the Federal Courthouse in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Throughout my time here, I’ve had an incredible insight into the workings of the American legal system and how it differs to that of the UK and N.I. From the very first week it was hands on, informative and challenging.

There were a few other interns from various universities and we each were given a real case to work on and complete. I was working on a petition for writ of habeas corpus on a capital murder/death row case, which although very complex, was incredibly interesting as we don’t have the death penalty at home. We observed trials, sat in on conferences, learned how to shoot, visited a jail and engaged with FBI agents and criminal defence lawyers.

Over the course of my internship I met some incredible people and new friends. I’d like to thank everyone at Project Children and Habitat for such an incredible opportunity, my host family for welcoming me into their home, the other interns for being the best group, my new friends for showing me the Southern way and everyone at the courthouse who pointed me the right way when I found myself lost in the building several times!

My internship was based in Long Island, New York, where I worked at the Nassau County Clerk's office. This is the office which deals with public records and court documents. My main duties were to assist the admin department where I worked on a number of different projects throughout the weeks. During my time there I also had the opportunity to work on a project for the accounting department which allowed me to vastly improve my skills on excel. This was particularly useful as my degree was in Business with Accounting and allowed me to use the knowledge I had gained from my degree and also get a feel for what it is like to do accounting in a professional environment.

Overall, I really enjoyed this experience and feel that it will really help to enhance my CV and further my employment opportunities in the future. I am very thankful to the team I worked with for being very welcoming and helping me along the way.

I felt particularly lucky to be living and working so close to the city which allowed me to do a lot of sight-seeing, meeting up with other interns and easy access to other parts of New York. Some of the highlights of my stay were attending Panorama music festival in the city, the McGregor vs Mayweather Press Conference in Brooklyn, Kings of Leon concert at Jones Beach, and a weekend spent at Greenwood Lake.

As we arrived in Alabama, we were all initially very shocked - many of us are reliant on our home comforts, mammy's daily cooked dinners and access to WiFi none of which we were evidently going to have in Tuscaloosa. We were thrown in the deep end and told to start swimming - looking back this was the best thing to coordinators could have done for us, I personally believe it helped us settle in quicker and helped us to bond as a team.

The weather in Alabama was fantastic compared to the weather back home – it made everyone have a more positive mindset. I never in my life thought I would get to build and refurbish a house never mind enjoy doing it!

The opportunities that the local community of Tuscaloosa granted us with the past week have been unbelievable, the stadium tour of University of Alabama was brilliant and it was interesting to get to meet everyone at the BBQ that Judge Couglar invited us to at the Yacht Club!

I had the most amazing week in Tuscaloosa, Alabama working alongside the Habitat for Humanity Team! It was both challenging yet rewarding and friendships for life have been made!! It is amazing what a group of 35 people can do when they put their mind to it!

After spending 23 days so far working alongside the dedicated team at Parjana® I have learned so many new skills and further developed skills that I already had! The team at Parjana® is quite small and intimate which helped me feel welcome straight away by every member of staff, I have been able to connect with everyone not only on a professional level but also as friends. Every single person at Parjana has taught me something different and valuable from Lisa (Operations) teaching me Project Management skills and how to do basic administrative tasks, to Ian (Engineering) showing me the visuals behind the actual company to help me get a better understanding! I got the chance to work directly with all four partners in the company who each taught me valuable lessons about the business world and provided funny stories about Parjana and its history so far. I have met many people from the marketing industry while here which has really opened my eyes to the international opportunities that are available after I complete my degree program in Ireland!

In my last 12 days at Parjana® I hope to continue to make a difference to their marketing strategy and meet lots of new people!

While working at Parjana and living with Lisa Marshall I have had the opportunity to submerse myself in the American culture and meet all kinds of people from every walk of life– I have been in seven states so far and I think that is quite impressive for my first trip to the USA.

After traveling over 4000 miles, three flights in two days we arrived at the base camp of the habitat site. Having to deal with the humidity, no wifi and being out of our comfort zones there was no choice but to make friends. We had a BBQ on sunday night and it was clear to see that life long friendships had been made. Some of us experiencing the Alabama red neck experience more than others, getting stranded on a boat and having to get a lift back in the back of a pickup truck. As an eventful sunday night drew to a close we were all nervous about the week to come. From a weekend of relaxation and settling into southern life the hard work was now about to start.

On Monday we were all split up into our groups and we set off for Mrs Wells house or as we became to know her the piano ladies house. Miss Well’s gave piano lessons for free to children in the area for over 50 years and now the house has gone into ruins. We had Painters, Caulkers , Carpenters, Scaffolders and Roofers all formerly known as Project Children Interns. Time was against us as and we had to have the house finished by friday for the rededication.

We found Wednesday to be the toughest day the humidity was very hard to deal with, even though the locals were telling us that this weather was mild compared to their normal summer.The final push was on as we had to have all the construction work completed. Everyone was working very hard trying to get all the sites finished in time for friday. At half one on friday everyone tidied up and downed tools the roof was finished on site one and the work was finished at the cabin site. Everyone gathered round miss wells house and the rededication started at two.

It was a week filled with sunburn, bug bites, pasta and building lifelong friendships. Needless to say Standing at the airport in Birmingham there was tears hugs and goodbyes from a group of people who didn't know eachother one week previous. A group of individuals now set off on a summers adventure for 6 weeks as friends.

After spending a grueling week in alabama we were sent our separate ways I was on my way to the Aisling Center. I was shocked when I was walking up the street to hear a kerry accent along with a derry one. From going to Gaelic Park to watch the Ladies Semi Finals matches to pucking about in paddy's field. I will never forget the people that I have met while staying here in woodlawn. From Tayto crisps to Barry's tea bags it was all here on McLean. Being here was just like being at home. It is amazing for such a small country on the west coast of europe to make such a big impact on New York. The Aisling Center is known all over the city for its outstanding work and support that it gives to the Irish people overseas. The Aisling Irish Center is the heart of the irish community in Yonkers and Woodlawn. Providing many services such as helping the hopeless running programs for seniors such as the Young at Heart program while also providing a space for classes such as yoga,computer classes, singing , irish dancing and much more.From the get go I felt I was a very valued member of staff from helping to organise the summer camps in the first two weeks to sitting at the front desk in the latter weeks. I have learned valuable information which I will carry on into later life. I was privileged enough to go into the city and help the homeless with the other regular volunteers. Doing this made me realise how lucky I was to be in America on such a renowned and outstanding program with Project Children.

The week in Alabama was by far one of the most interesting and rewarding things I’ve done during the programme. A week spent in dead heat with complete strangers repairing and restoring houses for people I’ve never met, I don’t know if I’ll ever get that experience again. But it was unbelievable worthwhile and gave all of us a sense of responsibility and camaraderie. On the Tuesday morning, we rose at what was fast becoming our normal waking hour of seven, had breakfast and left for our site actually knowing this morning what we were doing and getting into losing the sense of uncertainty surrounding the previous day's van ride to our sites. On the roofing site which was where I was working I noticed that we had improved even from the first day. We had established a system and able to work with a certain degree of independence, saving us asking the habitat people for constant directions and help. I also noticed that amongst ourselves where developing a bond and helping each other out on the site. We were becoming for familiar and comfortable around each other and getting to know everyone. the work was by no means easy but it was good fun and good experience for all of us involved. I don’t believe any of us could deny that once we settled down into the work we became very productive and we all left in the Tuesday from the worksites with a feeling we had accomplished something worthwhile.

Greenwood Lake

My name is Padraig O’Donnell and I’m studying English and History in University College Cork. My internship was with the Windermere Agency in Greenwood Lake in New York.

The Project Intern Programme has left me with a great deal. A sense of Independence, Knowing I was able to survive a summer in the United States. A sense of pride in myself for working with Habitat for Humanity for a week. A sense of accomplishment, from my internship at the Windermere Agency. The Agency is run by Mr Kevin Sweeney who has faithfully helped the locals of Greenwood Lake with their Insurance issues and queries for years. He is a well-respected and liked member of the community. I saw first hand the work he accomplished in his steadfast dedication to his customers. In the office, my duties were to help in whatever way I could with the clients, I was also responsible for the transfer of documents from a physical copy to a virtual copy. I spent many hours preparing …. My other duties involve meeting and greeting customer, creating and maintaining an online presence and general office and reception work. I can safely say I was never kept idle anyway It was also my pleasure to assist Mr Sweeney for a few weeks with his radio show. I was very kindly, and undeservedly given the title co-host even though on my first show I believe I spoke less than 20 words. I was assured I got better as the weeks progressed. We interviewed a wide range of people from local activists to hikers on the Appalachian trail. It was an experience in itself and that I found incredibly enjoyable and gave me the opportunity to try something new. Overall I found that working in the office helped me develop communication skills and valuable office experience which will undoubtable come in handy in years to come. I couldn’t be happier with the Project Children Programme and all I’ve taken from it. I know I will return to Ireland a better person for it it’s just an added benefit I had such a great time while over here as well.

On the first day working in Alabama, there was no time for jet lag to kick in we were up at the crack of dawn! We all horsed down our breakfast, put on some light clothing and layered ourselves in sunblock and my new best friend bug spray. We all hopped into the vans and set sail for the habitat work site. We got to the first work site there we were introduced to the habitat crew shout out to Peter, Barry and all the rest of the team ye know who ye are. We were then told things to watch out for onsite like no jumping off the scaffolding, running with power tools and hammering our hands to wood they just told us things we wouldn’t know already. Barry then showed how to use the tools correctly and safely. We were then split into two groups, the group I was in stayed on the site where we were and the other group went to another house that habitat was rehabbing. Before the other team left we bowed our heads and prayed. There was no messing around we got straight into the work. Barry picked people that wanted to go up on the roof and root up all the shingles and moved them onto the scaffolding were Padraig and I then moved the shingles from the scaffolding with bushes to the wheelbarrows below where rest of the team had the worst job picking up and deposing these tiny bits of shingles that were everywhere. Working in the heat was tough as it was a big adjustment but we took water breaks when we felt we needed and we all looked out for each other.

After the week spent in Alabama working with habitat for humanity which was one of the most rewarding things I have done, I spent the next seven weeks in Greenwood Lake and I did my Internship with USG Performing Arts, they mainly run the New York and Florida International Rose of Tralee and Irish American young leaders. In my internship, I Designed t-shirts for fusion fighter’s boot camp and logos this was the first time I have got to design something outside of college it was challenging but so rewarding to see what I visualized be greatly appreciated. The work I did with the Rose of Tralee I went with the 2017 New York Rose to Manhattan to Fashion designer Don O'Neill and we picked out dresses for her time at the festival. I also designed posters for events for the Rose and helped organise her going away event. For a week of my internship got to help teach the kids at the local GAA cul camps it was so fun working with the children of St. Brendan's GAA club they were all so ready to learn Gaelic football and hurling and by the end of the week they were nearly running rings around me. I also took part in networking events for Irish American young leaders. Part of the work I did with USG Performing Arts I made promotion videos for the Irish American young leaders. While in greenwood lake I also worked with the Waterstone Inn taking pictures for their website.

The summer I have had and the people I have met I will remember forever. From working with Project Children and Habitat for Humanity I have never experienced so much kindness and generosity and wanting nothing in return. I have learned so much from my internship and take everything I know now and bring it into my practise every day. I can’t thank Project Children enough for this amazing opportunity, I will be forever grateful.

Jojo , Al and Rodger, met Us at the airport and we stayed at Rodgers house with his wife Diane and sons Ryan and Patrick and their daughter Erin they were so nice. Once we got our bags at their house we went to Joanne's where we met the others and we had pizza and beer for a while then we went home and had a good night's sleep. Early morning tomorrow alarm set for 7 o'clock to go to the airport for Alabama. Diane and Rodger made us a lovely breakfast and we then went to the airport where we got lost, we were dropped off at the wrong terminal and a pilot helped us to find the right one and we got checked in and boarded and as we took off we could see all of New York City from the air! I have a window seat and got amazing pictures of Central Park! Finally got to Alabama where we all came together and worked on 2 projects for habitat for humanity. Our accommodation was up close and personal as we had to sleep in the same room in bunk beds. On our first day on site we got straight down to work, we have a briefing and then got our hard hats and gloves on and got to work stripping the roof and building the scaffolding and clean up the homes of people who could not be more deserving of the help we were giving them and this I think helped us all to bond in the scorching heat making sure we all drank enough water and had plenty of sun cream on. Everyone enjoyed each other's company and made efforts to get to know everyone and not just get to know a few people. At the airport leaving to go on our internships everyone was sad to be leaving each other! The four interns flying to Syracuse flew to Philly where we were delayed for a few hours so it was nice to sit and get to know them a bit better. Myself and Ann stayed with the same host family and this really helped us bond and we will be friends for life as we spent lunch together at worked spent our free time with each other when we had time off. Our internships were broken up into different departments giving us the opportunity to work with as many different people as possible giving us experience in 3 different areas. Our host families were amazing they helped us all stay in as close contact with each other as possible so we got to explore Utica and Syracuse with Brendan's host family took us to a kings of Leon concert as a group and it was one of the highlights of our trip and it was nice to share it with the other interns. As a whole the experience was unforgettable and I have made friends that I will be sad to leave and will keep in contact with once we are home.

At the turning stone in Verona, NY I worked in three departments within the casino. The first week I was there I worked with Finance and accounts payable where I learned how the turning stone was tax exempt as they are a sovereign nation. I then worked in the eve state department for 2 weeks where I got to meet with heads of departments and managers and talk to them about their role within the company in the events sector as well as helping with giveaways for VIP players and showgirls. My final 2 weeks I worked with the HR department firstly going to the recruitment department where I got to assist with interviews, fingerprinting and drug testing which was an interesting experience. The second week in HR I spent time with HRIS and benefits seeing how the data about employees is collected and utilised as well as how the company offers health insurance to their employees for a discounted price and this really made me appreciate our health care system at home. My final few days I spent in training and development where I learnt about adult learning and how they use it to develop training programs. Overall is was an amazing experience seeing how different departments work together.

My host family were so lovely they really made us feel like myself and Anna where their daughters involving us in their family parties and taking us and showing us local places that they enjoyed spending time in like old forge lake. We also went with another host family to two concerts as well as the boiler maker which is a big running race in Utica. We got to experience So much of upstate New York and I had an amazing time.

Saoirse McKinney student at St Mary’s University College, Belfast, studying Primary Education, interned at The Aisling Irish Cultural Centre, The Bronx, New York.

Project Children has been the most amazing experience, beginning with the week spent in Alabama helping build homes for Habitat for Humanity! We had all just met one another, we were jet lagged and already not able to deal with the forty degree heat, and yet somehow, we were able to work with one another on three different homes in Tuscaloosa. We were doing tasks we never expected we would be able to do such as putting down wooden floors, fitting kitchen cabinets and doorframes. It was so rewarding to attend dedication of a home to the new owner and it reminded us of how important the work that we were doing was to the local community. We had the opportunity to get to know one another as well as get to know the Project Children team who travelled with us, including Denis Mulcahy. We heard some amazing stories of the work that they have done over the years for thousands of children and students from Ireland.

When I arrived in the Bronx the next week in order to start my internship in the Aisling Irish Community Centre on McLean Avenue, I felt at home straight away. The Irish community there is amazing in the way that they support one another and keep the Irish culture alive for the next generation. I was surprised to meet so many people from home who I would meet on the streets around Woodlawn- it really is a small world! The Aisling Centre is a wonderful centre which supports people looking for accommodation, jobs and plays a huge role in mental health support in the community. I was blessed to be able to meet the senior group several times during the week. It was amazing to hear their stories of life in Ireland and of immigration to New York. They gave me advice and support throughout the six weeks. The summer camp was a wonderful experience, working alongside Aoife and Sharon. We had great fun teaching the local children about their Irish heritage through song, story, music and drama. It was great to gain more experience working with children and I learned a lot from the two other teachers. I also had the opportunity to assist with the feeding of the homeless. It was humbling to play a small role in helping so many people with nothing in New York City. The team at the Aisling Centre truly made my experience unforgettable. I felt a part of the centre immediately and they could not have done enough to help me and make sure that I enjoying my internship.

A special thank you to Clara Heggarty who I stayed with- it was great staying with you and getting to know you. Thank you to everyone involved in Project Children, especially everyone up in Greenwood Lake. Without Denis, I would not have had this opportunity to spend an incredible summer working and travelling in New York!